Costas Project

First results of COSTAS project available here!!!

Characterization and modelling of benthos and plankton communities along the Asturian coast (CTM2006-05588/MAR)

Sustainable use of coastal resources requires the integration of knowledge on their past and present situation to allow informed management. Project COSTAS aims at analyzing patterns of variation of marine coastal communities (plankton and benthos) at several spatial and temporal scales in the Cantabrian Coast, particularly of exploitable species. This information will be incorporated into a Geographic Information System along with contextual environmental information like hidrography, coastal topography or indicators of the degree of humanization. Last, the GIS database will be used as a tool to develop regression models to predict species or communities distribution patterns in the future or at places that have not been studied, and to understand the likely reasons for these patterns. In addition to its scientific value, the possibility of generating presumptive maps of species and communities will represent an essential tool to establish resource management regions, and to plan future marine reserve networks. In this regard, our team includes a strongly multidisciplinary group of scientists including benthos ecologists and oceanographers, as well as environmental managers with extensive experience in the area, what will facilitate transmission of knowledge and synergy in the exploitation of resuts.

Funded by Plan Nacional I+D+I, and the EU European Regional Development Funds