On Thursday 24th, 12:00 h, at the Main Conference Room of the Faculty of Biology (Campus del Cristo, Universidad de Oviedo), Prof. Jonathan Erez (Fredy & Nadine Herrmann Institute of Earth Sciences at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem) will give a conference entitled 'Effect of ocean acidification on corals'. Prof. Erez has a long experience in oceanography and broad interests encompassing from physiological processes involved in mineralization in phoraminifera and coral cells, to the role of marine organisms on the global carbon cycle. He combines different approaches including laboratory experiments on the impact of acidification, and the development of new tools for paleoceanography and paleolimnology. He is currently visiting Heather Stoll’s lab.

'Effect of ocean acidification on corals' --- Antrophogenic CO2 emissions are behind the observed, global scale decrease in seawater pH. Ocean acidification decreases biomineralization rates in marine organims like hermatypic corals, as has been confirmed by several field and laboratory studies. The cause for this dramatic effect on corals is direct input of seawater to the site of biomineralization in these organisms. A recent field study showed a 40% decrease in calcification rates compared to 1970s in the same coral reef in Australia. Based on this we can estimate that with a CO2 doubling, most coral reefs will stop calcification and will start to dissolve.  Thursday 24th, 12:00 h, at the Main Conference Room of the Faculty of Biology (Campus del Cristo, Universidad de Oviedo)

On Monday 14th, 12:30h, at the Main Conference Room of the Faculty of Biology (Campus del Cristo, Universidad de Oviedo), Prof. Stefan Gelcich (Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile) will give a conference entitled '2010 earthquake and tsunami in Chile: Impacts on intertidal ecosystems and on the welfare of artisanal fishing collectives'. Stefan is currently visiting our University as part of the master in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation.

Stefan Gelcich is a Marine Biologist, Lecturer at Pontificia Universidad Católica (Chile) and Associate Researcher at the Center for Advanced Studies in Ecology and Biodiversity (CASEB) and member of the International Laboratory in Global Change (CSIC-PUC). He earned a MPhil from University of Cambridge and his PhD from University of Wales. His main research interest is the conservation and sustainable management of marine resources. He is especially interested in the socio-economic and ecological impacts of allocating usage rights to small scale, artisanal fishing collectives. Currently, he leads research projects focused on the economic assessment of marine ecosystem services in Chile, and on the use of different manegement and conservation strategies, their consequences in terms of biodiversity and the perception of different stakeholders. He has published widely in international journals from different disciplines, from social sciencies to natural history and has been recognized by many distinctions. Stefan acts as a regional adviser for Global Green Grants,  an international NGO devoted to the support of civil initiatives focused on the conservation and sustainable management of renovable resouces.

Prof. Tony Underwood (Centro para la Investigación del Impacto Ambiental en Ciudades Costeras, Universidad de Sidney), will chair the Cátedra Caja Rural for the academic year 2010-2011 within the master in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation at Universidad of Oviedo. Clic on the images for more information.

The III Day of Asturian Sciences, organized by the Consejería de Cultura y Turismo del Principado de Asturias and the Centro Oceanográfico de Gijón (Spanish Institute of Oceanography), with the collaboration of the Aquarium of Gijón, will be devoted to Marine Biodiversity;

• Exploring the diversity of invisible things, by Prof. Carles Pedrós-Alió, presented by Prof. Xosé Anxelu G. Morán
• Life in the Ocean deep: rare, hidden, misterious, by Prof. Gritta Veit-Köhler, presented by Prof. Javier Cristobo

More info at Aquarium website (Spanish) and in Educastur (Spanish).

With this event begins the Week of Science in the Aquarium, with many other activities and conferences.

Scientific meeting hosted and promoted by Cajastur on Marine Biodiversity: Why so many species and why we do not know much about them?, organized by Prof. Josep-María Gili. Conferences [links to videos of the conferences are provided, although note they were imparted in Spanish]:

• Marine Biodiversity: Why so many species and why we do not know much about them? [Intro]
• Habitat diversity, species diversity, Prof. Josep-María Gili
• Marine vs terrestrial biodiversity: two different worlds within the same planet, Prof. José Templado
• Biodiversity and organization of marine pelagic ecosystems, Prof. Ricardo Anadón
• Hidden biodiversity: Ocean microbial biodiversity and how to learn about it, Prof. Josep M. Gasol
• Public discussion

More information on this and similar events at Cajastur webpage (in Spanish) and at the Cajastur and Science website (in Spanish)

The course oppening of the Master Erasmusm Mundus in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation was hold on Monday 13th, September at the Faculty of Biology. You can find more information in the master webpage or in any of the following links:

On Thursday 11th, February, the Faculty of Biology holds the first Workshop on Marine Biodiversity and Conservation, entitled 'The End of the Line': A World without Fish? The workshop will be held at the Sala de Grados de la Facultad de Biología (Campus del Cristo, Oviedo), from 13:30 to 20:00 h. The workshop includes a variety of activities, including the premier of the nature film 'The End of the Line', panels of discussion with experts and workgroup sessions on different aspects of the research, management and conservation of marine resources More information available at the Workshop webpage.

Prof. Juan Carlos Castilla, (Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile), will chair the Cátedra Caja Rural during the academic year 2009-2010 within the master in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation at Universidad of Oviedo. Clic on the images for more information.