A Night of Discovery: Highlights from the Night Walk at the Bergen Aquarium

Armed with flashlights, around 600 guests attended the Night Walk at the Bergen Aquarium (Akvariet i Bergen) last Friday night where researchers from the Michael Sars Centre at the University of Bergen shared investigations into the impact of noise pollution and displayed various marine organisms including Ciona intestinalis, Oikopleura dioica, and Nematostella vectensis.

Situated in the beautiful Aquarium rotunda, the Chatzigeorgiou Group presented the Deuteronoise project, investigating the impact of noise on marine life through an interactive quiz with different sounds recorded under the ocean’s surface. “Some of the kids (and adults) said that they were surprised by marine animal sound production. But they also believed, with no doubt, that noise pollution, like other types of pollutants, influences life in the ocean. For me, this underlines how important our job is,” said researcher Sissel Norland. The group’s station also highlighted two tunicate species, Oikopleura dioica, and Ciona Intestinalis, with aquariums displaying their various life stages from larvae to adulthood. Children assumed the role of scientists as they peered through microscopes, observing the Ciona larvae in motion. Meanwhile, guests were invited to use magnifying glasses to take a closer look at the millimeter-sized Oikopleura displayed in a tall cylinder.