Recording data is just one of many ways the Oceanário contributes to scientific research and species conservation. The Oceanário is unique in having a team of dedicated Marine Species Survival Officers serving the Species Survival Commission of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN SSC). The Oceanário team works in partnership with the IUCN SSC to assess the extinction risk for marine species. Making this resource available has increased the number of marine species assessed for the Red List of Threatened Species, including species Rhamphocottus richardsoni, Nautichthys oculofasciatus, Enoplosus armatus, Microcanthus strigatus, Anarrhichthys ocellatus and Synchiropus splendidus.
Over its long history of caring for marine species, Oceanário de Lisboa has thousands of samples collected during regular medical procedures. These samples – and their corresponding data – tell us what has occurred before, what problems commonly affect groups, and how to respond.
But keeping samples is difficult and expensive. And samples kept locally limit their scientific value. So when EAZA established a Biobank to serve the international community with both storage and shared, standardized ZIMS records, Oceanário de Lisboa leaders were among its most vocal supporters.
“We promote EAZA’s Biobank initiative to aquariums in particular. For zoos and others working with terrestrial species, more information is available. But for marine species this is a new opportunity. When aquariums participate by sending samples to the Biobank, they create a ZIMS record that, in an aggregated and anonymous manner, provides information not found anywhere else,” says Ferreira.
Oceanário veterinarians also use ZIMS for Medical to track patient care while keeping other medical staff and aquarists informed of today’s procedures, results, and next steps. Sharing a single, comprehensive view of each animal, group and enclosure helps ensure the best possible care while streamlining data input.
Recent changes make capturing that data faster and easier. Earlier this year Species360 launched a feature called “Quick Split” that is quickly gaining fans. Like other ZIMS for Medical features, Quick Split was developed by Species360 veterinary experts with input from members – especially members working in aquatic environments. The feature allows veterinary teams to isolate the record of an individual animal, record medical information on that individual, and return them to their group while retaining the relevant data.
Records like these – again, though anonymous to the individual animal or institution – shape ZIMS Global Medical Resources used by veterinary teams worldwide. Prescriptions, blood test results, and other data contribute to these continually updated resources. The results make a difference in the care and treatment of unique species and subspecies, including Expected Test Results, reference norms, what medicines have worked for others, and how to define the dosage.
“We believe it is valuable to not only use ZIMS Global Medical Resources but to contribute to its development simultaneously,” says Ferreira. “For instance, in elasmobranchs, there are not many reference values published. Yet we have a long history and success and recording our experiences is a good way to progress globally in this field of knowledge.”
The importance of these insights, and the unique role of aquariums and zoos in providing data, is gaining recognition. The recent IUCN SSC Resolution 79 highlights the value of shared data, and calls for closer collaboration between agencies managing in situ and ex situ populations.
“Seeing the impact is very satisfying for everyone that works daily, taking care of animals, improving the knowledge on their biology, and raising awareness for the global threats they face,” says Ferreira. “We are committed to contributing to the global database of knowledge on species, and work daily to improve our methods to conduct age estimates and collect the most accurate data possible from the species in our care.”
Global information
serving conservation.