02/08/93 ag508 <1> AQUATIC SURVIVAL Bulletin of the Aquatic Conservation Network Volume 1, Number 3 - September 1992 ISSN 1188-553X (unformatted version) 540 Roosevelt Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K2A 1Z8 Tel. (613) 729-4670. Fax. (613) 729-5613. (CompuServe 71022,3537) (Internet rob@pinetree.org) *********** Aquatic Conservation Network Directors Dennis Hough, 3626 Glenwood Springs Dr., Kingwood, Texas 77345, USA. Tel: (713) 360-9549. Fax: (713) 360-0855 Rob Huntley, 540 Roosevelt Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K2A 1Z8. Tel: (613) 729-4670. Fax: (613) 729-5613. Shawn Prescott, Red Sea Fish pHarm Ltd., P.O. Box 4045, Eilat 88000, Israel. Tel: 972-7-331307. Fax: 972-7-379340. Advisory Directors Chris Andrews, National Aquarium in Baltimore Eugene Balon, Institute of Ichthyology, University of Guelph Heiko Bleher, Aquarium Rio, Germany Al Castro, formerly with the Steinhart Aquarium Bruce Gebhardt, North American Native Fishes Association Nelson Herwig, Houston Zoo Ken Lazara, American Museum of Natural History Paul Loiselle, New York Aquarium Gene Lucas, Biology Department, Drake University Gordon Reid, North of England Zoological Society Tony Ribbink, JLB Smith Institute of Ichthyology Daniel Richardson, Federation of American Aquarium Societies Craig Watson, Florida Cooperative Extension Service *********** AQUATIC SURVIVAL Bulletin of the Aquatic Conservation Network International Standard Serial Number - ISSN 1188-553X Published quarterly (March, June, September and December) by The Aquatic Conservation Network, Inc., 540 Roosevelt Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K2A 1Z8. Attn: Robert V. Huntley, Editor. Telephone: (613) 729-4670. Fax: (613) 729-5613. Upcoming deadlines for submissions are November 20, 1992, February 19, 1993 and May 21, 1993. Unless otherwise indicated, articles may be reprinted without permission provided that such use is not for financial gain and appropriate credit is given to the author and to Aquatic Survival. The views expressed in published material are those of the individual author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Aquatic Conservation Network. 02/08/93 ag508 <2> JOIN NOW! Annual membership is $25.00 (Canadian or U.S.) Aquatic Conservation Network 540 Roosevelt Avenue Ottawa, Ontario Canada K2A 1Z8 *********** Aquatic Survival Deadline for the next issue is November 20, 1992 *********** 02/08/93 ag508 <3> BREEDING FISH FOR CONSERVATION The Role of the Aquarist by Roger W. Langton Introduction As the months and years go by it will become increasingly apparent that the tropical fish and related hobby industries will survive only to the extent that species are being successfully bred in captivity. If this is to be a long term success, it will be necessary for the aquarists and commercial establishments to breed fish in a manner that will maintain genetic diversity over decades and centuries. This paper has been written to serve as a handbook to assist amateur aquarists who are interested in the conservation of aquatic life. It is hoped that this handbook will aid those committed to achieving this goal. There are about 24,000 fish species that have been named. It has been estimated that 20% of these species are in danger of becoming extinct by the year 2050. Since most of the captive breeding efforts are currently focused on saving endangered mammals, the amateur aquarist will find opportunities to take the lead in preserving for posterity fishes that can be successfully bred in captivity. Conservation resources are very limited and fish are likely to be neglected, with many species going extinct unnoticed. A likely outcome of working to save the hobby will be that more and more fish that are extinct in nature will be found only in the tanks of aquarists. The amateur will thus be performing the important conservation goal of helping to preserve the earth's biodiversity. It is hoped that the aquarist will earn respect by becoming an important part of the legal process that acts to insure the survival of endangered species. Every local, national and international aquarium society is urged to initiate a program to encourage conservation. No doubt only the most dedicated will manage to do the job and you are encouraged to be among them. I especially want to thank Thuan Nguyen of Berkeley, California for reading the manuscript and giving many useful suggestions. Roger W. Langton Why Bother? It is likely that you are reading this because you care about the fate of our planet's living creatures. Still, there are many people who are not convinced that there is much point to the extraordinary effort necessary to save a species using captive breeding methods. They often argue that it is natural for species to go extinct and that all of earth's resources should be used as people see fit since humans are clearly superior to other living things. "Why should human economic growth be restrained in order to save habitat for plants and animals", they ask? Obviously, if commitment to conservation is lacking, no action will be taken. If you wish to think more about this issue, here are a few points that can be made in favor of making the effort. Many will say that the only good reason to preserve other living things is because it is in our best interest to do so. Indeed, if human welfare is the justification for maintaining biodiversity then it can be easily demonstrated that plants and animals represent a vast and mostly unexplored resource. Not long ago childhood leukemia was a virtual death sentence. Researchers discovered a chemical from the rosy periwinkle plant found in Madagascar that proved to be effective against leukemia. Now 70% of children with this affliction survive five years or more. The birth control pill is another example of benefits from plants. Plants that are becoming extinct due to the destruction of the tropical rainforest may have chemical properities that contain the cure for other forms of cancer or diseases such as AIDS. Most plants and animals have not been studied to determine their potential for feeding a growing human population. In addition, the considerable aesthetic pleasure that plants and animals bring to humans is reason enough for their survival. As Emerson said, "Beauty is its own excuse for being". It seems foolish to destroy resources that are not fully understood, especially since much of this destruction leads to short term economic gains rather than sustainable benefits. As Mr Spock said in the movie Star Trek IV, "To hunt a species to extinction is illogical". In the long run, we are likely to learn that preserving nature is the best way to insure the existence of Homo sapiens on this planet. Others express a strong conviction that saving a species from extinction is, simply put, the right thing to do. Indeed, one of the characteristics that sets us apart from other species is our capacity to be ethical. Since we can understand the consequences of our behavior, we have the capacity to restrain ourselves or make alternative choices that produce the least harm to other living things. Unfortunately many people are not educated as to the effects of their behavior on the environment. Knowledge and strong cultural support are essential for a successful environmental ethic. Certainly values that encourage reverence for all life would go a long way to motivate people to make ethical choices regarding the use of nature. Another approach to species conservation comes from a desire to preserve genetic diversity and thereby enable the process of evolution to continue among all species. This idea reflects a respect for the wisdom of nature in producing such a remarkable variety of life on this planet and a desire to see that process continue. Scientific research that continues to unfold the remarkable processes of living organisms would be losing its basic source material. We are all diminished by lost knowledge. Continued human carelessness and the consequent loss of biodiversity will be a legacy that future generations will not want to inherit. If you are an aquarist, you are, no doubt, interested in the survival of your hobby in the future. It is clear that the supply of fish coming from nature will decrease and may eventually stop completely. The contribution made by those preserving fish for the hobby can be important to conservation and it is hoped that both goals can be reached at the same time. In fact, it is the belief of this author that in the near future the primary justification for tropical fish hobbyist organizations will be the conservation of species. All other considerations will become less important. This applies to all hobbyists organizations that deal with plants and animals. The ultimate goal of most captive breeding efforts is to eventually return a species to its natural habitat. Unfortunately this will not be possible in many cases because there will be no habitat available. So why bother? Conservationists speculate that habitats will be reconstructed when human population eventually levels out or decreases some 500 or more years from now. Perhaps at that point the heroic efforts required in the next few decades will come to be fully appreciated. Yes, a certain faith in the future is necessary for this work. You are invited to join the good fight. Role of the Aquarist in Conservation In 1990 the International Union for the Conservation of Nature listed 761 fish species as being in danger of extinction. This number is a conservative one and the actual number is probably much larger. Nowadays aquatic life is particularly susceptible to sudden or rapid extinction. Human demand for new sources of water and the consequent disruption of water systems is a constant threat. In addition, chemical and oil spills, acid rain, the introduction of non-native species, along with a host of human "development" projects put many fish in danger. Even a casual survey makes it clear that aquatic life needs all the help it can get. Amateurs have been essentially left out of the conservation process, especially as it relates to obtaining permits to breed species listed as threatened or endangered. This is due partly to the demand aquarists put upon nature by consuming wild stock with a seemingly insatiable appetite. In other words, the aquarist is often seen as part of the problem, not as part of the solution. In addition, professionals note that amateurs are subject to quick changes in life situations, as all people are, and may not prove to be reliable. On the other hand, some of the best animal husbandry in the world is practiced by amateurs and these are often the people most willing to do the job, free of charge. To ignore this resource, in the face of such an overwhelming task, is to miss an opportunity to provide the redundancy conservation projects often need. There are, however, two concerns that must be taken very seriously. The purpose of conservation is to maintain a species as it exists in nature. First, hybrids are to be avoided at all cost! There is no place for this in a conservation program. Even cross breeding of subspecies is to be avoided for reasons to be explained later. Second, it is common practice for hobbyists to breed only the biggest, most colorful species and discard fish that don't fit the aquarist's idea of "ideal". This approach, too, will have to be changed if the aquarist is to be taken seriously by professionals and conservationists. Both of these practices, in effect, alter the species. These points will be discussed in more detail in the chapter on breeding to maintain genetic diversity. Despite these potential conflicts between the goals of aquarists and conservationists, there is plenty of evidence that cooperation would benefit both groups. For example, amateur aquarists might have saved the Monkey Spring pupfish. This species, sadly, became extinct in 1971. Monkey Spring is a small, isolated habitat located in southeastern Arizona. In the 1960's the spring consisted of a headspring that was fenced to