At CIMA (Atlantic Center for Environmental Research, S.L.), we want to show you what we do—both in our offices and beyond.

On this page, you’ll find a series of short videos called "Things We Do at CIMA", which will help explain what we do and how we do it. All to bring you closer to the world of Marine Biology and Oceanography.

– «Things We Do At CIMA» #8: Meiofauna Analysis:

In environmental impact studies on soft-bottom communities, it is common to define the community structure based on one of two faunal fractions: macrofauna or meiofauna. In the Canary Islands, macrofauna is characterized by low abundance and high diversity due to the presence of oligotrophic waters , which prevent the development of abundant macrofauna dominated by a limited number of species. For this reason, in recent years, the use of the meiofaunal community as a bioindicator of anthropogenic alterations in the marine environment has gained significant importance.

Do you remember the video where we discussed benthic sampling?

When those samples arrive at the laboratory, the meiofauna must be separated from the sediments. To do this, we mix the sample with water, agitate it, and allow part of the sediment to redeposit. This enables us to separate suspended material using a 0.063 mm mesh sieve.

The "triado" sampling of taxonomic groups is performed with a high-power binocular magnifier. Specimens belonging to each group are quantified and separated into appropriately coded containers.

Why study the meiofauna of an area?

Meiofauna is a critical bioindicator of human-induced disturbances in the marine environment. In areas with wastewater outfalls or accidental spills, for example, it informs us about the damage caused and whether the studied area is recovering.