Author: Valeria Contreras
I have a degree in Sea Science and a Masters in Environmental Evaluation and Monitoring of Marine and Coastal Ecosystems, and I currently work as a scientific divulgator in the University of Barcelona. My main scientific interests are about conservation and ecology, especially anything about marine invertebrates. I find them the most fascinating creatures on Earth, strange yet so familiar. On a visit to the beach as a baby, I learned to crawl by going towards the sea at full speed! I enjoy reading, drawing, and writing fantasy novels in my spare time.
Plastic Pollution
Oh I do like to see inside the sea birds
How to look inside sea birds to find plastics… without hurting them?
Ecology
One s(hell) of an issue
One of the largest bivalves in the world and its survival struggle: a majestic fight
Behavior
Using acoustics to learn about Pingu
As humans forage to find snacks in their fridges, the little penguin forages in the sea, but just how effective…
Ecology
The function of life
Marine vertebrates have different functions in reef ecosystems – what would happen if they disappeared?
Biology
Playing dress-up with crabs
Some crabs enjoy attaching material to their carapaces to decorate themselves – what are the mechanisms at play?
Ecology
Seeing the sea to be able to eat
Eating with your eyes first is something seabirds also do – but climate change is making this more difficult.
deep sea Microbiology
Enigmatic microorganisms from the depths
Magneto might be happy to find about this recently discovered magnetic microorganism from the deep sea
Climate Change
It’s getting hot: are fish getting bigger?
Australian estuaries are warming up because of climate change and this might be making its fish bigger.
Fisheries
Shine bright like a gillnet
Fishing mostly depends on gillnets that catch many organisms besides fish, but we can change gillnets for the better…