Coastal classrooms are not the only place you will find collaboration with our team at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab. In landlocked Iowa, a number of seahorses raised by aquarists from the Alabama Aquarium are helping to teach high school students about biodiversity.

“They are a terrific ‘gateway organism’ to learning more about the ocean,” Dr. Gregory Barord explains. “Seahorses are a unique species and illustrate different swimming behaviors, reproductive biology, and overall morphology.”

Dr. Barord is a marine biology instructor at Central Campus in Des Moines, Iowa. The Marine Biology Program at Central Campus is designed to provide students with real opportunities to learn about marine biology. Their lab is a 24/7/365 student-run area. Students learn how to maintain dozens of marine aquariums throughout the school year, in addition to their advanced coursework.

“Seahorses provide students with a different species to care for in our lab, helping them to build the necessary skills for students who would like to work in aquariums as a career,” Barord said.

That hands-on learning experience sparked an interest in one of Barord’s students. Ian Alonzo chose Barord’s class over general biology because of his interest in the ocean. The class shifted his career goals from engineering to aquariums.

“I realized how cool and interesting aquariums are,” Alonzo said. “The class gave me hands-on experience.”

Barord added that the hands-on experience involves creating a natural ecosystem for various species, thereby promoting their natural behaviors. Alonzo capitalizes on those lessons as a volunteer at the Alabama Aquarium as he works towards a Bachelor’s in Marine Science at the University of South Alabama. He also volunteered as a mentor in Barord’s lab over the summer, sharing what he’s learned in his college classes with the high school students.

The Alabama Aquarium has raised more than 200 seahorses over the last few years, mainly through the hard work of Senior Aquarist Devin Linsday. These efforts allow the Aquarium to share these amazing creatures with other aquariums and groups, such as Barord’s.

“Seahorses are engaging. When anyone walks by the seahorse tank, they stop and have to take a longer look,” Barord said. “Engagement like this prompts students to ask questions and allows us to talk about marine conservation issues.”

Barord adds that opportunities like these are not possible without partners like the Alabama Aquarium.