From Florida Springs to Coral Reefs: Why Aquatic Ecosystems Matter

An Entire World Exists Beneath the Surface

Stand beside a Florida spring and the water may look peaceful.

Dive beneath its surface and you enter another world.

Fish move through aquatic vegetation. Turtles search for food. Invertebrates occupy spaces most people never notice.

Travel from freshwater environments into the ocean and the diversity becomes even greater.

The future aquarium experiences at the Ocala Zoological Park & Aquarium will help tell this story.

Florida's Freshwater Treasures

Florida is famous for its springs, rivers, lakes and wetlands.

These environments provide habitat for fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds, mammals and countless smaller organisms.

They also remind us that what happens on land affects what happens underwater.

Pollution and changes in water quality can ripple throughout an entire ecosystem.

The Extraordinary World of Coral Reefs

Coral reefs support remarkably diverse communities of marine organisms.

Fish, crustaceans, mollusks and many other animals depend on healthy reef ecosystems for food, shelter or reproduction.

Despite their importance, coral reefs face significant environmental pressures.

Helping people understand these ecosystems is an important part of encouraging their protection.

Water Connects Us All

One of the most important lessons an aquarium can teach is also one of the simplest:

Water connects everything.

The water flowing through our communities eventually becomes part of larger aquatic systems.

Protecting waterways isn't merely about protecting fish.

It's about protecting ecosystems—and ourselves.

Dive Into the Future

Future aquarium experiences in Ocala are envisioned to introduce visitors to freshwater and marine wildlife through immersive exhibits and educational experiences.

We want guests to walk away amazed by aquatic life.



But we also want them to understand why it needs our protection.