 SMITHSONIAN COMES TO THE TREASURE COAST NEW CENTER ALLOWS VISITORS TO OBSERVE OCEAN LIFE WITHOUT GETTING FEET WET Palm Beach Post -- Monday, August 27, 2001 By: Jim Reeder, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer FORT PIERCE -- Fish, coral and other creatures once in the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History will go on display Tuesday in the area's newest marine science center. The St. Lucie Marine Science Center with the Smithsonian's exhibits is planned to be a tourist destination as well as an education and science center, officials said. A large tank with coral and colorful fish at the entrance is likely to be the highlight for casual visitors. Other tanks with a mangrove forest, sea-grass bed and near-shore reef give a glimpse of the Indian River area's ecology. Workers were scurrying last week to stock the tanks with plants and animals. "We'll be open Tuesday, ready or not," said Mary Rice, director of the Smithsonian Marine Station. "It's very much a work in progress." Sand might seem discolored and the water murky at first, but that should be cured when a natural balance is established, exhibit manager Bill Hoffman said. Sand dollars, snails and other animals will eat the algae and natural filters will clear the water. "These won't be just fish tanks, but living eco-systems when they're established," Hoffman said. "They're not just for entertainment, but will be a learning tool for students and scientists." Red mangroves planted three weeks ago have quit dropping their leaves, a sign they've taken root in the sand and oyster shells. Tiny crabs scurry across the sand as an artificially created tide rises and falls. The tides, controlled by an electric motor and timer, carved a channel in the sand, but the algae and bacteria will cement grains together to stabilize the bottom sand. Another tank has seagrass and critters that populate the Indian River Lagoon, while another shows a near-shore reef found in 15 feet of water off area beaches. There's more to come with plans for a tank with a huge clam and other animals from the Pacific Ocean. St. Lucie County built and will maintain the building on the South Beach Causeway, while the Smithsonian owns and will care for the exhibits. A classroom will be used for school groups and a gift shop will operate there. The museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free for the first two weeks and every Tuesday afterward. Admission on other days will be $2 for adults, $1.50 for those 65 and older and $1 for ages 6 to 17. Information is available on the Smithsonian Institution's Web site: http://www.serc.si.edu/sms/whats.htm. Copyright (c) 2001, The Palm Beach Post |