About Author: Chris

Posts by Chris

Zoo Babies

– November 29, 2011Posted in: More, Zoo InternQuest

Zoo InternQuest is a seven-week career exploration program for San Diego County high school juniors and seniors. Students have the unique opportunity to meet professionals working for the San Diego Zoo, Safari Park, and Institute for Conservation Research, learn about their jobs, and then blog about their experience online. Follow their adventures here on the Zoo’s website!

The Neonatal Assisted Care Unit (NACU) is a temporary home for young animals at the San Diego Zoo. This division of the Veterinary Services Department works around the clock, and staff members are ready for anything that crosses their path. Becky Kier, senior nursery keeper, gave us a snapshot of what she does as part of the NACU staff. They have to be on their toes if a baby comes in for a variety of reasons such as a special need, injury, infection at birth, or maternal neglect. She helps to preserve wildlife by taking care of babies, which leads to a species’ survival.

Any animal could come through their doors, so they must be fully prepared. Every species is unique, which calls for different handling instructions. For example, they have a vast array of different nipple shapes and sizes, including custom made, because different species are accustomed to different suckling speeds and milk intake. In addition to determining the nipple size, they calculate the right formula for each animal, taking into account gastric capacity and percentage of body weight per day. The daily routine of a NACU employee consists of litter marking, measuring weights, taking temperatures, bottle-feeding, burping, and manual relief (inducing the baby to “use the restroom”). These tasks are difficult but are worth it when the baby gets to go back to their family. Babies are introduced back to their families or become animal ambassadors. An animal’s family is important because they teach it how to function and survive, which is why the NACU’s goal is to return the offspring to their parents.

At the NACU we met Tinka, a parma wallaby baby. Parma wallabies are an endangered species found throughout Australia and New Guinea, and her survival was a very important goal. Tinka’s mother was drastically losing weight and had some health problems during her pregnancy. Zookeepers were monitoring her closely, then one day they found a tiny female joey weighing only 71 grams lying on the ground. The hairless baby had been ejected from her mother’s pouch and needed assistance. Today she is happy and healthy with a new coat and teeth. This was just one of the success stories at the NACU.

Without the NACU, some of the babies would not have survived. They have saved many offspring of endangered species, including the Persian fallow deer. It was the first one born in the Western Hemisphere, and Becky Kier had the opportunity to care for it. There was one instance where a hoofed animal was born with a leg problem. It was having a hard time walking, so they took it in and restored its health. In the wild this animal would not have survived. This is just one example of how the NACU saves lives and plays a valuable role in conservation.

The NACU staff are an important piece of the conservation puzzle, without them it would not be complete. Whether it be feeding the babies formula or manual relief, caring for the young at the Zoo takes hard work, and the rewards of knowing you helped save a life or species is priceless.

Chris, Conservation Team (Week 6)

Getting our Hands Dirty

Chris

– November 29, 2011Posted in: More, Zoo InternQuest

Pitfall trap

Conservation is about being proactive and actually getting out there to do something. Most of us think of something distant when we think of conservation, for example, saving whales or pandas, but what we have right here in San Diego is not something that should be overlooked. We have a plethora of opportunities locally since we live in an area of such high biodiversity.

Jean Pierre Montagne, or J.P for short, opened our eyes to the conservation opportunities in our own backyard. For him, the most important aspect of conservation is education and communication, for example, teaching the next generation. We went with him to check pitfall traps that were set up in the undeveloped area of the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. The pitfall traps were buckets with walls in between them to herd any animal that comes within distance. Inside there is bedding and tubing used to provide shelter and warmth to anything that falls in. The purpose of these pitfall traps is to monitor the biodiversity of the area by catching animals and marking them to see how many of that species there are in the wild. The traps are checked daily whenever they are set up so that the animals do not perish inside the traps. The animals are not harmed in this process.

When we checked the pitfall traps there was a wide variety of animals. We checked about eight different traps and the species we found the most common was the orange-throated whiptail. These lizards live throughout San Diego, and the ones we caught were mostly juveniles and had blue tails. From this data we can conclude that the population of orange-throated whiptails is not threatened. We also found other lizards, and insects. We found a scorpion and a black beetle. When you actually go out and experience conservation, it opens your mind to the abundance of opportunities out there.

