Presentation Abstracts Host Facility Spotlights Landrys Golden Nugget - - PDF document

Presentation Abstracts Host Facility Spotlights Landry’s Golden Nugget- Mike Bajek The Golden Nugget is the largest hotel and casino in the city of Las Vegas constructed back in

• 1946. There have been numerous owners over the years including Steve Wynn and it was

most recently purchased by Landry’s Restaurants Inc. on September 27, 2005. Shortly thereafter the casino underwent a three phase renovation which began with a $100 million dollar face lift in 2006; a $70 million dollar renovation which included the $30 million dollar pool with a 200,000 gallon aquarium insert, and ending with a $150 million dollar project which included the Chart House Aquarium restaurant and the Rush Tower. There is now a 375,000 gallon plus saltwater aquarium facility on property. This presentation will introduce you to some of the LSS responsibilities and current projects. The Mirage- Grant Reeves The Mirage has many very different aquatic environments that are absolutely fascinating. From the Volcano, with its fully automated show of water, fire, and musical accompaniment to the Front Desk Aquarium, with its hundreds of species of fish to the Secret Garden’s different habitats and varied requirements of operation. This presentation will highlight these areas and give some insight of what it takes to operate each environment and to create astounding displays and interactions for our guests. Illustrating The Mirage’s different exhibits, as well as their supportive hardware will demonstrate our collective diversity in aquatic operations. Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay – Alex Hunter Since it’s opening in the spring of 2000, Shark Reef has been a unique attraction for the Las Vegas Strip. While not only unique as an attraction, Shark Reef is also unique in that it brings a message of conservation to a culture of excess. After nearly 14 years this attraction continues to be popular with tourists as well as locals and averages about one million visitors each year. This presentation will focus on Shark Reef exhibits, life support systems, facility staff, educational programs, and daily operations. Short Facility Updates Caesars Palace- Keely Biggs The Caesars Palace Aquatics Department is responsible for 33 fresh and saltwater aquariums and live seafood holding systems; most of which the public has never seen before. Get a sneak peek into our small but flourishing department as we maintain the only public Seahorse exhibit in Nevada, aquariums in our luxury villas and meet challenges that come naturally with low space, the inability to see our aquariums every day and a demand for four star perfection. California Science Center - Bill Johnson, Ph.D.

The Ecosystems exhibition, which opened in March 2010, is the latest milestone in the advancement of the Master Plan. Unique among science centers internationally, Ecosystems immerses guests in environments that house almost 250 species of plants and animals side-by- side with hands-on interactive exhibits. This innovative learning environment effectively conveys the principles of ecology and creates more responsible stewards of the environment through scientific understanding. Ecosystems is a logical extension of the World of Life gallery that opened in 1998. Where World of Life focuses on the processes necessary to sustain individual organisms, Ecosystems explores the relationships between individual organisms, species, and their environment---and how those relationships shape the world. Oregon Coast Community College Aquarium Science Program- Chris Spaulding The Aquarium Science Program at the Oregon Coast Community College is currently within its 10th year of offering college degrees and certificates, through formal education and training, to students planning a career in the aquatic animal care profession. The presentation will discuss this unique program with its one-of-a-kind course curriculum and practical hands-on learning

• pportunities along with plans and strategies for equipping present and future aquarium

professionals entering a progressive and ever-changing field. A brief history and overview of the program, including updates on the state-of-the-art Aquarium Science Lab Facility and contributions of the program and its graduates to the industry will be reviewed. University of New England Aquaculture and Aquarium Science Program- Timothy Arienti and Jeri Fox The Aquaculture and Aquarium Science (AQS) major at the University of New England is an innovative and truly interdisciplinary program connecting multiple academic disciplines such as Biology, Marine Science, and Business. But the collaborative program that exposes the students in the major to some of the most unique opportunities and adds to their skill set is the

