MONITORING

The main focus of activity for CeCoCo  is observation of the environment. Routine monitoring and ad-hoc research tasks would go hand-in-hand. The measurements taken may vary between sites, depending on local habitat and species presence, but would contain a basic suite of observations, conducted to standard procedures.

Data collection would be undertaken under the specific control of permanent staff manning the Centres (two staff minimum on site) and using a small team of volunteers (typically a mixture of local, regional and international visitors). Some volunteers will have relevant university training, and may be working in connection with academic institutions within  temporary study-exchange projects. Also it is envisaged that national government scientists will make use of the resources at the Centres. 

       SCUBA divers map the seabed using a quadrat
Access to sites remote monitoring sites by waterborne means is proving a problem for Coastal Zone programmes in  the developing world due to the high costs of fuel associated with fast transport. The WRIScS project is working with this problem by investigating the use of modern catamaran hulls, which can dramatically cut fuel consumption and also offer stable and fast operation under sail power under the right conditions.

 

 

 

In situ monitoring themes would include:

Meteorology

  • rainfall & evaporation
  • wind and wave conditions
  • temperature &  humidity

Oceanography

  • salinity and temperature
  • secchi depth & turbidity
  • chlorophyll, CDOM, SS
  • Dissolved oxygen & pH of brackish zones
  • Currents
  • phytoplankton
Environmental Quality (contamination),                        with emphasis on a regional monitoring programme using standard methods at key sites.
  • Viruses and coliform bacteria
  • Trace metals
  • Pesticides
  • Hydrocarbons

(Measured in water, sediment and animal tissue)

 

In-situ observations made at the CeCoCo field centres would form part of a regional Coastal Zone monitoring strategy involving Water Quality monitoring from satellite images, river discharge monitoring and laboratory analyses of field samples

 Benthic Biotopes
  • Seabed morphology & stability (mapping)
  • Sediment structure/particle size
  • Benthic in- & epi-fauna & flora
  • Coral Reef bio-sedimentology

Conservation Species

  • Mangroves
  • corals
  • Seabirds & coastal strip birds
  • Fishes
  • Cetaceans & manatees
  • Sharks
  • Sea Turtles
  • Crocodiles & caymen
  • Coastal strip terrestrial small-mammals

 

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