# kb

id: aquarium-20260505-5
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquarium-5.md
category: reference
title: Aquarium
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquarium
date_saved: 2026-05-05T09:00:40.028331+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: aquarium-20260505-0
summary:
Of primary concern to the aquarist is management of the waste produced by an aquarium's inhabitants. Fish, invertebrates, fungi, and some bacteria excrete nitrogen waste in the form of ammonia (which converts to ammonium, in water) and must then either pass through the nitrogen cycle or be removed by passing through zeolite. Ammonia is also produced through the decomposition of plant and animal matter, including fecal matter and other detritus. Nitrogen waste products become toxic to fish and other aquarium inhabitants at high concentrations. In the wild, the vast amount of water surrounding the fish dilutes ammonia and other waste materials. When fish are put into an aquarium, waste can quickly reach toxic concentrations in the enclosed environment unless the tank is cycled to remove waste. ==== The process ==== A well-balanced tank contains organisms that are able to metabolize the waste products of other aquarium residents, recreating a portion of the nitrogen cycle. Bacteria known as nitrifiers (genus Nitrosomonas) metabolize nitrogen waste. Nitrifying bacteria capture ammonia from the water and metabolize it to produce nitrite. Nitrite is toxic to fish in high concentrations. Another type of bacteria (genus Nitrospira) converts nitrite into nitrate, a less toxic substance. (Nitrobacter bacteria


id: aquarium-20260505-6
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquarium-6.md
category: reference
title: Aquarium
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquarium
date_saved: 2026-05-05T09:00:40.028331+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: aquarium-20260505-0
summary:
The biological load, or bioload is a measure of the burden placed on the aquarium ecosystem by its inhabitants. High biological loading presents a more complicated tank ecology, which in turn means that equilibrium is easier to upset. Several fundamental constraints on biological loading depend on aquarium size. The water's surface area limits oxygen intake. The bacteria population depends on the physical space they have available to colonize. Physically, only a limited size and number of plants and animals can fit into an aquarium while still providing room for movement. Biologically, biological loading refers to the rate of biological decay in proportion to tank volume. Adding plants to an aquarium will sometimes help greatly with taking up fish waste as plant nutrients. Although an aquarium can be overloaded with fish, an excess of plants is unlikely to cause harm. Decaying plant material, such as decaying plant leaves, can add these nutrients back into the aquarium if not promptly removed. The bioload is processed by the aquarium's biofilter filtration system. ==== Calculating capacity ==== Limiting factors include the oxygen availability and filtration processing. Aquarists have rules of thumb to estimate the number of fish that can be kept in an aquarium.


id: aquarium-20260505-7
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquarium-7.md
category: reference
title: Aquarium
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquarium
date_saved: 2026-05-05T09:00:40.028331+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: aquarium-20260505-0
summary:
Aquaria may be grouped by their species selection. In a community tank, several non-aggressive species live peacefully. In these aquaria, the fish, invertebrates, and plants probably do not originate from the same geographic region, but tolerate similar water conditions and each other. Aggressive tanks, by contrast, house a limited number of species that can be aggressive toward other fish, or are able to withstand aggression well. Most aquarists maintaining marine tanks and tanks housing cichlids have to take species aggressiveness into account when stocking. Specimen tanks usually only house one fish species, along with plants—sometimes those found in the fish species' natural environment—and decorations simulating a natural ecosystem. This type is useful for fish that cannot coexist with other fish, such as the electric eel, as an extreme example. Some tanks of this sort are used simply to house adults for breeding. Biotope aquaria is another type based on species selection. In it, an aquarist attempts to simulate a specific natural ecosystem, assembling fish, invertebrate species, plants, decorations and water conditions all found in that ecosystem. Public aquaria often use this approach. Biotope aquaria simulates the experience of observing in the wild. It typically serves as the healthiest possible artificial


id: aquarium-fish-feeder-20260505-0
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquarium_fish_feeder-0.md
category: reference
title: Aquarium fish feeder
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquarium_fish_feeder
date_saved: 2026-05-05T09:00:41.226192+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: aquarium-fish-feeder-20260505-0
summary:
Aquarium fish feeders are electric or electronic devices that are designed to feed aquarium fish at regular intervals. They are often used to feed fish when the aquarist is on vacation or is too busy to maintain a regular feeding schedule. == Design == Fish feeders are usually clamped to the wall of the tank just over the water. Most designs consist of a hopper which is loaded with a variety of dry food, a timer which rotates the hopper at regular intervals (dispensing food in the process), and a method of setting the interval between feeding and the amount of food dispensed. Some designs have individual small hoppers. Whilst this limits the absolute number of feeds, it does allow for more accurate dosing, and delivery of mixed, (both flake and pellet), foodstuffs, which are often important for community tanks. Most feeders can dispense flake, pellet, or freeze dried food. == Benefits == The benefits of electronic aquarium feeders are not only that the fish are fed when the aquarist is not at home, but they are also helpful in maintaining the fish' health. Because they are feeding small portions of food at scheduled intervals and precise feedings at appropriate


id: aquarium-fishery-20260505-0
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquarium_fishery-0.md
category: reference
title: Aquarium fishery
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquarium_fishery
date_saved: 2026-05-05T09:00:42.474941+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: aquarium-fishery-20260505-0
summary:
Aquarium fishery is the process of fishing wild fish for sale to private and public aquariums. == Sources == Aquarium fisheries collect primarily saltwater fish, typically colorful reef fish. Major fishery areas are in the waters off the United States (Hawaii, Florida), Fiji Islands, Australia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia. According to a report by the National Geographic “tens of millions of marine animals” are collected each year, more than half of them ending up in the US. It is estimated that about 1,800 species of tropical fish are collected and traded. Sea Sherpherd estimates that about 25 million fish are in the commercial pipeline of which “nearly all will die within a year from the point of capture”. Others estimates the number at 30 million animals, the vast majority coming from the Philippines and Indonesia. Aside from fish the pipeline also moves invertebrates and live corals. == Regulation == The industry is largely unregulated and lacks a central data base to assess its impact upon the environment. Different fisheries are regulated or managed differently and with various degrees of oversight. For example, lack of oversight has led to the widespread use of cyanide to stun fish to collect


id: aquarium-furniture-20260505-0
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquarium_furniture-0.md
category: reference
title: Aquarium furniture
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquarium_furniture
date_saved: 2026-05-05T09:00:43.650411+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: aquarium-furniture-20260505-0
summary:
Aquarium furniture or aquarium decor refers to the various ornaments and functional items that support an aquarium. == Interior decorations == Ornamental aquarium furniture is used both for aesthetic reasons and to enrich the habitat and provide shelter for fish. Common types of aquarium furniture include artificial plants, caves, and themed decorations. Common tropes include treasure chests, shipwrecks, and vibrantly colored synthetic coral. Using ceramic objects as aquarium furniture is controversial to aquarists, as some types of ceramic glaze can leach heavy metals into aquarium water. Examples of functional aquarium furniture include devices for removing algae from the glass (either a razor or a scouring pad, attached to the glass by a magnet), airstones, water filters, water heaters, and food dispensers. == Exterior stands and cabinetry == Aquarium furniture may also refer to an item of (regular) furniture that features an aquarium in its design. A stand or cabinet that supports the aquarium may be considered aquarium furniture, as well as canopies which may contain metal halide lights. Aquarium stands and canopies are often constructed to the same standards as high quality cabinetry. They can be custom built to not only support the tank itself, but to house control systems


id: aquascaping-20260505-0
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquascaping-0.md
category: reference
title: Aquascaping
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquascaping
date_saved: 2026-05-05T09:00:44.858225+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: aquascaping-20260505-0
summary:
Aquascaping is the craft of arranging aquatic plants, as well as rocks, stones, cavework, or driftwood, in an aesthetically pleasing manner within an aquarium—in effect, gardening under water. Aquascape designs include a number of distinct styles, including the garden-like Dutch style and the Japanese-inspired nature style. Typically, an aquascape houses fish as well as plants, although it is possible to create an aquascape with plants only, or with rockwork or other hardscape and no plants. Aquascaping appears to have begun to be a popular hobby in the 1930s in the Netherlands, following the introduction of the Dutch-style aquascaping techniques. With the increasing availability of mass-produced freshwater fishkeeping products and popularity of fishkeeping following the First World War, hobbyists began exploring the new possibilities of creating an aquarium that did not have fish as the main attraction. Although the primary aim of aquascaping is to create an artful underwater landscape, the technical aspects of tank maintenance and the growth requirements of aquatic plants are also taken into consideration. Many factors must be balanced in the closed system of an aquarium tank to ensure the success of an aquascape. These factors include filtration, maintaining carbon dioxide at levels sufficient to support photosynthesis


id: aquascaping-20260505-1
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquascaping-1.md
category: reference
title: Aquascaping
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquascaping
date_saved: 2026-05-05T09:00:44.858225+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: aquascaping-20260505-0
summary:
Some hobbyists also refer to a "jungle" (or "wild jungle") style, separate from either the Dutch or nature styles, and incorporating some of the features of them both. The plants are left to assume a natural, untrimmed look. Jungle style aquascapes usually have little or no visible hardscape material, as well as limited open space. Bold, coarser leaf shapes, such as Echinodorus bleheri, are used to provide a wild, untamed appearance. Unlike nature style, the jungle style does not follow clean lines, or employ fine textures. A jungle canopy effect can be obtained using combinations of darker substrates, tall plants growing up to the surface, and floating plants that block light, offering a dappled lighting effect. Other plants used in jungle style aquascapes include Microsorum pteropus, Bolbitis heudelotii, Vallisneria americana, Crinum species, Aponogeton species, Echinodorus species, Sagittaria subulata, Hygrophila pinnatifida, Anubias species, and Limnobium laevigatum. === Biotopes === The styles above often combine plant and animal species based on the desired visual impact without regard to geographic origin. Instead, Biotope aquariums are designed to replicate a particular aquatic habitat at a particular geographic location, not necessarily to provide a gardenlike display. Plants and fish need not be present, but if


