Animal Resources
The MDIBL Animal Resources Core provides care and services for marine and freshwater fish species used by investigators. MDIBL animal facilities include an open-air marine holding building (800 sq. ft) with flow through seawater, two zebrafish facilities, the Marshall animal holding facility (960 sq. ft.) with flow-through seawater and re-circulating seawater systems, and a seasonal public display aquarium. A 480 sq. ft. animal facility is currently being renovated and will contain a 5,000 gallon re-circulating seawater system capable of holding larger fish species under controlled conditions.
The MDIBL Animal Core is co-directed by Charles Wray (zebrafish) and Mark Hanscome (marine aquatics). The Core is staffed by Michelle Bailey and assisted by seasonal animal care technicians. G. Russell Danner, DVM, provides veterinary care and oversight for all vertebrates at MDIBL. Animal care and use at MDIBL is guided by an institutional assurance (A-3562-01) approved by the NIH Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare.
Questions about core functionality or usage may be directed to Dr. Charlie Wray.
Natural Resources
The Laboratory owns over 180 acres consisting of extensive shorefront, a freshwater pond, and old-growth fields and forest in various successional stages, including climax communities. The marine environment is particularly rich. Gulf of Maine tides range nearly four meters in Frenchman’s Bay and contiguous waters, and provide a diversity of marine habitats including open water, rocky shores, tidal streams, salt marshes, mud flats, and eelgrass beds. Species which have been used at MDIBL in recent years include Cancer borealis, Cancer irroratus, Cancer maenas, Homarus americanus, Strongylocentrotus droehbachiensis, Boltenia ovifera, Myxine glutinosa, Squalus acanthias, Leucoraja erinacea, Fundulus heteroclitus, Lophius americanus, Pseudopleuronectes americanus, Myoxocephalus octodecimspinosus, Salvelinus fontinalis, and Zostera marina. A local fisherman is contracted to provide larger vertebrates to Laboratory investigators. Invertebrates and small vertebrates are abundant in the waters near the Laboratory and are usually collected by investigators and MDIBL staff.
