The Marineff project immersed experimental eco-engineering dyke modules in 2020 in the Bay of Cherbourg (English Channel). These were compared to classic dyke modules to assess biodiversity and productivity.
The study’s monitoring strategy for primary production assessment involved using various techniques to consider all compartments of primary producers present on the dykes and in the associated surrounding water mass. Seaweeds, microphytobenthos and phytoplankton were studied.
Benthic chambers measuring oxygen and pCO2 under controlled light and techniques based on variable fluorescence were applied on eco-engineering and classic dyke modules. Preliminary results show that macroalgae were 7.9 times more productive than biofilm per surface on eco-engineering modules, while only 1.5 times on classic modules. Smooth surfaces appeared to favor biofilm productivity at this stage of colonization, while rough surfaces drove the system to a production dominated by macroalgae.
The study’s findings suggest that eco-engineering dyke modules can be used to enhance biodiversity and productivity in the Bay of Cherbourg.
Link to full study: Primary production assessment on eco-engineering infrastructures: English Channel case study
Phytoplankton monitoring
LabSTAF is the world’s leading portable instrumentation option for Phytoplankton primary productivity.
- Benchtop instrument to measure primary productivity using fluorescence, giving data for over 50 useful parameters within 15 minutes
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