Conservation Research

National Aquarium Conservation Center

Through pioneering science and partnerships with like-minded organizations worldwide, the National Aquarium Conservation Center is committed to conducting conservation research necessary to understand, interpret, and explain aquatic ecosystems and to advocate for ocean health. Established in 2009, the Center provides the framework and the resources for resolving critical issues currently impacting coastal ecosystems and watersheds, ocean health, ecological aquaculture, and informs issues of environmental policy and advocacy through conservation research focused on aquatic ecosystems. Current projects include:

	Assessing Chronic Natural Resource Damages From BP Oil Spill The National Aquarium Conservation Center, in collaboration with Mote Marine Laboratory and Johns Hopkins University, is conducting research in the Gulf of Mexico to determine long-term effects on aquatic organisms in this ecosystem. Registration now open! November 2–4, 2011: NRDA for the Gulf: Improving Our Ability to Quantify Chronic Damages, a Solution-Focused Symposium » Learn more
	Baltimore Harbor Project In an effort to help lawmakers make informed decisions, the National Aquarium Conservation Center, Maryland Department of Environment, and Mote Marine Laboratory are working to correlate DNA damage in benthic organisms to organic contaminant levels in sediments in the Baltimore Harbor.
	Chesapeake Bay Initiative Through the Chesapeake Bay Initiative, the National Aquarium recruits volunteers and partners with government agencies, schools, corporations, and community service organizations to restore and protect tidal wetlands and other vital habitats in the Bay area. Additionally, the National Aquarium monitors the progress of these sites continually, collecting topographic, vegetation, and fish use data. This data is shared with federal partners to help improve their design of future projects. » View current projects
	Mercury (Hg) Fate and Transport in Aquatic Ecosystems The National Aquarium Conservation Center and Johns Hopkins University have jointly funded a postdoctoral fellow for two years to conduct research to determine how mercury bioaccumulates in aquatic ecosystems. The results of this research will enable EPA to advance its efforts in developing Ambient Water Quality Criteria for methylmercury.
	Mercury (Hg) in Wild Bottlenose Dolphins This toxic metal is thought to adversely impact populations of dolphins and porpoises throughout the world. The National Aquarium Conservation Center, Johns Hopkins University, the Chicago Zoological Society, and Mote Marine Laboratory are working together to track mercury through the food chain using the resident dolphin population in Sarasota Bay. The outcome of this project will be the development of models to demonstrate how mercury bioaccumulates at different levels in the food chain and eventually in dolphins.
	Mercury (Hg) in Captive Bottlenose Dolphins The National Aquarium Conservation Center and Johns Hopkins University are looking at levels of mercury and methylmercury in fish that are fed to captive dolphins at the National Aquarium, as well as looking at levels of mercury species in captive dolphin tissues. This information will enable us to modify the diet of these dolphins, if necessary, to reduce mercury intake.
	Spotted Eagle Ray Research Spotted eagle rays are threatened or near-threatened, yet little is known about their basic biology. Researchers are tagging and tracking spotted eagle rays that routinely migrate in and out of Sarasota Bay, FL, annually to determine their distribution, identify important foraging sites, and investigate additional physiological information. Scientists will study blood samples from these animals to learn more about spotted eagle ray biology and reproduction. Collaborators are National Aquarium Conservation Center and Mote Marine Laboratory.