Knowledge of the biodiversity of an area is very important. Especially for a place like San Diego, which is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet because it has four habitats combined in one: desert, coastal, chaparral, and grassland. Biodiversity is the key factor in a balanced environment. If there is too much of a certain species and a calamity strikes, wiping out that species, it could have dire effects for the entire environment. This is known as the bottleneck effect. If genetic diversity is limited, the species is more vulnerable to disease and genetic mutation. High biodiversity means species can survive change. Conservation is a broad topic, and biodiversity is a key component, so one way to take part in conservation is to start with the biodiversity of our homes.

Chris, Conservation Team (Week 3)

What’s in a Gene?

Chris

– November 29, 2011Posted in: More, Uncategorized, Zoo InternQuest

The DNA molecule is the building block of life. On the DNA strand there are different genes that can have multiple functions. Genetics is the study of these genes, which can be a very powerful tool used for conservation. Knowledge about these genes can help us better understand the species we are working with and hopefully even help us preserve them.

To study the genes of different species, geneticists first need a DNA sample. At the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research, researchers can get DNA from cells that are cryopreserved in the Frozen Zoo. Several thousand copies of these DNA samples are created using a process called PCR (polymerase chain reaction). The Frozen Zoo contains cells from extinct species such as the po’ouli (a Hawaiian bird). Dr. Oliver Ryder, Director of the Genetics Division, claims that scientists can actually reproduce an organism using fibroblast cells from the skin. Geneticists can turn the fibroblast cells into stem cells; these stem cells are unspecialized and can then take on the form of any other cell. This technique of turning fibroblast cells into stem cells is actually being used today. At the Institute, researchers are trying to make chickens produce the gametes of the brown kiwi. This is important to conservation because it would make it easier to have a breeding pair and save species from extinction.

The study of genetics serves as an important tool for conservation because it helps us better understand populations and biodiversity in general. Knowing information about an animal’s genes will help scientists make wise breeding decisions that result in increased genetic diversity. Inbreeding can lead to less genetic diversity, which can be detrimental to populations. If the environment were to change rapidly, then a whole population might be wiped out if there is not enough genetic diversity, or it might be less capable of combating the presence of certain diseases.

Knowing and understanding genetics will bring conservation to new heights. It may be through re-creating a species or studying existing species’ genes. Understanding genetics also helps in the decision-making process of choosing which animals to pair up for breeding because they want a species with greater genetic diversity. With the further study of genetics comes a greater understanding of different species, which in turn leads to advancements in conservation. As science progresses, breakthroughs are made in the area of conservation, and maybe someday we will have a blank endangered species list.

Chris, Conservation Team (Week 5)

Plants: Take A Step Back

Chris

– November 8, 2011Posted in: Animals and Plants, More, Plants, Zoo InternQuest

Plants may be overlooked by visitors at the San Diego Zoo, but once you take a step back, you can capture the full effect of your surroundings. Beauty abounds in all corners of the Zoo, and today we realized that while taking a tour with Horticulture Collections Manager Mike Letzring and Senior Horticulturist Judy Bell.

Walking through a bamboo-covered path, we learned this rapid growing grass not only adds to the ambiance but is used to feed some of the animals, like the giant panda.

Southern pitcher plants are carnivorous plants getting most or all of their nutrients from digesting animals and insects. Unsuspecting victims crawl into the tubes and never come out.

The interns dined on a feast of fruit fit for a king. These two fruits, the dragon fruit and banana apple, are grown on Zoo grounds. They were something that I, and probably some of the other interns, have never tried before. They appear unusual on the outside but were delicious.

This is what a bird would see if it were flying over a cycad. These ancient plants have been around since the age of dinosaurs . The orange center is the cone, which makes it more closely related to conifers than palms. The Zoo is home to one of the largest collections of cycads in the world.

Teghan is smelling one of the ginger flowers that are growing at the Zoo. The animals aren’t the only things to look at—take time to smell the roses.

This isn’t the usual picture most of us get when we think of bananas. These are apple bananas that are grown here at the Zoo. This is what real, natural bananas look like. The ones at the store have been hybridized so they are more appealing to consumers.

