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Aquacosm > Mesocosms > Estación de Ciencias Mariñas de Toralla (ECIMAT)

Estación de Ciencias Mariñas de Toralla (ECIMAT)

General Facility Information

Legal name of organisation (short name)
University of Vigo
Country
Spain
Continent
Europe
Organisation address

Illa de Toralla

E-36331 Coruxo

Vigo

Galicia (Spain)

Infrastructure (short name)
ECIMAT-M
Infrastructure address

Toralla Island, Vigo, Spain. NW coast of the Iberian Peninsula

Coordinates / (routes, areas if non-static)
Facility location(s)
Description of the Infrastructure

Description of the infrastructure: ECIMAT-M ate located at Marine Research Station on Toralla island, Ría de Vigo (NW Spain). This area of the Atlantic coast is characterised by an upwelling-downwelling regime, in which upwelling events are more frequent from March to September. ECIMAT-M consist of 6 floating pelagic mesocosms platforms (1-2.5 m3; 1m diameter, 1-3m depth) for 6 as well as land-based mesocosms., The latter will be improved (finished in 2019) to allocate two pools (9m long, 3m wide and 2.5m deep) for 8 pelagic and soft-bottom benthic mesocosms tanks and tanks for microcosms experiments. 

ECIMAT-Mesocosms: Floating pelagic mesocosms (l) and land-based tanks (right) in NW-Spain.

 

Primary contact information (PI)

Jose González

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Damián Costas

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Years of Mesocosm Experiments
discontinuous experimentation in mesocosms for more than 10 years, although facilities were totally renovated in 2015
Description of Facility
  1. Floating platform with 6 floating rings for bags with 1.2 m diameter.
  2. Land-based system with pelagic/benthic experimentation tanks.
Controlled Parameters

Temperature, light, nutrients, species composition

Research Topics

Marine Ecology and Ecotoxicology, Aquaculture, Physical Oceanography and Marine Geology

Primary interests
Specialist areas
Source of Information

http://www.ecimat.org

Photos of experiments/installations

Photo credits: Jose Gonzalez Fernandez
Photo credits: Alba Hernández
Photo credit: Alba Hernández

Transnational Access Information

Infrastructure (short name)
ECIMAT-M
Modality of access

Modality of access under AQUACOSM-plus: At least 250 person-days in total will be allocated to external users supported by an AQUACOSM TA activity in M22-33. Approximately 6 visiting scientists over 42 days for one year are welcome to make independent experiments at ECIMAT-M facilities. Collaboration with the local research community in new/ongoing experiments will be also welcome.

Unit of access

Persondays

What service and support facilities are available

Services currently offered by the infrastructure: Users will get full access to the marine station, including mesocosm facilities, laboratories, office space, as well as boat and diving support for mesocosms experimentation. Accommodation in the proximities of ECIMAT is available at moderate cost.

Support offered under AQUACOSM-plus: Users will have access to the facilities described including assistance from the technical staff. Ocean and meteorological conditions (wind, air and water temperature, salinity, etc) in mesocosms area are real-time monitored. Boats and diving services are also provided.

Accommodation

Various size apartments available.

Special rules