Tennessee Aquarium opens new research facility on Tennessee River

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – The Tennessee Aquarium launches it’s new riverfront facility on Thursday.

It is located along the Tennessee River near Baylor School.

The Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute (TNACI) headquarters will house scientists and host visiting experts.

It houses cutting-edge equipment, like morphology and genetics laboratories.

The facility will host new research and educational programs.

“We’re surrounded by amazing animal communities in our rivers and streams that are unparalleled for diversity and beauty,” said TNACI director Dr. Anna George. “It’s why our region is so exciting to the scientific community and why we are committed to protecting our aquatic treasures so they can continue to be enjoyed by all. This new science center will give us more capacity to expand our research, restoration and education programs.”

The TNACI staff has worked to boost Lake Sturgeon and Southern Appalachian Brook Trout since the foundation was founded in 1996.

Over that time, they have been spread out in different spaces from the Aquarium basement to sites 45 minutes away.

Now they will be under one roof, with better equipment.

Dr. Bernie Kuhajda, director of TNACI’s science programs, says “Just getting together to work collaboratively with our team was always logistically challenging since we were in separate buildings. Now, we’ll have all our field gear, all our labs and offices in one place. A huge part of the benefit is this new shared space, which not only helps us work together more closely, but also gives us space to bring together fellow scientists from across the country to discuss conservation solutions.”

Right now, staffers are conducting:

— a genetic study of the Laurel Dace (an endangered fish on Walden Ridge)

— a new study on genetics of the Cumberland Darter (endangered fish found only on Upper Cumberland River tributaries)

— a conservation status look at Alligator Snapping Turtles in Tennessee

— a test stream to test water temperature affects from global warming on salamanders and other small stream species

— a survey of six threatened and endangered fish species in the Mobile Basin

For more information about TNACI, its new facility, and its conservational initiatives, visit www.tnaqua.org/protect-freshwater.

Follow the institute on social media via www.facebook.com/TennesseeAquariumConservationInstitute or www.twitter.com/tnacigogreen.