Abstract/Description/Artist Statement
Maintaining live animals in lab settings is useful for establishing a stock of specimens available for experimental studies without relying on continuous collection efforts. Previous aquarium systems utilized in the aquatic facility of the Department of Biological Sciences at ODU were suited for research on freshwater and marine vertebrates and were not designed for the care of marine invertebrates. This project aims to establish methods and protocols suitable for maintaining various marine invertebrates in a control laboratory setting. In the first stage of the project, the existing recirculation system and lab space will be reorganized and restructured to suit the needs of invertebrate maintenance following guidance obtained from expert consultation and literature review. The maintenance system will be tested to ensure proper functioning and the successful establishment of a stable and beneficial nitrifying microbial community. The second stage will involve collecting various invertebrate specimens from the fouling communities at Willoughby Bay Marina in Norfolk, Virginia. Species collected for maintenance will include annelids (e.g., clam worms), crustaceans (e.g., blue crabs, common grass shrimp, ivory barnacles, amphipods), mollusks (e.g., Eastern oysters, ribbed mussels), and poriferans (e.g., red beard sponges). Specimens will be transported to the lab and maintained in accordance with research-based care protocols. Proper animal care protocols will include water-change routines, food preparation, feeding schedules, and water-quality monitoring. This project will serve as a reference system for designing future experiments with marine invertebrates as model systems, supporting research initiatives for both undergraduate and graduate students.
Faculty Advisor/Mentor
Gloria Massamba N'Siala
Faculty Advisor/Mentor Email
gmassamb@odu.edu
Faculty Advisor/Mentor Department
Department of Biological Sciences
College/School Affiliation
College of Sciences
Student Level Group
Undergraduate
Presentation Type
Poster
Included in
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons, Marine Biology Commons, Other Physiology Commons
Establishing aquarium systems and care protocols for marine invertebrates in the Department of Biological Sciences at ODU
Maintaining live animals in lab settings is useful for establishing a stock of specimens available for experimental studies without relying on continuous collection efforts. Previous aquarium systems utilized in the aquatic facility of the Department of Biological Sciences at ODU were suited for research on freshwater and marine vertebrates and were not designed for the care of marine invertebrates. This project aims to establish methods and protocols suitable for maintaining various marine invertebrates in a control laboratory setting. In the first stage of the project, the existing recirculation system and lab space will be reorganized and restructured to suit the needs of invertebrate maintenance following guidance obtained from expert consultation and literature review. The maintenance system will be tested to ensure proper functioning and the successful establishment of a stable and beneficial nitrifying microbial community. The second stage will involve collecting various invertebrate specimens from the fouling communities at Willoughby Bay Marina in Norfolk, Virginia. Species collected for maintenance will include annelids (e.g., clam worms), crustaceans (e.g., blue crabs, common grass shrimp, ivory barnacles, amphipods), mollusks (e.g., Eastern oysters, ribbed mussels), and poriferans (e.g., red beard sponges). Specimens will be transported to the lab and maintained in accordance with research-based care protocols. Proper animal care protocols will include water-change routines, food preparation, feeding schedules, and water-quality monitoring. This project will serve as a reference system for designing future experiments with marine invertebrates as model systems, supporting research initiatives for both undergraduate and graduate students.