May 10, 2021 04:00 AM EDT (Photo : Wikimedia Commons) Kristin Aquilino of the University of California, Davis Bodega Marine Laboratory, is the lead scientist for the White Abalone Captive Breeding Program. "White abalone cannot come back without our assistance," she says. The animals, which were once abundant in Southern California and Mexico's coastal waters, have been on the US federal endangered species list since 2001. Overfishing, poor reproduction rates, and disease have both harmed the population. Aquilino's team increased their numbers after about ten years, during which no white abalone was made, by creating a special mixture. Love Potion The scientists soak the snails in a "chemical love potion" for hours during the day-long procedure. A potion is a substance or substance with a unique or enigmatic influence on something.