| Seaweeds as marine resources. |
Life cycles and biological types. Uses of seaweeds: alginophytes, agarophytes, carrageenophytes, ulvanophytes and edible seaweeds. Ecological value and ecosystem services of marine macroalgae. Study methodologies of its biology, distribution, and abundance. Main species of seaweeds of economic interest from the peninsular Atlantic coasts. Good practices and indicators of sustainability of the exploitation and cultivation of commercial seaweeds. |
| Marine invertebrates as marine resources. |
Main species of benthic marine invertebrates that are currently exploited in Galicia. Life cycle and population dynamics. Habitat, abundance, and geographic distribution. Species associated with rocky bottoms: mussel seed, oysters, barnacles, and sea urchins. Species associated with soft substrates: cockles, clams, razor clams, and other bivalve molluscs. Other exploited or potentially exploitable species. |
| Pelagic, demersal and bottom species |
Initially, a short introduction is made on the main oceanographic characteristics of the pelagic environment, in general, and of the coast of Galicia and the Cantabrian Sea in particular, to understand the main interactions of the species under study with their environment. Subsequently, the study of the life cycle and the essential biological aspects involved in the dynamics of the exploited populations of the main pelagic and demersal species of fish and crustaceans in Galicia and the Cantabrian coast are addressed. The study focuses on albacore tuna (Thunnus alalunga) as a model species of the oceanic pelagic environment, and mackerel (Scomber scombrus) within the coastal pelagic environment. Regarding bottom species, the hake (Merluccius merluccius) and the spider crab (Maja brachydactyla) are studied. Habitat and adaptations. Generalities and guide species. Typical examples: anchovies and sardines; bonito and swordfish. Potentiality of exploitable species (discards). |
