WHAT ARE WE DOING?
There are two parts to this project. The first is to create a centralized database of information on the care of freshwater species. The information will be improved by users, and users can contribute their own information. Additionally, the site will allow you to register wild-caught specimens, track lineage, and create records of spawns. Users include public aquariums, research institutions, hatcheries, and hobbyists. Do you have a trick that gets your fish to spawn every time? Have you found that the fry grow faster when you feed them a certain food? All of this information, personal tips, and knowledge will be held in one place. This database will also feature forums where users can ask questions, discuss, and learn. This is currently the main focus.
The second part of the project entails building a warehouse to breed and research these species on a scientific level and working in ex-situ conservation. This would be to maintain a genetically viable population in captivity, and also to work with local communities to restore native habitats. Then, the captive stock can be used in reintroduction projects.
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This is an example of what an entry could look like. Additional information would include breeding tips, as well as an image gallery for each species.
MISSION STATEMENT
Lily Ichthyology aims to move the field of freshwater conservation into the future through collaboration, information, community, and innovation.
VISION
We want to create a platform to centralize information so everyone can contribute to the conservation movement.
History
This project has been in motion since 2015, but it wasn't until recently that I was finally able to pursue it. It started with a dream. I wanted to start a warehouse to breed and research endangered species as part of the ex-situ conservation movement. As I started to talk with professionals in the field, I realized that the most important part was the storage and sharing of the data that I would collect. So that became my main objective. I started to build, learning to code and how to use data that was already available. I started to reach out to others with similar dreams to make this a reality.Â
Though it is far from done, the project has come a long way since the dreams of a middle-school child. I hope the database will be completed soon, and I look forward to speaking at the Colorado Aquarium Society's 75th Anniversary in the summer of 2022.