Marine Biota and Psychological Well-Being

Exposure to natural environments can have calming and stress-reducing effects on humans. Moreover, previous studies suggest that these benefits may be greater in areas with higher species richness. Our study took advantage of a “natural experiment” to examine people’s behavioral, physiological, and psychological reactions to increases in levels of marine biota in a large aquarium exhibit during three stages of restocking: Unstocked, Partially stocked, and Fully stocked. We found that increased biota levels were associated with longer spontaneous viewing of the exhibit, greater reductions in heart rate, greater increases in self-reported mood, and higher interest. We suggest that higher biota levels, even in managed settings, may be associated with important well-being and health benefits, particularly for individuals not able to access the natural analogues of managed environments.

BIOMORPHIC ARCHITECTURE APPROACH IN BUILDING FORM BASED ON ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN

Nature is an excellent learning resource for humans, especially for nature as a source of inspiration in the architectural design. Biomorphic is one of the themes in the architectural approach that has a principle concern for the environment (nature), in which this approach was born from the idea of the importance of nature and oriented to the environment, including climate. The shape, material, structure and mechanisms in the universe, can be used as the basic idea formed in the design of architecture through a process of collaboration between humans and nature itself. The method used in this study is a qualitative design method, through analysis approach biomorphic design theme Architecture. Sea World is the main object in the design, which is a vehicle for recreational and educative to showcase marine life and its beauty in a large aquarium. Sea World that use biomorphic theme, designed by using the analogy of a stingray wing motion transformation into shape, hoping to bring the dynamic character of Sea World and attract visitors as well as having the characteristics of the natural inspiration.

A Description and Experimental Analysis of a Stereotyped Cheliped Flexion Behaviour in Hermit Crabs

Spontaneous cheliped flexion behaviour of hermit crabs was studied using a large aquarium with a gravel substrate. The effects of chemical, visual and tactile stimuli, as well as intervals between flexions were determined using a smaller tank, which facilitated experimentation. The behaviour consists of bringing the tip of the cheliped to the mouth by flexing the four most distal joints, opening the dactyl, wiping the claw with the third maxillipeds and re-extending. Single flexions are used in feeding to pick-up substrate particles covered with diatoms. The rate of activity increases in the presence of glycine (10-3M) or fish juice. Trains of flexions comprise a cleaning behaviour which is elicited by fouling of the claw with food or petroleum jelly, or by strong concentrations of chemicals (10-1M glycine or sea water of pH<1.5 or >9.5). In addition, cleaning flexion behaviour was elicited by a variety of disturbance stimuli, including sudden shadow, reflections from a mirror, vibration, "simulated attack" by a plastic rod, handling, and fighting with conspecific hermit crabs. The implications of this response as a displacement behaviour are discussed. The mean interval between cleaning flexions does not change significantly as glycine concentration is increased from 10-4M to 10-2M, but the mean rate of flexion increases sevenfold and mean adaptation time increases threefold. The mean inter-flexion intervals for the chelipeds of individual animals are not significantly different, but the small cheliped undergoes an average of 1.61 times more flexions than the large one.

An Effect of Thyroxine upon the Swimming of Cod

Cod treated with the hormone thyroxine, and held in a large aquarium, swam 35% faster than saline-treated controls held in the same conditions. The difference in swimming activity of the two groups was highly significant.

Simple Stream Tank Simulating a Rapids Environment

The construction of an inexpensive stream tank providing a rapids environment of 0.6 m2 with a maximum velocity of 0.5 m/sec is described. Compressed air and a large aquarium are required to create an adequate volume of flow.

Notes from the Plymouth Aquarium

During the daily maintenance work of a large aquarium many casual observations are made on the habits of the inmates. These are sometimes worthy of record, though too slight in themselves to justify separate papers each under its own distinctive title. It has, however, been thought fit to bring together in the form of a series of notes some of the more interesting of these observations. It is not intended to discuss each with full reference to the comparable literature; rather are they presented as raw material for the use of other investigators in their own specialized fields. Most of these observations have been made since the re-establishment of the Plymouth aquarium in 1946 (after its war damage), and up to the date of writing, November 1948.