Libelium One monitors diverse environmental conditions of the largest fluvial Aquarium in Europe

The Aquarium of Zaragoza is Europe’s most important fluvial aquarium, integrating different river ecosystems worldwide. There are more than 5000 animals of more than 350 species from the 5 ecosystems represented:

• The Nile River in Africa is the longest river on our planet (6,695 km long) and more than 30% of its course is through arid lands. The basin of this large river is rich in biodiversity, including 137 species of amphibians, and 129 species of fish, 26 of which are found only in this river. This African river is very sensitive to climate change, with rising temperatures.
• The Mekong River, the largest river in Southeast Asia (4,600 km), is the tenth largest in the world by volume. It is the second most fish-diverse river (an estimated 1200-1700 species, 62 of which are endemic to this river) after the Amazon River. According to WWF the Mekong River is among the 10 most endangered rivers in the world.
• The Amazonas in America, with a length of 6,400 km, is the second longest and most abundant river in the world. The Amazon is the most biodiverse place on the planet, with millions of described insect species, 3,000 species of fish (10 times more than all European rivers combined), 2,000 species of mammals and birds, and more than 10,000 species of plants.
• Darling Murray in Australia: The Darling-Murray River is the most important river system in Australia, the Murray is 2,500 km long and the Darling is 2,739 km long. It is characterized by few tributaries, low rainfall, and high evaporation (the last 500 km of the river system are very arid). Its waters are used for agriculture and to supply the population. 72% of Australia’s irrigation is concentrated in this river system.
• Spanish river Ebro: The Ebro River Delta is a natural area of great biological wealth, with a surface area of more than 7,736 hectares, it is the most important aquatic habitat in the western Mediterranean, after the Camargue (French Regional Park), and the second most important in Spain, the Doñana National Park. In recent decades, the water quality of this river has deteriorated due to direct pollution from discharges, or diffuse pollution caused by the washing of salts, fertilizers, and agricultural pesticides.

In each one of these places the environmental conditions are very different from one another, hence the Aquarium labor was to replicate the different ecosystems in the different tanks where the distinct species inhabit. Thus, the device needed to measure the different parameters should be ready for the various weather/environmental conditions of each place.