6th September | Galway, Ireland
As part of the initial stages of the BEAP-MAR project, species sample collection and identification are underway at the University of Galway. Samples are collected through both shore-based activity and scuba diving events. The most recent diving event took place on the 6th of September off the coast of Galway. The dive site itself is known locally as ‘Sceirde Rocks’, an arrangement of small, low-lying rocky islands which are exposed to the Atlantic Ocean.
Upon arrival at the site, the boat was greeted by several grey seals, curious and inquisitive about visitors to their haul-out spot. The skipper anchored in a sheltered inlet of the island and the diving began. The biodiversity supported by the Atlantic Ocean was evident from start to finish, with an array of trophic levels and symbiotic relationships at each stop.
Seals swam through the shallow kelp areas, keeping a watchful eye. Below depths of 10m the kelp coverage became limited, making space for an array of sponges, sea stars and anemones along the steep rock walls.
The samples were collected using simple materials such as labeled zip-loc plastic bags and photographed, once transported to the lab, the samples were processed for later analyses.
The dive itself was a collaborative effort with researchers from the University of Galway providing sponge species samples to the Technological University Dublin based ProspecTER project, in which researchers are using similar methods to identify the unique chemical compounds found in sponges. Assisting one another and sharing the research efforts allows both sides to gain a better understanding of the results.
Author:
Bláithnaid Doyle
A recent Marine Science graduate from the University of Galway, currently working as a research assistant within the University on the EU-funded BEAP-MAR project, an exciting opportunity to combine her passion for marine environments with meaningful research on the Blue Bioeconomy in the Atlantic Area