protect it from cattle, a canal that diverted water for domestic use and a pond. Along with the pupfish, which could be found only along the edges of the pond, the system contained topminnows and chubs. At some point, pupfish were placed in the headspring to try and get them established in that part of the system. In addition, stocks of pupfish were collected for the University of Arizona where they were placed in aquariums and artificial ponds. These were used for research and in an attempt to establish a captive population. Others were taken to the Deer Valley office of the Arizona Game and Fish Department. In 1968 the pond was scheduled to be drained so that repairs could be made. It was thought that when the pond was refilled the fish in the headspring would naturally repopulate the spring. Still, over 500 pupfish were removed from the pond to be used for restocking. The remaining pondfish were destroyed by drying to get rid of bass and other introduced fish. No bass were found. In 1969, on two occasions, a total of 400 pupfish were reintroduced to the pond and by the spring of 1970 the fish were seen to be reproducing. Chubs from a downstream irrigation structure were also reintroduced. Thus in the Spring of 1970 it seemed that the pupfish were safe, then the unexpected happened. An unauthorized introduction of large mouth bass was made into the pond. The bass reproduced rapidly and consumed the pupfish. By June the only pupfish found were in the headspring and these disappeared in 1971. Unfortunately all stock from the AZGFD had been used for reintroduction or had died. Fish taken by the University of Arizona were neglected in some cases and did not produce well enough to establish a population for further reintroduction. Result: the extinction of an undescribed fish, the Monkey Spring pupfish. Hindsight makes all of us look smarter but the fact remains that if qualified aquarists had been contacted and supplied adequate breeding stock, the Monkey Spring pupfish might have been saved. Including the amateur would have provided the redundancy needed for a species close to extinction. In other words, three sources for possible reintroduction would have been better than two. At that time there were several members of the American Killifish Association who would have been very willing to do the job and had a good track record with breeding pupfish. As to the ASU population, Minckley (1991) stated that captive populations were "far more secretive and nervous than desert pupfish, remaining that way throughout life, and demonstrated poor reproductive success". What Minckley observed was evidence of poor husbandry. If the pupfish were given proper care (e.g. frequent water changes) they would have been bold and confident. In fact, pupfish are easily bred in aquariums and can be produced in large numbers fairly quickly. There is no reason to believe that the Monkey Spring pupfish would not have responded well if given proper care. Another lost opportunity occurred during and after the heroic efforts to save the Devil's Hole pupfish, Cyprinodon diabolis. The natural habitat was threatened due to excessive irrigation that resulted in the lowering of the water level. It was feared that the water would drop below the shelf where the fish bred and fed. A refugium was constructed at Hoover Dam for the pupfish in order to provide insurance against extinction in their natural habitat. The water in the refugium was kept at the proper temperature by mixing natural hot spring water with cool water. This had to be watched carefully or the fish would stop reproduction- too cold, or die- too hot. Pipes supplying the refugium were destroyed several times by flash floods. New stock of 30 fish were put into the refugium in 1988 but they died when a pipe broke in 1989. Had the habitat been destroyed at Devil's Hole, the efforts to keep the artificial habitat would have failed and the fish would now be extinct. Fortunately that was not the case as the original habitat was saved and the fish remain there to this day. The cost of keeping the artificial habitat was high. The point is simple, the aquarists would have gladly done the job free of charge and, in this case, with less risk to the fish. Cyprinodon alvarezi, at least up until 1989, could be found in a small spring near El Potosi, Mexico. It became evident in 1985 that the habitat was in trouble. In that year the pool was reduced to 15% of its normal size, in 1986 it was down to 10%, and by 1987 it was reduced to 5%. In 1989 only a shallow ditch remained. The Laboratorio de Aquicultura removed stock of C. alvarezi and two other endemic species in order to preserve them through captive breeding. The pupfish bred well. The others proved to be more difficult. In addition to the laboratorio, there are several aquarists who maintain captive populations of C. alvarezi using careful breeding practices that will insure the maximum of genetic diversity. All of those involved are willing to help repopulate the natural habitat should that become feasible. In this case, the habitat was being destroyed so quickly that the species was saved only by decisive intervention. This is not to suggest that amateurs are heroes and professionals villains. In the cited examples every group acted in good faith. There is no guarantee that participation by aquarists would have made a great deal of difference, but given the extent of the current threat to aquatic life, it seems that this potential resource should not be ignored. A possible start would be for respected aquarium societies to certify people who are both expert in fish keeping and reliable. Both characteristics are equally important. These lists could be made available to those with authority to protect threatened or endangered species. Aquarists could be called upon when needed to back up professional efforts. Conservation efforts do not have to wait until aquarists are invited by authorities to participate. Since the hobby will rely increasingly on captive breeding to sustain itself, any efforts that produce viable populations of any species would be helpful. If you are one who knows the natural locality of your captive fish, it is useful to learn as much about what is happening to that environment. It is not always easy to know the status of a specific habitat in terms of environmental threats but here are a few generalizations about which fish are most likely to be threatened now or in the near future: 1. Any species from northeastern Nigeria. 2. Any North American desert species or any species dependent on underground water sources. 3. Any species from Lake Victoria. 4. Any species found along the eastern coast of South America. 5. Any species on the edges of growing human population centers. 6. Any species living in water systems about the be radically modified by humans. 7. Any discus species. 8. Any species whose habitat is subject to acid rain. 9. Any species living in newly or about-to-be deforested areas e.g. areas of increased logging and farming in Cameroon. 10. Any species whose habitat has been invaded by non-native species. 11. Any rainforest species of Australia, Sri Lanka, Sarawak or Madagascar. 12. Any species from Cameroon's crater lakes. 13. Any species found in the Caribbean. 14. Any species found in an area prime for human "development" even if it is currently protected. 15. Any species listed by CITES as being threatened or endangered and any others brought to your attention. Breeding for Genetic Diversity Much of the research regarding genetic diversity has been done during the last 20 years. The author has drawn heavily upon the contents of two journals, Zoo Biology and Conservation Biology. Both of these journals contain research useful in planning a program for maintaining genetic diversity among captive bred animals. It should be kept in mind that most of the research has been done on mammals with little specific information about fish. Still, the principles are basically the same. It is not the intent of this handbook to present a detailed explanation of the science of genetics but a few general principles should be kept in mind. When a male and female fish come together to spawn, both individuals make a genetic contribution to the offspring. Both animals make different contributions. In other words, males carry different genetic material than females and vice versa. Breeding seven males with three females will pass on a smaller gene pool than would result from spawning five males with five females. Sutcliffe (1992) has shown that 3 males and 7 females (or vice versa) will result in an effective breeding population equivalent to 8.4 individuals, while 5 males and 5 females will represent an effective population of 10. This is an important consideration when beginning a breeding programs designed for conservation. Alleles is the term used to refer to the specific genetic variation that is exchanged from the genes. In other words, "each gene within each locus may exist in one of several variations- alleles". (Tudge, 1992, p76). Some alleles are fixed and will always produce the same result while others are variable and there may be several possible outcomes. One allele might give your fish tolerance to a certain disease or the capacity to adapt to cooler than normal water temperatures. Thus you will find genetic variation among fish that otherwise look identical. The more offspring a pair produces the more likely it is that all the genetic variation available in the two fish will be passed on to the next generation. Alleles can be lost over time. This phenomenon is referred to as genetic drift. A fish containing a very rare allele may not get to breed. When this happens the information is lost and will probably never be regained. Genetic drift is a natural loss of genetic information over time as the generations come and go. Although this is a natural process, the loss is accelerated when inbreeding occurs. Siblings can only pass on what was given to them by their parents. After a few generations of inbreeding, genetic loss can be very significant. In theory, a point will be reached when the species is doomed to extinction. Infertility, deformity and susceptibility to disease are among the possible consequences. Thus, if a captive species is to remain viable, a large gene pool is desirable. The longer the species is to be maintained, the greater the need to breed the species in such a way as to conserve a large percentage of the genetic diversity. Theory suggests that a population of 500 individuals of equal sex ratio is needed for indefinite survival. If your goal is to keep fish for a long period of time, you need founders that are unrelated. Founders are the original parents of your captive generations. The more founders, the more genetic diversity will be available for future generations. Hybrids (offspring resulting from the crossing of two different species) are to be avoided because they do not represent the fish as it exists in nature and are seldom viable for very long. For conservationists, producing hybrids is a waste of time except for scientific research in determining relationships among species. Hybrids should not take precious time, space and effort that could otherwise be used for conservation efforts. Obviously hybrids should never be mixed with pure populations but the danger exists if they are in the fishroom. In addition, breeding between subspecies should be avoided because they are often adapted to different environmental conditions. This is especially true for fish that will eventually be returned to their natural habitat. Breeding between subspecies might be done as a last resort to save a species from extinction, but not as a general rule. One need only look at the confusion found among discus breeders as to the origin of their fish. The well-know discus breeder Schmidt-Focke (1990) has recently warned aquarists to stop mixing these fish and to get back to breeding pure species and subspecies. Otherwise this magnificent fish may be lost to the