Assessing the effectiveness of management measures in the Ria Formosa coastal lagoon, Portugal
The Ria Formosa is an important transitional and coastal lagoon on the south coast of Portugal that provides valuable ecosystem services. The lagoon is a protected area under national and international conventions. There is a great potential for Blue Growth sectors, such as aquaculture and coastal t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2022.508218/full |
| _version_ | 1797995633178574848 |
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| author | Alice Newton Miguel Cañedo-Argüelles Miguel Cañedo-Argüelles David March David March Priscila Goela Sónia Cristina Marta Zacarias Marta Zacarias John Icely John Icely |
| author_facet | Alice Newton Miguel Cañedo-Argüelles Miguel Cañedo-Argüelles David March David March Priscila Goela Sónia Cristina Marta Zacarias Marta Zacarias John Icely John Icely |
| author_sort | Alice Newton |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Ria Formosa is an important transitional and coastal lagoon on the south coast of Portugal that provides valuable ecosystem services. The lagoon is a protected area under national and international conventions. There is a great potential for Blue Growth sectors, such as aquaculture and coastal tourism, but these rely on good water quality. European environmental legislation, such as the Water Framework Directive, requires member states, such as Portugal to implement management measures if a surface water body is not of good ecological status. This work addresses the effectiveness of management measures, such as wastewater treatment plant implementation and dredging, on the water quality of the Ria Formosa coastal lagoon system. This is an important social-ecological issue, since management measures can be very expensive. The ecological status of Ria Formosa was evaluated, according to the physico-chemical and biological quality elements of the Water Framework Directive. The main indicators were the physico-chemical quality elements of nutrient and oxygen condition, and the biological quality element chlorophyll a, as a proxy for phytoplankton biomass, under the Water Framework Directive. The data for these quality elements from the Ria Formosa were analyzed for consistency with the classification for the Water Framework Directive water bodies. The data after the implementation of management measures was compared with historical data to evaluate if these measures had been effective. The relation between nutrient pressures, meteorological and hydrological conditions was addressed, especially rainfall and runoff. Results showed a decrease in nutrient concentration after the management interventions, despite the increase of population and intensifying agriculture in the catchment. The Ecological Status is spatially variable with an overall moderate status, indicating the need for further management measures. There is a significant reduction in nutrient pressure on the lagoon during drought years. This indicates that climate change may alter the structure and function of the lagoon in the future. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T10:03:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-135820897d7149b89e0647e8ab28afd9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-701X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T10:03:38Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-135820897d7149b89e0647e8ab28afd92022-12-22T04:30:17ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution2296-701X2022-10-011010.3389/fevo.2022.508218508218Assessing the effectiveness of management measures in the Ria Formosa coastal lagoon, PortugalAlice Newton0Miguel Cañedo-Argüelles1Miguel Cañedo-Argüelles2David March3David March4Priscila Goela5Sónia Cristina6Marta Zacarias7Marta Zacarias8John Icely9John Icely10CIMA – Centre for Marine and Environmental Research, Universidade do Algarve, Faro, PortugalFreshwater Ecology, Hydrology and Management (F.E.H.M.) Research Group, Department of Ecology, University of Barcelona, Catalonia, SpainInstitute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), Barcelona, SpainMarine Turtle Research Group, Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, United KingdomICTS SOCIB – Balearic Islands Coastal Observing and Forecasting System, Palma, SpainCIMA – Centre for Marine and Environmental Research, Universidade do Algarve, Faro, PortugalCIMA – Centre for Marine and Environmental Research, Universidade do Algarve, Faro, PortugalCIMA – Centre for Marine and Environmental Research, Universidade do Algarve, Faro, PortugalMackie Academy, Stonehaven, United KingdomCIMA – Centre for Marine and Environmental Research, Universidade do Algarve, Faro, PortugalSagremarisco-Viveiros de Marisco Lda., Vila do Bispo, PortugalThe Ria Formosa is an important transitional and coastal lagoon on the south coast of Portugal that provides valuable ecosystem services. The lagoon is a protected area under national and international conventions. There is a great potential for Blue Growth sectors, such as aquaculture and coastal tourism, but these rely on good water quality. European environmental legislation, such as the Water Framework Directive, requires member states, such as Portugal to implement management measures if a surface water body is not of good ecological status. This work addresses the effectiveness of management measures, such as wastewater treatment plant implementation and dredging, on the water quality of the Ria Formosa coastal lagoon system. This is an important social-ecological issue, since management measures can be very expensive. The ecological status of Ria Formosa was evaluated, according to the physico-chemical and biological quality elements of the Water Framework Directive. The main indicators were the physico-chemical quality elements of nutrient and oxygen condition, and the biological quality element chlorophyll a, as a proxy for phytoplankton biomass, under the Water Framework Directive. The data for these quality elements from the Ria Formosa were analyzed for consistency with the classification for the Water Framework Directive water bodies. The data after the implementation of management measures was compared with historical data to evaluate if these measures had been effective. The relation between nutrient pressures, meteorological and hydrological conditions was addressed, especially rainfall and runoff. Results showed a decrease in nutrient concentration after the management interventions, despite the increase of population and intensifying agriculture in the catchment. The Ecological Status is spatially variable with an overall moderate status, indicating the need for further management measures. There is a significant reduction in nutrient pressure on the lagoon during drought years. This indicates that climate change may alter the structure and function of the lagoon in the future.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2022.508218/fullRia Formosacoastal lagoonassessment of managementWater Framework Directiveintercalibration sites |
| spellingShingle | Alice Newton Miguel Cañedo-Argüelles Miguel Cañedo-Argüelles David March David March Priscila Goela Sónia Cristina Marta Zacarias Marta Zacarias John Icely John Icely Assessing the effectiveness of management measures in the Ria Formosa coastal lagoon, Portugal Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution Ria Formosa coastal lagoon assessment of management Water Framework Directive intercalibration sites |
| title | Assessing the effectiveness of management measures in the Ria Formosa coastal lagoon, Portugal |
| title_full | Assessing the effectiveness of management measures in the Ria Formosa coastal lagoon, Portugal |
| title_fullStr | Assessing the effectiveness of management measures in the Ria Formosa coastal lagoon, Portugal |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessing the effectiveness of management measures in the Ria Formosa coastal lagoon, Portugal |
| title_short | Assessing the effectiveness of management measures in the Ria Formosa coastal lagoon, Portugal |
| title_sort | assessing the effectiveness of management measures in the ria formosa coastal lagoon portugal |
| topic | Ria Formosa coastal lagoon assessment of management Water Framework Directive intercalibration sites |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2022.508218/full |
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