OUsnakebyte

Please tell me what, then, do we attribute the increased thermal-induced bleaching events seen in the Caribbean - and other parts of the world - to? If not increasing ocean temperatures, then what? Is this the 'ol "normal process of things"? Or, if it is indeed increasing temperatures, then am I supposed to link it to something else?

^^This ^^and this. These guys said it much simpler than I did (in my typically long-winded fashion). Cheers Mike

Might as well make it +10 Billion, b/c that is where our population is headed... What causes corals to bleach? Primarily increasing temperatures, though there are other stressors that can cause this (sedimentation, shading by algae). Bump up the heater on your tank(s) and see what happens. We have seen ever-increasing bouts of bleaching events, so much so that there is hardly any coral left in the Caribbean - what is causing it? The over-abundance of some other mega-vertebrate dominating the planet that has no predatory check? It's been a looooong time since I had that class, but if I recall correctly (and I might not - again, it's been a while), it was the spawning of the gulf stream due to the formation of the isthmus of the panama via sediment build-up. Are there other variables at work here? Without a doubt. In fact, if it were just increasing temps, my gut feeling is that the corals might very well adapt, but the myriad of other anthropogenic stressors pounding them is too much for them to handle. Cheers Mike

This is like the "great evolution debate" (as if there really is one). Every so often, some religious nut(s) will come out with "evidence" that all the evolutionists are wrong, the whole theory is out of whack and everything we have been spouting for all these years must now be reversed. Variations on the theme exist, but the message remains the same. Sometimes they will even manage to get a quote (usually taken out of context) from some renowned evolutionist to "support" the claim. Meanwhile, we all continue on our paths... I continue to draw comparisons to the anthropogenic climate change debate. Every now and then something like this happens, and all of a sudden - everyone is wrong. The Earth is just fine, and humans have absolutely nothing to do with the destruction of the planet. We are just one more species living here affecting nothing, even though we have steadily managed to increase our population size to the billions - something no other mega-vertebrate has ever achieved. As with evolution, the underlying principles are easy to see. We are taking the fossil fuel that was laid down during the Carboniferous and releasing it into the atmosphere. If it were not for the oceans soaking up the vast majority (and their terrestrial counterparts, the rainforests), we would be in much more trouble. Of course, this is coming at a great price - the pH of the oceans dropping. There is a very real and natural process for this to happen - volcanoes. Of course, volcanoes grow and then die out. The human population has become a volcano that has not stopped erupting since the Industrial Revolution and has grown exponentially in strength. Continue to debate it and find scandals along the way. Every coral reef biologist I know understands the process, and we know why the reefs we love so much are dying - and will continue to die. Like the evolutionary biologists, we will continue our work, and we know what we are up against. Cheers Mike

Many of us here have done this several times. You are not importing anything into the states, so permits are not necessary (though you might save the receipt, just in case someone asks...). Of course, it use to be easier prior to the 3-1-1 rule, so any large items you'll be checking. As Steve said, it gets cold down there, so in the cooler, I would advise you use a heat pack or two. Then again, with the cooler as another part of your checked luggage, you might be better served to FedEx overnight your corals to your house the day before you leave so you can receive them upon your arrival. Cost might be very similar and less hassle. Cheers Mike

I guess these are not farm-raised, are they?

Excellent - thanks for the leads everyone. I asked two people at the HD over by Seven Corners, and they looked at me as if I had lobsters crawling out of my ears...

Anyone know where I can get nylon screws? Preferably local? I stopped by Home Depot, but... nuthin'. Cheers Mike

It was streaming to some of our colleagues on the west coast. I'll check to see if it was recorded.

When in doubt... Acropora sp.