id: aquascaping-20260505-2
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquascaping-2.md
category: reference
title: Aquascaping
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquascaping
date_saved: 2026-05-05T09:00:44.858225+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: aquascaping-20260505-0
summary:
In addition to design, freshwater aquascaping also requires specific methods to maintain healthy plants underwater. Plants are often trimmed to obtain the desired shape, and they can be positioned by tying them in place inconspicuously with thread. Most serious aquascapers use aquarium-safe fertilizers, commonly in liquid or tablet form, to help the plants fill out more rapidly. Some aquarium substrates containing laterite also provide nutrients. Reverse osmosis filters may be used mitigate damaging effects of hard water on sensitive animals and plants, and filtered water is remineralized to the ideal hardness. It is also necessary to support photosynthesis by providing light. A variety of lighting systems may be used to produce the full spectrum of light, usually at 2–4 watts per gallon (0.5–1 watts per litre). Lights are usually controlled by a timer that allows the plants to be acclimated to a set cycle. Alternatively, some aquarists opt for placing their aquariums near windows (usually north or northeastern-facing, to avoid harsh direct sun), without artificial lighting, thus giving plants a more consistent, natural light cycle. Depending on the number of plants and fish, the aquascape may also require carbon dioxide supplementation. This can be accomplished with a simple homemade system


id: artificial-seawater-20260505-0
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_seawater-0.md
category: reference
title: Artificial seawater
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_seawater
date_saved: 2026-05-05T09:00:46.012093+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: artificial-seawater-20260505-0
summary:
Artificial seawater (abbreviated ASW) is a mixture of dissolved mineral salts (and sometimes vitamins) that simulates seawater. Artificial seawater is primarily used in marine biology and in marine and reef aquaria, and allows the easy preparation of media appropriate for marine organisms (including algae, bacteria, plants and animals). From a scientific perspective, artificial seawater has the advantage of reproducibility over natural seawater since it is a standardized formula. Artificial seawater is also known as synthetic seawater and substitute ocean water. == Industrial and laboratory formulations == A smaller but significant use is in laboratory or fire-fighting applications. In industrial and materials-science contexts, artificial seawater refers to a chemically defined electrolyte used to reproduce the ionic composition and conductivity of natural ocean water for corrosion testing, electrochemical research, and sensor calibration. The most widely cited formulation, ASTM D1141, specifies concentrations of sodium, chloride, sulfate, magnesium, calcium, potassium, bromide, and strontium that approximate the average composition of seawater with a salinity of about 35 g kg⁻¹. This mixture is deliberately simplified and excludes organic matter or biological nutrients so that the chemical environment is reproducible from batch to batch. It is commonly employed in laboratory methods such as ASTM G31 (immersion corrosion


id: bog-wood-20260505-0
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bog-wood-0.md
category: reference
title: Bog-wood
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bog-wood
date_saved: 2026-05-05T09:00:47.176451+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: bog-wood-20260505-0
summary:
Bog-wood (also spelled bogwood or bog wood), also known as abonos and, especially amongst pipe smokers, as morta, is a material from trees that have been buried in peat bogs and preserved from decay by the acidic and anaerobic bog conditions, sometimes for hundreds or even thousands of years. The wood is usually stained brown by tannins dissolved in the acidic water. Bog-wood represents the early stages in the fossilisation of wood, with further stages ultimately forming jet, lignite and coal over a period of many millions of years. Bog-wood may come from any tree species naturally growing near or in bogs, including oak (Quercus – "bog oak"), pine (Pinus), yew (Taxus), swamp cypress (Taxodium) and kauri (Agathis). Bog-wood is often removed from fields and placed in clearance cairns. It is a rare form of timber that is claimed to be "comparable to some of the world's most expensive tropical hardwoods". == Formation process == Bog-wood is created from the trunks of trees that have lain in bogs, and bog-like conditions such as lakes, river bottoms and swamps, for centuries and even millennia. Deprived of oxygen, the wood undergoes the process of fossilization. Water flow and depth play a special


id: brackish-water-aquarium-20260505-0
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brackish-water_aquarium-0.md
category: reference
title: Brackish-water aquarium
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brackish-water_aquarium
date_saved: 2026-05-05T09:00:48.361898+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: brackish-water-aquarium-20260505-0
summary:
A brackish-water aquarium is an aquarium where the water is brackish (semi-salty). The range of "saltiness" varies greatly, from near freshwater to near marine and is often referred to as specific gravity (SG) or salinity. Brackish water aquaria is a popular specialization within the fishkeeping hobby. Many species of fish traded as freshwater species are actually true brackish species, for example mollies, Florida flagfish, and some cichlids such as chromides and black-chin tilapia. There are also several popular species traded purely as brackish water fish, including monos, scats, archerfish, and various species of pufferfish, goby, flatfish, and gar. Generally, aquarists need to maintain a specific gravity of around 1.005 to 1.010 depending on the species being kept, but practically all brackish water fish tolerate variations in salinity well, and some aquarists maintain that regularly fluctuating the salinity in the aquarium actually keeps the fish healthy and free of parasites. == Aquarium maintenance == Brackish water species can be kept mainly the same as standard freshwater aquaria, but a hydrometer is used to check the salinity of the water. Certain kinds of brackish water fish need to have their salinity increased slightly every six months. The tank sizes can vary widely


id: calcium-reactor-20260505-0
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calcium_reactor-0.md
category: reference
title: Calcium reactor
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calcium_reactor
date_saved: 2026-05-05T09:00:49.529426+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: calcium-reactor-20260505-0
summary:
A calcium reactor is an efficient method to supply calcium and trace elements to a reef aquarium. Reactors may be used in elaborate freshwater and brackish aquariums where freshwater clams and other invertebrates need a constant supply of calcium. In marine and reef aquariums, a calcium reactor dissolves a calcium carbonate media in order to balance alkalinity and introduce other trace elements. An acidic solution is produced by injecting carbon dioxide into a reaction chamber with salt water and calcium rich media. The carbon dioxide lowers the pH by producing a solution high in carbonic acid, and dissolves calcium. This solution is recirculated through the reaction chamber via a recirculating pump. The effluent, which is now rich in elements from the dissolved media, is returned to the reef aquarium where the elements are consumed by organisms, primarily corals when building skeletons. The reactor dissolves the calcium-laden media to provide bicarbonates HCO−3 (alkalinity) and calcium (Ca2+) ions at the same rate as consumed during calcification. Effectively dissolving the media requires an acidic pH. Saltwater may have a pH of 7.8 or higher, so to reduce the pH carbon dioxide (CO2) is used. The reaction formula is: CaCO3 + H2O + CO2


id: clean-up-crew-20260505-0
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clean-up_crew-0.md
category: reference
title: Clean-up crew
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clean-up_crew
date_saved: 2026-05-05T09:00:50.672663+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: clean-up-crew-20260505-0
summary:
The clean-up crew is the term that has been used by many aquarists and vendors since the late 1980s to refer to various small animals commonly sold for use in keeping the reef aquarium clear of pest algae, detritus and parasites. Among the most popular have long been blue-legged hermit crabs, scarlet hermit crabs, emerald crabs and various snails. Other commonly used animals include limpets, sea hares, sea urchins, brittle stars, algae-eating combtooth blennies, neon gobies, reef lobsters, cleaner shrimp, mysid shrimp, copepods, ostracods, isopods and amphipods. Even peppermint shrimp that feed on pest Aiptasia anemones are often included. Sometimes it is used for the shallow sediment-dwelling animals that live in the deep sand bed of marine aquariums or reef aquariums such as sand sifting starfish, spaghetti worms, bristleworms and flatworms. Clean-up crews have also more recently been used in freshwater aquariums to control algae, detritus and pest snails. These often include various snails, shrimp, small crayfish, Gammarus and Hyalella amphipods, Asellus isopods, Cyclops copepods, ostracods, Planaria flatworms, California blackworms, sludge worms, Loricariid and Corydoras catfish, loaches, log suckers and siamese algae-eaters. The term clean-up crew, along with custodian, has also been used for various arthropods, primarily a few established


id: coldwater-fish-20260505-0
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coldwater_fish-0.md
category: reference
title: Coldwater fish
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coldwater_fish
date_saved: 2026-05-05T09:00:51.866431+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: coldwater-fish-20260505-0
summary:
The term coldwater fish can have different meanings in different contexts. In the context of fishkeeping, it refers to ornamental fish species that tolerate the temperatures of a typical indoor aquarium well and do not require a heater to remain active, as opposed to tropical fish, which need a heater to survive in the room temperatures of temperate climates; In the context of ecology and fishing, it refers to fish species that prefer to inhabit waterbodies or depth zones with much lower temperatures than the average temperate water. Salmonids (e.g. salmon, trout, char and graylings) are a classic example of such types of fish. == Fishkeeping == Most or all ornamental fish species are able to tolerate temperatures as low as or lower than room temperature, with most stenothermic tropical species having critical thermal minimums of around 10-12 °C. Although these fish are capable of surviving in unheated aquaria, their temperature preferences may vary. For example, koi, goldfish, and pond loaches are commonly considered to be cold-water fish because of their ability to survive at very low temperatures, but their temperature preferences and/or physiological optimal temperatures are 32 °C (90 °F), 24–31 °C (75–88 °F), and 26–28 °C (79–82 °F),