hobby. Does this mean that if only one pair of fish is available that it is useless to try and conserve them? No, you should try because you might get lucky. For example, all of the hamsters currently kept by thousands of children and grownups came from one pregnant female. Just take a look at the variability found among them. Some of the desert pupfish, such as Cyprinodon diabolis, (Turner, 1974) are genetically identical due to hundreds of years of inbreeding and yet persist as a viable population. Because of this variation in tolerance to inbreeding, efforts should be made even when the founding population is small. Still, as a general rule, it is best to breed fish in a manner that will preserve as much genetic diversity as possible. Ideally, preserving genetic diversity in a captive population means that you start with a founding group that carries within it most of the gene pool found in nature. Unfortunately this is not always easy to achieve. Part of the difficulty lies in the fact that most aquarists do not keep records regarding breeding lines. Even if you obtain fish from different hobbyists who live in various geographical areas, it is not unusual to find that all fish came from the same parents. In some cases, one pair has produced all captive fish of a certain species. In practice it means that you start out with fish that are available. Still, every effort should be made to obtain fish that are genetically unrelated. This will increase the odds that the gene pool will be larger than it would be if inbreeding has occurred. Theory suggests that you need from 6 to 12 unrelated founder fish of an equal sex ratio to have a good chance for success over a long period of time. If your goal is to maintain a viable population during your lifetime as an aquarist, then here is a suggested procedure that should produce good results for at least a 40 year period. This example starts with a founding population of 8 individuals, 4 males and 4 females. If all goes well a core breeding population of 32 individuals (16 males and 16 females) will be produced and maintained. This model can be easily modified upwards or downwards depending upon the goal to be achieved. Perhaps an effective breeding group of 500 individuals would be necessary for a population to be maintained indefinitely while fewer than 8 fish would work well if you are working with a group of aquarists all breeding the same species. Such groups would exchange fish from time to time to expand the gene pool. Space, time, commitment and life's circumstances will eventually determine what is accomplished. For the purpose of going through the proposed breeding process, Fundulopanchax gardneri, a well known killifish, will be used as the species being maintained. Some species will be much more difficult to maintain than others but many fish can be successfully maintained using this method. This model will be a combination of random and manipulated breeding procedures designed to insure genetic diversity for a 40 year period. The set up requires 20 tanks and several small containers for egg incubation and for housing fry during the first few days after hatching. F. gardneri will require 8 two-and-one-half gallon, 4 twenty-gallon and 8 ten-gallon tanks. For most purposes it is better to err on the side of larger rather than smaller tanks. (see Fig. 1) Core Breeding Set Up -------- -------- -------- -------- Founders A B C D -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- F1 A B C D Breeders -------- -------- -------- -------- 2 1/2 Gallon Breeding Tanks ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ A B C D ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ 20-gallon Fry Rearing Tanks --------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Breeders to be A B C D Used ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Used Breeders A B C D ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- 10-gallon Tanks to Hold Breeders Fig. 1 The first step is to set up 4 two-and-one-half gallon tanks for the founding breeders. Each tank will contain a spawning mop and a sponge filter. Tanks are labeled A, B, C and D. The breeding pairs from the 8 founding individuals are chosen randomly. No effort should be made to make judgements about which are the most desirable specimens etc. It is assumed the fish are healthy and in prime condition. Obviously, all 8 founding fish are used in the breeding program. Eggs are picked from the spawning mops and placed in petri dishes or other appropriate containers. Each container is labeled A, B, C, or D to keep the source of the eggs accurate. It is important to pay attention when putting eggs in containers or eggs from more than one breeding line can accidentally get mixed. When the eggs hatch, in about 14 days, the fry are placed in shoe boxes until they are eating well and ready to be transferred to larger quarters. Again, the shoe boxes should be labeled accurately. It is desirable that at least 30 fish from each pair be produced. In the case of F. gardneri, this should not prove to be difficult. When the fry are ready, they are put in the appropriate twenty- gallon tank and raised to breeding size. The rearing tanks should be labeled to keep track of breeding lines. The fry produced by breeders labeled A should be placed and reared separately in a rearing tank labeled A. Fry from tank B go into rearing tank B and so on for all four breeding lines. These fish will be considered the F1 generation relative to the founding individuals and will eventually become the parents of the F2 generation and so on. Because genetic drift is likely to occur with each generation, it is important to have some patience and not breed the fish too early. The idea here is to produce no more than one new generation each year. If you breed fish at intervals of 8 months, 60 generations will be produced in the 40 year period causing a greater loss of genetic diversity than would be the case if one generation is produced each year. Of course, some fish, such as South American annuals, will need to be bred more often if they are to reproduce during their prime. Other fish will be commonly bred every two years or even longer intervals. For F. gardneri, one year seems appropriate. In addition, it is likely that some genetic information will be lost as a result of adapting to the aquarium environment, especially after several decades of breeding. When the F1 offspring are near full maturity, 4 males and 4 females should be randomly chosen from the same breeding line and placed in a 10 gallon tank. The only selection to be used is to avoid deformed or diseased fish. This should be done for each of the 4 breeding lines with each tank being carefully labeled A, B, C, or D. When all 4 ten-gallon tanks have 4 males and 4 females from the 4 founding pairs, you will have a core of 32 fish. It is this core of breeders, all of which will participate in producing the next generation, that will provide the genetic viability of your species. It is wise to keep the remaining fish in the 20 gallon tanks in the event that the fish chosen for breeding die or become diseased. Redundancy is an important aspect of this process and especially important if the fish is extinct in the wild. After the conservation requirements are met, then the excess fish can be distributed to other aquarists. After the core breeding stock has reached one year of age, the fish should be bred to produce the F2 generation. Remember that all 32 fish will be used to pass on their genes to the next generation. This may seem difficult to accomplish but with a little planning it can be done within the framework of a diverse and active life. The founding breeders are now held in reserve in case of serious problems with the offspring (redundancy). Otherwise they can be used to produce fish and eggs for distribution; this latter activity should be kept separate from the core program. By the time you are ready to spawn the F2 generation, the founding breeders may have died or be past their prime, i.e. F. gardneri example. The next step is to set up 4 additional two-and-one-half gallon tanks to house the F1 breeders. A suggested pattern would be as follows: A randomly chosen pair from the A and B lines (e.g. a male from tank A and a female from tank B or visa versa.) are set up in the new breeding tank which becomes the new tank labeled A. A pair from the C and D lines is set up in a tank labeled B. A pair from the C and A lines is set up in a tank labeled C and a pair from the B and D lines is set up in tank labeled D. It is important to keep track of which two lines are being bred in tanks A, B etc. (See Fig. 2). These same patterns are repeated until each of the 32 core individuals has been used for breeding. It is not necessary to breed fish in all possible combinations. It can be done, but is more than most aquarists could handle and should not be necessary for the 40 year model being presented. It's important to emphasize that males and females are to be chosen randomly for this second round and all subsequent rounds of core breeding. Once a given pair has produced 4 or 5 viable eggs, a second pair, using the same random procedure can be placed in the spawning tank. Keep this up until all fish in the 32 core program have spawned. This is where the final 4 tanks are used. After a given pair has spawned, say from strains A and B, it can be placed in the appropriate 10 gallon tank. A separate tank for each breeding line is needed to insure the spawned fish's usefulness in the event of unforseen problems. The unspawned fish will still be in the original 10 gallon tanks. This way you can keep track of which fish have spawned and which have not. (See Fig. 1 - tank set up). It is now time to remove any remaining fish in the 20 gallon tanks to make room for the F2 generation. It is important to clean the tanks thoroughly to insure that no eggs or disease are present. After accurately labeling and preparing each tank, the offspring can be introduced and raised to maturity. Problems, of course, may arise relative to the number of fry that survive to adulthood, sex ratio etc. Much of your success will be due to consistent monitoring of water quality and general good maintenance practices. A dose of good luck wouldn't hurt either. When you begin producing the F2 generation it is important to avoid inbreeding with first cousins. The pattern recommended in Fig. 3 (breeding pattern) will avoid this. After that you can repeat the same pattern used for the F1 and F2 generations with future generations. The importance of keeping accurate records should be clear at this point. A stud book form (see example in Fig. 4) can be used to jot down the origins of each founding fish and keep you on track regarding breeding procedures. Then, if aquarists want to know if your fish are closely related to theirs, you just might have the answer. If you are lucky enough to find people who will cooperate with you by exchanging fish and information, the task will be more pleasant. Also it is critical to be able to prove that your fish are captive bred in the event they are subsequently listed as threatened or endangered. A strong record will help avoid possible legal difficulties. Along with this, the demonstration that you are dedicated to the task of conserving nature, will likely open the door for more participation by amateurs in the future. In the meantime, many fish that are currently available to aquarists will become extinct in nature. The decision whether or not to take responsibility for their survival will be up to you. Tank A Tank B Tank C Tank D __________ __________ __________ __________ F1 Breeders A x B C x D C x A B x D __________ __________ __________ __________ Two-and-one-half-gallon breeding tanks with breeding combinations for F1 breeders. Fig. 2 Tank A Tank B Tank C Tank D __________ __________ __________ __________ F2 Breeders A x D B x C A x C D x B __________ __________ __________ __________ Two-and-one-half-gallon breeding tanks with breeding combinations for F2 breeders. Fig 3 Stud Book Form Name of species:_________________________________ Date________ Original description reference:________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ Location information:__________________________________________ Date obtained and from whom:___________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ Sex:__________ Age and Condition:__________________________ Pair:_________ (Check if it is a pair from same generation) Generation from wild:__________________________________________ Generation from founders:______________________________________ Original collector, date, and owner for each generation, if known: _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ Is this a founder?