August 3, 2017, Long Beach, CA—We are poised to have the same effect on the ocean as we did with mass extinctions on land, but are at a crucial turning point—if we act now. This is the central theme of the Aquarium of the Pacific’s Vanishing Animals exhibit, which opened last summer and will be closing this September 4. The public has the final opportunity to explore this exhibition, which is located in the Aquarium’s changing exhibits gallery on the first floor.
“Actions we take now can help reduce the rate of extinctions occurring on land and in the ocean. We know more about extinctions on land. We hope this exhibit inspires people to get involved at a time when we have the opportunity to shape the future of life in the ocean.” said Dr. Jerry Schubel, Aquarium of the Pacific president and CEO. Upon entering the gallery, guests will learn in the first half about the stories of animals and habitats on land. In the second half, they will learn about the future of the ocean. In the terrestrial portion, visitors will encounter a habitat modeled after a freshwater stream. These ecosystems are among the most seriously threatened by pollution, land development, the introduction of non-native invasive species, and other activity. The animals displayed in this exhibit include local stream fishes, newts, and salamanders, and invasive species like crayfish. Next, an exhibit housing juvenile American alligators provides an example of an endangered species success story.
The gallery also features Atlantic cod, a species that has been overfished to the point of commercial extinction. Finally, an exhibit called Project Piaba tells the story of a well-managed freshwater fishery for fish like cardinal tetras and discus collected sustainably in South America for hobbyist aquariums. The visitor experience closes with a video that summarizes the major findings and conclusions of the article in Science that stimulated the development of the exhibition. Dr. Douglas McCauley, the paper's lead author, came to the Aquarium in November 2015 to give a lecture and meet with Aquarium educators to develop the themes and stories in the exhibition. Dr. Elizabeth Hadly of Stanford University and Dr. Anthony Barnosky of the University of California, Berkeley, also contributed to the exhibit.
