CCMAR integra rede Assemble

CCMAR is located in Ria Formosa, a unique coastal ecosystem with very high biodiversity and an ideal natural laboratory... It is a mesotidal lagoon, separated from the ocean by a system of barrier islands and inlets, which extends for about 55 km along the south coast of Portugal. This includes extensive mud flats, sand banks, dune systems, salt marshes and substantial sea grass beds. It is a natural park protected by national legislation and nature conservation regulations and most of it is of international importance, under the protection of the Habitats and Birds Directives (Community Directive 79/409/EEC) and designated as a Ramsar site for the protection of wetlands. The average water depth is less than 2 m and the tidal height ranges from a maximum of 3.7 m in spring tides to a minimum of 0.4 m in neap tides. Ria Formosa is a highly productive coastal lagoon, supporting an intense mollusc ?shery and is an important nursery ground. Salinity ranges between 35 and 37ppt except during short periods following heavy rainfall when surface water salinity may be as low as 15ppt. Water temperature varies between 12ºC in winter and 27ºC in the summer. It is directly accessible on foot or with small boats, making it an ideal natural laboratory.

Access offered by the infrastructure

A 8.3 meters research vessel fully equipped for research in the coastal zone allowing basic oceanographic work (water samples, CTD, etc.), towing of plankton and zooplankton nets, sampling benthos with grabs, dredges, sampling with fishing gear (gill nets, trammel nets, traps, small trawls, long line), acoustic telemetry studies, sea bed classification and mapping (QTC), deployment of ROV and has a diving platform allowing underwater surveys, biodiversity studies, etc. Smaller boats are available for work in the Ria Formosa.

CCMAR features well equipped laboratories for investigating marine biological systems at various levels, from biochemistry and molecular biology through genetics, physiology, behaviour and ecology. Available equipment includes electrophysiology rigs, gas chromatograph coupled to mass spectrometry, HPLC-instrumentation including LC coupled to mass spectrometry, optical microscopes (e.g. fluorescence, phase- and interference contrast), Liquid Scintillation Systems for 3H, 14C and 32P, nutrient auto analyzer, CHN analyser, particle counters, spectrophotometers, gene cloning, cell culture facilities and incubators with inverted and fluorescent microscopes, automated DNA sequencer, Q-PCR, imaging systems and software for transcriptome and proteome analysis.

The CCMAR research laboratories consist of modern experimental facilities, well equipped for a wide range of laboratory and in situ studies in marine biology and ecology on the unique and extensive mudflats and ponds of Ria Formosa and coastal areas. It is possible to control environmental conditions such as temperature, light, salinity and sediment. The facilities, indoor and outdoor, at Ramalhete Experimental Station (see below) allow for the provision of tailored experimental setups in a wide range of conditions. The animal cell culture facility allows for a wide range of applications from genomics and physiology to ecotoxicology. Plant/algae propagation systems are being used for habitat restoration projects. Tank facilities for a wide range of organisms also make possible studies of behaviour, biochemistry, genomics, physiology, and cultivation improvement.
The Ramalhete Marine Station is a versatile infrastructure that includes smaller tanks to large outdoor mesocosms. It is located adjacent to one of the main channels of Ria Formosa, close to Faro international airport, 8km from the city and 4 km from the University of Algarve campus. It consists of 4 hectares of a salt pan and marsh system, 500 m2 of indoor tank facilities with installations for phyto- and zooplankton culture, isolated rooms for studies that require environmental control or behaviour, wet and dry laboratories. It receives water directly from the Ria Formosa and well water is used to regulate salinity. A 900 m2 outdoor area is used for larger volume tanks and other needs. The station has been used mostly for projects related to fish, cephalopods and algae, but is able to accommodate most organisms from the biogeographic area. Among the species that have been grown indoors are different life cycle stages the algae Fucus vesiculosus, sea grass Zostera noltii, the fishes Sparus aurata, Dicentrarchus labrax, Salaria pavo, Fundulus heteroclitus, Solea senegalensis, the cephalopod Sepia officinalis, the phytoplankton Isochrysis galbana clone tahitiana, Tetraselimis chuii, Tetraselmis suecica, Platymonas spp., the zooplankton copepods Euterpina acutiflans, Acartia tonsa, Tisbe furcata and rotifers Brachionus plicatilis and B. rotundiformis. In the outside ponds a range of organisms grow and they function as large mesocosms for experimental studies.

Modality of access

CCMAR offers on site-access which involves hosting of visitors by a specific research laboratory or access to the facilities. Such access can be, but does not necessarily have to be, aligned with the research program of the laboratory. Support will be provided to rapidly orient the user and helps with access to the many platforms and facilities. Even if the purpose is only access to specific equipment, or to have facilitated access to a particular ecosystem, the most effective and practical way is through interaction with a research group who has experience in that particular area and which will be available to direct the visitors. This is important also for CCMAR as the hosts will gain benefit from the visitors experience and knowledge.

Support offered

Visitors will be given access to all core facilities within CCMAR. These include: administration, general infrastructures including Internet access, accommodation, access to research vessel and smaller boats, diving facilities, documentation and communication, and laboratories. In the campus, there are 7 conventional large laboratories, 3 smaller laboratories, 3 special laboratories, walk-in temperature rooms and photoperiod controlled rooms, networking stations and online access to a wide range of scientific journals. A bioresources platform consisting of shared facilities for genomics/proteomics and chemistry which includes at present: one 3130xl ABI , 1 ABi Step one plus and 1 Biorad icycler real time pcr machines, 4 thermo-cyclers for sequencing and genotyping; one Typhoon Trio variable mode imager; Varian 240 MS GC/MS/DS , Vario ELIII CHNSO analyser , Agilent 1100/Esquire HCT plus LC-MS-MS, HPLC with various detection systems, Noldus integrated system for automating behavioural experiments, Gamma and scintillation counters, BIO synergy plate reader for fluorescence, luminescence and absorbance measurements. Five technicians are dedicated to operating these core facilities. The Ramalhete marine station offers excellent conditions for experimental work requiring maintenance and culture of marine invertebrates, algae and fish in tanks and aquaria. Technical and scientific support will be assigned to the visitors according to specific objectives.

The mixed teaching and scientific research, the open characteristics of Gambelas Campus where CCMAR is located and the good climate provides a setting for an enthusiastic and lively scientific and social atmosphere. There is a regular weekly seminar programme, complemented by visitor and invitation conferences. Visitors will be assigned a local contact person, will be given laboratory and office space and an introduction to administrative, safety and established procedures appropriate to the duration and objective of the stay. While visitors will be encouraged to take part in ongoing activities and collaborate with local staff, they will have the required latitude of independence to pursue the objectives of their visit.

CCMAR location - see here.

For further information: http://www.assemblemarine.org/

Online application forms: http://www.assemblemarine.org/application-forms/