Photo: Emma Friedman/WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — The New England Aquarium debuts a new exhibit all about the beauty of the coral reef.
The “Healthy Corals, Healthy Reefs” exhibit features a variety of Indo-Pacific species of corals, along with tropical fish and other reef dwelling invertebrates, according to Senior Aquarist Summer Gagel.
“We wanted to highlight the impact that coral reefs have on a global scale,” Gagel said.
They all live inside a 15-foot tank filled with nearly five thousand gallons of salt water, right across from the penguin exhibit.
One of many colorful corals is a sarcophyton, a leather coral that resembles a little like mushrooms.
Photo: Emma Friedman/WBZ NewsRadio
Gagel told WBZ NewsRadio that her team has spent months fragmenting these species behind the scene, essentially creating “clone copies” to display in the tank.
She added that contrary to popular ‘be-reef,’ corals are actually animals. That’s why it’s important for visitors to see the corals in real life to better understand them.
The museum hopes this exhibit will bring new understanding and appreciation to the creatures, teach visitors about the vital role they play in the marine ecosystem, and “hopefully inspire them to protect them,” Gagel said.
The “Healthy Corals, Healthy Reefs” exhibit will officially open on Friday, Nov. 22.
WBZ NewsRadio's Emma Friedman (@EmmaFriedmanWBZ) reports.
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