Scientists use ‘Romantic Solution’ to Help Endangered Species

White abalone are at risk of dying out. But scientists in California have developed a special way to help the sea snail¹ population reproduce.

Kristin Aquilino is lead scientist for the White Abalone Captive Breeding Program, based at the University of California, Davis Bodega Marine² Laboratory.

White abalone, in her words, "cannot come back without our help."

The creatures, once common in the coastal³ waters of Southern California and Mexico, have been on the U.S. federal endangered species list since 2001. Its population has been hurt by overfishing, low reproduction rates and disease.

After about ten years – a time in which no white abalone were produced - Aquilino's team increased their numbers by making up a special mixture.

In the day-long process, the scientists soak the snails⁴ for hours in what they call a "chemical love potion." A potion is a liquid or drink that has a special or mysterious effect on something.

The scientists' potion has seawater and hydrogen peroxide. It leads the creatures to release their sperm⁵ and eggs.

Aquilino said, "The abalone are terrible at long-distance relationships ... We're putting them in a really romantic solution."

She added the goal of the work was to create young "that will end up back out in the wild."

Numbers of young abalone, known as larvae⁶, reached 25,000 in 2019, but dropped in 2020 as pandemic lockdowns limited the lab to just one event for the season.

However, the larvae created then had among the highest survival rates so far, Aquilino said.

Failure to reproduce means another abalone mating takes place again several weeks later.

"We want to make sure we're not stressing them out too much," Aquilino said. "Hopefully that little bit of extra time gives them some more time to become very productive."

The young abalone formed are packed in bags and shipped to partner organizations in California. These young abalone have a better chance of survival with more space.

For Aquilino, the work is personal. As a student, she met her husband on a dive that studied red abalone.

Aquilino's engagement ring also has an abalone pearl. Her daughter plays with a fake abalone farm tank at home. "It has become a really important part of my identity and my family's identity," Aquilino said.

Words in This Story

snail – n. a small animal that lives in a shell that it carries on its back, that moves very slowly, and that can live in water or on land

endangered -- adj. used to describe a type of animal or plant that has become very rare and that could die out completely

species – n. biology : a group of animals or plants that are similar and can produce young animals or plants : a group of related animals or plants that is smaller than a genus

soak – v. to put (something) in a liquid for a period of time

stress – v. to feel very worried or anxious about something : to feel stress

engagement – n. an agreement to be married : the act of becoming engaged or the state of being engaged to be married

fake -- adj. not true or real

1 snail   

n.蜗牛

参考例句：

• Snail is a small plant-eating creature with a soft body.蜗牛是一种软体草食动物。
• Time moved at a snail's pace before the holidays.放假前的时间过得很慢。

2 marine   

adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵

参考例句：

• Marine creatures are those which live in the sea. 海洋生物是生存在海里的生物。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

3 coastal   

adj.海岸的，沿海的，沿岸的

参考例句：

• The ocean waves are slowly eating away the coastal rocks.大海的波浪慢慢地侵蚀着岸边的岩石。
• This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。

4 snails   

n.蜗牛；迟钝的人；蜗牛( snail的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• I think I'll try the snails for lunch—I'm feeling adventurous today. 我想我午餐要尝一下蜗牛——我今天很想冒险。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Most snails have shells on their backs. 大多数蜗牛背上有壳。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 sperm   

n.精子，精液

参考例句：

• Only one sperm fertilises an egg.只有一个精子使卵子受精。
• In human reproduction,one female egg is usually fertilized by one sperm.在人体生殖过程中，一个精子使一个卵子受精。

6 larvae   

n.幼虫

参考例句：

• Larvae are parasitic on sheep.幼虫寄生在绵羊的身上。
• The larvae prey upon small aphids.这种幼虫以小蚜虫为食。