id: community-aquarium-20260505-0
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_aquarium-0.md
category: reference
title: Community aquarium
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_aquarium
date_saved: 2026-05-05T09:00:53.041015+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: community-aquarium-20260505-0
summary:
Community aquaria are tanks that are designed to contain more than one species of fish. Most commonly they include a variety of species that do not normally occur together in nature, for example angelfish from Brazil, swordtails from Mexico, and gouramis from South East Asia. The aim of such communities is to bring together fish that are compatible in temperament and water requirements, while using their different colours and behaviors to add interest and entertainment value. Though not usually called community tanks, most marine aquaria fit into this category too, using fish from places as diverse as the Caribbean, Red Sea, and western Pacific Ocean. Other aquarists prefer communities, called biotopes, that represent particular geographic locations, and combine fish with appropriate decorative materials including endogenous rocks and plants. The most popular of these geographically correct community tanks are those replicating the cichlid habitat of the East African Rift lakes of Lake Tanganyika and Lake Malawi. == Community fish == For freshwater community tanks, there are large numbers of species that make successful community fishes. Most of the livebearers, barbs, tetras, rasboras, danios, and rainbowfishes are peaceful, though a few species are fin nippers, most notably tiger barbs and serpae tetras.


id: deep-sand-bed-20260505-0
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_sand_bed-0.md
category: reference
title: Deep sand bed
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_sand_bed
date_saved: 2026-05-05T09:00:54.220245+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: deep-sand-bed-20260505-0
summary:
A deep sand bed is a filtration method used in some saltwater aquariums and some freshwater aquariums. A deep sand bed, similar to the Berlin Method, is designed to cultivate anaerobic bacteria in the bottom layers of sand, converting nitrate to nitrogen gas to remove toxic nitrates. == Operation == A deep sand bed is commonly defined as a bed of fine sand with a minimum depth of four to six inches which ensures that a portion of the sand at the bottom will not be exposed to significant circulation of water. An established deep sand bed consists of sand populated with bacteria, algae and other marine organisms such as worms, crabs, snails and stars. The creatures burrow and overturn the top two to three inches of sand in search of food, which causes water to circulate deeper in the sand than it would if the creatures were not present. Deep sand beds may be made of a variety of materials, but typically fine or "superfine" sand is used, with a grain size between 1 mm and 0.05 mm. A larger particle size increases circulation, which in turn requires greater depth to establish anaerobic areas. Larger particles can also inhibit


id: denitrifying-bacteria-20260505-0
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denitrifying_bacteria-0.md
category: reference
title: Denitrifying bacteria
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denitrifying_bacteria
date_saved: 2026-05-05T09:00:55.402407+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: denitrifying-bacteria-20260505-0
summary:
Denitrifying bacteria are a diverse group of bacteria that encompass many different phyla. This group of bacteria, together with denitrifying fungi and archaea, is capable of performing denitrification as part of the nitrogen cycle. Denitrification is performed by a variety of denitrifying bacteria that are widely distributed in soils and sediments and that use oxidized nitrogen compounds such as nitrate and nitrite in the absence of oxygen as a terminal electron acceptor. They metabolize nitrogenous compounds using various enzymes, including nitrate reductase (NAR), nitrite reductase (NIR), nitric oxide reductase (NOR) and nitrous oxide reductase (NOS), turning nitrogen oxides back to nitrogen gas (N2) or nitrous oxide (N2O). The reducing power can be supplied by organic carbon compounds (termed "heterotrophic denitrification") or inorganic substances such as hydrogen, reduced iron, or sulfur species (termed "autotrophic denitrification"). Some microbes can use either organic or inorganic sources of reducing power (termed "mixotrophs"). == Diversity of denitrifying bacteria == There is a great diversity in biological traits. Denitrifying bacteria have been identified in over 50 genera with over 125 different species and are estimated to represent 10-15% of bacteria population in water, soil and sediment. Denitrifying include for example several species of Pseudomonas, Alcaligenes ,


id: denitrifying-bacteria-20260505-1
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denitrifying_bacteria-1.md
category: reference
title: Denitrifying bacteria
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denitrifying_bacteria
date_saved: 2026-05-05T09:00:55.402407+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: denitrifying-bacteria-20260505-0
summary:
=== Role of denitrifying bacteria as a methane sink === Denitrifying bacteria have been found to play a significant role in the oxidation of methane (CH4) (where methane is converted to CO2, water, and energy) in deep freshwater bodies of water. This is important because methane is the second most significant anthropogenic greenhouse gas, with a global warming potential 25 times more potent than that of carbon dioxide, and freshwaters are a major contributor of global methane emissions. A study conducted on Europe's Lake Constance found that anaerobic methane oxidation coupled to denitrification – also referred to as nitrate/nitrite-dependent anaerobic methane oxidation (n-damo) – is a dominant sink of methane in deep lakes. For a long time, it was considered that the mitigation of methane emissions was only due to aerobic methanotrophic bacteria. However, methane oxidation also takes place in anoxic, or oxygen depleted zones, of freshwater bodies. In the case of Lake Constance, this is carried out by M. oxyfera-like bacteria. M. oxyfera-like bacteria are bacteria similar to Candidatus Methylomirabilis oxyfera, which is a species of bacteria that acts as a denitrifying methanotroph. The results from the study on Lake Constance found that nitrate was depleted in the water


id: aquarium-filter-20260505-0
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquarium_filter-0.md
category: reference
title: Aquarium filter
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquarium_filter
date_saved: 2026-05-05T09:00:56.583496+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: aquarium-filter-20260505-0
summary:
Aquarium filters are critical components of both freshwater and marine aquaria. Aquarium filters remove physical and soluble chemical waste products from aquaria, simplifying maintenance. Furthermore, aquarium filters are necessary to support life as aquaria are relatively small, closed volumes of water compared to the natural environment of most fish. == Overview == Animals, typically fish, kept in fish tanks produce waste from excrement and respiration. Another source of waste is uneaten food or plants and fish which have died. These waste products collect in the tanks and contaminate the water. As the degree of contamination rises, the risk to the health of the aquaria increases and removal of the contamination becomes critical. Filtration is a common method used for maintenance of healthy aquaria. === Biological filtration and the nitrogen cycle === Proper management of the nitrogen cycle is a vital element of a successful aquarium. Excretia and other decomposing organic matter produce ammonia which is highly toxic to fish. Bacterial processes oxidize this ammonia into the slightly less toxic nitrites, and these are in turn oxidized to form the much less toxic nitrates. In the natural environment these nitrates are subsequently taken up by plants as fertilizer and this does


id: aquarium-filter-20260505-1
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquarium_filter-1.md
category: reference
title: Aquarium filter
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquarium_filter
date_saved: 2026-05-05T09:00:56.583496+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: aquarium-filter-20260505-0
summary:
=== Power filters === Power or HOB (hang on back) filters, which are impeller powered, remove water from the aquarium, usually with a long siphoning tube, which is then pushed (or pulled) through a series of different filter media and returned to the aquarium. These are the most common type of aquarium filter. They are often more suitable for larger tanks than other types. However, they are not necessarily the best for smaller tanks, since they have a tendency to cause an excess of water flow in smaller tanks. Other types, such as sponge filters, are ideal in this environment. Advantages of this type of filter are that they allow for a selection of different types of filter media depending on the tank needs, and that they are easy to clean without disturbing the inhabitants of the tank because they sit on the outside of the fish tank. Disadvantages of power filters include their smaller capacity for filter media compared to canister filters, their aforementioned tendency to create excessive flow rates, and that they tend to be very noisy, usually resulting from vibrations. ==== Canister filters ==== Compared to filters that hang on the back of the aquarium, canister-style external


id: aquarium-filter-20260505-2
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquarium_filter-2.md
category: reference
title: Aquarium filter
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquarium_filter
date_saved: 2026-05-05T09:00:56.583496+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: aquarium-filter-20260505-0
summary:
Algae may be grown purposely, which removes chemicals from the water which need to be removed in order to have healthy fish, invertebrates and corals. This is a natural ("green") filtering method, which lets an aquarium operate the way oceans and lakes operate. Algae and disease-causing organisms can also be removed by treating the water with ultraviolet irradiation, but the drawback of UV is that it will kill beneficial bacteria as well. Therefore, UV treatment is typically used only when needed, and not all the time. ==== Baffle filters ==== Baffle filters are similar to wet and dry, trickle filters in that they are generally situated below the aquarium. This type of filter consists of a series of baffles that the water must pass through in order to reach the pump which is returning water to the aquarium. These baffles then act much like a series of canister filters and can be filled with different filter media for different purposes. ==== Fluidized bed filter ==== The fluidized bed filter (FBF) is a biological reactor only. The principle is to direct water through a sand (or similar media) bed from below so that the sand becomes fluidized – behaves like a