Natural beauties are in abundance at the Zoo. There is something at every corner waiting to be discovered; it’s the little things you find that can make your day complete.

Ferocious Interns, Endangered Bears

Chris

– November 8, 2011Posted in: Animal Stories, Animals and Plants, Bears, More, Pandas, Uncategorized, Zoo InternQuest

Yun Zi

There are eight species of bear all across the world. On our adventure with Suzanne Hall at the San Diego Zoo, we learned more about one of these bears, and then we saw a few more species. We specifically learned about the giant panda and were able to observe its food, habitat, and learned more about what is being done at the Zoo to save this species.

Attentive interns listen to a presentation by Suzanne Hall about her job as a senior research technician for the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research in the Applied Animal Ecology Division.

The pandas enjoy a fresh supply of bamboo, and this refrigerated room makes that possible. This bamboo is grown all across the Zoo and the Safari Park. A single panda can eat as much as 50 pounds of bamboo a day, so the zookeepers need a ready supply for them.

Ms. Hall showed us the stalk of the bamboo that the pandas are actually able to eat. The panda is able to strip off the outer stem of the bamboo to get to the culm, which is the yummy inside part the pandas love.

This is Bai Yun, and right now she’s taking a nap, which pandas do if they’re not eating bamboo. Ms. Hall explained to us how important enrichment is for these bears. Bai Yun is given an ample supply of frozen treats, toys, and various scents, her favorite being cologne.

Napping on a tree, just like his mom, Bai Yun, is Yun Zi, whose name means “son of cloud.” His favorite spots are his log, den, and hammock.

Can you spot the endangered Bornean sun bear? No? Neither could we, but this picture is a perfect example of what we learned from Ms.Hall about how the Zoo architects recreate a natural habitat for the animals, allowing us to see them as we would in the wild.

The grizzly bear is part of the brown bear family, which is one of the remaining eight species of bear we learned about from Ms. Hall. It has a spectacular sense of smell and, despite their reputation as predators, grizzlies actually get most of their nutrients from nuts, berries, roots, and insects.

Microscopic Swimmers

Chris

– November 1, 2011Posted in: Conservation, Conservation at the Zoo, More, Zoo InternQuest

Here's an example of Bornean bearded pig sperm, stained blue for ease of viewing.

With our lab coats and goggles on, we observed elk sperm and determined how many were alive, how many were moving, and how they were moving. This process is part of the goals of the Reproductive Physiology Division of the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research. Guided by Nicole Ravida, Carly Young, and Barbara Durrant (director of the Division), we thawed tule elk sperm, placed it onto slides, and examined it under the microscope. We learned about the importance of their jobs as reproductive physiologists and what they do on a day-to-day basis.

Our group was split into several teams, and my group worked closely with Ms. Young. After removing the sperm from the liquid nitrogen, we placed it in a water bath to thaw and then used a pipette to place the sperm onto a slide. Using the microscope, we counted and kept track of how many sperm cells we saw moving. This is called the motility test and it is what reproductive physiologists do in the lab when they want to determine how viable a sperm sample is and if the freezing techniques need to be modified. Our sample did not have high motility, which means that the sperm didn’t freeze well in the solution.

Ms. Young explained to us how important understanding reproductive physiology is; helping endangered species by freezing its sperm to save in case the species becomes extinct, they can then use a process known as in vitro fertilization to combine the egg and sperm to make a new organism. Her main career goal is to save species from becoming endangered, which is something that they are very capable of. Her favorite part of the job is working with embryos, in vitro fertilization, micro-engineering, and injecting eggs with sperm. Reproductive physiologists do all these things, and they also study reproductive behaviors. For example, pandas only breed one to three days a year, so they examine reproductive hormones as well as vaginal cells to know when the female is ready to mate.

Ms.Young loves her job and has always known she wanted to work with animals. Growing up, she wanted to be a veterinarian, but then she took an embryology class at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and decided to focus on reproductive physiology. After completing her degree in animal science, she worked in the biotechnology industry for eight years where she studied embryos and made animal disease models. Her advice for prospective reproductive physiologists is to look at all colleges and find the one that is right for you where you can grow and fulfill your dreams.

