According to Joe Ingraham, our personal behind-the scenes, Aquarist, or tour guide at the Dauphin Island Estuarium, the first or most important thing to know is the correct definition of, “Estuarium.” An estuarium or esturary is that part of the mouth or lower course of a river in which the river's current meets the sea's tide.

Ingraham explained that the, “Estuarium has a fleet of approximately 30 boats total including a 48 foot troller for which the students to study sea life. The Estuarium was opened in 1998 as it stands now. The grounds were once an air forces base and prior to that, it was a satellite installation for the U.S. The 693 Aircraft control and squadron was assigned to the station on September 1, 1958. The site had search radar and two height-finder radars. It initially functioned as an aircraft and warning station after WWII. The air force deactivated the squadron on September 30, 1970. In 1972, it became part of the Southern Air Defense Systems (SADS). The site was closed permanently on September 30, 1980. It’s now location across the street from historic Fort Gaines which with was established in 1821 and is best known for its role in the Battle of Mobile Bay during the American Civil War (August 5, 1864).

The large, round building that you see now is a husbandry building. There are many different species of researched and quarantined for certain lengths of time in this building before they are introduced into the Estuarium for viewing purposes.

Ingraham further explained and showed us an amazing tank that they maintain in the husbandry building on campus; it is a “kreisel tank.” Jellyfish aquariums traditionally follow the kreisel design. By definition, a “kreisel tank,” is circular, which helps the water to constantly flow in a cycle. Even the bottom of the tank is curved so that there are no obstacles or changes in the flow of the current. With its unique inlet and drain, the filtration system uses a special screen to prevent the jellyfish from getting sucked in. Separate inlet and outlet chambers assist this operation helping the jellyfish to stay away from the sides of the tank. Combined, both the filter and tank design create an equilibrium in water pressure so the jellyfish don’t get stuck in one place but rather swim freely, as nature intended. He further explained that the rectangular design would get the jellyfish stuck in corners most likely tearing their delicate tissue. It also wouldn’t be long before the jellyfish get sucked into the inlet of the filter.

When asked, “Are jellyfish hard to care for?” he explained that, “Jellyfish tanks are easier to maintain than many salt water tanks because jellyfish have such a low metabolism. In addition, our jellyfish tanks have very low evaporation rates, so maintaining salinity takes only a few minutes per month. Nevertheless, jellyfish do need to be fed once a day and follow similar cleaning procedures as other salt and fresh water tanks. Salt water animals are captured by the researchers and kept at 45-60 degrees for a quarantine period. They are given antibiotics for the first week after capture. This is a safety precaution so that if they are infected, their infection will not be spread inside the Estuarium.”

But another guest in the Estuarium is treated quite differently.

“Seahorses are the only species that continue to be feed live food, as opposed to frozen food, five times a day and normally feed on live brine shrimp (grown inside the Estuarium), and krell and plankton.”

Ingraham explained that, “Turtles can adjust to a natural environment even no matter how long they may have been kept as pets. They may be released into a natural area, and be fully adaptable within hours. So, when your turtle outgrows your tank or you simply wish to return your turtle to a natural environment simply take it out to places such as the marsh areas of the Gulf Shores State Park and set him or her free—they will thank you for it!”

All fish who are not visibly deceased through natural processes are examined through a system called necropsy which means, “an autopsy for animals when the element of death is not apparent.”

“This allows us to protect our internal system within the Estuarium; this information is so important to our research process,” according to Ingraham.

The Mobile-Tensaw River Delta is our state's largest wetland and provides a vital habitat for many plants and animals. Rich soil deposited into the shallow bay areas by the Coosa, Tallapoosa, Black Warrior, Tombigbee and Alabama Rivers built the Delta.

The Delta is 10 miles wide, 40 miles long and includes 250,000 acres of marsh, cypress-tupelo swamp and bottomland hardwoods. It is the second largest river delta in the United States.

The Mobile-Tensaw Delta functions as a sponge, filtering impurities from 20 percent of the nation's fresh water. The aquaria in this gallery are fresh water tanks, the largest of which depicts a cypress-tupelo swamp. Some exciting animals to observe include the American alligator, turtles and a primitive, air-breathing fish called a gar. The Mobile Tensaw River Delta is a vital habitat for a lot of plants and animals and functions as some sort of filtering device by removing impurities of 20 percent of the fresh water of the whole nation. The Mobile Bay on the other hand serves as a transition between salt water from the Gulf of Mexico and fresh water from Mobile Tensaw River Delta and by being so it serves as a nursing ground for a great number of both invertebrates and vertebrates.

