WELCOME TO UNDECIMAR (MSU)

The Marine Science Unit (UNDECIMAR) from Faculty of Sciences – Uruguay 

The Marine Science Unit (MSU) is a Section of the Ecology Department of the Faculty of Sciences, created in 1993 by the University of the Republic in order to develop marine sciences in Uruguay. The main objectives of the MSU are to: (1) develop original research directed to improve our understanding of marine ecosystems; (2) provide biological basis for the sustainable management of coastal and marine resources; and (3) improve the human-building capacity in the area, both at the graduate and postgraduate level. 
 

The MSU focuses its activities in teaching and research. Teaching has a significant value to the MSU objectives. Thus, we impart graduate (e.g. Introductory Biology) and postgraduate courses (e.g. Ecology of sandy beaches, Population dynamics, and Ecological basis for environmental impact assessment). We also supervise graduate and postgraduate thesis (M.Sc. and Ph.D.).  
 

The main research areas developed by the MSU are marine zoology and ecology, with both applied and basic components. In this sense, we have been developing long-term research about the effects of human impacts in coastal ecosystems, as well as bio-socio-economic issues in coastal artisanal shellfisheries. Moreover, several ecological hypotheses have been tested at a range of spatial and temporal scales, significantly contributing to our understanding of Uruguayan coastal ecosystems. 
 

As a result of the above activities, we have co-authored 2 FAO books and published more than 70 primary papers. We have also been graduated almost 20 B.Sc. and more than 20 M.Sc. and Ph.D. students in Uruguay and other Latin American countries.