A new exhibit at the Tennessee Aquarium aims to use holographic technology to highlight the impact humans have on the ecosystem.
Opening today, "Tiny, But Mighty Important" will present a 3-D projection of life in a healthy stream, with fish laying eggs and aquatic insects crawling among the stones. Later, erosion from nearby hills sends silt into the water, clouding the scene, smothering the eggs, and eventually causing the animal life to disappear, according to a news release from the aquarium.
"Tiny, But Mighty Important" focuses on the role humans play in water quality and celebrates the importance of fish such as shiners, darters and minnows. These minuscule fish inhabit Southeastern streams in greater diversity than anywhere else in the world and serve as 'indicator species,' meaning their health can reflect that of the entire aquatic ecosystem, the release states.
If you go
› Where: Tennessee Aquarium› Contact: 1-800-262-0695, www.tnaqua.org
A young guest using the "Silt Wheel" interactive in the Aquarium's new "Tiny, But Mighty Important" exhibit.
Guests viewing the new holographic display at the Tennessee Aquarium.
"The use of holographic technology in an aquarium setting is unprecedented, which should increase the impact it has on guests," said Jim Bowhall, the creative director and vice president of Atlanta-based production studio Magick Lantern, which created the animation sequence.
"Whenever you introduce something 'never before seen' you get people's attention," he added. " The concepts we are conveying about the environment and the impact of poor land use on that world are not easily seen on film or read about in a book."
The holographic water quality display is just one component of the newly designed River Journey attraction, which replaces the Aquarium's Barrens Topminnow lab exhibit. Guests couldn't enter the previous exhibit, but the new space is fully explorable and emphasizes education through interactivity, the release states.
Visitors will get an up-close look at tanks exhibiting Barren's Topminnows, interact with a rotating display that offers another simulation of silt in a waterway, and read graphics discussing topics such as the negative impact of nonpoint source pollution such as urban and agricultural runoff.
"By telling the story of freshwater life in such a novel fashion, the new exhibit will more effectively show guests that even small species can be hugely important," said Dr. Anna George, the aquarium's vice president of conservation science and education. " People need to understand how vitally important smaller species are to the health of the rivers and streams we all rely on for recreation and clean drinking water."