Visiting Sea Center Texas
Salt Marsh Aquarium
Salt Marsh Aquarium
The first aquaria visitors see is a salt marsh, which is also the first area encountered when visiting the beach. This 1,000-gallon aquarium with a window more than 14 feet long opens onto a section of coastal salt marsh. Natural debris covers the floor which is also dotted with oyster and clam shells. Visitors observe juvenile redfish, killifishes, and whiting sharing this habitat with blue crabs, stingrays and other organisms in a replica of their natural habitat.
Salt marshes are located along the shorelines of some Texas bays and are subjected to abrupt fluctuations in tidal action, evaporation, periodic large amounts of fresh water inflows and changes in temperatures, salinity and water depth. Plant and animal life found in this type of habitat are limited to those that are able to survive these changing conditions.
Stingrays
All of the salt marsh inhabitants are essential components of the estuarine food chain and provide a food source for higher consumers such as fish and birds. Although the marine life that inhabits a salt marsh is not diverse, the habitat itself is thought to be one of the most productive in the entire estuary with respect to the primary production of carbon (plants). The nutrient-laden organic matter that occurs in the marsh areas is transported to the bay by tidal action and adds to the fertility of the surrounding areas.