_____________________________________________ Breeding line:_________________________________________________ New introduction to established breeding program:______________ Notes: Fig. 4 FINAL THOUGHTS Since the effort required to achieve success in preserving genetic diversity is considerable, it is useful to have an effective support system. Aquarium societies are a good place to start. Preserving species can become part of your society's work. Monthly meetings, newsletters and study groups are examples of what can be useful in helping the aquarist stick with the task. Eventually national and international networks will be formed. You are encouraged to join these groups or provide leadership in forming them. Another consideration is the degree of support you have from your family or housemates. For example, if your spouse ridicules you and demonstrates little or no understanding for your conservation efforts, you will have more difficulties. The old story of the wife who felt that her husband loved his fish more than his family, comes to mind. Apparently one day while the husband was away she entered the fishroom with a hammer and smashed all the tanks. While one would not expect such a drastic consequence, it is important to sit down with your significant others and let them know what you want to accomplish and ask for their support. It would be desirable to get the whole family involved in a positive way. Frankly, if they are unwilling to support you, it might be better to participate in a very modest way or not to begin at all. None of us live forever or remain true to all tasks forever. It is essential to have a plan to pass your fish and equipment on to someone who can carry on the work. This could be part of your will or part of the understanding you have with those who are close to you. Identify someone who has agreed to take care of your fish in the event of an emergency. An entire fish population can be lost in a short period of time and quick action is essential when the principal caretaker is unable to care for them. Ideally, most conservation efforts will eventually become part of well funded organizations i.e public aquariums, universities, commercial hatcheries, aquarium societies etc. When this happens the personal problems we all have will have less impact on the task. Good luck! Literature: Ehrlich, P. & A. Ehrlich. 1981. Extinction. Random House. Ehrlich, P. & A. Ehrlich. 1991. Healing the Planet. Addison- Wesley. Minckley, W. L. & J. Deacon. 1991. Battle Against Extinction. University of Arizona Press. Ralls, K. & J. Ballou. 1986. Proceedings of the Workshop on Genetic Management of Captive Populations. Zoo Biology. 5(2). Schmidt-Focke, E. 1990. Schmidt-Focke's Discus Book. T.F.H. Publications, Inc. Sutcliffe, G. 1992. Preserving Generic Diversity in Killifish Species Maintenance. J. Am. Killifish Assoc. 25(3): 93-101. Tudge, C. 1992. Last Animals at the Zoo. Island Press. Turner, B. J. 1974. Genetic divergence of Death Valley pupfish species: biochemical versus morphological evidence. Evolution. 37: 690-700. Wilson, E. O. 1988. Biodiversity. Conservation Biology. National Academy Press, Washington D.C. The author, Roger Langton, can be contacted at 556 W. Cedar Place, Louisville, CO 80027 U.S.A. 02/08/93 ag508 <4> LETTERS Aquatic Ecosystems Although your organization title, Aquatic Conservation Network, implies that the entire aquatic ecosystem is involved, the membership leaflet and bulletin seems only to be concerned with fishes. It seems that to consider fish only, without reference to their place in the aquatic ecology, is doomed to failure. Even the Audobon Society, once involved only with birds, had to consider the environment in which the birds lived. Captive breeding will not restore nature unless the problems causing the extinction are removed. The individual members can concentrate on fish, insects, plants, etc., which make up the ecology, but the organization (ACN) should be concerned with the whole picture. Walter Pagels 6073 Lancaster Dr. San Diego CA 92120-4536 Mr. Pagels has an interest in growing rare and endangered aquatic plants. Conservation Fisheries, Inc. I would like to introduce our company to you and relay to you some of the projects in which we are currently involved. First, although Conservation Fisheries, Inc. is a newly formed, nonprofit corpor- ation, we have been involved in these projects for about five years (as a company known as Lifespace Technologies). We are involved in a captive propagation/reintroduction project that includes two federally listed madtom catfish species and one undescribed darter (currently proposed for federal Endangered status). These species are: the smoky madtom, Noturus baileyi; the yellowfin madtom, N. flavipinnis; an undescribed darter (Etheostoma of the subgenus Catonotus) commonly known as the duskytail darter. The present ranges of all three of these species are extremely restricted, and at least one (the yellowfin madtom) is declining in numbers at an alarming rate. In addition, we have also been involved in annual monitoring and captive breeding of the Barrens topminnow, Fundulus julisia, which is a candidate for federal listing. This work has been funded by endangered species funds acquired by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and supplemented by funding from the U.S. Forest Service. We are also working in cooperation with the National Park Service (Great Smoky Mountains National Park) and The Nature Conservancy (Tennessee Field Office). We will be attending the upcoming Conservation Genetics Symposium in Ohio this fall, and will make presentations describing the status of the southeastern stream fishes, and our efforts towards recovery. We received a flier and a copy of your first newsletter from your organization and are very supportive of your efforts. For years, we have all firmly believed that professional biologists, fisher- men, and aquarium hobbyists have much to share and learn from each other. The problem has been an appropriate forum for such communi- cation. Hopefully, your organization will result in this communica- tion and will further the goal of preserving aquatic biodiversity! I am in a unique position to help bridge the gaps between hobbyists and professionals as a co-owner of Aquatic Specialists, a retail aquarium business. Four of our eight employees have graduate degrees in Zoology. In addition, my wife, Peggy Shute, who is and aquatic biologist for TVA's Regional Natural Heritage Program, has many contacts (biologists, managers, professional organizations, etc.) Sincerely, John R. Shute Director, Conservation Fisheries, Inc. 5201 Kingston Pike, Ste. 7, Knoxville, TN 37919, U.S.A. University of Maine I'm a graduate student at the University of Maine, working with the noted fish geneticist Dr. Irv Kornfield. I saw the editorial concerning the formation of the ACN in the August FAMA (Freshwater and Marine Aquarium Magazine). Our Laboratory works extensively with the population genetics of various aquatic organisms, using DNA sequencing and restriction analysis techniques. Upcoming projects include studies concerning the conservation status of Victorian haplochromine cichlids and Orestias killifishes (endemic to the Andean Altiplano). Given the nature of your organization and of our work, it seems that some mutually enlightening exchange of information could occur; for instance, we would like to contact persons who have been breeding Victorian haplochromines regarding variation in fecundity levels and techniques for artificially incubating eggs. Alex Parker Dept. of Zoology, U. of Maine Orono ME 04469, U.S.A. Patuxent Valley Middle School Patuxent Valley Middle School has recently received a number of corporation grants to build an indoor/outdoor environmental center whose exhibits and student projects are to focus on issues in environmental education. Without getting into too many details, we are planning 10 student run projects that will be the center pieces of the indoor laboratories. The efforts of the Aquatic Conservation Network to save individual species sounds exactly like the type of project we hope to have up and ongoing within the next year. The teachers in our science department all maintain hobby-type aquariums, but have never participated in serious breeding efforts. BUT WE'D LOVE TO ... especially if it is a part of a conservation effort - the right message for young people. We would greatly appreciate any suggestions or direction your organization could give us. We have access to tanks ranging in size from 180 gallons to 10 gallons, and could acquire suggested equipment needed for any species we might work with. We would greatly appreciate guidance for an exhibit in honor of ACN efforts. Sincerely, Bob Keddell P.I.N.E.S. Project Chair (Partnership in Natural and Environmental Studies) Patuxent Valley Middle School 9151 Vollmerhausen Road Jessup, MD 20794, U.S.A. 02/08/93 ag508 <5> BKA LAUNCHES TWO NEW STUDY AND MAINTENANCE GROUPS by Mike Hansell There are two initiatives within the British Killifish Association which I would like to bring to the attention of our members. The first is the inception of a Chromaphyosemion Study Group. At this stage a list of interested parties is being compiled and no firm guidelines have been decided upon. The second initiative is a Nothobranchius Maintenance Group and its aim is to ensure the continued survival of the species already held in captivity. It has become apparent over the years that species, some considered to be commonplace, are being lost. The reasons are many and varied but in an effort to stabilize our stocks this group has been formed. Participants are being asked to undertake to maintain a species of Nothobranchius which they nominate. There is no restriction upon any other type of fish they wish to keep. However, the strictest measures must be adopted to ensure species purity. A register of members will be maintained and should a member wish to withdraw from the group or change to a different breed, then they must allow sufficient time for the group co- ordinator to find a new "home" for that member's species or a suitable exchange. Presently, the criteria for both groups are quite simple as both groups are seeking the widest support and anyone interested in either project should please drop me a line. Mike Hansell, British Killifish Association, 7 Victoria Grove, Horsforth, Leeds LS 18 4ST, England. 