Students in Nova Scotia Have Created a Micro-Ecosystem to Win Brilliant Blue
Three students in Halifax, Nova Scotia, who took part in the 2023 Brilliant Blue competition, created an ecosystem in a box, highlighting the importance of the continued sustainable usage of our ocean.
Three high school seniors, Emma Creelman, Mayar Ibrabah and Sophia Mulak came up with "The Sea Hive", a micro-ecosystem made up of blue mussels, seaweed, and kelp. It was a comparative project, seeing how the mussels would grow with other organisms versus without.
The project was an entry into the Brilliant Blue Challenge, an international competition based on the blue economy. Their project was one of many designs meant to help with sustainable usage of marine resources and protection of oceanic life. The competition involved 38 teams from 17 countries.
The team's process involved submerging the two tanks in the water at the Armdale Yacht Club and letting them sit that way for about a month. Their hypothesis was that the tank with greater biodiversity would have better water quality and healthier mussels.
And the result? They were correct! After a month, the tank with only mussels was dirtier and more acidic, while the other tank was in much better condition. Their experiment showed the importance of diverse ecosystems and the dangers of monoculture-based farming.
Want to learn more? Here is an article from the Canadian Broadcasting Company on the topic!