A Marine Biodiversity Observation Network for Genetic Monitoring of Hard-Bottom Communities (ARMS-MBON)

A total of 46 researchers from 30 different institutions, have created an ocean observation network with the aim to know and understand the changes taking place in the coastal habitats and provide information about the biodiversity they hold. For that, researchers have placed more than 130 Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures (ARMS) on the ocean floor, structures established in the vicinity of marinas, ports, marine protected areas (MPAs), and long-term ecological research (LTER) sites. These 3D structures, units consisting of stacked settlement plates attached to the sea floor, have helped researchers to know more about the variety of species present and to early detect the presence of non-indigenous species, attracting both sessile and motile benthic organisms. Researchers sampled the structures several times per year analysing the specimens attached to them and carrying out morphological and molecular studies. The results allowed conduct comparative studies of species assemblages across broad spatial and temporal scales.

Dr. Ibon Cancio from UPV/PIE, Dr. Jesús Souza Troncoso from UVigo and Nicolas Pade from EMBRC Headquarters, all of them members of EBB project, have signed this publication as authors.

If you want to read the full text, please click here.

Cryopreservation of Algae

EBB, together with ASSEMBLE Plus project, has supported a research work, which has resulted in a book chapter on the cryopreservation of algae.

Its authors, Estefania Paredes, Angela Ward, Ian Probert, Léna Gouhier and Christine N. Campbell, have just published (August 2020) it within the book entitled Cryopreservation and Freeze-Drying Protocols (Springer Link).

This chapter provides protocols for cryopreservation of different types of algae cultures, ensuring a provision of marine biological resources and a long-term ex-situ storage, making possible their use for public and private sector research and education.

Challenges face by developing countries for access to marine genetic resources & benefit sharing

Dr.Laura Movilla, lecturer in Public International Law at the University of Vigo, has participated on the book “Law of the Sea and Vulnerable Persons and Groups” with this chapter entitled “Challenges face by developing countries for access to marine genetic resources & benefit sharing”, where different aspects of access to marine genetic resources legislation are discussed.

Full reference:

Movilla Pateiro, L. “Challenges face by developing countries for access to marine genetic resources & benefit sharing”, In: GABRIELA A. OANTA (ed.), Law of the Sea and Vulnerable Persons and Groups,Ed. Scientifica, Napoli, ISBN 978-88-9391-677-6, 2019.

Desafíos de los países en desarrollo en el acceso y el reparto de beneficios derivados de la utilización de los recursos genéticos marinos

In this chapter, including into “El derecho del mar y las personas y grupos vulnerables” book, Dr. Laura Movilla, lecturer in Public International Law at the University of Vigo, explains the international legal regime for marine genetic resources, the law of the sea or the marine genetic resources on the developing countries, among other interested points.

Full reference:

Desafíos de los países en desarrollo en el acceso y el reparto de beneficios derivados de la utilización de recursos genéticos marinos”, en OANTA, G. A (Coord.): El Derecho del mar y las personas y grupos vulnerables, Bosch Editor, 2018, pp. 157-195; ISBN: 978-84-949123-9-9.

Advances and uncertainties in compliance measures for users from the Nagoya Protocol in the European Union

The article “Advances and uncertainties in compliance measures for users from the Nagoya Protocol in the European Union” authored by Dr. Laura Movilla, lecturer in Public International Law at the University of Vigo, has been accepted for publication in the journal Review of European, Comparative & International Environmental Law (RECIEL). Research for this article was supported by the project ‘European Marine Biological Resource Centre Biobank’ (EBB), funded by the Interreg Atlantic Area Programme.

You can find it here.