Andrew
08-18-2006, 01:33 PM
Monterey Bay Aquarium newsletter/release
Sea Notes
September, 2006
1. EXHIBIT NEWS
NEW TUNAS
Five Pacific bluefin tuna and one yellowfin tuna have joined the
Outer Bay exhibit. Collected off San Diego, they're much smaller
than the other tuna in the exhibit, only 30 pounds apiece, about
the same size as the bonito.
COLORFUL SEA SLUGS
Look for three colorful new species of nudibranchs, or sea slugs,
in the Skeleton Shrimp exhibit. Most noticeable are the
purple-and-orange Spanish shawls (Flabellina iodinea) that can be
seen crawling over the algae. Less obvious but equally beautiful
are the speckled, translucent Dirona picta and Dendronotus frondosus.
(We don't know a common name for either species.) You'll find
them munching on hydroid colonies near the center of the exhibit.
JACKSMELT
We've added a school of 38 jacksmelt to the Kelp Forest exhibit
that were collected near the aquarium. Look for them close to the
surface, under the kelp fronds near the back. Those of you with
good eyes may spot a mackerel mixed in.
Visit What's New? on our web site to learn more about new
arrivals in our exhibits.
http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/news/
2. AQUARIUM NEWS
"OCEANS IN GLASS" RE-BROADCAST
If you missed it in January, the compelling "Oceans in Glass:
Behind the scenes at the Monterey Bay Aquarium" will re-air on
Sunday, Oct. 15, on PBS's Nature. Filmed by the award-winning
team at Sea Studios in Monterey, the program offers a visually
stunning look at what it takes to create our exhibits. The program
also features the white shark we had on exhibit for six months
before releasing her in March 2005. For a preview of the program,
visit http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/oceansinglass/.
CLIMATE CHANGE COLLABORATION
There's still time to take part in a study about how to engage
people in solving pressing environmental issues, starting with
climate change. You're invited to join us in Monterey for a
90-minute session on Saturday, Sept. 16. You'll see a short film
about climate change ("Strange Days on Planet Earth: The One
Degree Factor") and learn more about how you can make a
difference. By taking part, you'll give us important feedback
that we can use to engage others on this and other critical
environmental topics.
If you're interested, please register in advance for any of
five sessions (10 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m.)
by contacting Paul and Judy Myers, paulmy@comcast.net. All
sessions take place in Monterey at our Center for the Future
of the Oceans, 100 Heritage Harbor (near Fisherman's Wharf).
To learn more about "Strange Days on Planet Earth," visit
http://www.pbs.org/strangedays/episodes/onedegreefactor/.
3. PROMOTIONS & EVENTS
LAST CHANCE TO SEE "SHARKS"
Daily through Sept. 4
You only have a few weeks left to experience the magical "Sharks:
Myth and Mystery" before it closes Sept. 4. This award-winning
special exhibition takes visitors around the world to explore how
different cultures view sharks and rays--from revered icons to
media monsters. Check details of our "going away" activities at
http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/vi/vi_events/vi_events_smm.asp.
LAST CHANCE TO SEE "JELLIES" (TILL NOVEMBER)
By popular demand, the "Jellies: Living Art" special exhibition
has been extended indefinitely. But we'll close it briefly,
between Sept. 5 and Nov. 1, to refurbish and remodel elements of
this stunning special exhibition, which in 2003 won the Excellence
in Exhibition award through the American Association of
Museums--AAM's highest honor. Visit
http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/efc/ to connect to information
about this special exhibition.
"OTTER DAYS"
"Otter Days" returns Sept. 23 and 24. Meet sea otter staff and
find out what it's like to care for the critters in our
collection--both on exhibit and off. You might even win a special
behind-the-scenes tour of our sea otter exhibit or animal health
lab! Check our online calendar for details.
http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/aquariumlibraryweb/ui/calendar/calendar.aspx.
BONFANTE GARDENS OFFER
Through Oct. 29
Use this coupon to save $10 per person on tickets to the Bonfante
Gardens Family Theme Park near Gilroy (ages 7-64; up to 6 people
per coupon). The coupon is valid for general admission only,
which includes use of all rides, shows, and attractions in
operation on day of use, but not special events/concerts and
pay-per-play attractions. (Not valid on Park company rentals or
special events including Holiday Lights.) You can print your
coupon now.
