Low-Cost Citizen Science Effectively Monitors the Rapid Expansion of a Marine Invasive Species

João Pedro da Silva Encarnação finished his PhD in Marine Science in 2024 at the University of Algarve, merging scientific knowledge on invasive species with contribution from citizen science. His current research topics include marine invasive species, as the Atlantic blue crab and the weakfish, tropicalization and redistribution of species in coastal areas, while improving the collaboration between academia and society with citizen science in the study and management of biological invasions in the marine environment. So far has published 10 peer-reviewed scientifc articles as first author and 10 others as co-author. Has participated in several national and international projects and scientific expeditions, and contributed with photographs to 7 books. Founder and coordinator of the NEMA citizen science campaign: www.NEMAlgarve.com.

Projects

Projects Coordination

	Title	Coordinator	Start	End	Financiamento	Budget CCMAR	Budget Total
NEMA	New Marine Species of the Algarve	João Encarnação	04/2019	04/2019

Projects Membership

	Title	Coordinator	Start	End	Budget CCMAR	Budget Total
LuandaWaterFront	LuandaWaterFront - "Luanda Bay Ecological Assessment: A waterfront based approach to reduce environmental risks and increase quality of life	Alexandra Teodósio	09/2018	09/2022
CRUSTAPANHA	Study of the ecology, biology and population dynamics of small crabs with commercial interest existing along the Portuguese coast	Francisco Leitão	05/2018	09/2021		677018k€

News

POSTCARD FROM QUELIMANE (ZAMBÉSIA, Mozambique)

Francisco Leitão, Alexandra Teodósio and João Encarnação went to Quelimane, Moçambique to participate in the kickoff of the project BioFISH.

Nos últimos anos, os investigadores do Centro de Ciências do Mar (CCMAR) reportaram o aparecimento de mais de uma dezena de espécies invasoras no estuário do Guadiana. A nova espécie detetada é um hidróide, que ao incrustar-se em estruturas artificiais traz efeitos negativos não só a nível do ecossistema, mas também a nível sócio-económico.

Os investigadores do Centro de Ciências do Mar (CCMAR) descobriram no estuário do Guadiana um valioso recurso pesqueiro: o caranguejo-azul, uma espécie característica da América do Norte, que agora vive a mais de sete mil quilómetros de casa.

A espécie é nativa da costa leste da América do Norte, mas foi encontrada pela primeira vez no estuário Guadiana na passada semana por pescadores de Vila Real de Santo António, e identificada por dois investigadores do Centro de Ciências do Mar (CCMAR).

A corvina americana, ou corvinata, não é natural de águas nacionais, mas mesmo tratando-se de uma espécie invasora já está instalada nos estuários dos nossos rios. Por isso, os investigadores do CCMAR vão dar a conhecer numa prova de degustação, de que forma se pode consumir este peixe e assim tentar aliviar a pressão que esta espécie faz nos nossos recursos pesqueiros.

Records of tropical and sub-tropical species in the Portuguese Southwest coast points to a poleward shift in species distribution.

João Encarnação will be assessing the present distribution of new species across the Algarve coast.

CCMAR celebrated 29 years of foundation and announced the winners of the "Aos olhos do CCMAR" contest with the aim of promoting and disseminating the scientific works of our researchers.

CCMAR's NEMA project participates with the organization of two Underwater FotoBlitz. The initiative takes place across the country from 10 to 18 October.

Biological invasions are one of the many consequences of a globalized world. Thus, early detection and eradication of invasive species are crucial to prevent significant economic impacts.

Filete de corvina 'americana' assado com esparregado de plâncton marinho"

From May 29 to June 6, the National and Iberian Week on Invasive Species occurs. The NEMA project participates in this week in collaboration with the recognized Algarvian Chef and Michelin star winner Chef Leonel Pereira.

The challenge set by our researchers is to find and photograph the fireworm in the Algarve waters. The underwater Fotoblitz is organised by the NEMA (New Marine Species of the Algarve) platform and takes place from 14 August in five different locations.

Publications

Selected Publications

Encarnação J, Baptista V, Teodósio MAlexandra, Morais P. Low-Cost Citizen Science Effectively Monitors the Rapid Expansion of a Marine Invasive Species. Frontiers in Environmental Science. 2021;9. doi:10.3389/fenvs.2021.75270510.3389/fenvs.2021.752705.s001

