On August 19, the Faculty of Life Sciences (FLS) hosted the final presentation and defense session for formative research projects carried out by students enrolled in the Aquatic Ecology course.
The academic session was coordinated by professor and researcher Félix Morales, Ph.D., with the support of Biology student Josué Romero. During the event, student teams delivered detailed ecological assessments of various water bodies across the coastal region, including:
Estuaries and estuarine zones: Dynamics of water exchange, salinity gradients, and associated biological communities.
Lakes and lagoons: Assessment of water quality, presence of aquatic macrophytes, and limnological parameters.
Albarradas (ancestral water systems and artificial wetlands): Socio-ecological relevance, water retention capacity, and biodiversity conservation during dry seasons.
Through field data collection, sample processing, and the application of quantitative methods, students contrasted their theoretical hypotheses with the real-world conditions of local water resources. This initiative strengthens analytical rigor and scientific communication skills, both essential for informed decision-making in the restoration and preservation of Ecuador's aquatic ecosystems.