(http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/vi/vi_seanotes/coupon_bonfante.html)
Call (408) 840-7100; and visit http://www.bonfantegardens.org
to confirm public operating dates and hours.
Visit Promotions & Events on our web site for more information.
http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/vi/vi_aquarium/vi_aq_promotions.asp
4. CONSERVATION IN ACTION
TRACKING WORLD TRAVELERS
Like human tourists, thousands of sooty shearwaters, small gray
seabirds, flock to Monterey Bay in the summer--lured by abundant
prey in coastal waters. These visitors hail from the southern
hemisphere, where researchers with Tagging of Pacific Pelagics
have been outfitting sooties with small electronic tags at
nesting beaches in New Zealand. What they've found is astonishing.
The tiny bird holds a whopping world record. Their recently
published study documented migratory journeys averaging 40,000
miles--the longest electronically recorded tracks for any animal
species anywhere on the planet. You can find the details at
http://www.toppcensus.org/web/FeatureDetails.aspx?id=82&WG=9.
"ALTERED OCEANS" SERIES
Everything about the oceans is changing: chemistry, mix of species,
levels of manmade pollution. Now the Los Angeles Times has taken
an in-depth look at the long-term health of the seas and a gradual
but profound transformation that is shifting the balance of life
from fish and marine mammals to primitive life forms like algae,
bacteria and jellies. The multimedia series by Times' ocean
reporter Kenneth R. Weiss and science writer Usha Lee McFarling
is essential reading for anyone who cares about the future of the
oceans. You'll find it online at
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/oceans/la-oceans-series,0,7842752.special.
5. FREE OFFERS: SHARK POSTER, SEA OTTER WALLPAPER
This month's Sea Notes specials include a free shark poster and
free wallpaper of a sea otter pup with its mother.
http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/vi/vi_seanotes/vi_seanotes_specials.asp
**********
The Monterey Bay Aquarium is a non-profit institution. Our
mission is to inspire conservation of the oceans. You can support
our many education programs and marine research projects by:
- Becoming a member or making an online donation.
http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/md/
- Sending a conservation-oriented electronic postcard to friends.
http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/epostcards/
We welcome your thoughts and comments.
(equarist@mbayaq.org)
Monterey Bay Aquarium | 886 Cannery Row | Monterey | CA | 93940
Sea Notes
September, 2006
1. EXHIBIT NEWS
NEW TUNAS
Five Pacific bluefin tuna and one yellowfin tuna have joined the
Outer Bay exhibit. Collected off San Diego, they're much smaller
than the other tuna in the exhibit, only 30 pounds apiece, about
the same size as the bonito.
COLORFUL SEA SLUGS
Look for three colorful new species of nudibranchs, or sea slugs,
in the Skeleton Shrimp exhibit. Most noticeable are the
purple-and-orange Spanish shawls (Flabellina iodinea) that can be
seen crawling over the algae. Less obvious but equally beautiful
are the speckled, translucent Dirona picta and Dendronotus frondosus.
(We don't know a common name for either species.) You'll find
them munching on hydroid colonies near the center of the exhibit.
JACKSMELT
We've added a school of 38 jacksmelt to the Kelp Forest exhibit
that were collected near the aquarium. Look for them close to the
surface, under the kelp fronds near the back. Those of you with
good eyes may spot a mackerel mixed in.
Visit What's New? on our web site to learn more about new
arrivals in our exhibits.
http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/news/
2. AQUARIUM NEWS
"OCEANS IN GLASS" RE-BROADCAST
If you missed it in January, the compelling "Oceans in Glass:
Behind the scenes at the Monterey Bay Aquarium" will re-air on
Sunday, Oct. 15, on PBS's Nature. Filmed by the award-winning
team at Sea Studios in Monterey, the program offers a visually
stunning look at what it takes to create our exhibits. The program
also features the white shark we had on exhibit for six months
before releasing her in March 2005. For a preview of the program,
visit http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/oceansinglass/.
CLIMATE CHANGE COLLABORATION
There's still time to take part in a study about how to engage
people in solving pressing environmental issues, starting with
climate change. You're invited to join us in Monterey for a
90-minute session on Saturday, Sept. 16. You'll see a short film
about climate change ("Strange Days on Planet Earth: The One
Degree Factor") and learn more about how you can make a
difference. By taking part, you'll give us important feedback
that we can use to engage others on this and other critical
environmental topics.
