This week, ECIMAT is hosting the “2nd Reef Life Survey Spain Course” organized by Thebiteslab, www.thebiteslab.com, and led by Mikel Becerro, Researcher at the Advanced Studies Station of Blanes of the CSIC, with the collaboration of the Marine Environment Area of ECIMAT – University of Vigo, Buceo Atlantis, and the Atlantic Islands National Park.
The objective of the course is to train 9 volunteer divers accredited in the RSL methodology to carry out censuses of benthic organisms that inhabit the rocky bottoms of Spain, using the methodology used internationally by the biodiversity study network Reef Life Survey, www.reeflifesurvey.com. This is a non-intrusive sampling methodology of superficial rocky bottoms through the use of photographic techniques using autonomous diving equipment.
The dives are being carried out in 5 areas of rocky bottoms of the Ría de Vigo located between 7 and 10 m deep, among which the bottoms of the Cíes Islands stand out. The sampling is carried out from the KRAKEN, a vessel of the ECIMAT, and ATLANTIS, the vessel of the diving company Atlantis. Once on land, the participants carry out the processing and analysis of the daily samples at the ECIMAT.
