We
completed the fieldwork foreseen in the project by collecting the 2022 samples
from the National Park of the Atlantic Islands of Galicia. From October 31st
to November 3rd we visited the Cíes Islands and collected samples at
exactly the same locations as the previous years for genetic analyses using
community metabarcoding.
We were
lucky in having a window of favourable weather that allowed us to do the daily
trips from Vigo to Cíes Islands with the invaluable help of Iñaki Ferreira and
his boat from the “Buceo Islas Cíes” diving club.
We enjoyed
the dives in Cíes Islands (a bit cold for us Mediterraneans) and the amazing communities
that develop in their bottoms.
After work,
we paid a visit to the National Park headquarters and had a lively chat over
breakfast with their board of directors Pepín, Vicente, and Montserrat. Thanks
Pepin for the T-shirts and other merchandising items you gave us!
We have now
a lot of work to do to process the 2022 samples, looking forward to it!
