The first analyses carried out by the team from the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto (FCUP) in the Aguieira Reservoir, one of the pilot sites of the Cyan’EAU project, have provided new insights into the evolution of this ecosystem and the factors associated with the development of cyanobacterial blooms.
Based on three sampling campaigns conducted in the reservoir, researchers studied sediment samples to assess nutrient accumulation, reconstruct the environmental evolution of the water body, and analyse the presence of cyanobacterial DNA.
The results indicate that the Aguieira Reservoir contains high concentrations of nutrients, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus, associated with eutrophication processes. However, sediment analyses have also revealed signs of a progressive improvement in water quality over time.
Sediments play a key role in this type of research, as they act as a natural archive capable of preserving information about past environmental conditions. Their analysis has enabled the team to date the sediments, evaluate changes in nutrient accumulation, and extract cyanobacterial DNA present in the samples.
In addition, during the most recent sampling campaigns, the assessment of cyanobacterial communities present in both water and sediments was initiated through microbiological, physical, and chemical analyses. This work is complemented by land-use studies in the areas surrounding the reservoir to better understand the influence of human activities on water quality.
Monitoring activities will be strengthened through the use of satellite imagery, which will make it possible to analyse parameters such as chlorophyll concentration and suspended matter, providing a more comprehensive view of the ecological dynamics of the Aguieira Reservoir.
These results represent an important step forward in understanding this pilot site and provide valuable information for improving knowledge of the processes that favour the occurrence of cyanobacterial blooms in aquatic ecosystems across the SUDOE region.
