Skip to content
CapRadio

CapRadio

signal status listen live donate
listen live donate signal status
listen live donate signal status
  • News
    • topics
    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
  • Music
    • genres
    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic
    • Daily Playlist
  • Programs + Podcasts
    • news
    • Morning Edition
    • All Things Considered
    • Marketplace
    • Insight With Vicki Gonzalez
    • music
    • Acid Jazz
    • At the Opera
    • Classical Music
    • Connections
    • Excellence in Jazz
    • Hey, Listen!
    • K-ZAP on CapRadio
    • Mick Martin's Blues Party
    • Programs A-Z
    • Podcast Directory
  • Schedules
    • News
    • Music
    • ClassicalStream
    • JazzStream
    • Weekly Schedule
    • Daily Playlist
  • Community
    • Events Calendar
    • CapRadio Garden
    • CapRadio Reads
    • Ticket Giveaways
  • Support
    • Evergreen Gift
    • One-Time Gift
    • Corporate Support
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Gift
    • Legacy Gift
    • Endowment Gift
    • Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • e‑Newsletter
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Close Menu
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
  • Environment
  •  

Efforts To Save Endangered White Abalone Paying Off

  •  Amy Quinton 
Wednesday, February 18, 2015 | Sacramento, CA
Listen
/
Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
Amy Quinton / Capital Public Radio

Two mature white abalone at UC Davis Bodega Marine Laboratory

Amy Quinton / Capital Public Radio

In 2012, scientists at the UC-Davis Bodega Marine Laboratory successfully bred the white abalone in captivity for the first time. That year, researcher Kristin Aquilino says scientists produced 12 animals. Now they’re producing thousands.

“We also have really increased our survivorship during a really critical stage in their lives, which is when they transition from swimming larvae into crawling snails, and during that time we expect 95 to 99 percent mortality,” says Aquilino.

0213AQ_ABALONEp3

(Juvenile white abalone spawned at lab. Photo taken August 2013. Amy Quinton / Capital Public Radio)

Scientists have incorporated more animals into each spawning attempt to increase the abalone’s chance for success. Researchers also jokingly played a little Barry White music to get the abalone in the mood to reproduce. But Aquilino says that’s no longer an option.

“For the 2015 spawning season, and actually I think even for the 2014 spawning season, I banned Barry White because I was a little sick of it, so we did not play any last year and we had great success,” says Aquilino.

The next step is to begin testing strategies to return the animals to the ocean. She says the white abalones’ chance for survival there is actually quite good.

0213AQ_NOTALONEp2

(Underside of white abalone. Photo taken August 2013. Amy Quinton / Capital Public Radio)

 

“It’s not like this is a species that is going extinct because of habitat degradation or because of human encroachment on habitat," says Aquilino. "So really the animals that we put out in the wild should have a great chance of surviving and being able to reproduce.”

Aquilino hopes that can happen within the next few years.  In the meantime, the lab is taking requests for romantic music to play. 

 


Follow us for more stories like this

CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you.  As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.

Donate Today  

 UC Daviswhite abaloneabalonemarine lifeoceanBodega Marine Laboratory

Amy Quinton

Former Environment Reporter

Amy came to Sacramento from New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR) where she was Environment Reporter. Amy has also reported for NPR member stations WFAE in Charlotte, WAMU in Washington D.C. and American Public Media's "Marketplace."  Read Full Bio 

Sign up for ReCap and never miss the top stories

Delivered to your inbox every Friday.

 

Check out a sample ReCap newsletter.

Thanks for subscribing!

Thank you for signing up for the ReCap newsletter! We'll send you an email each Friday with the top stories from CapRadio.

Browse all newsletters

More Environment Stories

AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File

What the Supreme Court ruling means for the EPA's ability to fight climate change

June 30, 2022

Most Viewed

One dead, 4 injured in Downtown Sacramento shooting

Northern California wildfires: Where to find updates on air quality, evacuations, and official information

Abortion is still legal in California. Here are answers to questions about access in the state.

California coronavirus updates: COVID-19 vaccine requirement dropped for Nevada university employees

California coronavirus updates: COVID-19 cases are increasing globally

We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter

Most Viewed

One dead, 4 injured in Downtown Sacramento shooting

Northern California wildfires: Where to find updates on air quality, evacuations, and official information

Abortion is still legal in California. Here are answers to questions about access in the state.

California coronavirus updates: COVID-19 vaccine requirement dropped for Nevada university employees

California coronavirus updates: COVID-19 cases are increasing globally

Back to Top

  • CapRadio

    7055 Folsom Boulevard
    Sacramento, CA 95826-2625

    • (916) 278-8900
    • Toll-free (877) 480-5900
    • Email Us
    • Submit a News Tip
  • Contact Us

  • About Us

    • Contact Us / Feedback
    • Coverage
    • Directions
    • Careers & Internships
    • Mission / Vision / Core Values
    • Press
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
  • Listening Options

    • Mobile App
    • On Air Schedules
    • Smart Speakers
    • Playlist
    • Podcasts
    • RSS
  • Connect With Us

    •  Facebook
    •  Twitter
    •  Instagram
    •  YouTube
  • Donate

  • Listen

  • Newsletters

CapRadio stations are licensed to California State University, Sacramento. © 2022, Capital Public Radio. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Website Feedback FCC Public Files: KXJZ KKTO KUOP KQNC KXPR KXSR KXJS. For assistance accessing our public files, please call 916-278-8900 or email us.