$300,000 from Lowe Family Foundation Launches Seadragon Breeding Program at Scripps

Through gift, Birch Aquarium at Scripps aims to be the first public aquarium in the world that breeds seadragons

With the support of a $300,000 grant from the Lowe Family Foundation, Scripps Institution of Oceanography professor Greg Rouse will launch a first-of-its-kind seadragon breeding pilot program at Scripps in collaboration with breeding partner Birch Aquarium at Scripps. Through this gift, Birch Aquarium aims to be the first public aquarium in the world to breed seadragons and use the knowledge acquired to advance conservation efforts worldwide.

"We are very grateful to Mary Lowe and the Lowe Family Foundation for recognizing the value in understanding more about the life cycle of these amazing animals," said Rouse, whose previous research has led to some enlightening findings on the genetics of seadragons.

Many aspects of the basic biology of seadragons, including their secretive mating behavior, are currently unknown. To date, no one has ever observed the breeding interaction between males and females of either seadragon species and no one has bred seadragons in captivity to “close” the life cycle. In order to provide young fish for aquariums around the world, each year pregnant male seadragons must be collected. The only two species of seadragons in the world live in southern Australia. The weedy seadragon, Phyllopteryx taeniolatus, ranges along the southern Australian coast, including Tasmanian waters. The leafy seadragon, Phycodurus eques, is more limited in range from South Australia to Western Australia.

"All seadragons on public display throughout the world are derived from wild caught males that were brooding offspring," said Rouse. "No one has closed the life cycle and bred seadragons in captivity to then supply other aquaria. If this can be done the wild harvest of seadragons in Australia can cease."

"Who would not be mesmerized by these beautiful creatures?" said Mary Lowe. "I think that Greg's research is invaluable for their survival."

To improve the chances of successful captive breeding programs, Rouse will work to develop methods to identify the sex of juvenile or non-reproductive adults, and understand how closely related individuals are to each other. Answering scientific questions like this, combined with detailed investigation on the behavior and reproductive biology of seadragons, is a critical component for a successful captive-breeding program. This knowledge will also be vital for new and ongoing conservation efforts.

"There are a number of aquaria around the world who have tried to breed seadragons and none have been successful," said Rouse. "We need more information by observing the animals in the wild and understanding their reproductive cycle. Hopefully our scientific study of the seadragons in Australia will inform the aquarists at Birch Aquarium at Scripps who can then be the first to solve this problem."

Rouse's efforts align with Birch Aquarium's successful Seahorse Propagation Program, which will celebrate its 17 year this February. Over the years, Birch Aquarium has successfully raised 12 species of seahorses and shipped more than 3,000 specimens to 65 aquariums and zoos, reducing the pressure to collect from the wild. Birch Aquarium at Scripps was the first institution in the United States to initiate a successful long-term Pacific seahorse-breeding program. In 1999, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) recognized the breeding effort with the Edward H. Bean Award.

To learn more about Greg Rouse's seadragon research, see the explorations now article "Flight of the Dragons" and view the video below: