An underwater scientific research campaign, with the aim of studying the biodiversity, geology and hydrodynamics of sea caves in Sagres, takes place tomorrow, July 8, within the scope of the UAlg research project, Marine Caves Lifes Project (MCLP) .
This campaign, whose main mission will be to carry out the detailed cartography and study of the biodiversity of the “A Catedral” cave, will have the participation of GUE within the scope of the project. BaseLine – Global Underwater Explorers – Expedition 2014 e GUE Project Baseline Sagres and with some of the most iconic names in the diving world, such as Jarrod Jablonsky and Todd Kincaid.
Global Underwater Explorers – Expedition 2014 will be in Portimão with the vessel Pacific Provider, with logistics provided by Brownie's Global Logistics, made up of the highest technology equipment in terms of underwater exploration: from mini-submarines, filling center with complex mixtures for technical dives, rebreather technology, hyperbaric chamber, among others.
the visit of the Global Underwater Explorers – Expedition 2014 Portugal and, in particular, Sagres, will provide a unique opportunity for the scientific community, which will be able to collect very important data for the study and understanding of these very complex systems of sea caves, which otherwise would not be possible.
The marine caves correspond to natural systems of high environmental value and ecological and geological interest. This type of habitat assumes an exceptional character with a high ecological specificity, corresponding to important areas of marine production, refuge places and nurseries for countless species.
These marine caves have a genesis associated with the post-Last Ice Age period (last 18000 years) and their physiography is closely related, both with the geological formations where they fit, and with the coastal marine hydrodynamics, giving these coastal systems confined, a very complex hydrodynamics.
These caves are priority habitats for conservation purposes, but with regard to marine caves on the east coast of the Atlantic, especially those on the Portuguese coast, there is almost no information.
The MCLP project was born out of the need for a scientific understanding of these habitats for marine conservation purposes.
Based on the research thesis on caves in Sagres by Marine Biologist João Rodrigues, the team of researchers at the University of Algarve also includes Tiago Dores, a master in Geomatics in the field of analysis of environmental systems, with Duarte Duarte, professor and specialist in hydrodynamics and marine geology, and Karim Erzini, a professor specializing in marine biodiversity and conservation.
This team develops a multidisciplinary project, having as main objectives, the geological and biodiversity mapping of sea caves in Sagres, and their relationship with the hydrodynamics and physical properties of the various environments.
Under the scope of the University of Algarve, this project covers elements from the research groups of the Marine Science Center (CCMAR), the Marine and Environmental Research Center (CIMA) and the Scientific Diving Center (CMC).
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