As the director of both animal care and exhibits at San Francisco’s Aquarium of the Bay, Christina Slager does double duty.
Aquarium of the Bay’s Christina Slager does double duty as director of both animal care and exhibits as well as working on two important other projects that will reap long-term rewards for the Bay Area ecology.
By Mallory Johnson
Published: September, 2012
As the director of both animal care and exhibits at San Francisco’s Aquarium of the Bay, Christina Slager does double duty. It’s rare in the aquarium industry for one person to have both titles, but with more than 25 years of experience working with aquatic animals including penguins, sharks and marine birds, Slager has a background that allows her to excel at both jobs.
With the aim of inspiring conservation of the ocean and San Francisco Bay, Slager’s work on two other recent projects will reap long-term rewards for Bay Area ecology. First, Slager coordinated a three-year study on sevengill sharks in collaboration with UC Davis. Second, Slager and her Animal Care team at Aquarium of the Bay are working with the Smithsonian to eliminate the invasive kelp Undaria from the San Francisco Bay.
Her involvement in sevengill shark research has helped unlock some of the mysteries about the species. Sevengill sharks are very common in the San Francisco Bay and are also the Bay’s largest predator, but very little is known about their behavior and ecology. With scientists from the Biotelemetry Lab at UC Davis, Slager and her team of Aquarium of the Bay biologists have tagged, tracked and collected data on shark movements and residence patterns.
Analysis of the research indicated that some sevengills are year-round residents in the Bay, and there are certain "hot spots" where adult and juvenile sharks congregate. "So very little is known about our local sevengill sharks. This information will help make informed decisions about dredging, shark protection and other activities that impact the Bay," said Slager.
Slager’s work on Undaria removal benefits San Francisco Bay in an entirely different way. Undaria is an invasive species of kelp that negatively affects the native food web and causes imbalances in existing habitats. Staff at Aquarium of the Bay currently have an ongoing monthly program of collecting the invasive weed from docks in the San Francisco marina area, both by hand and underwater.
John Frawley, president and CEO of Aquarium of the Bay, knows he can count on Slager to translate her expertise out in the field into inspirational experiences for aquarium visitors. "Christina has a thorough understanding of shark conservation and critical issues facing sharks and the ocean," he says. "Just as important, she is a real pro when it comes to communicating these subjects to the general public through her work on our exhibits."
To learn more about Slager’s work visit www.aquariumofthebay.org/sharks or visit Aquarium of the Bay to get a look at the exhibits that Slager oversees.
Mallory Johnson is the Public Relations Coordinator for Aquarium of the Bay, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting, restoring and inspiring the conservation of San Francisco Bay and its watershed.
Sevengill sharks are San Francisco Bay’s largest predator. They are named for the seven gills on each side of their pectoral fins. Most other sharks have only five gills.
