Sea Dance

Keep the rhythm of marine ecosystems!

In marine ecosystems live a wide diversity of organisms, with thousands or even millions of species yet to be discovered. And those that remain the least known are marine microorganisms.  Considering the importance of the oceans to our planet and the impact of disruptions in microorganism biodiversity, it is a social responsibility to protect marine ecosystems, maintain their equilibrium and biodiversity, and appreciate the essential functions of microorganisms for humanity.

Get to know the marine ecosystem

To communicate to society the dynamics of marine ecosystems, several ICM researchers, together with La Ciència al teu Món, have designed Sea Dance.

This interactive game acquaints the public, especially its youngest members, with the species and organisms that comprise our marine ecosystem, while dancing to the rhythm of the music.

That’s Sea Dance!

Video

 

Gallery Take a look!

Do you want to play?

If you want to play, you can ask for the game at icmdivulga@icm.csic.es

Follow #SeaDance_ICM on twitter!

Open window to the unknown world of marine microorganisms

In Sea Dance, the microorganisms of the marine trophic network are protagonists: phytoplankton (represented by algae), that generates the 50% of the primary production in the whole planet; zooplankton (represented by copepods, ciliates and flagellates), occupying the central position in trophic networks as a main predator; and also marine bacteria, the most abundant organisms in plankton, responsible of recycling a high percentage of ocean carbonate.

How to play?

Players have to take a virtual marine ecosystem into equilibrium by dancing. The game will respond according to movements and will be affected by the player’s decisions.

Through observation, interaction and experimentation, participants would realise by themselves about the complexity of marine microorganism biodiversity and its importance, and also to be concern about the consequences that human action has in the conservation of marine ecosystem equilibrium.

 

“If you observe, you know; if you know, you love; if you love, you protect” – Jordi Sabater

 

ICM researchers involved: Esther Garcés, in collaboration with Josep Maria Gasol, Dolors Vaqué and Elisabetta Broglio