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Marine Lfe on Dsplay
Rockport Lab Open to the Public
Article by H.R. Osburn, Fisheries Biologist, Rockport, and Photos by Glen Mills
Rockport is nestled in the heart
of one of America's most diverse ma-
rine and estuarine ecosystems. Just
a few miles east, across the broad
expanse of Aransas Bay and the
dune-covered San Jose barrier is-
land, lies the salty Gulf of Mexico.
To the west and north, fresh water
from numerous creeks and rivers di-
lutes the brackish waters of several
secondary bays. And to the south,
just beyond the shallow-water grass
flats of Redfish Bay, is a deep flowing
channel to the Gulf called Aransas
Pass, in which all these waters are
mixed.
The tides flow, the waters mix and
the marine life abounds. And what
better place to display a few exam-
ples of these varied life forms than
theRockportMarineLaboratoryAquar-
ia, part of the Coastal Fisheries
Branch of the Texas Parks and Wild-
life Department. Located on the
north side of the Turning Basin near
downtown Rockport, the three-
storied brick Marine Lab has been
part of the coastal scenery since 1948.
Eight marine biologists, a chemist
and ten technicians work on various
coastal projects at the lab, but most
of the first floor always has been
devoted to exhibiting interesting crea-
tures and artifacts from the surround-
ing area.
The aquaria room was remodeled
in 1977 using strips of driftwood as
paneling. Several display cases, also
built of driftwood, contain shell collec-
tions and other items of beachcomb-
ing interest. Many of these items
have been donated. Some very im-
pressive mounted fish specimens
hang on the walls, and one corner of
the room displays free marine litera-
ture and recipes. But all these items
just build interest for the aquaria
themselves. There are eight in all,
Exhibits and saltwater aquaria at the
Rockport Marine Lab display an im-
pressive variety of animals and sea
creatures from the surrounding area.
AUGUST 1983
two of which contain 958 gallons of
salt water each. The other six range
from 115 to 140 gallons.
An amazing variety of animals can
be seen here. Specimens vary with
the seasons since most come from
samples collected throughout the
year by the lab biologists in the near-
shore gulf, the main bays and the
back estuaries. Local fishermen and
shrimpers also may bring in some
interesting catches. Fish and inverte-
brates on display have included sea
horses, starfish, colorful reef fish,
groupers, octopi, huge hermit crabs,
sea anemones, filefish, stingrays,
sharksuckers, sea urchins and many
other species of sea life.
Since being remodeled, the lab
aquaria have been seen by some
13,000 people per year, and that
number represents only those who
sign the register. It's estimated that
at least a third of these visitors are
from out of state while many more
come from the far corners of Texas;
after all, the Rockport area is a fan-
tastic vacation site. But whether the
visitors are vacationers, locals return-
ing for a seasonal show or classes of
excited school children, they all seem
to enjoy seeing what swims behind
the thick plates of aquarium glass.
But their pleasure might be even
greater if they knew about the inner
workings of these aquaria and the
behind-the-scenes activities. The
aquaria provide and maintain homes
for creatures whose normal habitats
are the volumes of water covering
muddy bay bottoms, oyster reefs,
grassy shoals and sandy beaches, all
part of an "open"exchanging system.
How is the high quality of life found
in the open ocean and bays main-
tained in such a relatively small, non-
exchanging, "closed" system? Feed-
ing the residents and cleaning and
general maintenance of the aquaria
is, of course, essential, but the secret
of keeping good water quality for
these organisms is, surprising
enough, the presence of two types
of bacteria -Nitrosomonas and Nitro-
bacter, to be downright scientific.
Fish excrete ammonia as a toxic
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