Mira Estuary (south west Portugal)

Suspended particulate material aggregates; Ammonium and ammonia concentration parameters in water bodies; Sea level; Particulate total and organic carbon concentrations in the water column; Fauna abundance per unit area of the bed; Fish morphology, age and physiology; Fish abundance in water bodies; Fish taxonomy-related abundance per unit area of the bed; Fish taxonomy-related ash-free dry weight biomass per unit area of the bed; Fish taxonomy-related counts; Fish non taxonomy-related morphology; Fish non taxonomy-related abundance per unit volume of the water column; Fish disease and parasites; Fish behaviour; Insect and earthworm taxonomy-related ash-free dry weight biomass per unit area of the littoral zone; Insect and earthworm taxonomy-related abundance per unit area of the bed; Insect and earthworm taxonomy-related ash-free dry weight biomass per unit area of the bed; Vertical velocity of the water column (currents); Suspended particulate material setting velocity parameters; Zoobenthos non taxonomy-related wet weight biomass per unit area of the bed; Particulate total and organic nitrogen concentrations in the water column; Nitrate concentration parameters in the water column; Nitrite concentration parameters in the water column; Phosphate concentration parameters in the water column; Primary production in the water column; Horizontal velocity of the water column (currents); Silicate concentration parameters in the water column; Concentration of suspended particulate material in the water column; Zoobenthos taxonomic abundance; Zooplankton and zoobenthos physiological condition parameters; Zoobenthos taxonomy-related counts; Zoobenthos taxonomy-related wet weight biomass per unit area of the bed; Particulate total and organic phosphorus concentrations in the water column; Suspended particulate material grain size parameters; Concentration of organic matter in sediments; Concentration of organic matter in water bodies; Coastal geomorphology

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The project aims to help in the understanding of the ecological and economic importance of salt-marshes in estuaries all over Europe. The Mira estuary has been chosen in Portugal. Watershed landscape values have been evaluated and the dynamics of plant formations, the import/export of nutrients and carbon as well as its role as nursery of fish and macroinvertebrates have been studied. Selected plots, are prepared on an annual basis, with the support of hydrodynamic modeling.

University of Evora, Department of Ecology (IMAR network)
Rua Romão Ramalho, nº 59 - Colégio Luís António Verney
Évora

7000-671
Portugal