• ne that the AQS program has with UNE’s Marine Science Center and the Life Support Team
• staff. Through team teaching and projects, we are able to use real life situations and equipment

to instruct. Through a combination of internships, teaching labs, and volunteer programs, students in the AQS major get involved in projects ranging from redesigning a recirculating system for sea turtles to building and using ROVs to check dock pylons. Other “living classrooms” include the flowthrough system, the Marine Animal Rehabilitation and Conservation group, the phytoplankton room, and the oyster recirculating system. New York Aquarium: 18 Months After Hurricane Sandy- Dennis Ethier, New York Aquarium This presentation will give an update to where the New York Aquarium is in relation to the rebuild effort post Sandy and provide an update to our newest endeavor; Ocean Wonders

• Sharks. We will discuss our experiences after the initial cleanup and share what we’ve learned

about required documentation for insurance carriers and FEMA. We’ll also give a short presentation on our new Shark exhibit, a 57,000 square foot undertaking that will add about a half million gallons of water exhibit to the Aquarium. Key Note Speaker The Beginning of AALSO- John Watters, Watters Life Support & First AALSO President Beginning around 1978, Jim Ring and Gerald Kor started the first water quality department which John was a member at SeaWorld of San Diego. Over time the department evolved by adding divers for exhibit cleaning, heating and chilling for the mammal and fish systems, adding Ozone and other technologies. Durring his time at ENARTEC Engineering in 1992 he started LSS facilities in Canada, Italy, Hong Kong, Taiwan and many others. In 1993 he asked Nestor

Ramos the President of ENARTEC, about wanting to have a conference for water quality

• perators. Working with Pat and Patricia Case, the first symposium at the Mirage in Vegas was

set up. After symposium attendees agreed unanimously that future conferences should be pursued, John asked Gregg Case, Stuart McDaniel, Joe Arlotto and Dale Mork to form the first board which created AALSO. This presentation will revisit the earliest years of our organization that made way for where we are today. Symposium Theme A Wave Ahead- Mike de Maine (Two Oceans Aquarium) The Two Oceans Aquarium endeavors to inspire through action. In addition to numerous efforts to reduce our ecological footprint, we constantly seek solutions to reduce our energy consumption and to become as energy-efficient as possible. We also look for ways to incorporate renewable energy into our operations. As a high profile, public facility with a dedicated education centre, it is imperative that the Two Oceans Aquarium lead by example and showcase energy-saving initiatives in order to effect sustainable citizen behaviour change through education.Once we had finished with Solar PV, Wind Turbines, energy efficient chillers and changed all the lighting to LED’s there was not much left to do with regards to energy savings, but with a bit of lateral thinking we came up with the idea of using the surge in our Kelp display to produce power through a wave/wind turbine configuration.Two Ocean’s Kelp tank is using a wave surge to help maintain the required environment for kelp growth and this surge has been running 24 hours a day for 18 years. The energy is being spent already, so why not utilize it to get some gains and in turn demonstrate another renewable energy resource to our visitors and 52 000 school children that visit the aquarium on an annual basis. Saving Your Budget: Water Conservation; Water Reclamation; Ice Storage Chilling- Don Ulrich & David Wardlow (Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden) The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden has been successful with promoting employee awareness to assist in our domestic water usage. We have challenged the staff to help identify water loss sources in water features, hosing practices and LSS system operations throughout the park. With infrastructure improvements and getting folks to question the status quo of past water management, our usage has dropped 180 million gallons per year since 2005. Another factor to our budgetary bottom line has been the implementation of an ultra-filtered storm water reclamation system, which not only has saved domestic usage but reduced our combined sanitary sewer discharge. Lastly, we would like to share what we have accomplished with an alternative water chilling system that has dramatically reduced the electrical ‘peak demand’ usage. Conservation and Sustainability at MGM Resorts International- Chris Magee (MGM Resorts International) In 2006, MGM Resorts International established the Energy and Environmental Services Division to ensure that programs and processes were in place to mitigate any negative environmental impacts. This resulted in the Company starting many conservation programs that substantially reduce electricity, gas, and water usage at all of its Las Vegas resorts. The Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay has over 1.6 million gallons of water, and 90% of the water is reused and recycled, resulting in over 2.1 million gallons of reclaimed water per year. Among

• ther awards, MGM Resorts International is the proud recipient of twelve Green Key

certifications, the 2010 Earth-Minded Award, and the 2010 Best Green Owner award. MGM Resorts International is committed to be a global leader in sustainability and stewardship of the environment.

