Birch Aquarium welcomes baby Weedy Seadragons
Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego is celebrating the arrival of more than 70 tiny newborn Weedy Seadragons, which are incredibly difficult to breed and rear in captivity.Only a handful of facilities have successfully hatched and reared this unique species of fish that are related to seahorses and pipefish.“This is huge for us. We’ve been working on this for decades,” said associate curator Leslee Matsushige who leads Birch Aquarium’s Seahorse and Seadragon Breeding Programs. “This is a very challenging yet exciting process. We’ve had some previous experience raising young seadragons, so we hope to successfully raise an even greater number of babies this year.”The baby weedies are about 1 inch long and weigh less than 1 gram, and will grow to be 13-15 inches long. They began hatching on Sunday, Feb. 26, and continued hatching through Thursday, March 2. Weedy Seadragons are fairly solitary creatures. Once the eggs hatch, the babies are fully independent. They feed on their own and fend for themselves. The father’s role in protecting the fry is done.The babies are being raised behind the scenes so aquarists can monitor and feed them a special diet. Weedy Seadragons are notoriously picky eaters. Their food of choice is tiny mysid shrimp.For several weeks, the husbandry team had been closely monitoring the father who carried more than 70 eggs on the underside of his tail. Baby seadragons have leaf-like camouflaging appendages, which are usually very large for their bodies, and not as colorful when compared to an adult. They also have a much shorter snout.The aquarium has experienced an influx of guests coming through its doors following the announcement of the egg transfer on Jan. 9. A previous egg transfer happened in 2020 when five eggs were released and two of them hatched. However, that transfer took place behind the scenes. Those two seadragons are currently in the seadragon exhibit.The stunning centerpiece for Seadragons & Seahorses, which opened in May 2019, is home to 16 adult seadragons. The display is 18 feet wide, and 9 feet tall, and holds more than 5,000 gallons of water. It was designed to provide an optimal environment for these colorful fish to mate and breed.“Seadragons are relatively new to human care with their first introductions in the ’90s. In that short period of time, Birch Aquarium and our colleagues have been able to learn just a bit of their amazing life history, genetics, and behaviors,” said Jenn Nero Moffatt, senior director of animal care, science, and conservation.“This successful breeding was the result of many years of dedication to understanding this delicate species and replicating their natural environment through changes in flow rates, water volume, lighting, and water temperature, which are key to influencing their health and successful breeding. We are poised to help this species with our conservation program,” Moffatt said.Matsushige and her team have been working with seadragons since 1996. Not only has she been able to improve her breeding strategies based on information from her own research but also from the experiences of colleagues who have shared notes about their own breeding strategies.“There is still a lot to learn and improve on,” said Matsushige. “We hope with the gained knowledge we can get better at this process and have more frequent and consistent egg transfers and hatchings.”With their intricate camouflage and unique coloring, seadragons are excellent ambassadors to promote a greater understanding of the rich diversity in the oceans.Weedy Seadragons are only found in temperate waters on the southern coast of Australia. They have delicate appendages that help them blend in with kelp and seagrass to avoid predators. Other challenges faced by seadragons in the wild include food scarcity, warming oceans, and compromised habitats caused by climate change.The babies will spend up to a year behind the scenes before guests can see them. Eventually, there may be an opportunity to transfer some to other AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums) institutions as part of breeding and education programs.Seadragon enthusiasts can follow the aquarium’s social media channels for the latest updates. To learn more about the aquarium’s Seadragon Breeding Program, visit aquarium.ucsd.edu.
