The main aim of this trip was to see some of the things studied in the Ocean Science class, especially the marine creatures to get a better understanding of what was studied in class. The marine creatures, their habitats, their physical appearance and their feeding were observed
The Aquarium features some outstanding outdoor exhibits focused on different ecosystems. These are the sea lions, the sea otters, the sharks, the sting rays, the diving birds, the sea jellies, the corals, the sea dragon, the turtle, and all types of fish (Hamit 67). There are also penguin habitats which are called magellanic penguins. These penguins live in temperate areas and not in ice and snow. These penguins can both walk and swim.
Sea lions are very intelligent, playful and also very noisy while barking. These lions are fin-footed marine creatures of the eared seal family. They have external ears and also a very long flexible neck. These lions have supple forelimbs and also hind flippers which they can turn forward while walking on the land. They look like the dogs. On their skull they have the sagittal crest which becomes lighter when aging. They also have whiskers called the vibrissae. These whiskers help them have a sense of touch. Their external ears help them hear well. They can also see well, but cannot distinguish the colors. They always swim by the movement of rowing using their forelimbs, with their hind limbs when they are stretched behind their body as the rudder. (Hamit 76). These lions can remain close the edge of the water, beaches when it is very warm. They swallow food without chewing at all. They can also steal the hooked prey from the fishermen’s nets and the hooks.
There were the shark lagoons. The visitors could be seen touching the water to play with these sharks as they swam around the shallow pool. Another great experience was the lorikeets enclosure. Many questions were asked which were all answered by the tour guards. This people had a lot of information about all the animals. All the students, including the staff enjoyed seeing all the beautiful, the ugly, and the intriguing underwater creatures that had not been seen before (Hamit 84).There was the glass used in the exhibits. The glass was crystal and one could not tell its absence unless one touched it. Also the water inside the tanks was also very clean. These tanks had all the different types of fish. In these tanks, one could feel the skin of sharks, sting rays, sea urchins and other ocean creatures (Hamit 98).
The tanks can be located in a cool place without the direct sunlight, far from the heaters and also near the electrical outlet where the children can view as well. The water temperatures in the tanks should be 65 degrees; this is because of those animals that will arrive at a part of this ocean where the temperatures are 40 to 70 degrees within the year. The lower the temperature of water in the tanks, the more dissolved oxygen the tanks can hold. The oxygen is very essential to these animals and also to the bacteria that make up a biological filter (Hamit 112). The percentage of saltiness in the ocean can be about 3.5 percent salty. For every 1000 pounds of the water, about 35 pounds are salty, which is about the same as the human body. 85 percent of the salt that is found in the sea is the sodium chloride.
Animal husbandry was also taught. This department takes care of the animals by giving them food and also providing with the life support systems. They take care of about 500 species in more than fifty exhibits. This also includes touch tanks experiences. The water quality and the life support systems are monitored. There is also the medical examination, the routine procedures and also providing the proper exhibit to all these animals (Hamit 145).
Overall, it was exciting spending time at the Long Beach Aquarium after appreciating nature and its beauty. After the trip, everyone departed with a lot of knowledge. All were appreciated in the science department, especially the officials who made the field trip a success.
Work cited
Hamit, Francis. Aquarium of the Pacific-Long Beach’s New Civil Attraction. California: Brass Cannon Books, 2004. Print.
