Yellow Tang Doing Well in Biosphere 2

[phippsj]

I grew up about 30 min from Biosphere 2. Been in there a few times, very interesting place. The hype has now worn off, and Clumbia ditched it a few years back. The 700,000 gallon aquarium was ignored. Of the 47 species introduced, 11 have survived the neglect. The Yellow Tang survived in large numbers.

http://azstarnet.com/news/local/educ...59ee92838.html

[StevenSeas]

Wow very cool read thanks for posting, very interesting as well

[Europhyllia]

Weird article. Their stocking must have been even more liberal than mine!

The Biosphere 2 ocean simulates a Caribbean reef. Its surface area is 100 feet by 60 feet.

And then the species that survives is Yellow Tang (Pacific/Hawaii)? How can that be?

[phippsj]

Weird article. Their stocking must have been even more liberal than mine!

And then the species that survives is Yellow Tang (Pacific/Hawaii)? How can that be?

When it was originally built, it was done as a carribean reef. However, when Columbia took over they added Pacific species into the 'ocean'. I thought it was interesting that the professor states that the bacteria and viruses collected there are closer to the pacific region he studies. The article did not do a good job of pointing that out, but it would appear tha the 'carribean' reef was dominated by the pacific species.

[ErikH]

I never even knew that existed, was it the same one from the Pauly Shore movie or what? haha.

Too bad they let it all go to waste! MAAST should buy it!