For decades, the goal of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) water-quality standards set for aquariums was to minimize bacteria, whether they were good or bad. Now, Shedd’s scientists, in partnership with other researchers and the USDA, are engaged in a project that takes a new view of what constitutes a clean and healthy aquarium environment.

Shedd’s discoveries have enabled the animal care and animal health teams to fine-tune water-quality parameters to support beneficial microbiomes for the fishes, marine mammals and other animals. The results are also revolutionizing how the zoological profession manages environmental conditions for the optimal health of the animals in its care.

Applications extend to wildlife as well, from better diagnosing and treating stranded marine mammals to head-starting hatchling endangered turtles in an immunity-building microbial environment.