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In January 2000 the South Carolina Aquarium hosted a research workshop with representatives from local federal and state agencies, local non-governmental organizations, research staff from the College of Charleston, Medical University of South Carolina, University of South Carolina and Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens, the Director of Conservation and Science from the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, and staff from the Tennessee Aquarium and the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The purpose of the workshop was to discuss possible roles for the South Carolina Aquarium in local and regional scientific research on aquatic organisms and systems.
The discussions from this workshop indicated that the Aquarium has several roles to play, including:
- Participation in - and support of - research on the care of and/or conservation of featured species or habitats;
- Research on novel species for exhibit and new exhibits;
- Facilitation of public access to - and understanding of - scientific research data through exhibits and programs, as well as the development of workshops on particular topics and issues;
- Training and development of research scientists through the development of Aquarium staff, as well as via internships for high school and college students.
Throughout these and subsequent discussions, it has become clear that mutually beneficial partnerships between the Aquarium, local state and federal agencies, non-governmental organizations and local and regional colleges and universities will be essential in the future development of the Aquarium's research program.
Some recent and/or current research projects involving the Aquarium and Aquarium staff include:
- An investigation on the suitability of Cooper River water for the long-term captive maintenance of animals at the South Carolina Aquarium. Collaborator: Department of Environmental Toxicology, Clemson University.
- Studies on the immunogenetics of the bottle-nosed dolphin. Financial support provided to Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Medical University of South Carolina (Drs. Eric Lacy and Greg Warr)
- Studies on buoyancy problems in compromised wild sea turtles. Collaborator and principal investigator: Sally Murphy, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (Wildlife Division), among others.
- Age and growth studies on blacknose sharks (Carcharhinus acronotus). Collaborator and principal investigator: Trey Driggers, University of South Carolina (Baruch Institute).
- Oyster reef restoration in the Cooper River at the South Carolina Aquarium. Collaborator and principal investigator: Dr. Loren Coen, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.
- Observations of the migratory patterns of ospreys. Principal investigator: Dave Mehlman (TNC). Collaborators: University of Minnesota Raptor Center, the Nature Conservancy (South Carolina), the Nature Conservancy (Wings of the Americas Program).
- Observations on the husbandry of the robust redhorse (Moxostoma robustum). Collaborators: Robust Redhorse Conservation Committee (Terry DeMeo, University of Georgia).
- Algal blooms and phytoplankton monitoring in the Cooper River. Collaborator: Wendy Perry, NOAA/Marine Biotoxins Program.
- Effects of environmental enrichment and operant conditioning on captive North American river otters. Principal investigator: Laura Marie Goldfarb, College of Charleston.
- Quarantine and disease control in closed aquarium systems. Principle investigator and contact: Dr. Tom Sheridan (the Aquarium's consulting veterinarian)
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