Improving Marine and Freshwater Animal Facilities and Environment at MDIBL

描述(申请人提供)：沙漠山生物实验室(MDIBL)是一家拥有109年历史的非营利性研究机构，被广泛认为是以海洋生物和淡水生物为模型系统进行生物医学研究的领先国际中心。MDIBL有一个长期的、世界知名的季节性研究计划，并扩大联邦资助的全年研究和研究培训努力。目前，研究生物体通过建于1970年代的海水储存设施或在个别实验室维护的水族箱中流动。虽然这些系统在过去是足够的，但随着年龄的增长，它们已经恶化，需要现代化。此外，除了传统的弹带鱼和硬骨鱼模型外，MDIBL的研究人员现在还常规地使用各种水生模型生物，包括斑马鱼、海胆、螃蟹和龙虾。与现有设施相比，对所有这些物种的最佳护理和使用需要更大程度的环境控制。MDIBL的研究社区最近的增长，加上研究和动物护理要求更受控制的环境条件，有必要对我们的收容设施进行关键改进。拟议的改进将(1)提高分配给所有实验室和保存设施的海水质量，(2)优化海洋生物和淡水生物的环境条件，(3)为两个保存设施创造更有效的布局和设计，并升级其工程元素。这一结果将增强MDIBL的动物护理能力，促进科学团体的持续增长和招募，并确保MDIBL继续提供卓越的研究和研究培训。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory (MDIBL), a 109-year-old non-profit research institution, is widely regarded as a leading international center for biomedical research using marine and freshwater organisms as model systems. MDIBL has a long-standing, world-renowned seasonal research program, and expanding federally-funded year-round research and research training efforts. Research organisms are currently maintained in flow through seawater holding facilities that were built in the 1970s, or in aquaria maintained in individual laboratories. While these systems were adequate in the past, they have deteriorated with age and require modernization. Moreover, researchers at MDIBL are now routinely employing a wide variety of aquatic model organisms in addition to the traditional elasmobranch and teleost models, including zebrafish, sea urchins, crabs and lobsters. Optimal care and use of all these species requires a greater degree of environmental control than is possible with the current facilities. The recent growth of MDIBL's research community, coupled with research and animal care requirements for more controlled environmental conditions, necessitates critical improvements to our holding facilities. The proposed improvements will (1) enhance the quality of the seawater that is distributed to all laboratories and holding facilities, (2) optimize environmental conditions for marine and freshwater organisms, and (3) create a more efficient layout and design of two holding facilities and upgrade their engineering elements. The result will enhance MDIBL's animal care capabilities, facilitate continued growth and recruitment of scientific groups, and ensure the continued excellence of research and research training at MDIBL.