H ALIBUT HERALD

September 5, 2008

Bits and Bites

An up-close-and-personal view of the goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara). Scientists now report
there are actually two species which split when the Pacific and Atlantic oceans separated 3.5
million years ago. The finding should prove vital to conserving this critically endangered fish.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/default.stm

Giant Antarctic Marine Worm - Parbolasia Corrugatus

P. corrugatus grows up to two meters in length, comes in a variety of delightful colors, and kills
its prey by rapidly and repeatedly stabbing it with a harpoon-like barbed proboscis! This
proboscis has adhesive secretions which secure it in place. When threatened, this fast moving
giant death worm secretes an acidic mucus that predators avoid.
Lacking a respiratory system, P. corrugatus absorbs oxygen through its skin. When oxygen levels
drop, it flattens and elongates to increase surface area for absorption and minimize the distance
oxygen must travel within the body. It's flexible body also allows it to swallow food almost as a
large as itself.

See link for more photos & details on these interesting creatures.
http://scienceblogs.com/zooillogix/2008/09/giant_antarctic_marine_worm_pa.php

More News Links

Ivory Gull Wins Most Polluted Bird on the Planet Award

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/09/ivory-gull-most-polluted-bird-on-planet.php

Incredible Sahara Forest Project to Generate Fresh Water, Solar

Power and Crops in African Desert
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/09/sahara-forest-project.php

Japanese Aquarium Snags Rare 'Living Fossil' Goblin Shark; Creature

Dies After Being Put on Display (Old but still interesting news)
http://www.underwatertimes.com/news.php?article_id=76395108140
Video of Goblin Shark : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZzehRHxtB8

Library News
New Books:
• Guide to Aquatic Insects & Crustaceans – Izaak Walton League of America (2006)
• Neptune’s Ark: from Ichthyosaurs to Orcas – David Rains Wallace (2007)

Please return or renew your overdue library items at your earliest convenience.
Archival Photo

Bee Bop & friends, 1979. Unknown photographer

Volunteer Services
Volunteer Services is looking for people like YOU!

Three times per year the Vancouver Aquarium recruits a large number of Volunteers.
Join the ranks! Be part of this fantastic team! Learn more about the Aquarium, meet
friends and do some incredibly cool work.

It all starts next Wednesday evening, Sept 10th with our information session.
To register & for more info, call Jean or Melanie at 604.659.3478 or drop by Volunteer
Services.

Pass this on to your network of friends & anyone interested in joining the Aquarium.
Green Team
Yellow Fish Storm Drain Marking Program

Storm drains at the Aquarium are marked with yellow fish. These yellow fish are there to remind us that these
storm drains empty directly into the ocean. We need to keep harmful substances out of these drains.
Remember, only rain goes down these drains!

Need more information?

The Storm Drain Marking Program is a component of the Chemical Management Program, which supports the
Vancouver Aquarium’s Environmental Management System. To find out more about these programs or how to
properly dispose of chemicals, please contact the Environmental Management Systems (EMS) Coordinator at
ems@vanaqua.org.
Reducing our Environmental Impact through Solid Waste Diversion

The Vancouver Aquarium has been working hard to reduce our environmental impacts related to
solid waste. In July 2008, the Aquarium conducted a Waste Audit to enhance existing waste
reduction and recycling programs, and identify opportunities to improve diversion of solid waste
from the landfill. The Aquarium has progressive recycling and composting programs, including
public composting at the Upstream Café. This study showed that we have a very successful
diversion rate of 73%!

Do your part to help reduce our solid waste impact! Be sure to properly dispose of your
waste and utilize the compost bins available in the staff/volunteer lounge, the Upstream Café, at
Gate 6, and beyond!

Did you know…

• That all the dishware, cups, cutlery, etc. at the Upstream Café are compostable? They are
made out of cornstarch or sugar cane products that allow them to quickly biodegrade in a
commercial compost facility and become nutrient rich soil within 3-12 weeks!
• The Vancouver Aquarium recently purchased this soil product from our compost generated
onsite, and are using this for our external landscaping requirements!
Events

Parking for this event may be limited due to competition for parking spaces with Bard on
the Beach. Plan to arrive early as you won't want to miss a minute of this presentation.
Dave Behrens will also have a selection of his books available for cash sales.

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 Help Clean up at Kitsilano Beach Park on Saturday September 20th!

Registration starts at 10:00 AM

Wrap up around 2:00 PM
Where: The intersection of Arbutus St. and McNicoll Avenue (right next to the basketball courts).

• Cleanup supplies (garbage bags, gloves, recycling bags) will be provided

• Panago Pizza will be served for free
• Various Vancouver Aquarium WWF and Surfriders booths present at the event
 • Please bring your own reusable food containers and cups
• We encourage you to use a sustainable form of transportation (carpool, bus, bike, walk to the
event) as a way to reduce our impact on the environment.

For registration, please go to our website at www.vanaqua.org/cleanup, and register for either
Kitsilano Beach Park North or Kitsilano Beach Park South (both sites are part of the same event).

If you have any questions or if any of the Vancouver Aquarium departments or programs would like to
have a booth or a presence at the event, please contact Maryam at ext. 3765. and at
maryam.dashti@vanaqua.org

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The Dominant Animal and the Fate of Biodiversity

Beatty Biodiversity Museum at UBC
Fall Biodiversity Lecture

Speaker: Professor Paul Ehrlich

When: Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Time: 7:00pm
Where: UBC Woodward Building - Room 2 (2198 Health Sciences Mall).

As human population reaches unprecedented levels, we lose unknown numbers of populations and
species every year. Please join us to hear Paul Ehrlich speak about the evolutionary and cultural
forces that made us the planet’s dominant animal. Learn how those forces are affecting the way we
are shaping our world, and how the choices we make in the next decades will impact the planet our
children will inherit.

Free. E-tickets required, available at www.beatymuseum.ubc.ca (e-tickets will be available 2 weeks

before the lecture)

PAUL R. EHRLICH is Bing Professor of Population Studies and Professor of Biological Sciences at
Stanford University. An expert in the fields of evolution, ecology, taxonomy, and population biology,
Ehrlich has conducted fieldwork from the Arctic and the Antarctic to the tropics, and from high
mountains to the ocean floor. Professor Ehrlich has written more than 800 scientific papers and
popular articles as well as many books, including The Population Bomb. He is a Fellow of the
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and the American Academy of Arts
and Sciences, a recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship, the Volvo Environmental Prize for
Environmental Sciences, and the Blue Planet Prize, and was awarded the first AAAS/Scientific
American Prize for Science in the Service of Humanity.
For Sale
 Lift the lid of our jeweled seashell box and you will find a beautiful
pair of porcelain shell earrings. Both are resplendent with Austrian
Crystals set in pewter. The inside of the seashell is inlaid with
abalone-like shell made of porcelain, and is presented in a satin lined
box. A glamorous gift idea for any ocean lover, just $29.99!

This item was even featured in this years SELECTIONS catalogue in

which some of the great Canadian museums and zoos can present a
glimpse of what you might find on their shelves.

Have you been to our Gift Shop lately?

This week drop by the Gift Shop, we always have great ideas for any
occasion.