Martin Luther King III ignites gratitude movement with La Jolla students
On Feb. 23, more than 1,000 students heard motivational speeches from Martin Luther King III, Say It Now founder Walter Green, and others at a special La Jolla Country Day School event highlighting the importance of expressing gratitude now to those who’ve positively impacted people’s lives.Green, author of the book “This Is The Moment,” launched the Say It Now movement stressing how expressing gratitude to those significant in our lives solidifies relationships and eliminates the prospect of having regrets for not having done so.The gala production included a choir performance. Joining LJCD students at 9490 Genesee Ave. were student guests from Monarch School serving unhoused students, and The Preuss School UC San Diego, which offers a college preparatory curriculum for sixth- to 12th-grade low-income students whose family members have never attended college.Opening remarks at the celebratory event were delivered by Colleen O’Boyle, assistant LJCD Head of School for Academic Affairs, and Jameel McDaniel, along with comments from MC and LJCDS student Ava Mendoza.Fifth-grader Zora North receives a hug from Martin Luther King III after reading Amanda Gorman’s poem ‘Talking Gets Us There’ at the event. COURTESY PHOTOStudent speakers expressing their gratitude to those meaningful in their lives included: Jaden Mangini (LJCDS), Fabian Garcia from The Preuss School, Harper Goff (LJCDS), and Mahlia Washington (LJCDS). Zora North read Amanda Gorman’s poem “Talking Gets Us There.”“I have a finding I want to gift to you,” Green told students about Say It Now and its mission. “What you’re going to hear is a new idea relevant to all ages, but particularly relevant to change leaders who are youth. It’s a message that can change your life and the lives of people who are really important to you. And the more you do it – the happier you are.”Continued Green: “I hope you’re inspired by the message. And even more importantly, you will become an ambassador and spread this message to many others. It’s customary to honor someone and pay tribute to them when they are no longer here. The person being honored never hears the message. And then we are left wishing we’d said it. That makes no sense. Say It Now is a movement to inspire you to express gratitude to people who’ve been important to you while they are alive and well.”Green proceeded to ask the crowd if there was someone who has been important to them and is still alive. Nearly everyone raised their hands. To which Green replied: “Say It Now is for you.”Green introduced MLK III, the oldest son of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, characterizing him as “a thought leader on the world stage, a peacemaker, and a negotiator of some of today’s most critical national and international platforms for social change.”“Spread the word, have you heard, all across the nation, we are going to be a great generation,” said MLK III, three times, in introducing himself to students. “It is an honor to have seen students from this community actually share gratitude for what is going on in their lives. Any of us can do this: just saying it right now.”Pointing out there were “so many people in my life who helped me through very difficult times, losing a father at 10 years old 55 years ago,” King added, “all of us at some point have to go through that (losing loved ones). I’m glad to have had people in my life who helped me navigate through those difficult times.”Addressing ongoing racism, King said, “I, like many African-American children, was exposed to racism. We must build our lives on a strong foundation. And always retain a sense of gratefulness and gratitude, and always be willing to share that gratitude. We as a human species must do better. And that is why we must say it now.”Concluded King: “Sixty years ago my father delivered a speech titled ‘I Have A Dream.’ In 2023, we’re still unfortunately dealing with racism. Dad talked about the triple evils of poverty, racism, and violence, and eradicating them from our nation and our planet. What I know is that it only takes a few good women and men to bring about change. I know that we, as a community, can make our nation and world better. And so, I want to challenge you to be your best selves. You’ve just got to be the best at what you are. That is the challenge. We must become a better nation. And we can become even better by saying it now.”Say It Now recently launched a year-long initiative to empower 1 million expressions of gratitude and is providing free resources at justsayitnow.org to help guide people of all ages through a transformative gratitude journey.
Knights girls water polo: A precision machine with finely-tuned parts
To break into the “inner sanctum” of the Bishop’s girls water polo team is a feat in itself. But once you’re in, people are real, and you begin to appreciate the magnitude of a 13-year run with 12 CIF titles.Listen to senior Chiara Marmanillo, the Bishop’s top-flight goalkeeper: “I learned from the best goalies before me. I’m focused on one play at a time, and trying to bring energy for everyone.” Marmanillo, in the Knights’ first-round SoCal Regional 10-9 overtime win on Feb. 21, was magnificent, deftly blocking skip shots as well as attempts up in the zone.So crucial on defense, fellow senior Lisbon Zeigler helps Marmanillo with near-net protection. “Making plays on defense is based on instinct and how much you want it,” Lisbon says. “Playing for my teammates, combined with the countless hours looking at small details on film, allows our team to be successful.”Whatever “it” is, it is being passed down, among select athletes, who are willing to submit their wills to the greater good — a winning program. Coach Doug Peabody, the architect of the program, with his close ally and assistant coach, Ian Davidson, a 2005 graduate, says, “This year we basically have eight field players (in the rotation), and they play like starters, not just role players.”Senior Lisbon Zeigler (black cap No. 7) defends against Emerson Hensley of Laguna Beach in the Knights’ 10-9 overtime win on Feb. 21 in the SoCal Regionals. PHOTO BY ED PIPERPeabody attests, Aileen Shin and Lucille Proul have had multiple-goal games as Bishop’s has gone 21-9 against Southern California’s elite. “Lucille (a senior) is a pass-first player who is a great on-ball defender.“Aileen (a freshman) came in as a very strong offensive player, and she has adapted well to learning new defenses.”There is life outside water polo. Kate Weatherup, another Class of 2023 member in the senior-heavy rotation, says she wants to remember “CIF day together, hype-up sessions before games, and watching other (Bishop’s) teams’ games, like basketball and soccer” from her high school experience.Julia Bonaguidi, a prolific scorer who had one goal posted up against Laguna Beach in the Regionals where she just turned and slammed the ball over her defender from close range, lets you into her mental process: “I always try to envision the specific things that our opponent does. Bringing those specific things to the front of my mind gets me in game mode and gives me a little more confidence going into the game.”Her coach says Bonaguidi is currently training with the senior women’s national team and traveling with them. “She has been incredibly solid her whole career,” Peabody says. “She is a student of the game that is always working on improving herself as a player and a teammate.”Says Peabody, “I believe the high level of intensity that people see from the outside is due to a group of athletes that are very goal-oriented and very driven to find success in the classroom and in the pool.”
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