Chris, Careers Team (week 4)

Local Conservation: What You Can Do

Chris

– October 11, 2011Posted in: Conservation, More, Uncategorized, Zoo InternQuest

An endangered mountain yellow-legged frog

Zoo InternQuest is a career exploration program for high school students. For more information see the Zoo InternQuest blogs.

This week we visited the Beckman Center and met Corinne LaCombe. Corrin is part of a group of scientists sent all across the globe to inform people about conservation and save endangered species. One place she has been is Vietnam, which is almost halfway around the world!

During our visit, we explored various research labs, did activities, and met critically endangered frogs. The Beckman Center houses six different research labs where scientists work to make major advancements in conservation. In one lab scientists actually “grow” animals by combining their gametes (egg and sperm) in test tubes, which helps preserve endangered species. In the Frozen Zoo, the largest collection of cryopreserved cells in the world, scientists have specimens from thousands of animals, including from species that are extinct. The purpose of the Frozen Zoo is to act as a resource tool for scientists so they can study things like DNA, the building block of life.

We played games that taught us about the various jobs that are important in conservation. We were each given a controller, then two pictures of the endangered Andean bear popped up on the screen. If we thought the two bears were the same we pressed letter A, if we thought they were different we pressed B, and if we couldn’t tell we pressed C. This game taught us about one role someone could play in conservation, which is identifying bears to find out how many there are left in the wild. This helps conservation efforts because scientists can figure out how endangered a species really is by counting how many individuals there are in a population.

We also learned how to track California condors, a critically endangered species the conservation researchers have helped increase from about 22 individuals to now more than 400 in the entire world. Tracking California condors is important so conservation biologists know how the population is doing after release into the wild. We went outside in the rain with radio trackers and had to find plush condors with transmitters attached to them. This activity taught us about what conservation biologists are doing in the field to protect the California condor.

The amphibian breeding room is where we were surrounded by huge tanks of California mountain yellow-legged frogs. These frogs are indigenous to Southern California and are critically endangered. The Zoo has taken in these frogs to help preserve their species. They have successfully increased their dwindling numbers and have even begun releasing some offspring back into the wild. These frogs are threatened because of habitat destruction, fungal infection,introduced predators, and pollution.

San Diego County is a special place in that it has more endemic (found nowhere else on Earth) plant and animal species than any other county in the contiguous United States. The flipside of that is, of course, that we also have nearly the highest number of endangered plant and animal species by county, too. If you live in San Diego County, you have very unique wildlife, but you’re losing it fast.

In conclusion, conservation isn’t something that only takes place at the Zoo; we can do many things at home to help endangered plants and animals. One thing we can do is plant native species. Planting native species helps conservation because they need less maintenance such as fertilizers or pesticides, and you barely have to water them. This leads to less pollution and a healthier environment. Avoid planting non-native plants because they require high levels of maintenance. Introducing non-native species of plants and animals to an environment may disrupt the ecosystem and cause native species to become threatened. Another thing you shouldn’t do is pick flowers or kill animals because flowers are used for plant reproduction and killing animals may lead to them becoming endangered. There are many things you can do to save animals, because conservation starts with you.

Chris, Real World Team (Week 1)

One and Only

Chris

– October 11, 2011Posted in: More, Zoo InternQuest

Zoo InternQuest is a career exploration program for high school students. For more information see the Zoo InternQuest blogs. For more photos see the Zoo InternQuest Photo Journal.

Hi! My name is Chris, and I’m currently a senior in high school. I’ve lived in San Diego my whole life. I enjoy volunteering with my church, The Rock Church of San Diego, and at the hospital.

My goal for the future is to become a surgeon and open hospitals in third-world countries where people can get free/reduced health-care, but I’m also very interested in biology and conservation. I discovered Zoo InternQuest when I was searching the Internet looking for something to do during my senior year. I love animals, and I currently have a dog, a duck, 3 turtles, 14 hamsters, and a lot of fish. I’m looking forward to an exciting, action-packed seven weeks, and I know that what I take from this experience will be something I never forget.