coastal and estuarine ecosystems health and management

Coastal and Estuarine Ecosystems Coastal and Estuarine Ecosystems Health and ManagementHealth and Management

IMAR-Instituto do MarIMAR-Instituto do Mar

“Encontro Nacional de Ciência 2009”, 29 e 30 de Julho

João Carlos Marques

Centro do Mar e Ambiente Centro do Mar e Ambiente |IMAR-CMA||IMAR-CMA|

jcmimar@ci.uc.pt

The present research is carried out at IMAR–CMA and was integrated in a broader context through the

submission of

Coastal Systems and Catchment Basins Network Laboratory

| COASTAL – NET || COASTAL – NET |

Monitoring, Assessment, Modelling and Management of

Coastal Systems and Catchment Basins

Proposed as Associate Laboratory in September 2006

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IMAR-Institute of Marine Research

CO-Centre of Oceanography

Scientific Partnership withIPIMAR-Instituto de Investigação das Pescas e do Mar

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|COASTAL – NET| Participant Institutions

System Oriented Research AreasSystem Oriented Research Areas

4 major System Oriented Research Areas

3- Integrated Coastal Zone Management 3- Integrated Coastal Zone Management

1- Climate Variability 1- Climate Variability

2- Natural Risks Assessment 2- Natural Risks Assessment

4- Integrated Environmental Management of Catchment Basins 4- Integrated Environmental Management of Catchment Basins

[“objects” of study are defined from a holistic perspective]

|COASTAL – NET| concept and work plan organising concepts

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4- Environmental Quality Assess. and Management Tools 4- Environmental Quality Assess. and Management Tools

Methodology Oriented Research AreasMethodology Oriented Research Areas

5 major Methodology Oriented Areas cutting acrossSystem Oriented Research Areas

|COASTAL – NET| concept and work plan organising concepts

[corresponding to the major tools that make the study “objects” scientifically treatable]

1- Systems’ Analysis and Monitoring 1- Systems’ Analysis and Monitoring

3- Modelling 3- Modelling

2- Remote Sensing 2- Remote Sensing

5- Technological Development-Optimisation Techniques5- Technological Development-Optimisation Techniques

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Health Assessment MethodsHealth Assessment Methods

ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS

PHYSICOCHEMICALANALYSIS

Water Sediments

ECOTOXICOLOGICALSTUDIES

Letal Subletal

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Ecological IndicatorsEcological Indicators

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We need reference conditions and environmental quality patterns in order to:We need reference conditions and environmental quality patterns in order to:

define quality objectives;

monitor if the objectives were achieved or not;

classify the ecological status of water masses [EQS];

define the measures necessary to keep or attain the settled objectives.

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Ecological Status AssessmentEcological Status Assessment

1.Atlantic Ocean

2.Norwegian Sea

3.Barens Sea

4.North Sea

5.Balthic Sea

6.Mediterranean Sea

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Area where researchhas been carried outArea where researchhas been carried out

6 Eco-regions CW&TW:6 Eco-regions CW&TW:

Catchment area region

Water categories

Types of water

Water masses

• rivers• lakes• transitional waters• coastal waters• artificial waters• heavily modified water bodies

Surface waters

Subterraneanwaters

Target systems

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Ecological Status AssessmentEcological Status Assessment

Reference conditions

per type of water

Description of the biological quality elements existing in situations of reduced or none disturbance caused by human activities; [Equivalent to Excellent Status]

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|Sea in Europe|

|European types|

|Reference conditions|

Ecological indicators

values undergo factorial

analysis (PCA) followed

by projection to obtain

the EQR

EQR = 0Virtual community at Bad Ecological Status

Vectorial distance

EQR = 1Virtual community at High Ecological Status

Real Community

The Ecological Status is assessed and validated as a function of reference conditions.

From the comparison of values observed with reference values we may derive an “Ecological Quality RatioEcological Quality Ratio” [EQR: 0 – 1]:

“Encontro Nacional de Ciência 2009”, 29 e 30 de Julho

“Encontro Nacional de Ciência 2009”, 29 e 30 de Julho

Excellent

Good

Moderate

Fair

Bad

ok

interventionneeded

5 Ecological Status

Little or nule Excellent

Good

Moderate

Fair

Bad

Slight

Moderate

Big

Severe

Disturbance

ObjectiveObjective

Resources utilised: last 5 years

Effects of natural stress generated by freshwater discharges

in the benthic invertebrate estuarine communities and its

influence on the assessment of the benthic ecological status

– EFICAS (POCI/MAR/61324/2004) (2005 – 2008)

National funds

System dynamic response to an ample artificial RE-

establishment of the upstream CONNECTion between the

two arms of the Mondego estuary (Portugal): implications

for recovery, ecological quality status, and management

– RECONNECT (PTDC/MAR/64627/2006) (2008 – 2011)

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Sustainable management of Mediterranean coastal fresh

and transitional water bodies: a socioeconomic and

environmental analysis of changes and trends to enhance

and sustain stakeholders benefits

– WADI (INCO-CT-2005-015226)

Water Bodies in Europe: Integrative systems to assess

ecological status and recovery

– WISER (FP7-ENV-2008-1)

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Resources utilised: last 5 years |cont.|

International funds

Theoretical development[e.g. Exergy and application of thermo-dynamics to environmental qualityassessment; Ascendancy – flows inEcosystems];

Development of new assessment tools[e.g. Mar-MAT, BAT];

Publications in international journals [28 papers specifically on Ecological Indicators and assessment policies in the last 5 years];

International Application of assessmenttools [e.g. Portuguese estuaries, Ria delEo and Mar Menor (Spain), TyrrenianSea (Italy)];

Divulgation publications.

More relevant results:

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The great challenge: How to relate Environmental Health Assessment and Ecological Sustainability?The great challenge: How to relate Environmental Health Assessment and Ecological Sustainability?

The Ecological Sustainability Trigon

Marques et al., 2009Marine Pollution Bulletin (in press)

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“Encontro Nacional de Ciência 2009”, 29 e 30 de Julho

“Encontro Nacional de Ciência 2009”, 29 e 30 de Julho

…thank you for your attention!

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