Publications

Year of Publication
2021	Encarnação J, Teodósio MAlexandra, Morais P. Citizen Science and Biological Invasions: A Review. Frontiers in Environmental Science. 2021;8. doi:10.3389/fenvs.2020.60298010.3389/fenvs.2020.602980.s001 Read more about Citizen Science and Biological Invasions: A Review Google Scholar PT DOI
2020	Encarnação J, Seyer T, Teodósio MAlexandra, Leitão F. First Record of the Nudibranch Tenellia adspersa (Nordmann, 1845) in Portugal, Associated with the Invasive Hydrozoan Cordylophora caspia (Pallas, 1771). Diversity. 2020;12(6):214. doi:10.3390/d12060214 Read more about First Record of the Nudibranch Tenellia adspersa (Nordmann, 1845) in Portugal, Associated with the Invasive Hydrozoan Cordylophora caspia (Pallas, 1771) Google Scholar PT DOI
2019	Encarnação J, Morais P, Baptista V, Cruz J, Teodósio MAlexandra. New Evidence of Marine Fauna Tropicalization off the Southwestern Iberian Peninsula (Southwest Europe). Diversity. 2019;11(4):48. doi:10.3390/d11040048 Read more about New Evidence of Marine Fauna Tropicalization off the Southwestern Iberian Peninsula (Southwest Europe) Google Scholar PT DOI
2019	Vasconcelos P, Carvalho AN, Piló D, et al. Recent and Consecutive Records of the Atlantic Blue Crab (Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896): Rapid Westward Expansion and Confirmed Establishment along the Southern Coast of Portugal. Thalassas: An International Journal of Marine Sciences. 2019;35(2):485 - 494. doi:10.1007/s41208-019-00163-1 Read more about Recent and Consecutive Records of the Atlantic Blue Crab (Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896): Rapid Westward Expansion and Confirmed Establishment along the Southern Coast of Portugal Google Scholar PT DOI
2018	Encarnação J, Calado G. Effects of recreational diving on early colonization stages of an artificial reef in North-East Atlantic. Journal of Coastal Conservation. 2018;22(6):1209 - 1216. doi:10.1007/s11852-018-0630-0 Read more about Effects of recreational diving on early colonization stages of an artificial reef in North-East Atlantic Google Scholar PT DOI
2018	Piló D, Barbosa AB, Teodósio MA, et al. Are submarine groundwater discharges affecting the structure and physiological status of rocky intertidal communities?. Marine Environmental Research. 2018;136:158 - 173. doi:10.1016/j.marenvres.2018.02.013 Read more about Are submarine groundwater discharges affecting the structure and physiological status of rocky intertidal communities? Google Scholar PT DOI
2015	Leitão F, Encarnação J, Range P, Schmelz RM, Teodósio MA, Chícharo L. Submarine groundwater discharges create unique benthic communities in a coastal sandy marine environment. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. 2015;163:93 - 98. doi:10.1016/j.ecss.2015.06.007 Read more about Submarine groundwater discharges create unique benthic communities in a coastal sandy marine environment Google Scholar PT DOI
2015	Encarnação J, Leitão F, Range P, Piló D, Teodósio MA, Chícharo L. Local and temporal variations in near-shore macrobenthic communities associated with submarine groundwater discharges. Marine Ecology. 2015;36(4):926 - 941. doi:10.1111/maec.12186 Read more about Local and temporal variations in near-shore macrobenthic communities associated with submarine groundwater discharges Google Scholar PT DOI
2013	Encarnação J, Leitão F, Range P, Piló D, Chícharo A, Chícharo L. The influence of submarine groundwater discharges on subtidal meiofauna assemblages in south Portugal (Algarve). Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. 2013;130:202 - 208. doi:10.1016/j.ecss.2013.04.013 Read more about The influence of submarine groundwater discharges on subtidal meiofauna assemblages in south Portugal (Algarve) Google Scholar PT DOI
2013	Encarnação J, Leitão T, Morais P, et al. Effects of inter-annual freshwater inflow shifts on the community structure of estuarine decapods. Cahiers de Biologie Marine . 2013;54:181-189. doi:10.21411/CBM.A.782BAAB8 Read more about Effects of inter-annual freshwater inflow shifts on the community structure of estuarine decapods Google Scholar PT DOI

Galleries

Underwater photography

Img 1878 Copy

João Encarnação

Organiza

Projects Coordination

Projects Membership

POSTCARD FROM QUELIMANE (ZAMBÉSIA, Mozambique)

Nova espécie invasora detetada no estuário do Guadiana

Caranguejo-azul descoberto no Rio Guadiana

Investigadores do CCMAR identificam espécie de corvina norte-americana no rio Guadiana

Corvina americana é dada a conhecer em prova de degustação

SPOTLIGHT: New Evidence of Marine Fauna Tropicalization off the Southwestern Iberian Peninsula (Southwest Europe)

NEW POSITION: João Encarnação

Winners of the "Aos olhos do CCMAR" contest announced

CCMAR participates in the 1st edition of the National Week on Invasive Species

Citizen science has successfully contributed to the study of biological invasions

Weakfish served as a dish during the 2nd National and 1st Iberian Week on Invasive Species

Diving in searching for the fireworm in the Algarve

Underwater photography