ECOLOGY
BEACHES, REEFS HIGHLIGHTED
The Life Along the Shore gallery portrays the beaches and
near shore reefs along the Treasure Coast. Visitors learn about
sea turtles, wading birds, and the tiny Sabellariid worm that
creates its intricate work of animal architecture.
“If you’ve been to Bathtub Reef Beach, the reef you see is
not made by coral, like most of Florida’s reefs,” explains Zack
Jud, director of Education and Exhibits of Florida Oceanographic
to help share the story of why it’s so unique and important.
It’s arguably the largest readily accessible worm reef in the
United States.”
As guests leave near-shore waters, they enter the Ocean
Connections gallery and explore Florida’s reef track and
move outward to the Atlantic. They learn about the Gulf
Stream, the warm ocean current that hugs the Florida coast. It
brings countless juvenile animals born farther south into local
waters and it becomes their first home.
The display area includes a tilt-a-table exhibit that demonstrates
visitors to move little ball bearings representing droplets of
water through a maze. The game teaches about the pitfalls
of Florida’s drainage problems and its impact on the local
environment.
The Ocean EcoCenter also has an Exploration Lab, a flexible
space that provides many ways to learn about marine life on the
Treasure Coast. Guests can get hands-on instruction accessing
microscopes, puzzles, matching games, sound-related games,
coloring stations and more. Terrariums and aquariums will be >>
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TREASURE COAST BOATING
FLORIDA OCEANOGRAPHIC SOCIETY
Society. “It’s actually built by tiny worms. We’ve created
an exact replica of this reef in one of our new aquariums
how water navigates from the headwaters of the Everglades
south to Florida Bay. The interactive exhibit invites
The center is situated on 57 acres that provides beautiful nature trails for visitors to enjoy.
FLORIDA OCEANOGRAPHIC SOCIETY
Mark Perry, executive director of the Florida Oceanographic Society, has
long been a tireless advocate to save the local environment.