id: aquarium-fish-feed-20260505-0
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquarium_fish_feed-0.md
category: reference
title: Aquarium fish feed
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquarium_fish_feed
date_saved: 2026-05-05T09:00:57.725185+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: aquarium-fish-feed-20260505-0
summary:
Aquarium fish feed is plant or animal material intended for consumption by pet fish kept in aquariums or ponds. Fish foods normally contain macronutrients, trace elements and vitamins necessary to keep captive fish in good health. Approximately 80% of fishkeeping hobbyists feed their fish exclusively prepared foods that most commonly are produced in flake, pellet or tablet form. Some fish foods also contain additives such as sex hormones or beta carotene to artificially enhance the color of ornamental fish. == Prepared foods == Prepared foods are those foods that are non-living and are made by the aquarist or bought already prepared for consumption for fish. === Dry foods === Dry food is a type of proprietary or artificially manufactured fish food consumed by a wide variety of tropical and saltwater fish and invertebrates. It is ideally suited to top dwellers and mid-water fish though numerous bottom dwelling species consume flake food once it has settled on the bottom. Flake food is baked to remove moisture, ensuring a longer shelf life. Generally the more moisture a particular example of fish food contains, the more readily it will deteriorate in quality. Dry foods are also available as pellets, sticks, flakes, tablets, granules,


id: aquarium-fish-feed-20260505-1
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquarium_fish_feed-1.md
category: reference
title: Aquarium fish feed
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquarium_fish_feed
date_saved: 2026-05-05T09:00:57.725185+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: aquarium-fish-feed-20260505-0
summary:
=== Sources === Fish meal (protein source) have two basic types: (a) those produced from fishery wastes associated with the processing of fish for human consumption (such as salmon and tuna) and (b) those from specific fish (herring, menhaden and pollack) which are harvested solely for the purpose of producing fish meal. Shrimp mix (shrimp meal) is made from cull shrimp that are being processed before freezing or from whole shrimp that is not of suitable quality for human consumption. The material to be made into shrimp meal is dried (sun-dried or by using a dryer) and then ground. Shrimp meal is a source of pigments that enhances the desirable color in the tissues of fish. It is also a secondary supplemental protein source for fish. Squid meal is made from squid viscera portions from cannery plants including the eggs and testis. Squid Meal is a highly digestible protein source for fish which provides a full range of amino acids, vitamins, minerals and cholesterol (1.0–1.5%) of cholesterol suitable for fish fry and young fish. Brine shrimp (adult Artemia) is a common food source for fish that are available in adult-form, as eggs or freeze-dried. Brine shrimp is a source of


id: fishless-cycling-20260505-0
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fishless_cycling-0.md
category: reference
title: Fishless cycling
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fishless_cycling
date_saved: 2026-05-05T09:00:58.884976+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: fishless-cycling-20260505-0
summary:
Fishless cycling is a form of "maturing" an aquarium. The goal of the process is to establish a robust colony of nitrifiers, with the ammonia source provided to allow nitrifiers ('beneficial bacteria,' although nitrifiers can also be archaea) to grow and reproduce coming from non-fish sources, hence 'fishless.' Fishless cycling can reduce the chance of fish loss resulting from insufficient populations of nitrifiers. == Process == Fishless cycling can be instant or take a long time, up to six months in some reported cases. During this time, the aquarist provides an ammonia source for developing the nitrifier colony. Nitrifiers in the aquarium grow on all surfaces, particularly in areas of high water flow and high surface area, such as the filter. Allowing ammonia to be converted to nitrite and onto the less harmful nitrate minimizes stress and injury to aquarium fish. 'Cycling' is not identical to the 'nitrogen cycle', as here it is referring specifically to the process of establishing nitrification and not the other parts of the nitrogen cycle. Cycling can be sped up via specific methodologies. Seeding the aquarium with nitrifiers, either from established biomedia, or a biological booster product can help. However, not all products have been


id: galway-atlantaquaria-20260505-0
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galway_Atlantaquaria-0.md
category: reference
title: Galway Atlantaquaria
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galway_Atlantaquaria
date_saved: 2026-05-05T09:01:00.061817+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: galway-atlantaquaria-20260505-0
summary:
Galway Atlantaquaria is an aquarium in Salthill, Galway, Ireland. It is Ireland’s largest aquarium, containing over 170 species. It is a member of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria. In 2011, it became the home of "Dessie", a 70-year-old lobster and Northern Ireland's largest lobster. It has many years of expertise in wildlife rehabilitation. == History == In 2017, it began plans to build Ireland's first "Penguinarium", a penguin exhibit. However, the plan was rejected by Galway City Council. In 2024, it was visited by former NASA astronaut Steven Swanson, and a starfish was named "Steve" in his honor. It has hosted an exhibition in collaboration with University of Galway on using algae for the controlled release of medicine. == References ==


id: glen-echo-park-aquarium-20260505-0
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glen_Echo_Park_Aquarium-0.md
category: reference
title: Glen Echo Park Aquarium
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glen_Echo_Park_Aquarium
date_saved: 2026-05-05T09:01:01.754306+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: glen-echo-park-aquarium-20260505-0
summary:
The Glen Echo Park Aquarium is a small public aquarium located on the premises of historic Glen Echo Park in Glen Echo, Maryland. Labeled as a "Chesapeake Bay Discovery Center," the Aquarium’s stated mission is to "promote awareness of the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed through education, in order to encourage stewardship and conservation." Glen Echo Park Aquarium (GEPA) is currently the only public aquarium in the immediate Washington D.C. area following the closure of the National Aquarium in Washington D.C. in 2013. == History == The Glen Echo Park Aquarium is located on the grounds of the historic Glen Echo Park. It sits on a tract of the park that was previously used for the Living Classrooms Children's Museum, formerly the Discovery Creek Children's Museum. Prior to the museums, the building was used to stable horses in the park. In the summer of 2015, the Glen Echo Park Aquarium soft launched, opening on weekends for summer camp programs. It held its grand opening on September 19, 2015, the date chosen by the Aquarium director, Andrew Wilson, as it coincided with International Talk Like a Pirate Day. Wilson is the founder of Under the Sea, an educational organization focused on


id: live-sand-20260505-0
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_sand-0.md
category: reference
title: Live sand
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_sand
date_saved: 2026-05-05T09:01:02.942964+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: live-sand-20260505-0
summary:
Live sand, a term used in aquarism, is natural reef coral sand populated with large quantities of beneficial bacteria and organisms which aid in the dissolving of organic wastes like ammonia, nitrites and nitrates produced by larger organisms in saltwater aquariums. Live sand can be purchased from aquarium stores, but many hobbyists make their own by seeding dead sand with live sand from other aquarium systems. == See also == Filter (aquarium) Live rock Reef aquarium Sand == Further reading == Advanced Marine Aquarium Techniques, by Jay Hemdal Baumeister, Werner (2002). Akwarystyka morska (in Polish). Łódź: Galaktyka. pp. 20, 21. ISBN 83-87914-58-4. == References ==


id: livebearers-20260505-0
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Livebearers-0.md
category: reference
title: Livebearers
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Livebearers
date_saved: 2026-05-05T09:01:04.090698+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: livebearers-20260505-0
summary:
Livebearers are fish that retain their eggs inside the body and give birth to live, free-swimming young. They are especially prized by aquarium owners. Among aquarium fish, livebearers are nearly all members of the family Poeciliidae and include: guppy, molly, platy, endler’s and swordtails. The advantages of livebearing to the aquarist are that the newborn juvenile fish are larger than newly-hatched fry, have a lower chance of mortality and are easier to care for. Unusual livebearers include seahorses and pipefish, where the males care for the young, and certain cichlids that are mouthbrooders, with the parent incubating the eggs in the buccal cavity. == Common aquarium livebearers == Species of interest to aquarists are almost always members of the family Poeciliidae, most commonly guppies, mollies, platies, swordtails, Endler's livebearer, and mosquitofish. Most of these are ovoviviparous, with the developing embryos receiving no nourishment from the parent fish, but a few are viviparous, receiving food from the maternal blood supply. Because the newborn fish are large compared to the fry of oviparous fish, which are those that lay eggs, newborn fish of livebearers are easier to feed than the fry of egg-laying species, such as characins and cichlids. This makes them


id: macquarium-20260505-0
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macquarium-0.md
category: reference
title: Macquarium
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macquarium
date_saved: 2026-05-05T09:01:05.280728+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: macquarium-20260505-0
summary:
A Macquarium is an aquarium made from, or made to sit within, the shell of an Apple Macintosh computer. The term was coined by computer writer Andy Ihnatko as a joke at the outdated Macintosh 512K; Macquariums have since been built both by Ihnatko himself and by others. == History == In the early 1990s, a user wrote into MacUser's help column asking how best to upgrade a Macintosh 512K. Columnist Andy Ihnatko jokingly responded that it should be turned into a fishtank. This resulted in eleven reader letters inquiring how to actually do it, leading Ihnatko to test it for himself. Ihnatko originally designed his Macquarium to use the Compact Macintosh-style shell. In the early 1990s, several Mac models in this form factor (such as the Macintosh 128K, Macintosh 512K and Macintosh Plus) were becoming obsolete, and Ihnatko considered that turning one into an aquarium might be "the final upgrade", as well as an affordable way to have a color Compact Mac. Ihnatko has mentioned in interviews that he saw attempts to build Macintosh aquariums at trade shows that, among other drawbacks, suffered from noticeable water level lines across the "screen" that spoiled the illusion of a "really good


id: maribor-aquarium-and-terrarium-20260505-0
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maribor_Aquarium_and_Terrarium-0.md
category: reference
title: Maribor Aquarium and Terrarium
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maribor_Aquarium_and_Terrarium
date_saved: 2026-05-05T09:01:06.429700+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: maribor-aquarium-and-terrarium-20260505-0
summary:
Aquarium-Terrarium Maribor (Slovene: Akvarij–terarij Maribor) began operations in 1953. During the interwar period, the building housed the Park Café. In the terrarium, there are more than 100 different reptiles, amphibians and insects. The owner of the aquarium-terrarium is the urban municipality of Maribor, managed by the company Snaga. The acting head of professional and organizational tasks is Branko Kolar. == See also == Piran Aquarium == References == == Books == Zagoršćak, Vesna (2013). Akvarij - terarij Maribor: 60 let. Nigrad. ISBN 978-961-281-164-8.


