Aquaria that care for and maintain belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) under professional care have the opportunity to contribute to the conservation of wild belugas through research, expertise in animal care and husbandry, and engaging and educating the public about threats to the species’ health and population sustainability. In an aquarium setting, belugas can be studied under controlled conditions, with known variables that are often difficult to discern when studying wild belugas. Information on nutrition, health status and environmental parameters can be easily obtained in a controlled setting. Biological samples are collected from professionally trained whales that voluntarily participate in informative experimental paradigms. Research studies in aquaria seek to contribute to the recovery and management of endangered beluga populations, such as those in Cook Inlet. Mystic Aquarium’s efforts are presented as a case study. Key research priorities address action items in the Cook Inlet Beluga Recovery Plan and include: (1) understanding the beluga immune system, microbial communities, pathogens and disease; (2) development of non-invasive methods for assessing reproductive status, body condition and health in wild whales; (3) investigation of diving physiology and the impact of altered dive patterns on health; (4) understanding reproduction, a key to recovery and sustainability of wild populations; (5) development and testing of new technologies for tracking and monitoring whales and habitat use; and (6) understanding how noise affects beluga hearing, behaviour and physiology. Expertise in animal handling, behaviour and nutrition contribute to rescue, rehabilitation and capture release efforts. Moreover, ‘students’ of all ages have the opportunity to be engaged, educated and contribute to beluga conservation.

中文翻译：

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水族馆在白鲸研究和保护中的作用

在专业护理下照顾和维持白鲸（Delphinapterus leucas）的水族馆有机会通过研究、动物护理和畜牧业方面的专业知识，以及让公众了解对物种健康和种群的威胁，为野生白鲸的保护做出贡献可持续性。在水族馆环境中，可以在受控条件下研究白鲸，在研究野生白鲸时通常难以辨别已知变量。可以在受控环境中轻松获得有关营养、健康状况和环境参数的信息。生物样本是从自愿参与信息实验范式的受过专业训练的鲸鱼身上收集的。水族馆的研究旨在为濒临灭绝的白鲸种群的恢复和管理做出贡献，比如库克湾的那些。Mystic Aquarium 的努力以案例研究的形式呈现。主要研究重点涉及库克湾白鲸恢复计划中的行动项目，包括：（1）了解白鲸免疫系统、微生物群落、病原体和疾病；(2) 开发评估野生鲸鱼生殖状况、身体状况和健康的非侵入性方法；(3) 调查潜水生理学和改变的潜水模式对健康的影响；(4) 了解繁殖，这是野生种群恢复和可持续性的关键；(5) 开发和测试用于跟踪和监测鲸鱼和栖息地使用的新技术；(6) 了解噪音如何影响白鲸的听力、行为和生理。动物处理、行为和营养方面的专业知识有助于救援，恢复和捕获释放工作。此外，所有年龄段的“学生”都有机会参与、接受教育并为保护白鲸做出贡献。