Mote Aquarium is a gateway to the ocean, featuring hundreds of marine animal species and windows into Mote Marine Laboratory, where real scientific research happens. The Aquarium is open 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
The Aquarium features a 135,000-gallon shark habitat, coral reefs and other ecosystem displays teeming with diverse fishes, cool crustaceans and gracefully drifting sea jellies.
For more about Mote Aquarium, click here.
Mote Aquarium is proud to be accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and has met rigorous, professional standards for animal care, wildlife conservation and research, education and more.
Fish & Invertebrate Department REU students should have an interest in all aspects of the science of caring for public aquarium exhibits. Interns will gain hands-on experience and knowledge of what the daily routine is of an Aquarium Biologist. As Aquarium Biologists at an AZA-accredited facility, we are constantly improving our animal care and breeding techniques. Fish and Invertebrate breeding is at the heart of Mote Aquarium’s conservation efforts. The Aquarium currently breeds over ten different species of fish and invertebrates, including jellies, cleaner shrimp, and seahorses. We strive to inspire our visitors, and increase our aquaculture efforts to decrease our impact on wild animal populations.
This REU will focus on aquarium exhibit maintenance and requires the completion and presentation of an independent research project. REU independent projects will explore questions centered around fish or invertebrate aquaculture techniques, animal enrichment and welfare, or live food culturing procedures.
Daily duties include cleaning exhibits, preparing food and feeding, testing water quality parameters, maintaining life support systems, making exhibit/animal observations and keeping accurate records. Applicants must be able to lift 40 pounds and be able to tolerate the flora, fauna and humidity of southwest Florida. Applicants should expect to spend the majority of the workday walking, standing, bending, squatting, crouching, and lifting. This internship will involve climbing and working from ladders, as well as working with wet hands, feet, and clothes every day.
This program deals primarily with bony fishes (teleosts), sharks and stingrays, and invertebrates (including corals, jellies, shrimp, octopus, and cuttlefish). The Fish and Invertebrate Department does NOT work with sea turtles or marine mammals.
Other skills participants will learn during this program include:
- Quarantine and necropsy analysis
- Live Food Culturing
- Plumbing
- Fabrications
- Aquaculture and Breeding
- Shark Training and Enrichment
Program Mentor: Amanda Felix