The
Station was founded in the period 1934 - 1936 at the northernmost
tip of the island and the town of Rhodes, while the Dodecanese
Islands were under foreign occupation.
Initiating its activities in 1937 as the
"Reale Instituto di Ricerche Biologiche di Rodi",
the Station was handed to the Athens Academy right after the
liberation of Dodecanese Islands and their reunion with Greece, in
1945, to operate as a peripheral station of the Greek
Hydrobiological Institute.
Hosting
an Aquarium and a Museum, the Station has been operating since
1963 - under the name: "Hydrobiological Station of
Rhodes"- as a research unit and department of the National
Centre for Marine Research (N.C.M.R.);
the latter is conducting a wide range of research activities in
oceanography, fisheries and inland waters through its corresponding
Institutes.
The aquarium
The
Aquarium, is located in the Station's basement and hosts - in its 40
tanks of 80,000 litres total capacity - a multicoloured population of
interesting Mediterranean invertebrate and vertebrate marine species
such as sea anemones and plants, urchins, algae, corals, bivalves,
lobsters, octopuses, numerous fish, sea turtles etc. Unique
in its layout and natural decoration the only public Aquarium in Greece gives to
its visitors the impression that they share the same environment with the hosted
species.
The
excellent physical, chemical and biological parameters of the marine
environment in the area along with the literally natural living
conditions which are provided for the hosted species are in favour for
the effort of introducing and managing species that require special
treatment if to be hosted in an Aquarium.
Such kind of marine organisms are the chondrichthyes, representative
species of which are planned to be studied and exhibited in the new tank
- of 300,000 litres capacity
The
Museum
Taxidermal
sea-mammals, large fish and other Mediterranean marine organisms in
addition to a collection of oceanographic instruments are exhibited in
the Museum
The scientific
staff of the Station collaborates with colleagues from other
institutions, research centres and environmental organisations.
Experiences and know-how practices are exchanged concerning the
improvement of the Station's facilities, the preservation projects
for endangered species (monk seal, dolphins and sea turtles) and the
research, educational and monitoring projects...
The Aquarium situeted in Rhodes
town next to Kazino of Rhodes in Greece
