{"id":1460,"date":"2020-11-13T12:15:57","date_gmt":"2020-11-13T12:15:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cimacanarias.com\/?page_id=1460"},"modified":"2022-05-17T10:23:01","modified_gmt":"2022-05-17T10:23:01","slug":"things-we-do-in-cima-8-meiofauna-analysis","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/cimacanarias.com\/en\/things-we-do-in-cima-8-meiofauna-analysis\/","title":{"rendered":"Things we do in CIMA 8: Meiofauna analysis"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>From CIMA (Centro de Investigaciones Medioambientales del Atl\u00e1ntico, S.L.) (Atlantic Environmental Research Center), we want to show you what we do in and out our offices.<\/p>\n

On this page you can find a series of small videos called \u00abThings we do in CIMA\u00bb, which will help us to explain what we do and how we do it. All this to approach the world of marine biology and oceanography.<\/p>\n

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– \u00abThings we do in CIMA\u00bb #8: Meiofauna analysis:<\/strong> In studies of the environmental impact on soft-bottom<\/strong><\/a> communities, usually you have to define the structure of the community in termes of 2 fractions: macrofauna<\/strong><\/a> or meiofauna<\/strong><\/a>. Macrofauna of the Canaries is characterized by high diversity and low abundance. This is due to presence of oligotrophic<\/strong><\/a> waters that impede the development of abundant macrofauna, so it is dominated by a limited number of species. For this reason, in recent years the use of the meiofaunal community as a bioindicator<\/strong><\/a> of anthropogenic alterations<\/strong><\/a> of the marine environment has gained a great importance.<\/p>\n

Do you remember the video<\/strong><\/a> in which we talked about benthic<\/strong><\/a> sampling?<\/p>\n

When these samples arrive at the laboratory, the meiofauna must be separated from the sediments. So, we mix the sample with water, shake up and let some of the sediments to be re-deposited. In this way we can separate what is left in suspension with a 0.063 mm mesh screen.<\/p>\n

The \u201csorting\u201d (\u201ctriado\u201d)<\/strong><\/a> of the taxonomic groups<\/strong><\/a> is carried out with a high-power binocular microscope. The specimens belonging to different groups are separated, placed into conveniently codified containers and quantified.<\/p>\n

Why study the meiofauna of an area?<\/p>\n

The state of meiofauna is an important bioindicator of human-induced alterations of the marine environment. In areas with sewage outfalls or accidental spills, for example, it informs us of the damage caused and if the study area is recovering.<\/p>\n

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Download to share by WhatsApp<\/strong><\/a> (4.6Mb).Remember, to download the video from the phone, click the link. If you are asked, choose to open the video with the browser and, once opened, keep your finger on it until you get a poster of this style: \u00abSave Video\u00bb. From now on, you only have to share, share and share!<\/p>\n

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