02/08/93 ag508 <6> NEW ENDANGERED LIVEBEARER EXHIBIT The Staten Island Zoo has a new exhibit. With thanks to William (Bill) H. Sommerville, a 440 gallon, natural rock and plant exhibit for five highly endangered livebearers has been set up by Dominic Isla. The tank provides ample growth room, and countless nooks and crannies for the fry to go when born. Contrary to popular belief, most livebearers' mothers do not consume their fry. Other fish will, however, hence the network of lava rocks with plenty of caves and tunnels. Big Bend Gambusia (Gambusia gaigei), one of the species in the exhibit, was kindly made available by U.S. Fish and Wildlife. This particular livebearer, native to Texas, was saved from extinction by Dr. Clark Hubbs. The idea behind the exhibit is that a balanced breeding population will evolve. Care was taken in selecting the species for size, colour, temperament, and the inability to hybridize. If you are in the New York City area, visit the zoo and you will not be disappointed. The set-up and final exhibit has been documented on video, and will be included in and upcoming "Aquarium and Fish Video Journal", which is available from Howard G. Frederick (Tel: 914-699-6204). Species in the Endangered Livebearers Exhibit include: Ataeniobius toweri - Blue-tailed Goodeid Characodon audax - Bold Characodon Gambusia gaigei - Big Bend Gambusia Priapichthys festae Xiphophorus gordoni - Northern Platyfish For more information, contact Dominic Isla, 45-37 40th St. #1F, Long Island City, NY 11104-3915 (Tel: 718-472-1771) 02/08/93 ag508 <7> INTERNATIONAL GOBY STUDY GROUP The International Goby Study Group is a new organization comprised of hobbyists and professionals interested in propagating and collecting information on the various gobies. The group has been founded by FISHNET's Captive Maintenance Database project leader, Rodney Harper. Only about five percent of goby species are known to the hobby. The rest are relatively unknown and information is limited. The study group aims to "start working with these fish" and consequently make the hobbyist aware that there is much more to gobies than what can be seen in the pet store. A newsletter has been initiated which will be produced quarterly and distributed to participants either by Electronic Mail, by Computer Bulletin Board Systems (BBS), or by direct mail. No dues are required at this time, but a $10 (U.S.) contribution is requested from direct mail participants to cover postage. Since the group is in its early days, offers of assistance with management and publicity are welcomed. Contact Rodney W. Harper at his new address(es): 11450 Boe Road Ext., Grand Bay, Alabama, 36541, U.S.A. Internet: Rodney.Harper@f455.n3625.z1.fidonet.com CompuServe: 75130,1321 FidoNet: 1:3625/455 EggNet: 99:9015/2 02/08/93 ag508 <8> COMING EVENTS ECOLOGICAL AQUACULTURE - FIVE DAY COURSE The Center for the Restoration of Waters @ Ocean Arks International will hold a five day intensive course in Falmouth, Massachusetts, titled "Ecological Aquaculture: Small-scale integrated systems for fish, vegetable and plant production". The course takes place November 12 - 16, 9am - 5pm each day, with 3 evening sessions. Participating in this course will be: William O. McLarney, author of The Freshwater Aquaculture Book, Co-director and founder of ANAI, Asociacion de los Nuevos Alqimis- tas, Costa Rica; David Engstrom, President, Cape Cod Cultured Pearl Company; Dr. John Todd, President, The Center for the Restoration of Waters @ Ocean Arks International; Dr. Karl Ehrlich, Vice President of Research, Aquaresearch Ltd, Quebec, Canada. Dr. Marie-Claude Cantin, President, Aquaresearch Ltd., Quebec Canada. Dr. Ron Zweig (not yet confirmed), President, Eco-Logic, and Aqua- culturalist, The World Bank. Dr. Paul S. Mankiewicz, Director of Research, The Center for the Restoration of Waters @ Ocean Arks International, and President, The Gaia Institute, New York. For names of additional guest lecturers, call OAI after September 15th. The course will emphasize low-cost, small scale, ecological hands-on approaches to the culture of aquatic foods by pioneers in the field. Attendees will visit a small commercial aquafarm, a household-scale facility, and a small research culture facility all based upon solar and ecological engineering. We will explore the notion that aquaculture can be economically viable at a family farm scale, provided it is diverse and integrated with natural systems. Topics include fish culture/hydroponic vegetable production designs, di-seasonal fish production strategies, fish polyculture, solar greenhouse fish culture, spawning induction of fish, the culture of exotics, the role of bacteria in aquaculture, and the roles of agriculture and animal husbandry in integrated schemes. Sources for fish, required equipment, and materials will be provided. The course fee includes copies of selected reprints and methods pamphlets. Course Location: Center's Office, 1 Locust Street, Falmouth Massachusetts. Cost Before October 30th: Before October 30th: $695. After October 30th: $745. To Register: Send your check, name, address, and phone to Ocean Arks International, 1 Locust Street, Falmouth, MA 02540, U.S.A. Master Card and Visa accepted. Include your card number, expiration date, and signature with your registration. ENROLMENT IS LIMITED. PRE-REGISTRATION IS RECOMMENDED. MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO OCEAN ARKS INTERNATIONAL. FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL (508) 540-6801. *********** TWENTY-FOURTH ANNUAL DESERT FISHES COUNCIL SYMPOSIUM This annual symposium will be hosted by Arizona State University on November 18 to 21, 1992, at the Dobson Ranch Inn & Resort in Mesa, Arizona (Phoenix). For information contact Paul C. Marsh, Center for Environmental Studies, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287-3211, U.S.A. Tel: (602) 965-2977, Fax: (602) 965-8087. EXPERT CONSULTATION ON THE UTILIZATION AND CONSERVATION OF GENETIC RESOURCES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS This meeting is being held November 9 to 13, 1992 and is sponsored by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). It will take place in Rome, and will consist of a small group of invited international experts on genetic resources serving as a think tank to establish directions for FAO. The purpose will be to establish guidelines and recommendations for the sustainable use of aquatic genetic resources. For information contact Devin M. Bartley, Fishery Resources Officer, FIRI, FAO, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00100, Rome, Italy. Tel: 39-6-5797 -6470. Fax: 39-6-5120330. AQUARAMA 93 June 27 to 30, 1992. This conference and exhibition is one of the largest aquarium fish exhibitions on our globe. It takes place every two years, this being the 3rd time. A proposed Conference topic is "Save the Freshwater World". Three half-day sessions are being planned with top speakers from around the world. The three subtopics are tentatively: 1. Destruction of Freshwater Biotopes Around the World. 2. Regulations and Conservation Measures - Pros and Cons. 3. Improvements in Breeding Methods; Maintaining and Quarantining Freshwater Fishes; New Aspects and Information on Packaging. 02/08/93 ag508 <9> CONSERVATION GENETICS AND EVOLUTIONARY ECOLOGY: A CASE STUDY OF THE CICHLID FAUNA OF LAKE VICTORIA October 30 - November 2, 1992 Columbus, Ohio TENTATIVE PROGRAM: (with invited speakers; subject to change) Friday Evening, October 30 Conservation of fish species - C. Andrews, National Aquarium in Baltimore. Social Mixer Saturday, October 31 Session 1 Conservation biology of fishes - G. Meffe, U. Georgia; M. Soule, U.C. Santa Cruz; Rosemary Lowe-McConnell, London Zoo. Approaches to the genetic management of captive populations - Fred Allendorf, U. Montana. Session 2 African haplochromine cichlids: ecology and extinction from the great lakes of the African Rift Valley: Victoria, Tanganyika, and Malawi - R. Ogutu-Ohwayo, UFFRO, Uganda; P.H. Greenwood, British Museum Natural History; Frans Witte, Leiden Univ., Netherlands; Thomas Kocher, Univ. New Hampshire; Peter Ochumba, KMFRI, Kenya. Session 3 Workshops on haplochromine husbandry and the inventory management of endangered species - Russ McAndrews, New England Aquarium; Sandy Andromeda, Columbus Zoo Aquarium; Jeffrey Taylor, Old World Exotics, Homestead, Fl.; U.S. Seal, Univ. Minnesota; Jay Hemdal, Toledo Zoo. Dinner and Social at the Columbus Zoo Evening Poster Session Evening Discussion Session Role of the aquarium industry, and the non-scientist aquarist in the conservation of genetic resources of endangered fish species - Rob Huntley, Aquatic Conservation Network; Bruce Gebhardt, North American Native Fishes Association. Sunday, November 1 Session 1 The Lake Victoria cichlids: genetic variation; in situ versus captive management; genetic and phenotypic aspects of captive management; aquaculture; conflicting pressures on genetic resources - Axel Meyer, S.U.N.Y. Stony Brook; William Cooper, Michigan St. Univ.; Irving Kornfield, Univ. Maine; Gordon Reid, North of England Zoological Society; Paul Sackley, Boston Univ.; Robert Theberge, Univ. Arkansas, Pine Bluff. Session 2 Lessons from other aquatic systems and other groups of organisms; conservation genetics, in situ conservation versus captive breeding programs and their status - Devra Kleiman, National Zoo; Ron Goellner, St. Louis Zoo; Tom Foose, Minnesota Zoo; Paul Loiselle, New York Aquarium; Gary Varner, Texas A&M Univ. Poster Session 2: early afternoon Session 3 Southwest desert fishes, Appalachian fauna and others; lessons from mammalian conservation genetics - Alice Echelle, Oklahoma State Univ.; Anthony Echelle, Oklahoma State Univ.; John Shute, GEN/SYS, Inc.; Peggy Shute, Tenn. Valley Auth. Evening Discussion Session The bureaucratic structure of species conservation efforts - C. Andrews, National Aquarium in Baltimore; L. Kaufman, New England Aquarium; J. Williams, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service; Philip Bwathonde, TAFIRI, Tanzania. Monday, November 2 Session 1 The model for fish conservation genetics: Lake Victoria cichlids; long term goals of fish conservation genetics in fishes - Les Kaufman, New England Aquarium; Tys Goldschmidt, Univ. Leiden; Georgina Mace, U.K.; R. Wiese, AAZPA Conservation Center; Pim Wilhelm, Stiching Koninklijk Zool., Netherlands Session 2 Open panel discussion and close of symposium Session 3 Lake Victoria Cichlid Studbook organizational meeting (studbook participants and advisory group) For more information contact Doug Warmolts, Curator, Johnson Aquatic Complex, Columbus Zoo, 9990 Riverside Dr., Box 400, Powell, Ohio, 43065-0400, U.S.A. Tel: (614) 645-3446, Fax: (614) 645-3465. 02/08/93 ag508 <10> GLOBAL ACTION PLAN FOR THE CONSERVATION OF FRESHWATER FISH The urgency surrounding the conservation of freshwater fish is growing rapidly. Of the 10,000 or so species known to exist, knowledge of their status is scant or non-existent. In response, the Freshwater Fish Specialist Group (FFSG) of the Species Survival Commission (SSC) is seeking support to develop a worldwide Action Plan for freshwater fish conservation and to lay the groundwork for implementation of field projects identified as critical within the Plan. The long term goal of this project is to prevent the extinction of threatened species of freshwater fish and to restore their populations to viable levels. Action Plan development will take two years and cost $95,000 (U.S.). To date, $22,000 has been committed by the IUCN/SSC Peter Scott Action Plan Fund, $24,000 by the Fauna and Flora Preservation Society (London) and $7,000 by the IUCN for publication. The additional funding is currently being sought from a number of foundations, and opportunities for corporate assistance and partnership are also being explored. FFSG Background The FFSG is comprised of about 30 freshwater fish experts from around the world, but will be expanded to include a larger number of specialists with experience in individual faunas, species and habitats. The FFSG was formed under the direction of the SSC, a global network of 4,800 scientists, field researchers, government officials and conservation leaders from 169 countries, One of six commissions of IUCN - the World Conservation Union, SSC members provide technical and scientific counsel for biodiversity conserva- tion projects throughout the world and serve as resources to governments, international conventions and conservation organiz- ations. The SSC works primarily through its 95 specialist groups, most of which represent particular plant or animal groups that are threatened with extinction, or are of special importance to human welfare. Of significant import is the historic success of the SSC specialist groups in gathering and presenting information critical to the policy