The team of researchers working on the Arrecife coastline has reported the discovery of six new species for science in three days of work. These are microscopic prosobranch and opisthobranch mollusks, which will be described in the journal of the Canary Islands Academy of Science.
According to the head of the campaign, Professor of Marine Biology Juan José Bacallado, the capital's marina is a reservoir of biodiversity, "a goose that lays golden eggs from an environmental, sporting, productive and tourist point of view, of which to be proud, which must be protected, pampered and conserved".
His colleague, Professor of Marine Ecology and expert in coastal lagoons, Ángel Pérez Ruzafa, has highlighted the proliferation of the popularly called ball-algae in the Charco de San Ginés. Their filtering functions contribute to the fact that in recent times, their waters have improved in quality and cleanliness.
"Despite their appearance, they are true natural treatment plants, which contain within them a cosmos of biodiversity, which feeds back and self-manages, regardless of the changes in the environment they inhabit," he pointed out.
The scientist explained that these algae are very complex systems, which house inside other algae, starfish, sponges and sediments, all of microscopic size. "This ecosystem feeds itself and filters the water that passes through it, discharging it of bacteria and returning it clean," explained Pérez Ruzafa.
On the other hand, in a previous meeting with the mayor of Arrecife, Manuel Fajardo, and with the Councilor for the Environment of the Corporation, Rafael Juan González, Bacallado highlighted the opportunity of the Arrecife coastline as an object of scientific studies, "which can certainly enter European funding programs".
In addition to this presentation of the main findings on the Arrecife coastline, the members of the scientific team will give talks-colloquiums on the capital's marine environment, within the framework of the Arrecife Environmental Exhibition, from October 17 to 19, starting at 6:30 p.m. in the Ramírez Cerdá park.
