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Our animal collectionAbout 113 specimens of marine fishes and invertebrates from the estuarine and near shore waters are on display at the Hatfield Marine Science Visitor Center. These animals, used to demonstrate scientific concepts or specific topics of marine research, represent about 31 species of fish and more than 82 species of invertebrates.The animals live in an assortment of aquariums, ranging in size from large, walk-around tanks exceeding 1,400 gallons, to racks of small 20-gallon tanks. Four touch pools allow visitors to interact with intertidal animals such as sea anemones, urchins, and a giant Pacific octopus. A unique flow-through system feeds most of the tanks with water. Fresh seawater, pumped through sand filters, flows into the tanks and back out into the bay. The center uses about 80 gallons a minute. Since the water is turning over constantly, there is little concern about toxin buildup, and the center can generally hold a few more animals in the tanks. But salinity (saltiness) and temperature vary and have to be monitored carefully. A few tanks are semi-closed, meaning most of the water recirculates but a bit of filtered seawater is added. Even semi-closed systems require more careful monitoring for quality; all the water is pumped through mechanical, biological and chemical filters, and then is chilled. The monitoring and care taken with the water supply is the first step in keeping animals healthy. As any home aquarist knows, prevention of disease and illness is a priority. The best way to do this is to ensure the animals are kept with compatible species, given excellent nutrition and high water quality, and not overcrowded. The center feeds many of its residents a base diet of "fish jello." It's a high-nutrient mixture of gelatin, salmon chow, vitamins, ground spinach and carrots, krill, herring, shrimp and squid. It looks like brown sugar fudge. Frozen foods supplement the diet. Aquarists sometimes have to teach creatures new to the center to eat the "jello;" a few picky eaters get live food. Filter feeders are either given a liquid diet for intertebrates or sea monkeys (Artemia nauplii), or are bathed raw sea water from which they can capture their native foods. Two OSU graduate teaching assistants care for all the live exhibits with help from center volunteers, or docents. The daily routine involves cleaning tanks, feeding, watching to ensure all the animals are eating and healthy, and checking chillers, plumbing and filters. It's not glamorous work; one former aquarist jokingly referred to the job (which she loved) as being "a glorified janitor to fish." New additions to the center, donated by commercial and sports fishermen and the occasional beachcomber, adjust to life in tanks in the center's "fish hospital," waiting in quarantine to ensure they're not carrying disease. While our goal is to prevent disease, sometimes animals do become ill. Animals that stop feeding or begin to exhibit unusual behaviors are transferred to the hospital's holding tanks. Other signs of illness include reddened areas, ulcers, popped-out eyes, loss of spines, scale loss or skin loss. Dr. Tim Miller-Morgan, the HMSC's resident fish veterinarian, will observe and examine ill animals. Once a problem is diagnosed, treatment might include a few weeks' rest in a quiet environment, drug or chemical therapy, or even surgery.
Careers in Marine Science[You'll need to use a bookmark or your browser's back button to return from these links. ] Sea Grant Marine Careers site. Practical advice for pursuing a marine science career from The Society for Marine Mammology.
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Original Visitor Center site design by Lena James and ESPublications. © Oregon Sea Grant, Oregon State University. |
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| Last updated: March 26, 2007 | |