id: marine-mammal-park-20260505-0
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_mammal_park-0.md
category: reference
title: Marine mammal park
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_mammal_park
date_saved: 2026-05-05T09:01:07.608387+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: marine-mammal-park-20260505-0
summary:
A marine mammal park (also known as marine animal park and sometimes oceanarium) is a commercial theme park or aquarium where marine mammals such as dolphins, beluga whales and sea lions are kept within water tanks and displayed to the public in special shows. A marine mammal park is more elaborate than a dolphinarium, because it also features other marine mammals and offers additional entertainment attractions. It is thus seen as a combination of a public aquarium and an amusement park. Marine mammal parks are different from marine parks, which include natural reserves and marine wildlife sanctuaries such as coral reefs, particularly in Australia. == History == Sea Lion Park opened in 1895 at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York with an aquatic show featuring 40 sea lions. It closed in 1903. The second marine mammal park, then called an oceanarium, was established in St. Augustine, Florida in 1938. It was initially a large water tank used to exhibit marine mammals for filming underwater movies, and only later became a public attraction. Today Marineland of Florida claims to be "the world's first oceanarium." In November 1961, Marineland of the Pacific on the Palos Verdes Peninsula near Los Angeles became the


id: nano-aquarium-20260505-0
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nano_aquarium-0.md
category: reference
title: Nano aquarium
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nano_aquarium
date_saved: 2026-05-05T09:01:08.795914+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: nano-aquarium-20260505-0
summary:
Nano aquariums are aquariums with the emphasis on small scale inhabitants inside smaller sized aquariums. They can be either freshwater nano aquariums or saltwater nano aquariums. Nano fish species are chosen from any smaller sized species of tropical fish. Other possible inhabitants are freshwater and seawater shrimps. Any plants for a nano aquarium also have to be of the smaller species. The marine nano aquarium is more difficult to maintain than the nano freshwater aquarium. == See also == Nano reefs == References == == External links ==


id: paludarium-20260505-0
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paludarium-0.md
category: reference
title: Paludarium
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paludarium
date_saved: 2026-05-05T09:01:09.974525+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: paludarium-20260505-0
summary:
A paludarium is a type of vivarium that incorporates both terrestrial and aquatic elements. Paludaria (or paludariums) usually consist of an enclosed container in which organisms specific to the biome being simulated are kept. They may be maintained for purely aesthetic reasons or for scientific or horticultural purposes. The word 'paludarium' comes from the Latin word 'palus' meaning marsh or swamp and '-arium' which refers to an enclosed container. Paludaria can range in size from small, easily displayed boxes to biospheres large enough to contain entire trees. A prominent example of a very large paludarium is the tropical rainforest exhibit at the Montreal Biodome. == Flora and fauna == Since paludaria encompass water, land and air, many different types of fauna can be encompassed in the enclosure. While amphibians, fish and reptiles are the most common, people have kept insects and even birds in them. The animals that are most suited for a paludarium are the animals that naturally live in water/land type environments, swamps, marshes or mangroves. It is like an ecosystem that is placed inside an enclosed container. Flora suited for paludaria include plants that thrive in very humid environments or wetland areas. A common plant is the


id: penguinarium-20260505-0
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penguinarium-0.md
category: reference
title: Penguinarium
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penguinarium
date_saved: 2026-05-05T09:01:11.136213+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: penguinarium-20260505-0
summary:
A penguinarium is a vivarium for penguins intended to simulate aspects of their natural environment. Penguinariums date back at least to 1968, when the Detroit Zoo opened the first in North America and possibly the world. The Detroit penguinarium was expanded in 2015 with a US$21 million overhaul funded in part by a US$10 million donation, the largest in the zoo's history, from a single donor. In April 2016, the Polk Penguin Conservation Center opened at the Detroit Zoo becoming the world's largest penguinarium. However, the exhibit temporarily closed in 2019 for waterproofing repairs as the penguins were moved back into the 1968 exhibit. The conservation center reopened on February 14, 2022. As of 2005, the world's second largest penguinarium was located on the Spanish island of Tenerife, where twelve tons of artificial snow were generated daily for the penguins at Loro Parque aquarium. == References ==


id: piran-aquarium-20260505-0
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piran_Aquarium-0.md
category: reference
title: Piran Aquarium
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piran_Aquarium
date_saved: 2026-05-05T09:01:12.341179+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: piran-aquarium-20260505-0
summary:
Piran Aquarium (Slovene: Akvarij Piran; Italian: Acquario di Pirano) is a aquarium in Piran, Slovenia, operating since 1964. It stands opposite from the maritime museum, and directly next to the inner quay of the Piran port. It is part of the science center at the University of Primorska. Since 2016 it has been run by veterinarian Manja Rogelja. Before 1991, the aquarium was visited by up to 60,000 visitors a year, many of them Croatian schoolchildren, but then the number of visitors halved. Besides Germans and Hungarians, the majority are Slovenians, with Italian visitors being rare. On 20 March 2007, Minister of Sport Milan Zver, Mayor of Piran Tomaž Gantar and director of Hotel Piran Ana Žerjal signed a letter of intent for the renovation. The ministry financed the renovation of the aquarium's interior. The building was demolished and rebuilt. During the regular winter closure in 2022, the aquarium renovated the main visitor area and souvenir shop, and they began creating an interactive children's corner. The rooms were painted in marine shades. == Postage Stamps == In October 2022, the aquarium released motifs for sea cauliflowers, and in April 2023, released motifs for seahorses. == References == == See also


id: public-aquarium-20260505-0
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_aquarium-0.md
category: reference
title: Public aquarium
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_aquarium
date_saved: 2026-05-05T09:01:13.560222+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: public-aquarium-20260505-0
summary:
A public aquarium (pl. aquaria; or public water zoo) is the aquatic equivalent of a zoo, which houses living aquatic animal and plant specimens for public viewing. Most public aquariums feature tanks larger than those kept by home aquarists, as well as smaller tanks. Since the first public aquariums were built in the mid-19th century, they have become popular and their numbers have increased. Most modern accredited aquariums stress conservation issues and educating the public. == History == The first public aquarium was opened in London Zoo in May 1853; the Fish House, as it came to be known, was constructed much like a greenhouse. P.T. Barnum quickly followed in 1856 with the first American aquarium as part of his established Barnum's American Museum, which was located on Broadway in New York City before it burned down. In 1859, the Aquarial Gardens were founded in Boston. A number of aquariums then opened in Europe, such as the Jardin d'Acclimatation in Paris and the Viennese Aquarium Salon (both founded 1860), the Marine Aquarium Temple as part of the Zoological Garden of Hamburg in Hamburg (1864), as well as aquariums in Berlin (1869) and Brighton (1872). The old Berlin Aquarium opened in


id: public-aquarium-20260505-1
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_aquarium-1.md
category: reference
title: Public aquarium
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_aquarium
date_saved: 2026-05-05T09:01:13.560222+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: public-aquarium-20260505-0
summary:
Public aquariums are often affiliated with oceanographic research institutions or conduct their research programs, and sometimes specialise in species and ecosystems that can be found in local waters. For example, the Vancouver Aquarium in Vancouver, British Columbia, is a centre for marine research, conservation, and marine animal rehabilitation, particularly for the ecosystem of the Pacific Northwest. In 1964, the Vancouver Aquarium became the second aquarium to capture an orca, Moby Doll. He survived in captivity for just under three months, and the aquarium put him on display to the public for a day, but gave greater emphasis to groundbreaking scientific research. The aquarium also captured other orcas, belugas, narwhals and dolphins. The Monterey Bay Aquarium was the first public aquarium to display a great white shark. Beginning in September 2004, the Outer Bay exhibit (now the Open Sea galleries) was the home to the first in a series of great white sharks. The shark was at the aquarium for 198 days (the previous record was 16 days). The shark was released on 31 March 2005. The Adventure Aquarium in New Jersey has hippos. The Aquarium du Québec houses polar bears. == Gallery == == See also == List of aquaria