making process. Examples include the 1990 publication of "Biodiversity in Sub-Saharan Africa and Its Islands: Conserva- tion, Management and Sustainable Use", which has been used by several African countries in setting conservation priorities, and the publication in 1989 of "Dolphins, Porpoises, and Whales: An Action Plan for Their Conservation", which has instigated the implementation of 23 critical conservation projects. To date, 23 Action Plans are complete with several more in advanced stages of preparation. The Need Thus far, no global survey of freshwater fish, the status of their ecosystems or examination of their conservation needs has been done. It is becoming increasingly urgent to assess the conservation status of freshwater fish throughout the world and to map a strategy for ensuring their survival. Freshwater fish are important indicators of the health of aquatic ecosystems. They are culturally significant to societies throughout the world having long provided an important source of protein in many communities. They are of great recreational value to natural- ists, sports enthusiasts and home aquarists. Freshwater fish face a number of environmental threats. Habitat changes, such as channelization, mining and man-made lakes are very damaging to river ecosystems. Aquatic environments are polluted by sewage discharge and toxic substances. Over-fishing and introduction of exotic species also pose threats. The Plan The FFSG has now begun to develop an Action Plan and to lay the groundwork for its implementation. The plan includes several elements: 1. World-wide review of current knowledge on the status of freshwater fish populations; 2. Identification of the threats facing these populations around the world; 3. Historical review of fish conservation to date, noting both success and failures; and 4. Fish conservation options including the formulation of priori- tized action guidelines. To determine the extent of immediately accessible information, a questionnaire will be circulated to all Specialist Group members. Where appropriate, other individuals and organizations will be approached for additional information; these sources will be carefully selected to ensure representation from the widest possible range of freshwater experts and to minimize duplication of effort. Direct contact to individuals and institutions will be done concurrently with an extensive literature review. It is anticipated that the information gathered will be particularly helpful in documenting the decline or extinction of species. Once the Plan has been completed, it will be distributed to government departments and conservation organizations with the responsibility for conserving freshwater fish, as well as to all FFSG members and other contacts. The FFSG will continue its work by actively promoting its implementation. This process will be closely monitored by Dr. Chris Andrews as the FFSG chair, currently the Senior Director of Husbandry and Operations at the National Aquarium in Baltimore. Over the past six years, he has been actively involved in the conservation of freshwater fish through work at the London Zoo, the Baltimore Aquarium and the IUCN. The FFSG has obtained the collaboration of Dr. Simon Mickleburgh of the Fauna and Flora Preservation Society. Dr. Mickleburgh has recently been involved in field work on birds, bats and amphibians and, most importantly, in the production of an excellent Action Plan for the 150 or so species of Old World fruit bats. His experience will be very useful in developing conservation criteria and initiatives for the large number of freshwater fish which are under threat. Members of the FFSG will be contacted by Simon Mickleburgh, with a preliminary questionnaire to get the Action Plan underway. However, anyone wishing further information should contact either: Dr. Chris Andrews National Aquarium in Baltimore Pier 3, 501 E. Pratt St. Baltimore, MD 21202 U.S.A. Tel: (410) 576-8239 Fax: (410) 576-1080 Dr. Simon Mickleburgh Fauna and Flora Preservation society 1 Kensington Gore London SW7 2AR Tel: 71-823-8899 Fax: 71-823-9690 Reprinted from the "Fish" Newsletter of the Freshwater Fish Specialist Group of the IUCN, July 31, 1992. *********** The ACN has received a copy of the above mentioned questionnaire. Anyone wishing to participate should provide the following information to Dr. Mickleburgh at the above address: Name: Address for Correspondence: Telephone: Fax: I have experience of the following freshwater fish species, faunas and/or habitats: I would be willing to contribute to and action plan on freshwater fish in the following respects: I have some information on the following other freshwater fish and/or areas: The following contacts may also be able to assist with the production of the action plan (please give name, address, telephone and fax numbers and an indication of their specialisation): I am aware of the following relevant reviews/studies on freshwater fish conservation: 02/08/93 ag508 <11> LOWELL SCHOOL - ECOLOGY AND CICHLID PROJECT Lowell School supports 160 gallons of aquaria at its two campuses in Washington, D.C. Ecology and Cichlid Project coordinator John Bijarney maintains 500 gallons of aquaria at his home as support for school tanks. Over the past 3 years the school has kept and bred at the school Haplochromis riponianus from Lake Victoria and has used the Lake Victoria disaster to teach basic principles of conservation and ecology. Lake Malawi mbuna are also kept and bred and they have a colony of Aulonocara jacobfreibergi. Mr. Bijarney spent the month of August '92 at Lake Malawi with Stuart Grant, exporter of Malawi fishes for 20 years. He intends to share this experience with students and the school community. He will also make a presentation to colleagues at the Mid-Atlantic Teachers Conference in Baltimore, November 1-2, 1992. The following is a summary of this workshop: African Cichlids: A Focus for Stimulating the Development of Observational Skills; Presenting a Life Cycle; and Teaching Ecology Africa, well known for its exciting land fauna, harbours in its freshwaters a dramatic array of fishes renowned for their diver- sity, behaviour, vivid colours, and endemism. This workshop will focus on the cichlid fishes of two African Great Lakes, Malawi and Victoria; how to maintain them in school aquaria; and how to acquire stock. With a solid understanding of their needs and territorial behaviour, these fishes can be easy to maintain in the classroom as a focus for stimulating the development of observa- tional skills, studying a life cycle, and acquiring knowledge about some fundamental principles of ecology. A brief presentation on the Lake Victoria disaster and how it is used at Lowell School to teach about ecology will be considered. How to acquire and maintain a group of these endangered animals will be discussed. Lake Malawi, ninth largest lake in the world and a biological goldmine, contains more species of freshwater fish than all the lakes and rivers of Central and North America. Ninety-eight percent of these are endemic. The Malawian species, easier to acquire, exhibit a plethora of patterns and bright colours which entice students to observe them and reproduce what they see in drawings, paintings, and cut-out constructions. Students are fascinated to learn that these fishes communicate with each other by changing their patterns and controlling the intensity of their colours. They are maternal mouthbrooders and after a dramatic spawning sequence, the female carries and incubates the fertilized eggs in her mouth for 18 to 28 days depending on the temperature of the water. This makes for exciting journal content for students as they follow and observe the changes in the mouth area of the brooding fish and anticipate the release of the fry. This workshop is a lecture, video and slide presentation aimed at the elementary and secondary inter-disciplinary levels, especially art and science. A twenty minute introductory video on cichlids of Lake Malawi forms part of this section followed by a question and answer period. Several Lowell teachers have produced a video of 2nd-graders asking Stuart Grant questions about Lake Malawi and its fishes. He and Ad Konings, well known author and photographer, are producing a video answering the students' questions. These videos will be featured during the workshop in Baltimore. For more information on the workshop and on the program at Lowell School, contact John Bijarney, Lowell School, 16th & Decatur Sts. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20011-4330, U.S.A. Tel: (202) 726-9153 (school) or (202) 232-0715 (home); Fax: (202) 723-8469. 02/08/93 ag508 <12> CENTER FOR MARINE CONSERVATION WORKS TO PROTECT OCEANS AT EARTH SUMMIT by Elliot A. Norse Depending solely on the world's governments for real environmental progress is fraught with risk, as I saw at the UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), also known as the Earth Summit. This extraordinary event - the largest assemblage of world leaders ever - took place in June in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. For 11 days, government delegations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) discussed such topics as maintaining the earth's biological diversity, reducing the emission of greenhouse gases, and how to finance economically sustainable development in the world's poorer countries. Unfortunately, UNCED highlighted division as much as unity. One division was between the industrialized countries and the develop- ing countries. Developing countries have had their natural resources devastated, first by being colonies of industrialized nations, and more recently, by the need to pay off crushing debt burdens to banks in the developed world. The industrialized countries, in contrast, want to maintain high living standards for their own citizens, yet consume far more resources per person than the poverty-stricken developing world. Nonetheless, the two sides did join on treaties to slow global climate change and protect biodiversity - except for one country, the United States. The unbending opposition of the Bush Administration severely weakened these treaties and cast a pall over the Earth Summit. The second division was between governments and NGOs. For one thing, the NGOs met 40 miles away from the governmental meetings, although there were both official and unofficial meetings between government delegations and conservationists. Some of the most important, and politically volatile, topics - population growth and reducing the consumption of natural resources - were not on the government agendas. UNCED frustrated many who had hoped that the end of the Cold War would allow humankind to focus on more fundamental questions about the way we live. But there were important achievements nonetheless, especially from NGOs. I went to UNCED to present a draft of the Global Marine Biological Diversity Strategy, a comprehensive plan for world governments and NGOs that the Center for Marine Conservation (CMC) began assembling in 1990. Written by nearly 100 experts in marine biology, oceanog- raphy, economics, anthropology, and law, the Strategy is a companion to the Global Biodiversity Strategy released by the World Resources Institute earlier this year. The Strategy is truly international in perspective - at least 40 countries contributed to its content. Because CMC's substantive input into government positions had already occurred at a Preparatory Committee meeting in New York, I focused my attention on the parallel meeting of non-governmental organizations. One of the most exciting NGO efforts was to draft "treaties" delineating what NGOs would do to save the Earth. The oceans were a topic of intense and fruitful discussion. The recommendations in the Strategy proved invaluable in drafting the marine treaties on biodiversity, physical alteration of ecosystems, pollution, effects of global atmospheric change on the sea, and protected areas. These could be a blueprint for international