Restoration of seagrass habitat and seahorse populations of ria formosa lagoon

SeagHorse

Project Summary

The SeagHorse aimed at the rehabilitation and sustainability of the seagrass habitats and seahorse populations of the Ria Formosa, entailing the following components:

Reconstruction of seahorse habitat (seagrass meadows) planting transplants in the recently created seahorse sanctuary (Edital 15/2020, Capitania do Porto de Faro). Rehabilitation of the seahorse population in the sanctuary using individuals produced in captivity at the Ramalhete fieldstation of CCMAR.
Research: Seasonal monitoring of seahorse population dynamics and of seahorse prey availability in the subtidal habitats of the Ria Formosa: seagrass meadows, unvegetated bottoms and meadows of the invasive green algae, Caulerpa prolifera. Seahorse feeding ecology evaluated using isotopic and gut content analyses, as well as manipulative experiments.
Educational and social activities to expand knowledge about the natural value of seagrasses and seahorses, including teacher training actions and the production of Educational materials.
Transfer of acquired knowledge about the value of seagrasses and seahorses to society and stakeholders of the Ria Formosa.

Restoration of seagrass habitat and seahorse populations of ria formosa lagoon

Start and End Date

15.06.2021 - 14.07.2023

Research Group

Marine Plant Ecology Research Group

Coordinating Entity

CCMAR

CCMAR Coordinators

Rui Santos

Begoña Martínez-Crego

Funding agencies

CCMAR

FBA- Fundação Belmiro de Azevedo

Total Budget

144101.16 €

CCMAR Budget

144101.16€

seaghorse website

Project Activities

PI: Rui Santos; CCMAR members: Begoña Martínez-Crego, Filipe Parreira, João Silva, Carmen de los Santos, Helena Barracosa

Seagrass transplants actions between June of 2021 and July of 2022, a total of 8000 plants (4000 of each species, Zostera marina and Cymodocea nodosa) were transplanted to the Sanctuary of Faro.

Reinforcement of natural seahorse populations in two release events of seahorses born and grown in captivity, into the Sanctuary. A total 60 fish were released in November of 2021 and another 200 in May of 2022.

Production of educational material as videos available at the Project website (https://www.seaghorse.pt/recursos.html).

Training actions for teachers of primary and secondary school accredited by the “Conselho Científico de Formação Contínua” (total 25h of training, June and November 2022).

Organization of participative seminars/workshops with stakeholders and authorities of the Ria Formosa, including key decision makers, conservation agents, media, and maritime tourism companies that exploit the image of the seahorse and offer seahorse tours.

Articulation with local schools to disseminate the importance of seagrass and seahorse conservation. Several lectures were held in different schools of the Padre João Coelho Cabanita school group in July of 2022.

PhD. candidate Filipe Parreira (2022-2026) entitled “Feeding Ecology of declining seahorse populations of Ria Formosa lagoon”. University of the Algarve, Portugal. Supervisor: Rui Santos (CCMAR), co-supervisor: Begoña Martínez-Crego.

MSc. thesis by Hillary Stratton (2023) entitled “Trophic flexibility of the wild long-snouted seahorse (Hippocampus guttulatus) under the occupation of the Ria Formosa lagoon by the invasive seaweed Caulerpa prolifera” Erasmus Master Program (MSc. Ecology), University of Bremen (Germany). Grade 1.3 (very good in German system). Supervisor: Begoña Martínez-Crego.

Bachelor’s degree projects (3)by Isadora Hahn, Bárbara Soares and Andreia Silva (2022). Degree in Marine Biology, University of the Algarve, Portugal. Supervisor: Begoña Martínez-Crego (CCMAR).

Professional Practices by Afonso Gomes, Nikhil Thomas, Almudena Díaz, Claudia Santana (4 students). IMBRSea-International Master of Science in Marine Biological Resources (2022), International Consortium of Universities (University of Algarve). Supervisor: Begoña Martínez-Crego.

Lab Methods of the International Marine Biology Master (2021) by Gioia de Klerk, Denzel Atumurirava, Luana Millecamps, Jodanne Pereira, Anjelina Potin (5 students), University of Algarve. Supervisor: Begoña Martínez-Crego.

List of news and press releases in regional and national media:

Porto Canal 16_11_2021

https://portocanal.sapo.pt/noticia/283893/

RTP

https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/pais/libertados-cavalos-marinhos-na-ria-formosa-para-travar-queda-de-populacao_n1363595

Observador

https://observador.pt/2021/11/16/libertados-cavalos-marinhos-na-ria-formosa-para-travar-queda-de-populacao/

Publico

https://www.publico.pt/2021/11/16/ciencia/noticia/libertados-cavalosmarinhos-ria-formosa-travar-queda-populacao-1985195

Radio Comercial

https://radiocomercial.iol.pt/noticias/116836/libertados-cavalos-marinhos-na-ria-formosa-para-travar-queda-de-populacao

País ao Minuto