id: sea-life-20260505-0
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_Life-0.md
category: reference
title: Sea Life
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_Life
date_saved: 2026-05-05T09:01:14.681296+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: sea-life-20260505-0
summary:
Sea Life is a chain of commercial sea life-themed aquarium attractions. As of April 2017 there are 53 Sea Life attractions (including standalone Sea Life centres, mini Sea Life features within resort theme parks, and Legoland submarine rides) around the world. The chain is owned by the British company Merlin Entertainments. == History == Some of the aquariums now called Sea Life predate this rebrand and existed under different designations prior to their consolidation. The original named attraction was Sea Life Centre in Oban, Scotland, which opened in 1979. By 1992, nine other Sea Life units were opened. == Locations == === North America === ==== United States ==== Sea Life Legoland California Sea Life Arizona Sea Life at Mall of America Sea Life Caverns at Marine Life Sea Life Charlotte-Concord Sea Life Grapevine Sea Life Kansas City Sea Life Michigan Sea Life New Jersey Sea Life Orlando Sea Life San Antonio === Europe === ==== United Kingdom ==== Alton Towers Resort, Staffordshire, England - Sharkbait Reef by Sea Life Chessington World of Adventures, England - Chessington Sea Life Centre Cornish Seal Sanctuary, Gweek, England Legoland Windsor Resort, England - Atlantis Submarine Voyage National Sea Life Centre, Birmingham, England Sea


id: shark-tunnel-20260505-0
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shark_tunnel-0.md
category: reference
title: Shark tunnel
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shark_tunnel
date_saved: 2026-05-05T09:01:15.907169+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: shark-tunnel-20260505-0
summary:
A shark tunnel (or aquarium tunnel, acrylic tunnel and exhibit tunnel) is an underwater tunnel that passes through an aquarium, typically with sharks and related aquatic life. They are usually made of thick acrylic glass. The first aquarium tunnel in the world was installed in 1985 at Kelly Tarlton's Underwater World in Auckland, New Zealand. Most aquarium tunnels are cylindrical in shape, though tunnels can be made elliptical (to make them wider and still keep the top of the tunnel closer to the visitors), or even square. == List of aquariums with shark tunnels == This list is sorted alphabetically by aquarium name. † — Estimated based on top of tunnel being 4 ft (1.2 m) under the surface and 9 ft (2.7 m) to bottom of tunnel. == See also == Ithaa, an underwater restaurant in the Maldives. List of Aquaria == Notes ==


id: sharks-in-captivity-20260505-0
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharks_in_captivity-0.md
category: reference
title: Sharks in captivity
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharks_in_captivity
date_saved: 2026-05-05T09:01:17.046548+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: sharks-in-captivity-20260505-0
summary:
Several species of sharks are kept in captivity in public aquaria. In home aquaria, size constraints mean that only the smallest sharks are typically viable as pets. == Public aquaria == Until recently only a few benthic species of shark, such as horn sharks, leopard sharks, catsharks, and zebra sharks, had survived in aquarium conditions for up to a year or more. This gave rise to the belief that sharks, as well as being difficult to capture and transport, were difficult to care for. A better knowledge of sharks has led to more species (including the large pelagic sharks) being able to be kept for far longer. At the same time, transportation techniques have improved and long distance movement of sharks is becoming easier. Several attempts to keep a great white shark in captivity have been made, but most specimens died or had to be released after a short time. One example, placed in the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium in Japan, only survived for three days. The longest a great white was held in captivity was at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, in September 2004. A young female was kept in an outdoor tank for 198 days before releasing her back into


id: shrimp-mix-20260505-0
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrimp_mix-0.md
category: reference
title: Shrimp mix
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrimp_mix
date_saved: 2026-05-05T09:01:18.205899+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: shrimp-mix-20260505-0
summary:
Shrimp mix, also known as European shrimp mix, is a frozen fish feed used for fish with special dietary requirements, e.g. Tropheus, which are difficult to maintain using normal fish feed. The basic version is intended for herbivorous fish and is made by blending equal amounts of whole shrimp and green peas to a smooth paste, adding a vitamin supplement, and using either agar-agar or gelatin as binder. There are numerous variants tailored to the specific needs of different species. Common variants replace part of the shrimp or peas with fish meat, spinach, spirulina, or mussel meat, goat heart, and add astaxanthin, ascorbic acid, or garlic. == See also == Aquarium fish feed Commercial fish feed == References ==


id: sump-aquarium-20260505-0
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sump_(aquarium)-0.md
category: reference
title: Sump (aquarium)
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sump_(aquarium)
date_saved: 2026-05-05T09:01:19.377870+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: sump-aquarium-20260505-0
summary:
In fishkeeping, a sump is an accessory aquarium tank in which mechanical equipment is kept. A remote sump allows for a clutter-free display tank. It is found mainly in a reef aquarium or marine aquarium. The sump sits below the main tank, and is used as a filter, as well as a holding place for unsightly, miscellaneous equipment such as protein skimmers, calcium reactors, and heaters. The main advantage of having a sump plumbed into an aquarium is the increase of water volume in the system, making it more stable and less prone to fluctuations of pH and salinity, and also mitigating the effects of nutrient buildup or the unintentional introduction of foreign substances. In addition, some sumps have a compartment that can be converted into a refugium, helping to filter out excess nutrients such as nitrates. A sump can also improve aeration of the water in the aquarium. Water movement between the sump and the display tank helps with gas exchange between the water and air. Increased dissolved oxygen is beneficial to fish and can also aid in avoiding Cyanobacteria outbreaks. == References ==


id: touch-pool-20260505-0
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Touch_pool-0.md
category: reference
title: Touch pool
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Touch_pool
date_saved: 2026-05-05T09:01:20.584288+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: touch-pool-20260505-0
summary:
A touch pool or touch tank is a type of aquarium attraction in public aquariums where members of the public, especially young people, are allowed to touch the wildlife within the tanks. Tanks will be stocked with species which are not dangerous to touch to provide an opportunity for individuals to learn more about those species. These can include species like blue crabs, hermit crabs, stone crabs, sea snails and even anemones. Tanks are good for discussion and learning opportunities for children and family, helping with ecological education and understanding of ecosystems. Typical species in installations include rays, catsharks, flatfish, starfish, sea urchins, crabs, mollusks and other shellfish. Touch pools have been critiqued for how sanitary they are: humans are often touching the protective mucus of the fish and other wildlife in the tank, leading to potential health complications. Other critiques include the quality of life for the organisms in the tank, and the lack of mimicry of real aquatic environments. Other researchers have evaluated the elevated risk of health impacts for humans who interact with the animals, through potential health concerns. == See also == Shark tunnel == References ==


id: tropical-fish-20260505-0
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_fish-0.md
category: reference
title: Tropical fish
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_fish
date_saved: 2026-05-05T09:01:21.777597+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: tropical-fish-20260505-0
summary:
Tropical fish are fish found in aquatic tropical environments around the world. Fishkeepers often keep tropical fish in freshwater and saltwater aquariums. The term "tropical fish" is not a taxonomic group, but rather is a general term for fish found in such environments, particularly those kept in aquariums. == Aquarium fish == Tropical fish is a term commonly used to refer to fish that are kept in heated aquariums. Freshwater tropical fish are more commonly kept than saltwater tropical fish due to the common availability of fresh water sources, such as tap water, whereas salt water is not commonly available and has to be recreated by using fresh water with sea salt additions. Salt water has to be monitored to maintain the correct salinity because of the effects of evaporation. Freshwater tropical aquariums can be maintained by simply topping up with fresh water. Tropical fish are popular choices for aquariums due to their often bright coloration, which typically derives from both pigmented cells and iridescent cells. Tropical fish may include wild-caught specimens, individuals born in captivity including lines selectively bred for special physical features, such as long fins, or particular colorations, such as albino. Some fish may be hybrids of


id: yukon-harbor-orca-capture-operation-20260505-0
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yukon_Harbor_orca_capture_operation-0.md
category: reference
title: Yukon Harbor orca capture operation
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yukon_Harbor_orca_capture_operation
date_saved: 2026-05-05T09:01:22.959418+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: yukon-harbor-orca-capture-operation-20260505-0
summary:
The Yukon Harbor orca capture operation was the first planned, deliberate trapping of a large group of orcas (killer whales). 15 southern resident orcas were trapped by Ted Griffin and his Seattle Public Aquarium party on February 15, 1967, in Yukon Harbor on the west side of Puget Sound, in the northwest United States. The first four orcas that had been taken into captivity had been captured singly, and mostly opportunistically. Those four were named Wanda, Moby Doll, Namu, and Shamu—who was then the only surviving one. Through them, public interest in orcas had escalated. The Yukon Harbor operation initiated the "peak cropping years" of the orca capture era in the Salish Sea, when large numbers of resident orcas were captured for sale. This occurred just at the time when the global whaling industry was beginning to become problematic in its viability and in social history. By 1967, there had been a score of attempts to capture orcas by various organizations. All of the deliberate attempts had failed, except for Ted Griffin's capture of Shamu. Many of the capture attempts had resulted in the deaths of orcas. Griffin's project was born of experiential knowledge combined with the geographical advantages of


id: yukon-harbor-orca-capture-operation-20260505-1
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yukon_Harbor_orca_capture_operation-1.md
category: reference
title: Yukon Harbor orca capture operation
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yukon_Harbor_orca_capture_operation
date_saved: 2026-05-05T09:01:22.959418+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: yukon-harbor-orca-capture-operation-20260505-0
summary:
=== Namu, Inc. === Demand for captive orcas was not lacking, but supply was very problematic. Out of a score of deliberate capture attempts up until then, only the one which had caught Shamu had been successful. And a regular hazard of attempting to collect for aquariums was the death of animals. It appeared, however, that if anyone could catch an orca, it was Ted Griffin. "Namu, Inc., initially founded to control marketing and merchandising for the world's only captive orca, became the whale-catching arm of the Seattle Marine Aquarium" which he owned. == Griffin's preparations == === The project === In the late summer of 1966, Ted Griffin was planning not only to find a replacement for Namu at his Seattle Public Aquarium, but also to fill orders from other enterprises. Few, if any, other humans had spent as much time observing and obsessively chasing orcas. Many years of experience had left him painfully aware of how difficult it was to catch an orca alive. It had been done deliberately only once—by himself. Yet during the fall salmon run when Tacoma waters "teemed with the huge mammals" which "romped to the delight of shoreline spectators," Griffin himself did not


