ecological effects of marine protected areas empafish project ...

EMPAFISH Booklet no. 1 Ecological effects of Atlanto-Mediterranean MPAs in the EU
The sheltered bays around the site provide resting and feeding areas for
groups of waders and some other waterbirds that winter in Faial. Rarities from
far-off regions are also regularly recorded in the area.
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o Marine mammals
Descriptive and some quantitative work on cetacean assemblages in this area
started in 1998 (e.g. Tempera et al. 2001c, 2001d). As a result of that work,
focus was put in the ecology of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)
within and outside the area. Work has been developed in the study of the
population structure, residency, distribution and habitat preferences of
bottlenose dolphins in the area (Seabra et al. in press; Silva et al. 2005, in
press). Although the main focus is in the bottlenose dolphin, distribution and
habitat preferences are also being evaluated for other cetacean species
occurring in the area.
� Reserve effect
o Fish assemblage
The UVC monitoring program has shown that the diversity within the Monte
da Guia reserve is higher than in any other habitat group in the island (Afonso
2002; Tempera et al. 2002b). Some species also seem to have responded to
the effects of protection, namely an increase in abundance and size of
parrotfish and groupers in the last 5 years, although other species that are
legally or illegally exploited within the reserve do not seem to show the same
patterns. The two shallow bays fringing the reserve are amongst the best
examples of the role of this kind of habitat as nursery areas for a variety of
marine fishes (e.g. Santos et al. 1994; Santos et al. 2005). Additionally, the
offshore reefs within the future Channel Marine Park harbour a specific
assemblage, where benthic and pelagic species coexist in large numbers
(Afonso 2002). Furthermore, recent movement studies are also showing that
these act as summer spawning aggregating sites for several pelagic
predators, such as yellowmouth barracuda, white trevally, and amberjacks
(Afonso et al. 2006).
The sum of these habitats and the rich assemblages within it turn the Marine
Park into a pivotal structure in the conservation efforts of the region to
protect representative species and habitats and manage coastal resources
(Santos et al. 2005; Tempera et al. 2001d).
o Benthic assemblage
Sub-littoral assemblages of Monte da Guia were recently surveyed using a
physiognomic approach in the scope of projects Maré, Marov and Maya. This
information has been instrumental for producing an inventory of benthic
assemblages characterizing the rocky bottoms of the MPA and shall provide a
reference for future monitoring. The same information is relevant for