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More News about The National Aquarium
Scientists Convene at the Aquarium for Jelly Camp 2023
If you've ever been captivated by jellies' hypnotic pulses as they effortlessly drift along with currents, you know the spell these creatures can cast. Jellies are animals from multiple branches of the evolutionary tree and are the descendants of true jellies, comb jellies and tunicates that emerged in the ocean over 500 million years ago. Despite looking like simplistic creatures, their evolution, lifecycles and genomes are surprisingly complicated. Some scientists have dedicated their professional lives to untangling the mysteries of these gelatinous organisms.
Sixty-five of these experts from institutions across the U.S., Canada and the Bahamas descended on the National Aquarium and Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology in Baltimore, Maryland, earlier this year to discuss all things jelly-related. Organized by National Aquarium Assistant Curator Jennie Janssen and co-hosted by the National Aquarium in collaboration with the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, the conference was called Jelly Camp. It was a packed and productive weekend, focused on sustaining jellies as well as the communities of experts studying them.
Given the diversity of jellies, one might expect to see a wide variety in aquariums. However, only one or two dozen species are routinely found in exhibits. This is due to many things. Thirty to 40 years ago, jellies were primarily collected at sea and then placed on exhibit. Their free-swimming adult forms have always been more easily identified than their microscopic larval or immobile polyp phases, making them perfect for collecting. Unfortunately, the short-lived and fragile nature of their free-swimming form (known as medusae) often resulted in problems in keeping exhibits stocked. A solution—fostering jellies throughout their entire lifecycle and facilitating breeding—brought challenges, especially without literature or guidance about culturing certain species.
Quarantine: An Aquarium Rite of Passage
Quarantine may sound intimidating, but it is a routine part of all animals' journeys in the aquarium world.
Long before an animal moves into a National Aquarium exhibit, it goes through a period of acclimation and quarantine. While "quarantine" may sound intimidating, it's not the case in the zoo and aquarium world; here, it simply means the time when an animal is housed in off-site or behind-the-scenes settings to make sure they are healthy and adjusting to their new environment. These animals are just starting their journey at the National Aquarium and will eventually join thousands of other animals already in exhibits. Regardless of species, size or source, their first stop is almost always the Animal Care and Rescue Center.
An animal's journey to the Aquarium can take many forms. While some are born right here at the National Aquarium, most come from other facilities accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums or are obtained sustainably from their natural habitats. Those coming from outside sources mainly arrive via car or transport truck; others experience rides on boats or planes before landing in Baltimore and being driven the last leg by staff. Transport can be stressful, but the care staff works hard to keep the trip comfortable, short and smooth.