Mobile Bay is an estuarine system that is an example of a drowned river valley. It encompasses 413 square miles, is approximately 31 miles long and has a maximum width of 24 miles at its southern end. Mobile Bay is a shallow estuary, averaging a depth of 10 feet and provides a transition between the fresh water wetlands of the Mobile-Tensaw Delta to the north and the marine environment of the Gulf of Mexico to the south.

Discharging 62,000 cubic feet of water per second, Mobile Bay is the fourth largest estuary in the United States. As an estuary, the major function of Mobile Bay is a nursery ground for many invertebrates and vertebrates. The aquaria in this gallery contain brackish water, a mixture of fresh and salt water, just like that found in Mobile Bay. The large Mobile Bay tank contains a replica of the legs of Middle Bay Lighthouse and a jetty.

Manmade structures such as these provide a valuable habitat for many plants and animals. Other tanks depict habitats such as oyster reefs and salt marshes. Some exciting animals that your students may observe include: stone crabs, horseshoe crabs, blue crabs, oysters, spadefish and flounder.

Dauphin Island is a 17-mile long, three-fourths-mile wide barrier island that is parallel to the coastline. Once formed, barrier islands are not static; they are dynamic systems with many variables influencing them. Size, shape and location are constantly changing due to waves and currents. The Barrier Islands just as their names suggests serves as some form of barrier protecting the mainland from winds and wave energy related to storms.

The Gulf of Mexico being the ninth largest body of water is home to 75 percent of migratory waterfowls of the nation in addition to sea turtles and a seemingly endless number of sea creatures. Barrier Island habitats include sandy beaches, dune systems and maritime forests. Aquaria in this gallery include saltwater tanks and terrestrial aquaria. Saltwater tanks include animals such as: shrimp, clams and hermit.

Inside the Estuarium there is a room of exciting, interactive activities for people of all ages! As you step into The Billy Goat Hole Gallery, you will find a replica of an ole French sailing vessel called the, “Discovery Ship,” full of interesting treasures to explore. There are many interactive, interdisciplinary, hands-on activities there.

Although it is difficult to believe, The Gulf of Mexico is the ninth largest body of water in North America with approximately 3,000 miles of shoreline and encompassing a total are of 600,000 square miles. The Gulf averages 5,000 feet deep and its’ deepest point is Sigbee Deep at 12,425 feet. Two-thirds of the fresh water from the United States, part of Canada via the mighty Mississippi River, half of Mexico and a portion on Guatemala drain into the Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf of Mexico contains half the nation's wetlands and provides critical habitats for 75 percent of the nation’s migratory waterfowl. Sea turtles, whales and countless other vertebrates and invertebrates also inhabit the Gulf's waters.

The Gulf of Mexico yields a majority of the oil and natural gas produced in the United States and supports a multi-billion dollar seafood industry.

Aquaria in the Gulf of Mexico Gallery include saltwater tanks that depict soft (sand) and hard (rock) bottom, artificial reef and sargassum communities. These aquaria contain invertebrates and vertebrates including: an octopus, barnacles, lobsters, eels, seahorses, red snapper, sharks, and jellyfish and schooling fish such as spadefish.

Prices subject to change without notice. The Estuarium is a handicapped-accessible facility.

Hours are as follows:

Monday to Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The Estuarium at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab will be closed on the following days:

If arriving by the Dauphin Island Ferry, please verify the ferry schedules. During busy times such as mid-summer and Mardi gras season, etc. is be in line early if you plan to take you vehicle on the ferry. On Saturday, January 28, 2012, the date of the Mardi Gras Parade, only 149 total passengers where allowed onboard the ferry (which included “walkers” and, “car riding passengers”). This number of passengers per ferry is based and strictly limited to the total number of floatation devices onboard each ferry. There was only one car was allowed onboard the 12:45 p.m. ferry because there were so many “walkers.” It’s important to be aware of the ferry schedule for round-trip passengers (unless you are prepared to spend the night on Dauphin Island).

For your convenience, here are the admission prices:

Adult $7; Children (5-18) or Students with ID $4; Seniors $6

Group rates available so for group scheduling, please contact Denise Keaton at 861-7511 before hand.

Dress Code is as follows: Shorts and shoes required. No bikini tops. No open containers of beverages are allowed in or on the premises.

For more, call 861-2141or visit http://www.disl.org

By visiting the Dauphin Island Sea Lab Estuarium, through their exhibits one can not only see these magnificent animals and plants but also be informed about them and be aware of them that they are vital to the Earth for every thing on Earth is interrelated.