Science in action: sample processing

At the Baltic Sea Living Lab (Uppsala University), the samples collected last summer are now being processed in full swing.

Said Hashim is sieving wet sediments according to their grain size and carefully picking out benthic invertebrates, one of our EOVs. Whether silty or sandy, or muddy, sediment types shape which organisms can thrive. Meanwhile, Florian Lüskow is at the microscope, identifying species one by one.

Why does this matter?

These hands-on methods allow us to estimate species-specific abundance and biomass, sub-variables that we cannot capture through eDNA or visual surveys alone. These tiny organisms are far more than just “critters”. They are critical links in coastal food webs and play a major role in ecosystem stability.

Photo credit: Nina Lepola & Florian Lüskow