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Marine Biology Department

Facilities

Aquarium Lab

The aquarium lab houses cold-water and tropical marine aquariums, with a total capacity of over 500 gallons. Our focus is on North Pacific organisms, so most of the current capacity is for cold water. Water is chilled by two Aqualogic chillers (3/4 & 1/2 HP) and held at 8-9 C (47-49 F).

The lab serves both instructional and research functions. Two courses (Aquarium Biology and Invertebrate Zoology) are currently supported by the lab. The lab is designed to also support student class projects, practica, and Senior Projects, as well as faculty research on the Giant Pacific Octopus.

More photos (Please be patient while photos load).

Animal Care Guidelines.

Energetics Lab

The energetics lab provides the ability to measure the energy content of biological samples as small as 25 milligrams. Energetics is an important technique in understanding marine systems, particularly in understanding how predator- prey relationships may constrain or alter populations. The technique has been used in the North Pacific in studies of herring population dynamics, returns to salmon fisheries, seabird studies, killer whale - Steller sea lion interactions, and many more. Faculty at Alaska Pacific University are using the technique to study habitat selection of the Giant Pacific Octopus.

Equipment includes a Parr Semimicro Bomb calorimeter, pellet press, drying oven, a -40 C freezer, and scales.

Field Equipment

The Marine Biology program also has a Vemco sonic receiver and hydrophones for deploying and tracking sonic tags (by long-term loan from Prince William Sound Science Center). We have small nets for vertical tow and neuston (surface) plankton sampling, and cast nets for bait-fish sampling. Other field gear includes GPS receivers, laser range finders, and miscellaneous other collecting gear.

Other facilities & Equipment

• GIS - A 9-seat GIS lab with Arc/Info and ArcView. This facility is the new home of the Long-term Killer Whale DataBase which currently holds data from 1984 to the present on killer whale distribution and behavior in Prince William Sound and Resurrection Bay, Alaska. Other Available datasets include Alaska land covers, National Parks, and marine data for Yakutat Bay, Prince William Sound, and Cook Inlet.
• Hi-8 & Digital video - A hi-8 video camera (by long-term loan from the Prince William Sound Science Center) is available, and a digital video is planned for purchase this year. These cameras are used for behavioral studies and student projects in Marine Biology, as well as Outdoor Studies faculty research.
• kayaks and a Zodiak - Available through the Outdoor Studies program and Mosely Sport Center, kayaks can provide relaxing and quiet access to marine study sites; while a zodiak is also available for those in need of greater speed or travel distance.
• The Rae Baxter Memorial Marine Laboratory, located on the south side of Kachemak Bay, is an excellent facility for education in a marine setting. Rustic but comfortable, the lab has electricity, cooking facilities, an outhouse, and bunks. The lab features a several-thousand volume library relating to Alaska's flora and fauna and includes a computer, copier, microscopes, and other related equipment. Situated at the end of the MacDonald Spit on rocky Nubble Point about 10 miles south of Seldovia, there is ample opportunity for studying intertidal ecology in both soft bottom and hard bottom marine environments. Marine life is plentiful and varied, including marine mammals (particularly seals, sea lions, and sea otters), piscivorous birds (such as bald eagles, murres, puffins, and auklets), and a host of fish and marine invertebrates. The facility is used for a number of APU courses, including Marine Biology, Marine Research Techniques and for graduate research.

We thank the At-Sea Processor's Association, the Prince William Sound Science Center, Sera Baxter, and Alaska Garden & Pet Supply for their generous contributions to the development of our program.