About the Exhibit
Immerse yourself in the spectacular underwater realm of the Great Barrier Reef exhibit at Wonders of Wildlife! Standing 33 feet tall and holding over 87,000 gallons of saltwater, this massive exhibit showcases nearly 270 fish across 20 different species. It’s one of the most impressive and tallest exhibits in the museum and aquarium, offering a glimpse into the vibrant and complex world of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.
The Great Barrier Reef is the largest structure ever created by living organisms, stretching over 1,250 miles long and covering an astonishing 80,000 square miles. Visible from space, it consists of approximately 3,000 individual reefs interconnected by coral. This natural barrier not only protects Australia's coastline but also supports an incredibly diverse marine ecosystem. The waters surrounding the outer Great Barrier Reef can range up to depths of 3,200 feet deep. The drastic difference in depths and habitats allows a diverse range of animals to co-habitat, forming one of the most unique ecosystems in the world.
The Great Barrier Reef exhibit at WOW brings you face to face with a variety of sea life native to the reef’s ecosystem. From schooling fish like the barred flagtail and golden trevally to the enormous groupers and giant moray eels lurking in the lower depths, this exhibit captures the rich biodiversity of the reef. Visitors can also marvel at lifelike replicas of iconic sea creatures, including a great white shark and a mother-and-calf humpback whale, which truly bring the underwater world of the Great Barrier Reef to life.
The Role of Coral in the Great Barrier Reef
Coral plays a foundational role in the Great Barrier Reef’s ecosystem. Though often mistaken for plants, coral is actually an animal, relying on a unique symbiotic relationship with algae called zooxanthellae (zow·uh·zan·theh·lai). The zooxanthellae algae provide coral with food through photosynthesis, while coral offers the algae a protected environment. Zooxanthellae also creates pigments that are visible through the coral's transparent polyps, creating the vibrant hues we see in coral reefs.
Coral builds the reef by secreting calcium carbonate, forming hard skeletons that serve as the structural foundation for the entire ecosystem. These hard corals, also known as reef builders, create the intricate reef formations that provide shelter and food for thousands of marine species.
Coral grows slowly, at about two centimeters per year, making the reef vulnerable to damage. Today, coral face many threats, such as rising ocean temperatures, disease processes, and coral bleaching, where stressed coral expels the vital algae, leaving the coral white and weakened. Invasive species and pollution also pose significant risks to the health of the reef, emphasizing the importance of global conservation efforts to protect this irreplaceable ecosystem.
WOW’s Great Barrier Reef exhibit features a variety of living and artificial coral to create the most realistic environment for our animals.