Scientific news

Abstract: Consistent evidence for a poorly ventilated deep Pacific Ocean that could have released its radiocarbon-depleted carbon stock to the atmosphere during the last deglaciation has long been sought. Such evidence remains lacking, in part due to a paucity of surface reservoir age reconstructions required for accurate deep-ocean ventilation age estimates.

Abstract: The integration of ecological and evolutionary data is highly valuable for conservation planning. However, it has been rarely used in the marine realm, where the adequate design of marine protected areas (MPAs) is urgently needed. We examined the interacting processes underlying the patterns of genetic structure and demographic strucuture of a highly vulnerable Mediterranean habitat-forming species (i.e. Paramuricea clavata (Risso, 1826)), with particular emphasis on the processes of contemporary dispersal, genetic drift, and colonization of a new population.

With the title of Citizen Science or How kayakers can contribute to scientific research past 30 and 31of May took place in Llançà (Spain) the IV Kayaking and Environment Workshop 2015, organized by the Pagaia Kayak Club. At the event participate scientists form ICM, to explain some of the activities and Citizen Science projects being developed at the center.

The Department of Physical and Technological Oceanography of ICM has delivered to the Institut Cartogràfic i Geològic de Catalunya (Cartographic and Geological Institute of Catalonia, ICGC) six boxes with airborne photographic documentation (negatives, photo prints, slides, printer sheets) of the Catalan coast obtained during projects lead by Dr. Antoni Ballester in the late 1970’s. The Cartographic and Geological Institute of Catalonia will offer conservation, cataloging and public access to this information.

The international expedition Tara Oceans took place between 2009 and 2013, with more than a hundred scientists from 31 countries and laboratories, and an ambitious task: studying the plankton from marine ecosystems, not only to identify the microorganisms that compose the plankton but to understand how these microorganisms interact with each other and with the environment.  The expedition team circumnavigated the planet and collected near 35.000 samples in different oceans at different seasons.

The diversity and phylogeny of dinoflagellates belonging to the Gymnodiniales were studied during a 3-year period at several coastal stations along the Catalan coast (NW Mediterranean) by combining analyses of their morphological features with rDNA sequencing.

The study, led by Albert Reñé, describe for the first time how many species of microalgae Gymnodiniales live on the Catalan coast.