If you're interested, please register in advance for any of
five sessions (10 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m.)
by contacting Paul and Judy Myers, paulmy@comcast.net. All
sessions take place in Monterey at our Center for the Future
of the Oceans, 100 Heritage Harbor (near Fisherman's Wharf).
To learn more about "Strange Days on Planet Earth," visit
http://www.pbs.org/strangedays/episodes/onedegreefactor/.
3. PROMOTIONS & EVENTS
LAST CHANCE TO SEE "SHARKS"
Daily through Sept. 4
You only have a few weeks left to experience the magical "Sharks:
Myth and Mystery" before it closes Sept. 4. This award-winning
special exhibition takes visitors around the world to explore how
different cultures view sharks and rays--from revered icons to
media monsters. Check details of our "going away" activities at
http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/vi/vi_events/vi_events_smm.asp.
LAST CHANCE TO SEE "JELLIES" (TILL NOVEMBER)
By popular demand, the "Jellies: Living Art" special exhibition
has been extended indefinitely. But we'll close it briefly,
between Sept. 5 and Nov. 1, to refurbish and remodel elements of
this stunning special exhibition, which in 2003 won the Excellence
in Exhibition award through the American Association of
Museums--AAM's highest honor. Visit
http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/efc/ to connect to information
about this special exhibition.
"OTTER DAYS"
"Otter Days" returns Sept. 23 and 24. Meet sea otter staff and
find out what it's like to care for the critters in our
collection--both on exhibit and off. You might even win a special
behind-the-scenes tour of our sea otter exhibit or animal health
lab! Check our online calendar for details.
http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/aquariumlibraryweb/ui/calendar/calendar.aspx.
BONFANTE GARDENS OFFER
Through Oct. 29
Use this coupon to save $10 per person on tickets to the Bonfante
Gardens Family Theme Park near Gilroy (ages 7-64; up to 6 people
per coupon). The coupon is valid for general admission only,
which includes use of all rides, shows, and attractions in
operation on day of use, but not special events/concerts and
pay-per-play attractions. (Not valid on Park company rentals or
special events including Holiday Lights.) You can print your
coupon now.
(http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/vi/vi_seanotes/coupon_bonfante.html)
Call (408) 840-7100; and visit http://www.bonfantegardens.org
to confirm public operating dates and hours.
Visit Promotions & Events on our web site for more information.
http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/vi/vi_aquarium/vi_aq_promotions.asp
4. CONSERVATION IN ACTION
TRACKING WORLD TRAVELERS
Like human tourists, thousands of sooty shearwaters, small gray
seabirds, flock to Monterey Bay in the summer--lured by abundant
prey in coastal waters. These visitors hail from the southern
hemisphere, where researchers with Tagging of Pacific Pelagics
have been outfitting sooties with small electronic tags at
nesting beaches in New Zealand. What they've found is astonishing.
The tiny bird holds a whopping world record. Their recently
published study documented migratory journeys averaging 40,000
miles--the longest electronically recorded tracks for any animal
species anywhere on the planet. You can find the details at
http://www.toppcensus.org/web/FeatureDetails.aspx?id=82&WG=9.
"ALTERED OCEANS" SERIES
Everything about the oceans is changing: chemistry, mix of species,
levels of manmade pollution. Now the Los Angeles Times has taken
an in-depth look at the long-term health of the seas and a gradual
but profound transformation that is shifting the balance of life
from fish and marine mammals to primitive life forms like algae,
bacteria and jellies. The multimedia series by Times' ocean
reporter Kenneth R. Weiss and science writer Usha Lee McFarling
is essential reading for anyone who cares about the future of the
oceans. You'll find it online at
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/oceans/la-oceans-series,0,7842752.special.
5. FREE OFFERS: SHARK POSTER, SEA OTTER WALLPAPER
This month's Sea Notes specials include a free shark poster and
free wallpaper of a sea otter pup with its mother.
http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/vi/vi_seanotes/vi_seanotes_specials.asp
**********
The Monterey Bay Aquarium is a non-profit institution. Our
mission is to inspire conservation of the oceans. You can support
our many education programs and marine research projects by:
- Becoming a member or making an online donation.
http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/md/
- Sending a conservation-oriented electronic postcard to friends.
http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/epostcards/
We welcome your thoughts and comments.
(equarist@mbayaq.org)
Monterey Bay Aquarium | 886 Cannery Row | Monterey | CA | 93940