In 2016, Australia faced the largest ever coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef. The bleached skeletons of the world’s largest coral populations have eloquently demonstrated the consequences of rising ocean temperatures. In other words, it acted as an environmental thermometer for global warming due to its high sensitivity to temperature changes. This is another example of how ecosystem health can be monitored through certain behaviors. Technically, these species are known as biomarkers. The newest member to join the club is the Asian clam (clams were shining) is used in technology research Establish the water quality affected by the mining process.Joint research between the University of Huelva in Spain and the University of Atacama in Chile was published in a scientific journal chemical sphere.
This project consists of two main areas. First, we developed a new model that is low cost and power free. filtering technologyCodenamed Disperse Alcaline Substrate, this passive filter uses a mixture of wood chips and limestone sand. Acidic water dissolves sand, raises the pH, and promotes the precipitation of metals incorporated into wood. These heavy metals can be recovered and reused. circular economy Substitute in mining.
Second working area in this technology project This is where clams take center stage. Researchers placed specimens of this mollusk at each stage. Wastewater treatment process. All the clams in the acidic waters near the mine died, but at the water treatment plant he survived 95%, with even higher survival rates when the water reached the river. Also, analysis of accumulated heavy metals is one source of data, as clams are naturally water-filtering organisms. The clams are only a starting point, as the research team has already evaluated the possibility of analyzing water quality through other biomarkers such as fish, aquatic plants and algae.
Microbes have a say
Saline marshes in arid and semi-arid regions are another area of environmental concern and a focus of research institutes. AQUASALT Europe ProjectA team of scientists in Spain, Morocco, Algiers, Tunisia, France and the United States are analyzing microbes in these environments as another kind of bioindicator. Microorganisms play a fundamental role in the decomposition of organic matter and pesticides. These wetlands are usually found in lowlands. That is, it receives water filtered through the agricultural soil from both irrigated and non-irrigated crops. This water contains fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides that can alter the balance of ecosystems by affecting the salinity of these wetlands and the microbes that live there. These populations can therefore provide insight into ecosystem health.this technology research It aims to establish the evolution of wetlands over time and the consequences of changes implemented in agricultural systems.
sauce: SINC, The Economist
