"Into the Wild"
1. Sampling marinas and ports at Madeira Archipelago
2. Dry dock sampling
3. Sampling marine debris
4. ´Citizen science´
- Scuba diving centers
- Fishermen
(Implemented in 2013) (Implemented in 2013) (Implemented in 2014) (Implemented in 2014)
We recently had the idea of going "Into the Wild" and start a monitoring program of marine invasive species in our study system – the Madeira Archipelago. The Madeira Monitoring Marine Invasive Species Program (Mad_MOMIS) was launched in summer 2013 to investigate the "alien" species already established in Madeiran waters and possible new invasions in the archipelago.
Mad_MOMIS has four major priorities, two already implemented:
1) Sampling major ports and marinas in the Madeira island system. We have deployed settling plates and traps to capture sessile and mobile fauna colonizing these habitats.
Experimental unit brick + PVC plate
Brick + PVC Plate 14 x 14 cm
Experimental unit inside water
After 3 months inside the water
Fouling communities in experimental unit
Fouling in brick and rope
Checking the fouling communities inside marinas
PVC plate with anti-fouling
Brick with fouling
Fouling in brick
Monitoring PVC plates
2) We are collaborating with Quinta do Lorde to sample hulls of recreational vessels once they go to dry dock for maintenance.
3) We are collaborating with local nautical companies to sample marine debris.
4) Finally, we will try to interact with SCUBA diving centers, fishermen and the public for awareness of marine biological invasions and its consequences to the native marine flora and fauna.
