PROJECT

We are losing Marine Forests

Cystoseira species, such as Gongolaria barbata, build extensive canopies that are similar to the forests that can be found on land. They are key marine ecosystem engineers that support broad biodiversity (Gianni et al., 2013).

Macroalgal forests have experienced a concerning decline and because of the difficulty of recovery of these forests, many times assemblages that are less structured take place. This is why new restoration methods and plans have emerged (Verdura et al., 2018).

Gongolaria barbata

The project I took part, was focused on the restoration of Gongolari barbata, a brown alga that develops usually in sheltered and shallow waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Human actions such as coastal development, pollution, fisheries and more, have a strong influence on the reduction in the range of G. barbata (Verdura et al., 2018).

BUT THERE IS A WAY TO HELP

With new restoration methods and techniques a better future for these marine forests is possible.

STEP 1

PREPARE THE MATERIAL FOR THE EX-SITU EXPERIMENT

For the ex-situ experiment, artificial structures were needed, structures where the new individuals will grow. Using clay, tiles and aluminium many of these artificial structures were built. We prepared some tanks with the ideal water temperature and light so the new individuals were able to grow.

STEP 2

COLLECT THE RECEPTACLES

Receptacles are the structures that are found at the end of the branches. Those receptacles contain the conceptacles, the reproductive organs that are needed to start a new generation of individuals, where the gametes are.

Receptacles were collected from the donor populations that are at sea, in this case in the coast of Conero de Riviera, Ancona.

STEP 3

CHECK THE MATURITY STAGE OF THE INDIVIDUALS

Gongolaria barbata has 4 maturity stages and for our experiment, we needed the last maturity level for the fertilization to happen so before putting the collected receptacles in the new tanks I had to check their maturity stage.

STEP 4

LET THE FERTILIZATION HAPPEN

Once the maturity is checked and we had the mature receptacles ready, they were placed on some nets inside the tanks in order to collect them and take them out of the tanks once they released all the gametes (1 week aprox). When the gametes are released, the fertilization will take place and zygotes will form.

STEP 5

ASSES THE GROWTH OF THE NEW INDIVIDUAL

After the fertilization happens zygotes were formed in the structures that we put previously in the tanks. At this point it is time to start monitoring the ex-situ experiment by counting the zygotes and measuring them. To monitor the growth, some lab slides were put previously on the tanks so some zygotes could attach there and I could monitor them without disturbing the ones that were growing on the structures.

For the assessment of the ex-situ experiment zygotes were measured and counted 2-3 times per week in order to have a clear idea of how fast they grow. In the pictures below the growth of the zygotes during 6 weeks is shown.

STEP 6

TRANSPLANT THE NEW INDIVIDUALS TO THE SEA

Once the individuals of the ex-situ experiment (tanks) are ready it is time to take them at sea. Since the ones I was taking care of were not ready yet I was not able to transplant them but instead, we transplanted new individuals that grew on natural boulders. Natural boulders are natural rocks where new Gongolaria barbata recruits grow. These boulders are not attached to the substrate so they can be used to transplant other sites as those natural boulders with G. barbata recruits can be transported to different sites easily. Using a special mix and creating an eco-friendly glue these natural boulders with G. barbata recruits can be attached to the substrate so the new individual can grow in other sites. This is done because the gametes are too heavy to be transported to other areas and so by doing this we help to restore new sites.

STEP 7

ASSES THE GROWTH

The final step is to asses the growth of the individuals that are at sea, both adults and the recruits to have an idea of how they are growing.

At the same time, it is important to asses the biodiversity related to Gongolaria barbata to check if it increases after the restoration of a site.

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