Here is the way this discussion is going to happen. Eric B will start off with a quick presentation on the threats and ensuing decline of reefs. Mitch will then follow with his presentation of what he has been able to accomplish with captive A. palmata at Omaha Zoo. The rest of the panelists will be briefly introduced, and then we will open the floor to questions from the public. This all gets started Thursday evening at 6:30pm in the zoo's visitor center auditorium. Cheers Mike

Here is the way this discussion is going to happen. Eric B will start off with a quick presentation on the threats and ensuing decline of reefs. Mitch will then follow with his presentation of what he has been able to accomplish with captive A. palmata at Omaha Zoo. The rest of the panelists will be briefly introduced, and then we will open the floor to questions from the public. This all gets started Thursday evening at 6:30pm in the zoo's visitor center auditorium. Cheers Mike

Some predict that for Caribbean acroporids throughout the entire Caribbean and western Atlantic... Several institutions do keep them with Indo corals. Others have established Caribbean-dedicated tanks they go into. Regardless, those brought into captivity will not be reintroduction candidates unless something extremely serious has happened (i.e. extinct in the wild). So, for right now, keeping them separate from their I/P cousins is not a real concern. These are the exact issues and ideas we will be discussion at the panel discussed in the other thread. I do hope to see many of you there. Cheers Mike

Thanks Jon - This is the panel discussion I posted as a sticky in the General Discussion thread. I have more information about this I want to share with everyone - just busy these days getting ready for the conference next week.

Great photos Dave - thanks for sharing. Bonaire is one of the few places left in the Caribbean I want to visit, mostly b/c of what you described above. I grow tired of swimming past huge dead stands once-brillant ecosystem building corals. Oh, the other wildlife is great (squids, turtles, etc.). But, I can't help but look past them at the Dictyota and Microdictyon swallowing up the reefs. The Caribbean as a whole is in serious jeopardy, and I sometimes wonder if we haven't already passed the tipping point. It's no big surprise that the farther away reefs are located from the things of humans the healthier they tend to be. And with the fringing reefs like Bonaire has... well, it's difficult to watch them diminish. Do you usually go this time of year? I only ask b/c we just passed the "typical" (if that ever exists for corals) peak bleaching/disease season (August/September), and as you know, if the corals will recover it usually takes them a while. Cheers Mike

Oh... mods... is it possible to make this a sticky? Good idea or no? Mike

Hello all - In November, the zoo is hosting the follow-up to a Caribbean Acroporid Conservation workshop the Smithsonian held in Ft. Pierce, Fl last February. As part of this follow-up workshop, we are holding a panel discussion on Thursday, November 12th at 6:30pm in the zoo's visitor center (auditorium). There will be "coral people" from all backgrounds as part of this panel discussion. The discussion will begin with the panelists giving a very brief overview of what it is they do, and then the floor is open to the public to ask questions. There are only 8 panelists, but there will be at least 30 other people in the audience as part of the acroporid workshop (identifiable by name tags). After the conclusion of the panel discussion, there will be about an hour to "mingle" with the participants - in case you didn't get to ask a question or wanted to know more. The best part... it is free and open to the public!!! Here is the link: Coral Panel Discussion I do hope to see many of you there, and please invite anyone you think may be interested. Cheers Mike

Hmmm... strange choice of a keynote speaker for an aquarium conference... But, (and I don't mean to plug the book), but Shadow Divers is completely awesome. It was recommended to me by a fellow diver, and I couldn't put it down. I don't really dive wrecks at all, but it was great. Chatterton is not the author (by Robert Kurson), but he and his friends are the ones who found and identified the U-boat, and the book is about them and the people who were part of the crew. But again, seems a strange choice of a speaker for a conference like this. Cheers Mike

Was John Chatterton the keynote speaker?

Dang, wish I had seen this thread earlier - I'd have taken that $20 bet too! Bob - do you want to get live specimens to Mike Frick? (He is in Georgia, but his GF works here at the zoo). Cheers Mike

Sorry to hijack the thread... but do you know where these can be purchased? I want to get some for the exhibit. Cheers Mike

Ahem.... we're waiting...!!!

This is a very unique idea and cool tank - my compliments. Cheers Mike

Very cool - I hope all the tank inhabitants enjoyed the snack. Do you know what species were spawning? It sounds like you found this happening after the spawn started; you didn't see them setting, did you? Cheers Mike

Sorry if I missed this in the thread - but, how long had this tank been set up and running before adding the FS?