Assessment of reserve effect in a marine protected area: the case study of the Professor Luiz Saldanha Marine Park (Portugal)

Dissertação de mest., Biologia Marinha (Ecologia e Conservação Marinhas), Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Univ. do Algarve, 2011

Early reserve effects linked to small home ranges of a commercial fish, Diplodus sargus, Sparidae

Studies that combine both the ecological responses of marine species and protection measures with movement patterns and habitat use are of major importance in order to better understand the performance of marine protected areas (MPA) and how species respond to their implementation. However, few studies have assessed MPA performance by relating local individual movement patterns and the observed reserve effects. In this study, we combined acoustic telemetry with abundance estimates to study the early effects of a recently established small coastal MPA on the local populations of white seabream. The results show that even small, recently established coastal MPAs can increase the abundance and biomass of commercial fish species, provided that target species have small home ranges and exhibit high site fidelity.

'Reserve effect' within a temperate marine protected area in the north-eastern Atlantic (Arrabida Marine Park, Portugal)

Benefits of marine protected areas depend on local ecological and socio-cultural aspects which are critical to the success of the protection measures. In particular, before-after comparisons are indispensable to disentangle the effects of protection from those of different physical and ecological characteristics among areas. Using underwater visual surveys, we assessed whether biomass and abundance of temperate reef fish assemblages and target invertebrates increased inside a no-take area in the Arrabida Marine Park (Portugal) 3 to 4 yr after its establishment. Data were compared to a previous study, conducted 10 yr before protection was effective. Control-effect comparisons after reserve establishment showed a positive response of legal-size demersal fish and below legal-size target invertebrates. The first evidence of protection was found in biomass but not in numbers. Non-target groups and below legal-size demersal fish had a significant interaction among reserve and habitat complexity indices for either density or biomass, suggesting a lack of a reserve effect. Before-after comparisons revealed non-significant patterns of increase in numbers of target species compared to non-target ones. The most important commercial species showed the largest increase in density after protection was established. Significantly higher abundances and proportionally heavier individuals of these species were also found inside the reserve in the control-effect comparisons. These findings are reinforced by an increasing trend in landings which are consistent with the early detection of a reserve effect.

Modelling antropogenic impact on primary production of sado estuary

The assessment of human impact on complex estuarine systems is a multidisciplinary task that is highly demanding in terms of measurements and fieldwork. Nowadays the use of inexpensive and reliably modeling tools can substantially reduce the amount of measurements needed to characterize a system. These tools are also a convenient way to forecast the future evolution of the system and to study the impact of different scenarios of human influence. In this communication a modeling system composed by hydrodynamic, transport and ecological models is used to assess the current trophic state of Sado Estuary (Portugal) and to predict the future trends of the system based on different scenarios of human intervention. Special care is taken to the impact of changing riverine nutrient loads. Sado estuary is a large European estuary that has been considered until now in good trophic conditions with eutrophication appearing only in some isolated spots. Nevertheless in recent years some studies point out that the situation is changing. Sado estuary is a system with strong environmental opposing interests. It hosts a major industrial and urban center around the city of Setúbal and the upper reaches are used to intensive cultures such as rice. On the other hand the estuary possess an important ecological value since it is used by several important species of fish as a spawning and nursery area and it’s wetlands are used by many species of birds as winter shelters. Due to it’s importance the majority of Sado Estuary is considered as Natural Reserve.

Application of LOICZ DPSIR framework to South asia Basins and developing typology for coastal vulnerability in South Asia

Dissertação de Mestrado, Gestão da Água e da Costa, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade do Algarve, 2007

Applying the ecohydrology approach to the Guadiana estuary and coastal areas: lessons learned from dam impacted ecosystems

Ecohydrology is a scientific concept applied to problem- solving in environmental issues. It recognises that the present practice of relying nearly exclusively on engineering fixes to solve environmental problems is failing to restore the aquatic environment to a level that can sustain the quality of life that people are demanding. Ecohydrology is based on the ability of science to quantify and explain the relationships between hy- drological processes and biotic dynamics at a catchment scale and to manipulate these processes to increase the robustness of the aquatic system and thus its ability to cope with human- induced stresses. The concept was developed by the UNESCO International Hydrologic Programme (IHP) and the Man and Biosphere Programme (MAB).

The effect of conservation measures on the spatial and temporal variation of rocky fish assemblages in the Arrábida Marine Park

Marine protected areas (MPAs) have been widely proposed for conservation purposes and as a tool for fisheries management. The Arrábida Marine Park is the first MPA in continental Portugal having a management plan, fully implemented since 2009. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of protection measures on rocky reef fish assemblages and target invertebrates through before-after and control-effect (no-take vs. fished areas) underwater visual surveys and analysis of landings trends. Second, we used surveys before, during and after implementation of the management plan to understand fishers‟ preferences for fishing grounds and adaptation to the new rules, and evaluated the reserve effect through analysis of both ecological responses and fishing effort density. Third, we identified the main oceanographic drivers influencing the structure of reef fish assemblages and predicted the community structure for the last 50 years, in light of climatic change. Overall results suggest positive responses in biomass but not yet in numbers of some commercial species, with no effects on non-target species. The reserve effect is reinforced by the increase in landings of commercial species, despite increased fishing effort density in some areas, especially with octopus traps. Fishing grounds are mainly chosen based on the distribution of target species and associated habitats, but distance to port, weather conditions and safety also influence fishers‟ choices. Moreover, different fisheries respond differently to the protection measures, and within each fishery, individual fishers show distinct strategies, with some operating in a broader area whereas others keep preferred territories. Our results also show that wind stress and temperature are the main oceanographic drivers for rocky reef fish assemblages, with tropicalization of assemblages and polewards movements of species over the last 50 years consistent with temperature trends. We believe this study provides significant lessons for marine conservation and management of coastal systems.