Acronym MERCOAST
Category
Fisheries
Title Impact of mercury on the dynamics of estuarine communities in a coastal lagoon (Ria de Aveiro, Portugal). Socio-economic implications Programme National Programme
Instrument (FP6)
Contact Type (FP7)
Strand (Interreg)
NA
Theme (FP7)
Activity Area (FP6)
Regional Area (Interreg)
Action (COST)
NA
Specific Programme (FP7)
NA
Funding source National Coordinator Patrícia Cardoso Coordinator email NA
Coordinator institution
IMAR - Institute of Marine Research (Portugal)
Institutions involved
CESAM - Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (Portugal) ,
Start year 2010 End year 2012 Funding (€) € 145,373 Website https://www.cesam-la.pt/projetos/mercoast-impacto-do-mercurio-na-dinamica-de-comunidades-estuarinas-de-uma-lagoa-costeira-ria-de-aveiro-portugal-implicacoes-socio-economicas/ Summary For some decades, the Ria de Aveiro, Portugal, has been suffering severe ecological disturbance, caused by mercury pollution from a chlor-alkali industry. As a result, several tons of mercury were released and deposited in the Ria's sediments. Although several studies have already been published on the impact of mercury at different levels, studies on the effect of mercury on the dynamics of estuarine macrobenthic and planktonic communities as well as on the growth of primary producers (marsh plants) have not yet been described in the literature. In order to complement all the information obtained in the field, some experiments will be carried out in mesocosms encompassing the three trophic levels. The project will focus on the study of plant diversity and vegetation succession due to allogeneic modifications (e.g. anthropogenic activities), research that has been conducted, until now, essentially in artificial wetlands and few in natural wetlands. Considering that estuaries are very productive ecosystems and recognized as nursery areas for many estuarine/marine species, most of which are of high economic interest (e.g. clams – Scrobicularia plano, cockles – Cerastoderma edule, fish and crustaceans), it will be imperative to evaluate the impact of mercury on the dynamics (community structure, growth rate, reproduction period, species lifespan) of these species. During their larval stages, all fish species consume zooplankton and some adult individuals continue to be partially planktivorous. On the other hand, it is estimated that meroplankton (species that are part of the pelagic community during part of their life cycle), including decapod larvae, bivalves, gastropods, may be affected by mercury pollution, compromising the success of their forms. adults. Therefore, it also becomes relevant to study the effect of mercury contamination on the structure and diversity of the zooplankton community and assess its socio-economic implications.
Keywords
Food web;
Fish;
Crustacean;
Toxic substances;
Shellfish;
Clam;
Zooplankton;
Bivalve;
Mollusc;
Impacts;
Marine Region
38
Portuguese Waters (27.IXa,27.IXb)
1
Marine Region Map
