Mystic Aquarium

Sea Research Foundation and Mystic Aquarium partner with Arctic Watch Wilderness Lodge on Cunningham Inlet in Nunavut, Canada, to help protect the wild beluga whale population through research and education. A world-class beluga observation site located 500 miles north of the Arctic Circle, late Sea Research Scientist and Research Director Dr. David St. Aubin conducted research studies on belugas in Cunningham Inlet for many years and this is the first time people are studying this whale population since 1999. Since that time, the climate has changed dramatically, allowing increased ship traffic in the Northwest Passage. No one knows how this affects the belugas and if the beluga population is growing, shrinking or stabilizing.

Although much progress has made, there is still much information to be gained on the marine mammal immune system. Many of the reagents that are available to study the immune system of terrestrial mammals cannot be used to investigate the marine mammal immune system. Our research team has focused on studying the bottlenose dolphin and beluga whale immune systems. Our laboratory has developed dolphin and whale-specific tools and reagents to characterize the cetacean immune system. Recently, we have cloned the gene for dolphin CD8 which is an important immune molecule present on cells that suppress the immune response.

Fecal and salivary cortisol determinations have been used in many species to monitor adrenal activity and the stress response. This study examines the feasibility of measuring cortisol in saliva and feces of belugas as an alternative to blood collection.  Multiple methods have been used to measure cortisol in the blood, saliva and feces.  We predict that a cortisol EIA kit designed for human serum will cross-react and measure cortisol in beluga serum, feces, and saliva. We hypothesize that cortisol levels in saliva reflect real-time blood levels of cortisol and can be used to detect acute stress whereas cortisol levels in feces reflect levels over a longer time frame and may be indicative of chronic stress.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether circulating levels of total thyroxine (tT4), total triiodothyronine (tT3), and thyroid sitmulating hormone (TSH) are subject to biological and environmental influences as a function of age, sex, or season in aquarium belugas and if these hormones reveal any significant metabolic adaptation in wild beluga whales. 

The wild population of African penguins (Spheniscus demersus) is experiencing a dramatic decline.  The population was estimated to be 3 million birds in the 1930's.  In 2009 there were an estimated 26,000 pairs and in 2011 only 21,000 pairs remain.   The population of African penguins has declined by more than 50% in the past 30 years.  Some scientists predict that the species could vanish within a decade.  This species is truly in trouble. In October of 2010 the US Fish and Wildlife Service listed this species as officially Endangered.

Mystic Aquarium's Penguin Task Force (PTF) was formed in July 2008.  Staff from the Aquarium's animal care, education and research departments joined forces to examine all the factors possibly affecting the penguins and developed a plan for the Aquarium to assist in the conservation of the African penguin.  Our Mission Statement reads "To help save the African penguin through leadership and assistance with research, education and conservation efforts".

Animals produce vocalizations in many different situations including aggressive interactions, stressful conditions, social bonding, play, feeding, and reproduction. As such, vocalizations have the potential to serve as accurate monitors of animal behavior and important indicators of animal well-being in zoological settings and in wild habitats. Dolphins and whales, especially, rely heavily on sound production and hearing. In fact, the immense variety of vocalizations produced by beluga whales has earned them the nickname, “Canaries of the Sea.”

Knowledge of the effects of infectious diseases on both animal and human consumer populations is critical in order to assess potential health threats.  Marine brucellosis is an emerging infectious disease with apparent worldwide distribution and currently unknown potential for causing disease in both marine mammals and humans.  Since 1994, marine origin Brucella species have been isolated from numerous marine mammals worldwide.  In addition to the numerous species of marine mammals that have been infected with marine origin Brucella, there have been 4 confirmed cases of human infection with these strains.

Brucella, a bacterial pathogen known for centuries for its devastating reproductive and general health effects in humans and livestock, is now recognized in marine mammals. Limited knowledge is available on its full physiologic effects in marine mammals. Though similar to terrestrial origin brucellosis, marine origin Brucella infection will likely act as a significant factor in low conception rates and increased spontaneous abortion and stillbirth rates in marine mammal populations. Marine origin Brucella is also zoonotic, thus poses a threat to humans who come into close contact with marine mammal body fluids and tissues, such as researchers, veterinarians, and animal care specialists.