id: yukon-harbor-orca-capture-operation-20260505-2
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yukon_Harbor_orca_capture_operation-2.md
category: reference
title: Yukon Harbor orca capture operation
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yukon_Harbor_orca_capture_operation
date_saved: 2026-05-05T09:01:22.959418+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: yukon-harbor-orca-capture-operation-20260505-0
summary:
=== The trap === Ted Griffin had lost track of the southern resident orcas in January, but on February 14 he was notified "by the Coast Guard that killer whales had been spotted at Port Angeles, Washington, headed" towards Puget Sound. When they were sighted there on the 15th, he boarded a helicopter, carrying the Greener harpoon rifle with buoys attached to the line. "Griffin's opportunity came when a female and her calf surfaced beneath the helicopter, prompting an adult male to push them back underwater. 'Did you see that?' Griffin yelled to the pilot. 'He's protecting them!' The aquarium owner then fired his harpoon into the bull's right flank." In the following hours, his team on the water "used the three trailing buoys to track the pod." While north bound along the east coast of Vashon Island, the 30 or more orcas split into three groups. In a sheltered cove named Yukon Harbor on the Kitsap Peninsula south of Bainbridge Island, over depths ranging from 42 to 84 feet (13 to 26 metres), the fishing vessel Chinook laid out its 3,960-foot-long (1,210 m) modified seine net. According to a later count, 15 orcas were in a group that was


id: yukon-harbor-orca-capture-operation-20260505-3
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yukon_Harbor_orca_capture_operation-3.md
category: reference
title: Yukon Harbor orca capture operation
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yukon_Harbor_orca_capture_operation
date_saved: 2026-05-05T09:01:22.959418+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: yukon-harbor-orca-capture-operation-20260505-0
summary:
=== Orcas being herded === February 15 had ended with a large number of southern resident orcas trapped inside a seine net, but "no one had ever attempted to sort and separate killer whales." Also, "while locals would pay to see a killer whale perform at Pier 56, they were less eager to witness a capture right in front of them." Many difficult days followed, as Ted Griffin and his party sought to corral the right orcas into smaller holding pens. "In the past several killer whales [had] been lost during this transfer." Griffin's chief assistant Don Goldsberry explained that they were targeting "whales between 13 and 16 feet (4.0 and 4.9 metres) because those are the ideal size for training or working with for scientific purposes." To the surprise of the Seattle Times reporter, "In a strange saga of the sea, Seattle's modern-day Ahab" was going to throw the big ones back, including a reportedly 30-foot (9.1-metre) bull. The Seattle Times took an especial interest in the problems of this phase of the capture operation, publishing daily reports. Griffin's first goal was to deliver an orca to the Portland Boat Show at the Portland Memorial Coliseum, which opened February


id: yukon-harbor-orca-capture-operation-20260505-4
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yukon_Harbor_orca_capture_operation-4.md
category: reference
title: Yukon Harbor orca capture operation
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yukon_Harbor_orca_capture_operation
date_saved: 2026-05-05T09:01:22.959418+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: yukon-harbor-orca-capture-operation-20260505-0
summary:
All was still not going well for the aquarium owner, however. On the 28th, Griffin had to report the death of his most spectacular captives—"one of whom was the harpooned bull." "He packed the Greener harpoon rifle away, never to use it again." The two "very large" males "became entangled [on the 27th] in the net at depths of 60 to 70 feet (18 to 21 metres) and drowned." It appeared the two bulls had been trying to find a way under the steel submarine net. "Their bodies were turned over to the Marine Mammal Biological Laboratory for autopsies and study, Griffin reported." "Protests grew when photos emerged of one of the dead whales hanging from the boom of the Marine Mammal Biological Laboratory's research vessel." The aquarium lost some of the good-will that had been generated by Namu. Griffin voiced several counter arguments to answer his critics. First, he admitted he did not have all the answers for the innovative business of collecting orcas humanely. Griffin said that "many whales are killed for scientific research without public knowledge." Then he said that in commercial fishing, "one set of a tuna net can kill hundreds of porpoises." Moreover, the International


id: biorepository-20260505-0
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biorepository-0.md
category: reference
title: Biorepository
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biorepository
date_saved: 2026-05-05T09:01:24.506345+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: biorepository-20260505-0
summary:
A biorepository is a facility that collects, catalogs, and stores samples of biological material for laboratory research. Biorepositories collect and manage specimens from animals, plants, and other living organisms. Biorepositories store many different types of specimens, including samples of blood, urine, tissue, cells, DNA, RNA, and proteins. If the samples are from people, they may be stored with medical information along with written consent to use the samples in laboratory studies. == Purpose == The purpose of a biorepository is to maintain biological specimens, and associated information, for future use in research. The biorepository maintains the quality of specimens in its collection and ensures that they are accessible for scientific research. == Operations == The four main operations of a biorepository are; (i) collection (ii) processing, (iii) storage or inventory, and (iv) distribution of biological specimens. (i) Collection or accession occurs when a specimen arrives at the biorepository. Information about the specimen is entered into the laboratory information management system ("LIMS"), which tracks information about all of the specimens in the biorepository. Typical information linked to a specimen would be the specimen's origin and when it arrived at the biorepository. (ii) Processing of specimens is standardized to minimize variation due


id: botanical-garden-20260505-0
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botanical_garden-0.md
category: reference
title: Botanical garden
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botanical_garden
date_saved: 2026-05-05T09:01:25.742576+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: botanical-garden-20260505-0
summary:
A botanical garden or botanic garden is a garden with a documented collection of living plants for the purpose of scientific research, conservation, display, and education. Plants in larger gardens are often labelled with their botanical names and additional information. It may contain specialist plant collections such as cacti and other succulent plants, herb gardens, or plants from particular parts of the world. There may be glasshouses or shadehouses with special collections such as tropical plants, alpine plants, or other exotic plants that are not native to the local region. Most are at least partly open to the public, and may offer guided tours, public programming such as workshops, courses, educational displays, art exhibitions, book rooms, open-air theatrical and musical performances, and other entertainment. Botanical gardens are often run by universities or other scientific research organizations, and usually have associated herbaria and research programmes in plant taxonomy or some other aspect of botanical science. In principle, their role is to maintain documented collections of living plants for the purposes of scientific research, conservation, display, and education, although this will depend on the resources available and the special interests pursued at each particular garden. The staff will normally include botanists as


id: botanical-garden-20260505-1
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botanical_garden-1.md
category: reference
title: Botanical garden
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botanical_garden
date_saved: 2026-05-05T09:01:25.742576+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: botanical-garden-20260505-0
summary:
Worldwide, there are now about 1800 botanical gardens and arboreta in about 150 countries (mostly in temperate regions) of which about 550 are in Europe (150 of which are in Russia), 200 in North America, and an increasing number in East Asia. These gardens attract about 300 million visitors a year. Historically, botanical gardens exchanged plants through the publication of seed lists (called Latin: Indices Seminum in the 18th century). This was a means of transferring both plants and information between botanical gardens. This system continues today, though with attention to the risks of genetic piracy and transmission of invasive species. The International Association of Botanic Gardens was formed in 1954 as a worldwide organisation affiliated to the International Union of Biological Sciences. More recently, coordination has also been provided by Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI), which has the mission "To mobilise botanic gardens and engage partners in securing plant diversity for the well-being of people and the planet". Regional coordination is seen in the United States with the American Public Gardens Association (formerly the American Association of Botanic Gardens and Arboreta), while in Australasia there is the Botanic Gardens of Australia and New Zealand (BGANZ). == History == The


id: botanical-garden-20260505-2
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botanical_garden-2.md
category: reference
title: Botanical garden
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botanical_garden
date_saved: 2026-05-05T09:01:25.742576+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: botanical-garden-20260505-0
summary:
In the 17th century, botanical gardens began their contribution to a deeper scientific curiosity about plants. If a botanical garden is defined by its scientific or academic connection, then the first true botanical gardens were established with the revival of learning that occurred in the European Renaissance. These were secular gardens attached to universities and medical schools, used as resources for teaching and research. The superintendents of these gardens were often professors of botany with international reputations, a factor that probably contributed to the creation of botany as an independent discipline rather than a descriptive adjunct to medicine. ==== Origins in the Italian Renaissance ==== The botanical gardens of Southern Europe were associated with university faculties of medicine and were founded in Italy at Orto botanico di Pisa (1544), Orto botanico di Padova (1545), Orto Botanico di Firenze (1545), Orto Botanico dell'Università di Pavia (1558) and Orto Botanico dell'Università di Bologna (1568). Here the physicians (known in English as apothecaries) delivered lectures on the Mediterranean "simples" or "officinals" that were being cultivated in the grounds. Student education was no doubt stimulated by the relatively recent advent of printing and the publication of the first herbals. ==== Northern Europe ==== The