marine conservation efforts in years to come. Amidst the color of Rio - the gorgeous setting, the gracious Brazilian people, the noise and air pollution, the crowds of UNCED participants and heavily armed soldiers guarding us, the children's singing, and the interminable debates - I felt hope more than frustration. I have come back with many new friends from around the world who believe, as I do, that there is no more important task than saving the Earth, both for our species and for the tens of millions of other species that share it with us. Reprinted from Marine Conservation News, Vol. 4, No. 3, Autumn 1992. Elliot Norse is CMC's chief scientist and creator of the Global Marine Biological Diversity Strategy. His address is Center for Marine Conservation, 15806 N.E. 47th Ct., Redmond, WA 98052- 5208, U.S.A. General enquiries about the CMC should be directed to the national office at 1725 DeSales Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20036, U.S.A. 02/08/93 ag508 <13> RESOLUTIONS OF THE WORKSHOP ON PEOPLE, FISHERIES, BIODIVERSITY AND THE FUTURE OF LAKE VICTORIA August 17-20, 1992 Jinja, Uganda Executive Summary After careful consideration of available evidence, based upon research results from all three riparian nations, we conclude that the environment of Lake Victoria is now unstable. As a consequence, the fishery is unsustainable at its present composition and yield. In addition, a major question has arisen regarding the allocation of the lake's fishery benefits between the riparian population and export. We have also concluded that many valuable indigenous fish species are still present in the lake basin, and are capable of reestablishing themselves in some places following the predicted decline in the Nile perch population, and adequate controls of water quality and fishing effort. We regard aquaculture as an important potential supplement to lake- derived protein. The changing condition of Lake Victoria's fishery is a challenge to the stability, social and economic welfare of the people of the lake basin. Therefore we recommend the following: General Recommendation There is strong need for the existence of a Lake Victoria Fisheries Commission to harmonize research and management strategies for the Lake Victoria Basin. An important scientific function of the Commission should be to foster close international cooperation, standardization of research and management methods, cross-calibra- tion of scientific instruments and continuity of monitoring. Limnology and Environment 1. There is need to develop a general ecosystems model of Lake Victoria which includes the chemical, biological and human factors that affect basic productivity. 2. There is need to develop the ability to forecast when and where oxygen levels in Lake Victoria will fall low enough to endanger fish stocks. 3. We must determine the effects on fish stocks of changes in the flow of nitrogen, phosphorus, sulphur, silicon, oxygen and carbon through the Lake Victoria ecosystem. 4. Energy transport through the two major trophic pathways (grazing and detritus) that couple fish production with algal production, must be quantified to enhance predictions of fish productivity. 5. Studies should be carried out to determine appropriate locations for buffer zones of uncleared land along the shores of the lake and its waterways. A research and management program for the wetland and forest habitat in this zone should be undertaken, with special attention to the water hyacinth. Fish Biology 1. There is urgent need for stock assessment to guide policy makers, fishery investors, and fishery managers. 2. Food web interactions and life history characteristics must be quantified to understand the relationship between increased eutrophication and anoxia in Lake Victoria, and fluctuations in fisheries stocks and other species that support them. 3. Refuge areas (fish parks) should be established to protect the diversity of the native fish species and maintain spawning stocks of commercially desirable species. 4. The possible contribution of aquaculture and management of alternative fisheries to sustenance of the fishery industry should be fully explored, including their potential for restoring and rehabilitating indigenous stocks. 5. Any proposals for the introduction of exotic flora and fauna to the Lake Victoria ecosystem should be submitted to the Lake Victoria Fisheries Commission for analyses. Such suggestions must be treated with great caution and rigorously evaluated, biological- ly, economically, and socially, and must meet with the approval of all three riparian nations. Management of those species already introduced is essential to the welfare of existing fisheries and the preservation of options for the future. Policy, Management and Socioeconomics 1. The environment in the shallow waters of the lake is deteriorat- ing, so there is a need to control the quality of the water in the runoff from the land. Fishery administrators should draw attention to the water quality requirements of the fishery and participate in drafting overall guidelines for the regulation of water quality. 2. The supply of fish within the lake basin available to local populations is insufficient to meet their needs. We recommend that aquaculture be expanded in the lake basin, based on existing successful models emphasizing native and established species. There is a need to balance export interests and local needs. 3. Any proposals for fisheries development should be subjected to a detailed social and environmental impact assessment before implementation. 4. Studies should examine changing patterns of ownership and control of harvesting and processing facilities, and should analyze the differential incomes received by the various participants in the fishery industry. 5. Fisheries officials should be familiarized with programs in similar fisheries in other countries which involve fishers in local fisheries management. 6. The fisheries planning process needs to be integrated with the development of information systems encompassing social, economic, and biological data. 7. Research should identify the factors which facilitate and the factors which impede local participation in fisheries management. 8. Programs should be developed to assist those groups most likely to suffer the effects of the predicted declines in the current fishery. 9. Research should identify ways to more effectively implement regulations to control fishing gear and methods. 10. Studies should be conducted to determine if the expansion of the Nile perch fishery and export marketing have contributed to reduced dietary protein and malnutrition in local people. 11. An economic assessment of the value of the native fauna should be undertaken, taking into account their value for food, aquarium trade, medicine, and tourism. 12. Dialogue should be established with fishers and the broader local community to involve them in the planning and implementation of conservation efforts. Suggested Funding 1. It is suggested that the feasibility be investigated of levying a tax on fish exported from the basin to support the research, management, and monitoring of the fisheries. Contact: Dr. L. Kaufman, New England Aquarium, Edgerton Research Laboratory, 1 Central Wharf, Boston, Massachusetts 02110 U.S.A. Tel: (617) 973-5275, Fax: (617) 723-6207. 02/08/93 ag508 <14> GENETIC CONSERVATION OF CHINESE CARPS _IN SITU_ by Li Sifa Background Chinese Carps are widely recognized as important species for farming in a wide range of aquaculture systems, extensive and intensive, in ponds, cages, pens, lakes and reservoirs. The four traditional species cultivated include the silver carp (Hypophthal- michthys molitrix), the bighead (Aristichthys nobilis), grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus), and black carp (Mylopharyngodon peceus). Wuchang fish (Megalobrama amblycephala) is also commonly cultured today. In 1990, the fisheries production of China was 12.37 million tons of which freshwater aquaculture accounted for 4.4 million tons. The filtering species (silver carp and bighead) accounted for 2.5 million tons and the grazing species (grass carp and wuchang fish) accounted for 1 million tons. The polyculture of planktivorous species and herbivorous species make the backbone of the integrated fish farming system. Genetic improvement of Chinese carps has so far remained almost untouched by the advances in applied breeding technology even though the tradition of fish farming dates back thousands of years. There are several reasons for this. One of them is that Chinese carps have a longer generation (4 to 6 years) and require long- term strategic research which has been neglected or else insuffi- ciently funded. Shanghai Fisheries University (SFU) started a genetic resources study on Chinese carps in 1982 under the support of a national program and the International Foundation for Science. Since 1983, the study has been repeatedly upgraded and the study team expanded to include the Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB), Academia Sinica, Heilongjiang (= Amur) River Fisheries Research Institute (HRFI), Changjiang (= Yangtze) River Fisheries Research Institute (CRFI) and Zhujiang (= Pearl) River Fisheries Research Institute (ZRFI) of the Chinese Academy of Fisheries Science. Seven years work showed that there are several significant genetic differences among populations of Chinese carps from three major Chinese rivers. Particularly noteworthy was the fact that in the same cultivation environment, the growth of silver carp and bighead from the Yangtze River was 5 to 10 percent faster than those from the Pearl River. Since the annual farmed production of these two species exceeds two million tons, this was a major finding of immediate applicability. In addition, the wild populations of silver carp and bighead from both river systems showed 5 to 10 percent faster growth than hatchery populations. The seven year study also found that the fishery resources of silver carp and bighead are decreasing in three major rivers. In the early 1980's, the catch of marketable-sized fishes was just half as much as in the 1950's. Catches of natural fry were only one quarter of the 1960's level. The decrease in fry production has become even more serious, and silver carp in particular hardly meet the demands of aquaculture. Genetic resources of Chinese carps required for aquaculture are subject to high pressures such as overfishing; agricultural, municipal and industrial pollution; changes in the water regime resulting from clearance of upper catchment basins and floodplain forests, dams, channelling of streams, and draining of wetlands. These factors may not result in extinction but are likely to lead to adverse genetic change. Aquaculture production of many species has been and continues to be constrained by coming risks to wild stocks. This work appears to have had a strong impact on the Chinese fishing community and it serves as a basis for planning of genetic improvement of aquaculture and the conservation of natural genetic resources. Current Research Work Because of the high probability of the loss of genetic diversity in any species taken into culture, the best method of maintaining this diversity is to conserve self-maintaining populations in natural habitats. The current study plans to use one or two oxbows as natural genetic conservation areas for the wild stock of Chinese carps from the Yangtze River. The Swan Oxbow (1800 ha) and Laohe Oxbow (470 ha) are both located in the middle section of the Yangtze River, 100 km downstream from the GouZhou Dam. This area downstream of the dam is the largest spawning ground of Chinese carps and the river around the oxbows is a major fry catching area. The Swan Oxbow was formed in 1974. During the dry season (October to April) its upper end is broken from the river and only the downstream end is connected by a channel with the river. But during the flood season, the bay is connected with the river and many fish species, particularly