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Julian Sprung Julian Sprung was born in 1966 in Miami Beach, Florida and is a graduate of the University of Florida, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Zoology. He is an author, photographer, aquarium design consultant and frequent lecturer on marine aquarium keeping. Julian has been keeping marine aquariums for nearly 30 years. Julian's brother Elliot introduced him to the study of marine life along the shore of the residential island where they grew up on Biscayne Bay. Julian writes the monthly column "Reef Notes" in Freshwater and Marine Aquarium magazine, and has authored numerous articles in other publications such as Seascope, Advanced Aquarist Online, Aquarium Frontiers , Marine and Reef Aquarium USA , Practical Fishkeeping , Tropical Fish Hobbyist , and Coral . Julian wrote and narrated the video entitled "An introduction to the Hobby of Reef Keeping," the first product of his collaboration with Daniel Ramirez, which resulted in the formation of Two Little Fishies, Inc. in 1991. Julian is involved with Two Little Fishies' research and development and technical support. Julian's books include The Reef Aquarium , volumes One, Two and Three, which he co-authored with J. Charles Delbeek , Reef Notes Revisited and Revised (volumes 1, 2, 3, and 4) which feature his monthly question and answer columns with his own follow-up revisions, Corals:A Quick Reference Guide , featuring hard and soft corals from around the world with approximately 700 photographs by the author, Invertebrates: A Quick Reference Guide , and Algae: A Problem Solver Guide .
ABSTRACT: “Invasive species” legend, psychology, science, and the aquarium hobby" Caulerpa taxifolia is supposedly so toxic in the Mediterranean Sea that few creatures will eat it, it drives away fishes, and displaces marinelife. How could these qualities make it a popular food for herbivorous fishes and a wonderful water filtration aid for closed system aquariums? Contradiction? You bet! As global warming extends the natural range of species in the environment, who will decide when to call a species exotic and invasive or just a range extension? How long do we have to “carefully monitor” the spread of non-native marinelife that causes no known harm? This lecture examines the myth, propaganda, and the science (or lack of it) behind “Invasive species” research and publications. Perceptions about this topic affect our hobby, since the implication of invasive species literature is that our hobby has the potential to do irreversible harm to the natural environment. Some recent publications point to an opposite potential for our hobby: the repair of environmental damage through cultivation and dispersal of select species. Can such polar viewpoints find common ground? Julian Sprung is appearing at IMAC with the sponsorship of Aquarium Fish & FAMA Magazines
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