This project pretends to establish a pattern to measure the degree of functionality marine ecosystems through the study of the decomposition rate of organic materials. It was realized in two areas of the estuary of Vigo (Toralla and Bouzas areas, Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain) using bread, apple and green and brown seaweeds (to study their behaviour) and whose parameter we define as: apple decomposition speed (g/day). We established this parameter as we thought the faster organic material is decomposed, the better the microbiotic loop will be working and, as a result, the more functional will the ecosystem be.

Scientific field

Environment

Country

Spain

Contestants

Xiana Fernandez Gonzalez
Mariana Cabaleiro Lago