A new calendar year for UMAC began last night with the opening of our first meeting of Fall 2014. It was a pleasure to see all of the new students coming out to join the club, and was an even greater surprise to learn what a large proportion already were aquarists! I am looking forward to really getting to know all of our new members over the course of this semester, and can promise an engaging UMAC experience in the next few months.
That said, it was great to reconnect with all of my friends from last year and the year before, and welcome you all back to Miami! UMAC now officially has representation from all four classes at the University of Miami, which really speaks to the breadth and diversity of the club's members.
President Kyle David opened up the meeting with an introduction to the club's 2014 officers, and then proceeded to formally announce our plans for field trips to the South Florida Science Center and the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago this semester. Also, this weekend marks the annual occurrence of the Repticon Convention in West Palm Beach on Saturday, 8/30. If you missed the sign-ups at the meeting and would like to join the club members driving up to take a gander at all the reptiles and amphibians on display, email the club at [email protected] to get in touch! The same can be said for anyone interested in coming along for UMAC's Sunday 8/31 Beach Day at Bill Baggs State Park on Key Biscayne. We'll be spending all day at the beach engaging in nautical hijinks and enjoying the sun and waves. Both trips leave from the Stanford Circle on Coral Gables campus at 10:00am.
Those members just joining the club this year may not have realized this, but the start of the Fall 2014 semester marks the turning of a new page in UMAC history. In the spotlight Thursday night was the fully renovated 90-gallon Caribbean Reef display, completely finished after a long summer of hard work. What was once a lofty goal for the club has now turned into a beautiful system featuring truly unique organisms from local waters! If you haven't seen the tank in person yet, this picture will have to do:
That said, it was great to reconnect with all of my friends from last year and the year before, and welcome you all back to Miami! UMAC now officially has representation from all four classes at the University of Miami, which really speaks to the breadth and diversity of the club's members.
President Kyle David opened up the meeting with an introduction to the club's 2014 officers, and then proceeded to formally announce our plans for field trips to the South Florida Science Center and the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago this semester. Also, this weekend marks the annual occurrence of the Repticon Convention in West Palm Beach on Saturday, 8/30. If you missed the sign-ups at the meeting and would like to join the club members driving up to take a gander at all the reptiles and amphibians on display, email the club at [email protected] to get in touch! The same can be said for anyone interested in coming along for UMAC's Sunday 8/31 Beach Day at Bill Baggs State Park on Key Biscayne. We'll be spending all day at the beach engaging in nautical hijinks and enjoying the sun and waves. Both trips leave from the Stanford Circle on Coral Gables campus at 10:00am.
Those members just joining the club this year may not have realized this, but the start of the Fall 2014 semester marks the turning of a new page in UMAC history. In the spotlight Thursday night was the fully renovated 90-gallon Caribbean Reef display, completely finished after a long summer of hard work. What was once a lofty goal for the club has now turned into a beautiful system featuring truly unique organisms from local waters! If you haven't seen the tank in person yet, this picture will have to do:
There are over a dozen species of Actinarians in the main reef, and already mangroves are in place in the deep sand bed portion of the refugium. After quarantine and disease monitoring, we hope to add some colorful South Florida fishes to the display midway through September. Our clownfish pair is also healthy, and the Zebra Mantis Shrimp remains a joy to behold.