id: botanical-garden-20260505-3
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botanical_garden-3.md
category: reference
title: Botanical garden
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botanical_garden
date_saved: 2026-05-05T09:01:25.742576+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: botanical-garden-20260505-0
summary:
At this time, British horticulturalists were importing many woody plants from Britain's colonies in North America, and the popularity of horticulture had increased enormously, encouraged by the horticultural and botanical collecting expeditions overseas fostered by the directorship of Sir William Jackson Hooker and his keen interest in economic botany. At the end of the 18th century, Kew, under the directorship of Sir Joseph Banks, enjoyed a golden age of plant hunting, sending out collectors to the South African Cape, Australia, Chile, China, Ceylon, Brazil, and elsewhere, and acting as "the great botanical exchange house of the British Empire". From its earliest days to the present, Kew has in many ways exemplified botanic garden ideals, and is respected worldwide for the published work of its scientists, the education of horticultural students, its public programmes, and the scientific underpinning of its horticulture. In 1728, John Bartram founded Bartram's Garden in Philadelphia, one of the continent's first botanical gardens. The garden is now managed as a historical site that includes a few original and many modern specimens as well as extensive archives and restored historical farm buildings. ==== Plant classification ==== The large number of plants needing description were listed in garden catalogues;


id: botanical-garden-20260505-4
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botanical_garden-4.md
category: reference
title: Botanical garden
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botanical_garden
date_saved: 2026-05-05T09:01:25.742576+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: botanical-garden-20260505-0
summary:
Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison, all experienced farmers, shared the dream of a national botanic garden, leading to the founding in 1820 of the United States Botanic Garden, next to the Capitol in Washington DC. In 1859, the Missouri Botanical Garden was founded at St Louis, Missouri; it is one of the world's leading gardens specializing in tropical plants. Russia's botanical gardens include Moscow University Botanic Garden ('the Apothecary Garden'), founded in 1706 by Tsar Peter the Great, and the Saint Petersburg Botanical Garden, (1714). === 20th century === ==== Civic and municipal botanical gardens ==== A large number of civic or municipal botanical gardens were founded in the 19th and 20th centuries. These did not develop scientific facilities or programmes, but the horticultural aspects were strong and the plants often labelled. They were botanical gardens in the sense of building up collections of plants and exchanging seeds with other gardens around the world, although their collection policies were determined by those in day-to-day charge of them. They tended to become little more than beautifully maintained parks and were, indeed, often under general parks administrations. ==== Community engagement ==== The second half of the 20th century saw


id: conservatory-greenhouse-20260505-0
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservatory_(greenhouse)-0.md
category: reference
title: Conservatory (greenhouse)
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservatory_(greenhouse)
date_saved: 2026-05-05T09:01:26.975715+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: conservatory-greenhouse-20260505-0
summary:
A conservatory is a building or room having glass or other transparent roofing and walls, used as a greenhouse or a sunroom. Usually it refers to a space attached to a conventional building such as a house, especially in the United Kingdom. Elsewhere, especially in America, it can often refer to a large freestanding glass-walled building in a botanic garden or park, sometimes also called a palm house if tall enough for trees. Municipal conservatories became popular in the early 19th century. == Description == Many cities, especially those in cold climates and with large European populations, have built municipal conservatories to display tropical plants and hold flower displays. This type of conservatory was popular in the early nineteenth century, and by the end of the century people were also giving them a social use (e.g., tea parties). Conservatory architecture varies from typical Victorian glasshouses to modern styles, such as geodesic domes. Many were large and impressive structures and are included in the list below. In the UK, the legal definition of a conservatory is a building that has at least 50% of its side wall area glazed and at least 75% of its roof glazed with translucent materials, either


id: conservatory-greenhouse-20260505-1
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservatory_(greenhouse)-1.md
category: reference
title: Conservatory (greenhouse)
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservatory_(greenhouse)
date_saved: 2026-05-05T09:01:26.975715+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: conservatory-greenhouse-20260505-0
summary:
=== Canada === Muttart Conservatory (Edmonton, Alberta) Bloedel Floral Conservatory (Vancouver, B.C.) Allan Gardens (Toronto, Ontario) Centennial Park Conservatory (Toronto, Ontario) Assiniboine Park Conservatory (Winnipeg, Manitoba) === China === Beijing Botanical Garden (Beijing) Shanghai Botanical Garden (Shanghai) South China Botanical Garden (Qingyang, Guangzhou) === Denmark === Copenhagen Botanical Gardens === Germany === Botanical Gardens and Botanical Museum, Berlin === United Kingdom === ==== England ==== Kew Gardens (southwest London) Chatsworth House (Derbyshire) Eden Project (Cornwall) Syon House (west London) Barbican Conservatory (central London) Anthaeum, Hove: built in 1830 with the world's largest dome, it collapsed on its opening day in 1833. ==== Northern Ireland ==== Belfast Botanic Gardens ==== Scotland ==== Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh Kibble Palace The Tollcross Winter Gardens, Glasgow Springburn Winter Gardens === South Africa === Pearson Conservatory, Port Elizabeth The Botanical Society Conservatory, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, Cape Town === Spain === Palacio de Cristal del Retiro === United States === Amazon Spheres (Seattle, Washington) Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory (Detroit, Michigan) Biosphere 2 (Oracle, Arizona) Birmingham Botanical Gardens (Birmingham, Alabama) Bolz Conservatory (Madison, Wisconsin) Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens (Buffalo, New York) Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center (Pine Mountain, Georgia) Climatron (St. Louis) Conservatory of


id: dna-bank-20260505-0
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DNA_bank-0.md
category: reference
title: DNA bank
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DNA_bank
date_saved: 2026-05-05T09:01:28.162558+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: dna-bank-20260505-0
summary:
DNA banking is the secure, long-term storage of an individual's genetic material. DNA is most commonly extracted from blood, but can also be obtained from saliva and other tissues. DNA banks allow for conservation of genetic material and comparative analysis of an individual's genetic information. Analyzing an individual's DNA can allow scientists to predict genetic disorders, as used in preventive genetics or gene therapy, and prove that person's identity, as used in the criminal justice system. There are multiple methods for testing and analyzing genetic information including restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and polymerase chain reactions (PCR). == Uses == DNA banking is used to conserve genetic material, especially that of organisms that face extinction. This is a more prominent issue today due to deforestation and climate change, which serve as a threat to biodiversity. The genetic information can be stored within lambda phage and plasma vectors. The National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences (NIAS) DNA Bank, for example, collects the DNA of agricultural organisms, such as rice and fish, for scientific research. Most DNA provided by DNA banks is used for studies to attempt to develop more productive or more environmentally friendly agricultural species. Some DNA banks also store the


id: echinobase-20260505-0
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echinobase-0.md
category: reference
title: Echinobase
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echinobase
date_saved: 2026-05-05T09:01:29.364626+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: echinobase-20260505-0
summary:
Echinobase is a Model Organism Database (MOD). It supports the international research community by providing a centralized, integrated web based resource to access the diverse and rich, functional genomics data of echinoderm evolution, development and gene regulatory networks. Genomic research data and tools are available for searching, browsing and bioinformatic analysis of genomes, genes, and transcripts. Echinobase provides a critical data sharing infrastructure for other NIH-funded projects and enhances the availability and visibility of echinoderm data to the broader biomedical research community. == Supported species == Echinobase offers two levels of integration for supported echinoderm species. Full support includes full genome integration in the database, including gene pages, as well as availability of the genomes to BLAST, browsing via JBrowse, and genome download. Partial support provides BLAST, JBrowse, and download options, but no gene page integration. Current level one supported species (at various stages of integration) are: Strongylocentrotus purpuratus (Purple sea urchin) Patiria miniata (Bat star) Lytechinus variegatus (Green variegated sea urchin) Acanthaster planci (Crown-of-thorns starfish) Current level two supported species (at various stages of integration) are: Lytechinus pictus (painted urchin) Anneissia japonica (Feather star, a crinoid) Asterias rubens (Sugar star) Amphiura filiformis (Brittle star) Ptychodera flava (Yellow acorn worm)


id: european-bank-for-induced-pluripotent-stem-cells-20260505-0
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Bank_for_induced_pluripotent_Stem_Cells-0.md
category: reference
title: European Bank for induced pluripotent Stem Cells
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Bank_for_induced_pluripotent_Stem_Cells
date_saved: 2026-05-05T09:01:30.538388+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: european-bank-for-induced-pluripotent-stem-cells-20260505-0
summary:
The European Bank for induced pluripotent Stem Cells (EBiSC) is a non-profit induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) biorepository and service provider with central facilities in Germany and the United Kingdom. EBiSC was set up between 2014 and 2017 by a consortium that represented researchers, clinicians and industry stakeholders. A second phase of the project runs between 2019 and 2022 with the aim of consolidating EBiSC as a not-for-profit, self-sustainable iPSC bank and service provider. The initiative was funded by the European Commission and the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations under the Innovative Medicines Initiative. The European Bank for induced pluripotent Stem Cells performs collection, banking, quality control and distribution of iPSC lines for research purposes. EBiSC's stated goal is to supply academic, non-profit and commercial researchers with quality-controlled, disease-relevant iPSC lines, data and other services. It also seeks to promote the international standardisation of iPSC banking practices and to act as a central hub that ensures the sustainability and accessibility of iPSC lines generated by different research organisations. IPSC lines generated externally can be deposited into EBiSC for storage, banking, quality control and distribution. == Catalogue and facilities == In February 2020, the EBiSC catalogue contained iPSC lines