Act Like You Own the Place … Even Before It’s Yours: The Denver Zoo’s Legal Battle and Why It’s Important (and Saves Big Bucks) For Operators To Be Involved in LSS Design and Construction- Love Ruddell (Denver Zoo) & Joe Arlotto (Aquatic Operations Group) The design and construction of an exhibit and its LSS is a process which requires input from many different people; architects, engineers, curators, facility managers, vets, general contractors and LSS installers all contribute at one point or another during design and then through construction and start-up. But, unfortunately, many LSS installers are simply mechanical contractors who have very little or no experience with LSS equipment or drawings. Same for General Contractors. For this reason, having someone familiar with LSS operations and construction is crucial to the system’s success. Love Ruddell and Joe Arlotto will discuss Denver Zoo’s Elephant Exhibit’s design and construction; and the subsequent lawsuit between the Zoo and the LSS installer. This will also include examples of how a little well-timed input from an LSS operator could have saved millions of dollars in remediation and legal fees. Design and Testing of a Modular, Variable Flow Path Sulfur Denitrification System- Hunter Ryan (California Science Center Foundation) The Life Support Department at the California Science Center has been investigating the efficacy of a sulfur denitrification system designed to remove nitrate effectively both at high concentration at start up; and lower, steady concentrations once the bulk of the system nitrate has been removed. The presentation will include notes on planning, construction, and operation

• f a modular filter.

How LSS is Hell-bent on Helping to Save Hellbenders at the Saint Louis Zoo- Matt Regensburger (Saint Louis Zoo) One of our WildCare Institute conservation centers (the conservation arm of the Saint Louis Zoo) is the Ron Goellner Center for Hellbender Conservation. This conservation project’s main goal is establish a captive breeding program and a husbandry protocol for the successful rearing of the larvae. This project originally began in 2001 and has grown every year. The Saint Louis Zoo’s LSS staff has built, rehabbed, and maintained all of the systems for this project, which by mid-June will number 20 individual systems, ranging in size from a couple of hundred gallons up to four thousand gallons. This quick update will go over the project’s history, the evolution of the life support systems, as well as discuss the collaboration between LSS, the keeper staff, and Missouri Department of Conservation. Dive Support, Water Quality & Chemistry Exhibit Maintenance Diving Through Diverse Staffing- Joel Yankie (Columbus Zoo & Aquarium) Including staff, interns, volunteers and contracted divers the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium’s dive program utilizes a wide array of divers to polish acrylic, perform routine upkeep and fix unexpected repairs in the zoo’s over half a million gallons of underwater exhibits from polar bears to manatees. As the number of aquatic features has increased over the last few years proportionally has the number of dives, divers and maintenance. Beginning in 2010 our staff were first trained on polishing exhibit acrylic and since then we have changed and developed

• ur equipment and methods. Additionally the zoo’s oldest 100,000 gallon reef exhibit is

currently undergoing work on its under gravel filtration while keeping animals on display. In keeping up with these needs a growing volunteer dive program now over 50 divers strong and duties spanning two exhibits utilizes a new iPad application to track their maintenance progress.

