“Encontro Nacional de Ciência 2009”, 29 e 30 de Julho
Coastal and Estuarine Ecosystems
Health and Management
IMAR-Instituto do Mar
Centro do Mar e Ambiente
|IMAR-CMA|
João Carlos Marques
[email protected]
“Encontro Nacional de Ciência 2009”, 29 e 30 de Julho
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 |
Monitoring, Assessment, Modelling and Management of
Coastal Systems and Catchment Basins
Proposed as Associate Laboratory in
September 2006
“Encontro Nacional de Ciência 2009”, 29 e 30 de Julho
|COASTAL – NET|
Participant Institutions
IMAR-Institute of Marine Research
CO-Centre of Oceanography
Scientific Partnership with
IPIMAR-Instituto de Investigação
das Pescas e do Mar
“Encontro Nacional de Ciência 2009”, 29 e 30 de Julho
|COASTAL – NET| concept and work plan
organising concepts
System Oriented Research Areas
4 major System Oriented Research Areas
[“objects” of study are defined from a holistic perspective]
1- Climate Variability
2- Natural Risks Assessment
3- Integrated Coastal Zone Management
4- Integrated Environmental Management
of Catchment Basins
“Encontro Nacional de Ciência 2009”, 29 e 30 de Julho
|COASTAL – NET| concept and work plan
organising concepts
Methodology Oriented Research Areas
5 major Methodology Oriented Areas cutting across
System Oriented Research Areas
[corresponding to the major tools that make the study “objects” scientifically treatable]
1- Systems’ Analysis and Monitoring
2- Remote Sensing
3- Modelling
4- Environmental Quality Assess. and Management Tools
5- Technological Development-Optimisation Techniques
“Encontro Nacional de Ciência 2009”, 29 e 30 de Julho
Health Assessment Methods
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
PHYSICOCHEMICAL
ANALYSIS
Water
Sediments
ECOTOXICOLOGICAL
STUDIES
Letal
Subletal
“Encontro Nacional de Ciência 2009”, 29 e 30 de Julho
indices
indicators
analysed data
raw data
significance for scientists and public
Ecological Indicators
“Encontro Nacional de Ciência 2009”, 29 e 30 de Julho
Ecological Status Assessment
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.
“Encontro Nacional de Ciência 2009”, 29 e 30 de Julho
Area where research
has been carried out
6 Eco-regions CW&TW:
1. Atlantic Ocean
2. Norwegian Sea
3. Barens Sea
4. North Sea
5. Balthic Sea
6. Mediterranean Sea
“Encontro Nacional de Ciência 2009”, 29 e 30 de Julho
Target systems
Catchment area region
Water categories
Types of water
Subterranean
waters
Water masses
•
•
Surface
waters
•
•
•
•
rivers
lakes
transitional waters
coastal waters
artificial waters
heavily modified
water bodies
“Encontro Nacional de Ciência 2009”, 29 e 30 de Julho
Ecological Status Assessment
|Sea in Europe|
|European types|
Reference conditions
per type of water
|Reference conditions|
Description of the biological quality elements
existing
in
situations
of
reduced
or
none
disturbance
caused
by
human
activities;
[Equivalent to E x c e l l e n t S t a t u s ]
“Encontro Nacional de Ciência 2009”, 29 e 30 de Julho
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 Ratio”
[EQR: 0 – 1]:
Ecological indicators
values undergo factorial
analysis (PCA) followed
by projection to obtain
the EQR
EQR = 1
Virtual community at
High Ecological Status
Vectorial
distance
Real Community
EQR = 0
Virtual community at
Bad Ecological Status
“Encontro Nacional de Ciência 2009”, 29 e 30 de Julho
Objective
5 Ecological Status
Disturbance
Little or nule
Excellent
Good
Moderate
Fair
Bad
ok
intervention
needed
Slight
Moderate
Excellent
Good
Moderate
Big
Fair
Severe
Bad
“Encontro Nacional de Ciência 2009”, 29 e 30 de Julho
Resources utilised: last 5 years
National funds
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)
System dynamic response to an ample artificial REestablishment 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)
“Encontro Nacional de Ciência 2009”, 29 e 30 de Julho
Resources utilised: last 5 years |cont.|
International funds
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)
“Encontro Nacional de Ciência 2009”, 29 e 30 de Julho
More relevant results:
Theoretical development
[e.g. Exergy and application of thermodynamics to environmental quality
assessment; Ascendancy – flows in
Ecosystems];
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 assessment
tools [e.g. Portuguese estuaries, Ria del
Eo and Mar Menor (Spain), Tyrrenian
Sea (Italy)];
Divulgation publications.
“Encontro Nacional de Ciência 2009”, 29 e 30 de Julho
The great challenge: How to relate Environmental
Health Assessment and Ecological Sustainability?
The Ecological Sustainability Trigon
Marques et al., 2009
Marine Pollution Bulletin (in press)
“Encontro Nacional de Ciência 2009”, 29 e 30 de Julho
“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!