• Submitted by: admin
• Pinar del Río
• Science and Technology
• 06 / 12 / 2007

Dr Jesus Ortea, professor at the Spanish University of Oviedo, praised the richness of the marine wildlife in Pinar del Rios Guanahacabibes Peninsula.

In statements published in Granma daily today, the expert spoke of an expedition of Cuban and foreign scientists who are currently studying the seabed in that area in which they found ten new species of mollusca.

Researchers carry out this trip twice a year focusing their interest on the study of mollusca, because according to them it constitutes the best sample to diagnose the health of ecosystems.

Ortea explained that Guanahacabibes, because of its strategic location in the Caribbean, to the entrance of the Gulf of Mexico, and the circulation of water in its vicinity, can contribute wildlife in a natural way to re-establish the coasts of Florida or Yucatan in case of a catastrophe.

He specified that the said aforementioned project intends to make an inventory of a focal group, which currently exceeds 700 species, to collaterally register the rest of the fauna to define its strategic value and richness, and to assess the importance of the peninsula.

He pointed out that the results would be far reaching because half of the marine wildlife of the country can be represented there.

Source: CubaSi