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Article: Smithsonian National Zoo scientists raise elkhorn coral larvae for reintroduction.(News From Zoos)(Brief article)
- Article from:
- Endangered Species Update
- Article date:
- July 1, 2007
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2007 University of Michigan, School of Natural Resources. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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This fall, staff from the AZA-accredited Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, DC acquired 12,000 endangered elkhorn coral larvae on a harvest mission in Puerto Rico. They are raising the microscopic larvae in a controlled environment and will attempt to reintroduce the adult coral to their natural habitat in the Caribbean.
Working with a team of marine researchers from SECORE (Sexual Coral Reproduction), an international network of public aquariums and research institutions, the National Zoo scientists led expeditions to artificially inseminate coral in August 2007. Dr. Mary Hagedorn, a National Zoo reproductive scientist, is breaking new ground in ...