Mote Marine Laboratory facts for kids
Official logo
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| Date opened | 1955 |
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| Location | Sarasota, Florida |
| Land area | 10.5 acres (4.2 ha) |
| Coordinates | 27°19′58.5″N 82°34′37.7″W / 27.332917°N 82.577139°W |
| Annual visitors | 333,661 (2017) |
| Memberships | AZA |
The Mote Marine Laboratory is a special place in Sarasota, Florida. It's a nonprofit group that studies the ocean. They do lots of research to help protect marine life.
Mote Marine Laboratory also teaches people about the ocean. They have a public aquarium where you can see amazing sea creatures. This helps everyone learn about the important work scientists do.
Contents
History of Mote Marine Laboratory
Mote Marine Laboratory was started in 1955. A brave scientist named Dr. Eugenie Clark founded it. Back then, it was called the Cape Haze Marine Laboratory.
At first, the lab mostly studied sharks and other fish. In 1967, it was renamed Mote Marine Laboratory. This was to honor William R. Mote and his family, who gave a lot of support.
Since 1960, the lab has been in Sarasota, Florida. It moved to its current spot on City Island in 1978.
Important Milestones
Mote Marine Laboratory celebrated its 55th birthday in 2010. The state of Florida recognized its great work in marine science. Dr. Eugenie Clark was also honored in the Florida Women's Hall of Fame that year.
In 2015, Mote turned 60! They started a big fundraising effort called Oceans of Opportunity. Dr. Clark continued to work at Mote until she passed away in February 2015.
What Scientists Study at Mote
As of 2017, over 200 people worked at Mote. Many are scientists with advanced degrees. They study many different things about the ocean, like:
- Coral health and diseases
- How chemicals and nature affect the ocean
- Tiny ocean plants (phytoplankton)
- How oceans are becoming more acidic
- Growing fish and plants in water (aquaculture)
- Where fish live and how to improve their homes
- Helping stranded marine animals
- How pollution affects animals
- Saving sharks and rays
- Studying and restoring coral reefs
- Ocean technology
- Sea turtle and manatee research
- Dolphin research
Mote Marine Laboratory works with the Chicago Zoological Society. Together, they run the longest study of wild dolphins in the world!
Mote's Locations and Volunteers
Mote has grown a lot since 1978. Its main campus in Sarasota is about 10.5 acres. They also have:
- A center for coral reef research in Summerland Key.
- A public exhibit in Key West.
- An office in Boca Grande.
- A special park for aquaculture research in eastern Sarasota County.
Besides staff, Mote has about 1,400 volunteers. These amazing people help out for over 200,000 hours each year!
Mote Aquarium
The Mote Aquarium is where the public can see Mote's research in action. It shows more than 100 kinds of marine animals. Many of these animals are part of the studies done by Mote scientists.
The aquarium opened in 1980 on City Island. It is approved by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. This means it meets high standards for animal care and conservation.
What You Can See at the Aquarium
At the aquarium, you can see many fascinating creatures, including:
- Sharks
- Manatees
- Sea turtles
- Seahorses
- Rays and skates
- Invertebrates like cuttlefish, octopuses, and sea jellies
They also have special exhibits. Past exhibits have shown river otters, alligators, and caimans. Another exhibit, "Oh Baby! Life Cycles of the Seas," taught visitors about how marine animals have babies. It had interactive games and a baby shark touch tank.
The aquarium also has windows where you can peek into real working laboratories. This helps you see how scientists do their research.
Animal Care and Training
Mote Aquarium has special feeding times for sharks. The sharks are trained to go to certain spots for their food. This helps the staff take good care of them.
Other animals, like sea turtles and otters, also have training sessions. These sessions keep the animals healthy and happy. They also help scientists learn more about animal behavior. This knowledge can help protect animals in the wild.
Education at Mote
Mote Marine Laboratory has many ways to teach people about the ocean. They have a marine science school and programs for all ages.
Learning Programs
Mote offers lots of educational opportunities, such as:
- Internships for older students
- Fun summer camps
- School visits and field trips
- Special learning experiences you can request
- An annual series of talks by scientists and ocean experts
They also have a digital learning program called SeaTrek.TV. This program connects Mote educators with students through live video calls. This means classrooms all over the world can learn directly from Mote scientists! Mote also helps teachers learn more about marine science.
Library
Mote Marine Laboratory has a library that has been there since the very beginning. It's called The Arthur Vining Davis Library and Archives.
This library has books, papers, and old records about marine science. It helps Mote scientists with their research. It also helps people who want to learn more about the ocean. You can visit the library, but you might need to make an appointment first.
Sustainable Aquaculture Research
Mote Marine Laboratory does important research on sustainable aquaculture. This means finding ways to grow fish and other seafood that are good for the environment.
At the Mote Aquaculture Research Park, scientists study different methods. They look at how to grow fish like almaco jack. They also research how to grow fish and salt-tolerant plants together in special greenhouses. This work helps create eco-friendly ways to produce food. It also helps with efforts to put more fish back into the wild.
Gallery of displays
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A gentle Manatee
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Many beautiful Seahorses
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A camouflaged Stone fish
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"Edgar", a blind loggerhead sea turtle, who passed away in January 2011
See also
In Spanish: Mote Marine Laboratory para niños
