Since the month of June 1995, the Oceanographic Museum has been showing an unprecedented spectacle: the micro-aquarium. This is a complex system, developed from the micro-zoo perfected by Professor Yves Coineau from the Paris Natural History Museum.
It allows the observation of the microscopic fauna inhabiting aquaria as well as tiny animals inside the Mediterranean Sea.
Micro-aquaria with a side length of 1.5 cm and a depth of 2 mm and containing a few millilitres of sea water are placed underneath a binocular magnifying glass and lit by an optic fiber system. The picture of the microscopic organisms the size of which varies from 0.3 mm to 1 cm is projected onto a 18 x 12 foot giant screen, therefore enlarged 3 000 times. A zooming device allows the observation of the slightest anatomical details as well as the discovery of the physiological mechanisms of these animals, such as their heartbeat and their blood circulation.
During each session, the system is handled by a biologist who can also answer questions.
Thanks to this system, numerous animals, usually invisible, may be observed: plankton, grouping together animals of an extremely varied nature and shape with the characteristic of being see-through and letting themselves flow with the currents; but also benthic organisms, living in sea bottoms such as annelid worms, sea stars, crabs and shrimps or mollusks; finally fish and crustacean eggs and larvae may also be observed there.
This exceptional teaching tool is also an original and efficient scientific tool within reach of visitors as well as the specialized public or school children.
The sessions take place all year round on Wednesday afternoons in the conference hall, as well as every day during busy periods.
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