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

'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.

Water use and conservation at the environmental protection area of Brilhante, Santa Catarina - Brazil

Dissertação mest., Gestão da Água e da Costa, Universidade do Algarve, 2008

The impact of the Arrábida Marine Park (Portugal) on the decapod crustacean Eualus cranchii: a case study

Dissertação de mestrado, Biologia Marinha, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Univerisdade do Algarve, 2015

A educação ambiental no ensino básico: aplicação prática à área envolvente da Reserva Natural do Sapal de Castro Marim e Vila Real de Santo Antònio

Dissertação de mest. em Gestão e Conservação da Natureza, Faculdade de Ciências do Mar e do Ambiente, Univ. do Algarve, 2006

Estabelecimento de prioridades para a conservação dos vertebrados terrestres do Parque Natural da Ria Formosa e selecção de áreas para a sua protecção

Dissertação de mest. em Gestão e Conservação da Natureza, Faculdade de Ciências do Mar e do Ambiente, Univ. do Algarve, 2004

Contribuição para a valorização, geoconservação e gestão da jazida fossilífera de Cacela (Parque Natural da Ria Formosa, Algarve, Portugal)

Dissertação de mest. em Gestão e Conservação da Natureza, Faculdade de Ciências do Mar e do Ambiente, Univ. do Algarve, 2004

An overview of the submerged sea caves of Sagres (South of Portugal-Algarve)

The submerged sea caves of Sagres are located within the “Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina (PNSACV)” Marine Protected Area (MPA). This MPA integrates the national network of protected areas, addressed by the National Institute for Nature Conservation and Forest (ICNF) and was declared Site of Community Importance (SCI) under the Habitats Directive. Under the Annex I from the Habitat Directive these habitat caves are included in “8330 Submerged or partially submerged sea caves”. This conservation status should provide sufficient concern to have detailed information on biodiversity. However, among marine researcher, little is still known about these submerged sea caves and tunnels habitats. The only well-known study dealing with the Sagres sea caves was conducted in the late 80s and was only published in 2001. For effective management of such specific habitats a clear understanding of their localization and extension, the assessment of the biological communities, its conservation importance, its monitoring options and their sensitivity to natural change and human disturbance need to be a relatively clear. This report, produced under the MeshAtlantic Project, provides an overview of the available published and unpublished information relevant for the conservation management of the subtidal caves of Sagres. It mainly aims to be a base contribution for future studies.

Effects of fishery protection on biometry and genetic structure of two target sea cucumber species from the Mediterranean Sea

Sea cucumber fisheries are now occurring in most of the tropical areas of the world, having expanded from its origin in the central Indo-Pacific. Due to the overexploitation of these resources and the increasing demand from Asian countries, new target species from Mediterranean Sea and northeastern Atlantic Ocean are being caught. The fishery effects on biometry and genetic structure of two target species (Holothuria polii and H. tubulosa) from Turkey, were assessed. The heaviest and largest individuals of H. polii were found into the non-fishery area of Kusadasi, also showing the highest genetic diversity. Similar pattern was detected in H. tubulosa, but only the weight was significantly higher in the protected area. However, the observed differences on the fishery effects between species, could be explained considering the different percentage of catches (80% for H. polii and 20% for H. tubulosa).

Can small MPAs protect local populations of a coastal flatfish, Solea senegalensis?

The benefits of protection of a small (4.3 km(2)) marine protected area (MPA) for Senegalese sole, Solea senegalensis, were investigated through experimental fishing trials and long-term (up to 293days) passive acoustic telemetry. A total of 106 trammel net sets were carried out between 2007 and 2011. Significant differences in abundance and biomass of sole between bottom types/depths (sandy bottoms between 12 and 20m deep vs muddy bottoms between 35 and 45m deep) were found, but no significant differences were attributable to the implementation of the no-take area. Passive acoustic telemetry revealed that most Senegalese sole spent a large part of their time between first and last detections (average residency index=69%) inside a relatively small area (average 95%=1.2km(2)), during which they preferred sandy bottoms, the most common habitat inside the MPA. Results also demonstrated that Senegalese sole do regular excursions beyond reserve boundaries, eventually emigrating from the MPA. The results suggest that small coastal MPAs providing adequate habitat may protect individuals of this species while allowing for moderate levels of adult spillover to neighbouring areas.