Emerging Trends in Occupational Diving: An Exercise In Navigation- George Peterson & Scott Chapman (Monterey Bay Aquarium) The landscape of occupational diving is ever evolving and the complex and sometimes rapidly changing regulatory concerns can seemingly be difficult to navigate. We’ll examine emerging trends, unique approaches and real world applications utilizing innovative methods and technology to help the Zoo and Aquarium dive program meet the present day challenges. We’ll conclude with a discussion on the Association of Dive Program Administrators (ADPA), a valuable resource for idea-sharing, collaboration and ensuring awareness of the latest developments in dive program management. The Costs of Lab Tests Performed by the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center’s Water Quality Laboratory- David L. Lo (Virginia Aquarium) An analysis of the laboratory expenditures for the Water Quality Lab of the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center provided the cost of each water quality test which then was used to evaluate the overall lab cost effectiveness. The costs considered were: materials and reagents, salaries, instruments, and general costs (administrative, maintenance, space, disposables and safety). The greatest expenditure was salaries, which accounted for 70% of the total, followed by general costs (16%), and then by instruments, and materials and reagents which contribute for 10% and 4% respectively. The costs of methods performed were determined to be between $0.53 and $4.57. Performing tests in-house resulted in an average savings of approximately 92% when compared to prices charged by outside laboratories. This study may serve as a tool in reviewing water quality lab expenditure in the zoo and aquarium industry. “Fish” the Final Product- Jack Jewell (Mandalay Bay Aquarium) Modern closed system aquariums are strongly reliant on life support for the success of their

• exhibits. This creates a very critical strategic relationship between Animal Care team members

and Life Support team members and managers. This presentation will take a look at the relationships between Life Support, Water Quality and fish health as well as the complex job of focusing all team members on the final product – public display aquariums. Veterinary and Husbandry Support Fish Health 101 - A Preventative Medicine Program - Laurie Kormos (Steinhart Aquarium) A comprehensive preventative medicine program is an essential part of the management of an aquarium animal collection, and should include the following: quarantine, water quality monitoring, prevention of cross contamination, monitoring of the animals, nutrition, surveillance and prophylactic medicine, medical records and necropsies. This presentation will be an introduction to these topics with a focus of understanding and appreciation for the components and concepts of a preventative medicine program. Scenarios will be presented which will illustrate how life support engineers can assist with identification of ill or distressed animals, take appropriate actions to identify possible causative water quality problems, identify and retrieve mortalities without cross contamination, and overall enhance the facility’s preventative medicine program. Aquarium Microbiome Influence on Resident Animal Health: A Case Study- William G. Van Bonn, DVM (A. Watson Armour III Center for Animal Health and Welfare, Shedd Aquarium) Over a nine month period all animals from an established 3 million gallon indoor closed artificial sea water aquarium system were temporarily relocated to an outdoor system in another state. The indoor system was drained and remained fallow for the nine month period. Water samples

from the source system prior to animal relocation, the temporary outdoor system and the source system following renovation and animal return were collected and submitted for automated ribosomal intergenic space (ASIRA) and pyrosequencing analysis. These data illustrate very different but stable aquatic microbial assemblages between sites. Simultaneous surveillance of resident animal adrenal hormone production and measures of granulocyte and monocyte functional capacity provide compelling evidence for the role of the aquarium microbiome in promoting robust immunological responses. We believe this further supports our aquatic animal hygiene hypothesis and highlights the need to better understand aquatic system microbial assemblages and how to manipulate them to promote resident animal health. Effects of Life Support System on Aquatic Animal Health- Nantarika Chansue DVM, MBA, Ph.D, (Veterinary Medical Aquatic Animal Research Center & Chulalongkorn University) Life support system has always been one of the most critical factors in aquatic animal health in

• captivity. The detrimental effects from non - functional life support system can lead to various

levels of negative impact, such as, stress, morbidity, and mortality. Direct and indirect effects on each animal depends on many factors, including species, individual sensitivity, severity of the damage, previous health condition, etc. This presentation aims to demonstrate the effects of life support system efficiency on water quality which would have the impacts on animal's health. Elasmobrachs, teleosts, invertebrates, and reptiles in aquaria could become clinically ill, with or without mortality by improperly using drugs and chemicals in the water. Therefore, considerations on the effects must be made before any change in the water composition is done. The most important objective of keeping the life support system and water quality optimized, is to create the least stressful and harmful condition for the animals in aquaria.