their fry, come into the oxbow and stay there for nursing. The annual fish yield is about 900,000 kg, in which the silver carp, bighead, grass carp and black carp account for 20 percent. The Laohe Oxbow was formed in the 1960's. Now it is almost isolated from the river except for a lock connecting the oxbow and the river. A wild brood stock farm has been established in Laohe Oxbow. The farm collects and transfers the seed of wild stock of Chinese carps from the Yangtze, stocks them in the oxbow, then supplies brood stock to hatcheries. The annual production of brood stock of Chinese carps is estimated to be about 30,000 kg. The objectives of the study are to protect the more productive stocks of silver carp, bighead, grass carp, black carp and wuchang fish in situ (in the natural environment) and when appropriate to provide such fish to national or regional research programs and to fish farms. These will be accomplished by the following specific and sequential activities: 1. Conservation of genetic diversity in situ. - establish a genetic conservation area (GCA) for Chinese carps in oxbow lakes along the middle section of the Yangtze River; - monitor and maintain the water bodies of the GCA and the genetic characteristics of Chinese carps; - sustain a reasonable sized population of Chinese carps in these water bodies; It is expected that the first phase will establish: - a conservation area which includes 2 oxbows for silver carp, bighead, grass carp, and black carp, and one lake for wuchang fish; - primary indicators to measure the condition of the ecosystem; and - indicators of the productivity and diversity of concerned species. The second phase will include the establishment of a complete gene protection area along the middle section of the Yangtze River. This means that the protection area will expand to a broader area including the major spawning ground of Chinese carps in the Yangtze River in addition to the two oxbows and one lake. 2. Using the wild stocks of Chinese carps as the principal gene bank for aquaculture. Distribution of Yangtze stock of Chinese carps to research institutes and fish farms will take place through the National Committee of Aquatic Varieties Certification (NCAVC, established in December, 1991 under the Agriculture Ministry with Li Sifa as the lead person) and the Yangtze River Wild Fish Stock Utilization Program (YRWFSUP, established in September, 1991 with 22 current members including administrations, research institutes, and brood stock farms, etc. - Li Sifa is the organizer and director). A scientific management system for Chinese carp brood stock will be studied and established in several brood stock farms specified with the Yangtze stock. Outlook It is estimated that if wild stock of Chinese carps from the Yangtze River can be extended into the whole of China, the aquaculture production of China will increase by 200,000 tons. Chinese carp have been introduced into many countries. In some countries, stocks of Chinese carps have suffered from gene bottleneck and/or inbreeding problems. The Yangtze River conserva- tion area can offer the best stocks of Chinese carps. Chinese carps occupy an important position in freshwater fish culture. With the completion of a genetic conservation area for Chinese carps, Chinese carps will keep their genetic diversity and be a benefit forever to aquaculture in China and the rest of the world. References Li Sifa et al. 1990. Comprehensive Genetic Study on Chinese Carps. Shanghai Scientific and Technical Publishers. pp228. Li Sifa. 1990. Genetic evaluation of Chinese carps. AMBIO. Vol. 19, No. 8, 411-415. Pullin, R.S.V. 1988. Tilapia Genetic Resources for Aquaculture. ICLARM. pp108. Li Sifa is a Professor of Aquaculture, Shanghai Fisheries Univer- sity, 334 Jungong Road, Shanghai, China. Tel: 21-543-1090. Fax: 21- 543-4358. 02/08/93 ag508 <15> ACN NEWS Columbus Symposium The ACN will be participating at the symposium on Conservation Genetics and Evolutionary Ecology: A Case Study of the Cichlid Fauna of Lake Victoria. The Saturday (October 31) evening discussion session will concern "the role of the non-scientist aquarist and the aquarium industry in the conservation of genetic resources of endangered species". After the presentation of papers by Rob Huntley and possibly Bruce Gebhardt, a panel is proposed, tentatively including Chris Andrews (National Aquarium in Baltimore), Bruce Gebhardt (North American Native Fishes Association), Rob Huntley (ACN), Paul Loiselle (New York Aquarium), Russ McAndrews (New England Aquarium) and Timothy Hovanec (Marineland Aquarium Products). An ACN Board Meeting is scheduled for 7:00 p.m., Sunday evening (November 1). ACN Steering Committee members confirmed to attend the symposium are Chris Andrews, Paul Loiselle, Dennis Hough, Rob Huntley and Gordon Reid. Possibly attending are Eugene Balon, Heiko Bleher and Bruce Gebhardt. If Heiko Bleher attends the meeting there may be an opportunity for a slide presentation on the impact of the Lake Victoria issue on the local people. Falls Fish Festival - Roundtable on Aquatic Conservation On the weekend of September 25th to 27th, the NY-PENN Council and the Federation of American Aquarium Societies held their combined annual convention in Niagara Falls, New York. The festival was cosponsored by a number of other leading aquarium organizations including the Rainbowfish Study Group and the North American Fish Breeder's Guild. The ACN participated in the roundtable discussion of aquatic conservation on the Friday evening. The session was moderated by Rob Huntley of the ACN. The panel included Jaap Jan DeGreef who spoke about the introduction of non-native species with examples from Central America; Dr. Richard Greene who provided examples of habitat deterioration and non-native species introductions in Georgia and Tennessee; John Baad who presented a brief overview of several regulation and legislation issues; Rob Huntley who discussed the responsibilities of the hobby in aquatic conserva- tion; and Lee Finley who put forward some proposals for catfish species maintenance. Unfortunately Bob Cashin was unable to attend the convention. He had been planning to present a report of current programs in species maintenance. International Directory of Aquarium Associations We have a significant number of aquarium associations listed in the ACN database. Although turnover in organizations is high, usually annually, the information is thought to be relatively current for most of the organizations listed. Consideration is being given to the publication of an international directory. The foundation came from work developed some time ago by Bob and Rosie Clarke and published by CAOAC (Canadian Association of Aquarium Clubs). This has been updated and additional information has come from various sources. The project is being developed by Rob Huntley and Jar^Â Sausaman. To ensure that your club is represented, please provide the name of the club, the mailing address, and the name, address and phone number of the club's president and membership secretary to Rob Huntley, 540 Roosevelt Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K2A 1Z8. Working Group - Captive Breeding Guidelines A volunteer working group is forming to look at the development of guidelines documentation for a captive breeding program. Anyone wishing to be involved should contact Rob Huntley, 540 Roosevelt Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K2A 1Z8. Acknowledgements We are grateful for the free advertisements and news articles by: - 'Aquarist & Pondkeeper' and the NEWS DESK article by Stephen J. Smith (August 1992); - Chuck Davis in his Society News column in 'Aquarium Fish Magazine (AFM) (September 1992); - 'Fisheries - A Bulletin of the American Fisheries Society'; - Don Dewey and Dennis Hough in the editorial section 'Freshwater and Marine Aquarium Magazine' as well as Gene Lucas for his column in the same issue (August 1992); - 'aqua geographia' in their debut issue (July/Aug./Sep. 1992) for the advertisement contributed by Heiko Bleher; - the journal 'Environmental Conservation'; - the newsletter of the Fisheries Society of the British Isles; - FISHNET on CompuServe; - the 'Water Garden Journal'; and - numerous articles in society and study group newsletters. 02/08/93 ag508 <16> AQUATIC CONSERVATION NETWORK NEW MEMBERS David S. Allen 15943 Harvest St. Granada Hills California 91344 U.S.A. Australia-New Guinea Fishes Assoc. P.O. Box 502 Ringwood Victoria 3134 Australia Marion Baxter Ichthos JLB Smith Institute of Ichthyology Private Bag 1015 Grahamstown 6140 South Africa Steven W. Berger London Aquascape 489 Second Street London Ontario N5V 2B4 Canada Eric Bjornson 2334 25 Ave. N.W. Calgary Alberta T2M 2C3 Canada Thomas S. Campbell The Fish Doctors 9618 Main Whitmore Lake MI 48189 U.S.A. Russell M. Cooke Bristol Tropical Fish Club 10 Greenside Close Henbury Bristol BS10 7PT England Chris Drexel South Australian Native Fish Group 26 Gordini Crescent Holden Hill Adelaide Sth. Australia Australia Lee Finley 151 North Road Pascoag Rhode Island 02859 U.S.A. Michael Florez Suite 501 119 East Court Street Cincinnati Ohio 45202 U.S.A. Dr. Richard Greene Reef & River Inc. P.O. Box 724195 Atlanta GA 30339 U.S.A. Dr. Rachel Haight #322 - 20 Cleary Ave. Ottawa Ontario K2A 3Z9 Canada Mike Hansell British Killifish Association 7 Victoria Grove Horsforth Leeds Yorkshire LS 18 4ST England Patrick Harty 9L Dove Court Croton-on-Hudson NY 10520 U.S.A. Ralph Heres 31 Pell Mell Dr. Bethel CT 06801 U.S.A. Edward Kennair Edward Kennair Professional Corp. Box 6980 Bonnyville Alberta T9N 2H4 Canada Roger Langton 556 W. Cedar Place Louisville CO 80027 U.S.A. Dustin Laurence Caltech 103-33 Pasadena CA 91125 U.S.A. Edward Marcisz 13328 Carondolet Ave. Chicago Illinois 60633 U.S.A. Russ McAndrews Edgerton Research Lab New England Aquarium Central Wharf Boston Massachusetts 02110 U.S.A. Dr. William O. McLarney ANAI, Inc. 1176 Bryson City Rd. Franklin NC 28734 U.S.A. Jennifer Moore 12226 Beauregard Houston TX 77024 U.S.A. Richard J. Neves Department of Fisheries & Wildlife USFWS, Dept. of Fish. & Wildlife Science Virginia Polytechnic Inst. & State Univ. Blacksburg Virginia 24061-0321 U.S.A. Walter Pagels 6073 Lancaster Drive San Diego CA 92120 U.S.A. Bob Peas 6602 W. Thonotosassa Rd. Plant City FL 33566 U.S.A. Robert Rofen Novalek, Inc. 2242 Davis Ct. Hayward CA 94545 U.S.A. Mark Rosenqvist Aquatic Research Organisms P.O. Box 1271 One Lafayette Road Hampton NH 03842 U.S.A. Jar^Â Sausaman Collector of Aquarium Literature 6804 N. 10th St. Philadelphia PA 19126 U.S.A. John R. Shute Director Conservation Fisheries, Inc. 5201 Kingston Pike, Ste. 7 Knoxville TN 37919 U.S.A. Daniel Silver Endangered Habitats League 1422 N. Sweetzer Ave., #401 Los Angeles California 90069-1528 U.S.A. Al Sippel Fish Health Biologist c/o Fish Health Laboratory, Rm. 324 Dept. of Microbiology University of Guelph Guelph Ontario N1G 2W1 Canada Dean Sliger P.O. Box 20263 Ferndale MI 48220 U.S.A. Rui A. G. de Sousa Presidente Associacao Portuguesa de Aquariofilos Rua Sacadura Cabral, 22 E-4-Esq. 2580 Alenquer Portugal Patrick A. Tosie, Sr. 1813 Locks Mill Dr. Fenton MO 63026-2662 U.S.A. Sally & Steve Van Camp President Federation of American Aquarium Soc. 923 Wadsworth St. Syracuse New York 13208 U.S.A. Douglas I. Warmolts Curator Johnson Aquatic Complex Columbus Zoological Gardens 9990 Riverside Dr., Box 400 Powell Ohio 43065 U.S.A. John Wylie 241 Bruce Avenue Winnipeg Manitoba R3J 0V4 Canada Thank-you to the following new members who made financial contributions in addition to annual fees: Russell M. Cooke, Chris Drexel, Michael Florez and Dr. Richard Greene Membership applications can be sent directly to Sally Van Camp, 923 Wadsworth St., Syracuse, New York 13208, U.S.A. or to the Aquatic Conservation Network, 540 Roosevelt Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario K2A 1Z8, Canada. The annual membership fee is $25 (Canadian or U.S. currency). End of Volume 1, Number 3 - Aquatic Survival