MANTEO, N.C., Aug. 18, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- One of the sea's
most misunderstood and beautiful creatures, the jellyfish, will be
the focus of a new exhibit at the North Carolina Aquarium on
Roanoke Island, thanks to a $30,000
grant from the Dominion Foundation, the philanthropic arm of
Dominion North Carolina Power. Some people have only seen jellyfish
washed up lifelessly on the beach, but according to Maylon White, director of the North Carolina
Aquarium, the new exhibit will provide a whole new perspective.
"The Delicate Drifters gallery will give visitors the
opportunity to see that jellies are amazing animals scientifically.
They are a floating community – beautiful, colorful and pulsing in
all their three-dimensional glory. They add a whole new dimension
to the Aquarium experience," White said.
More than 300,000 visitors each year will explore the jellyfish
jungle with its serene music, mysterious ambiance and vibrant,
color-changing display. The gallery will include three cylindrical
tanks, four bubble tubes and wall units filled with hundreds of sea
jellies, such as Atlantic sea nettle, moon jellyfish and lion's
mane. The LED-lit tanks will be the sole source of light in the
dark room.
The exhibit will also involve the care, cultivation and breeding
of jellyfish. "It is labor-intensive and requires finesse," said
Brian Dorn, head of operations.
"Jellyfish husbandry is an art."
"Dominion is pleased to sponsor this initiative that will
highlight the important role of jellyfish in our ecosystem in a way
that is accessible, engaging and fun," said Hunter A. Applewhite, president of the Dominion
Foundation. "Supporting education and the environment is an
essential part of the Dominion Foundation's mission."
The Aquarium will begin construction in October and a grand
opening is planned for summer 2016.
The Dominion Foundation is dedicated to improving the physical,
social and economic well-being of the communities served by
Dominion companies, including Dominion North Carolina Power.
Dominion and the Foundation support nonprofit causes that meet
basic human needs, protect the environment, support education and
promote community vitality. For more information about Dominion
(NYSE: D), headquartered in Richmond,
VA and one of the nation's largest producers and
transporters of energy, visit www.dom.com.
The North Carolina Aquarium: Inspiring Appreciation and
Conservation of North Carolina's
Aquatic Environments.
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SOURCE Dominion