MAR2030 project secures half a million to restore salt marshes

Last week saw the start of the µRESTART project, which aims to use marine biostimulant bacteria to improve the efficiency of marsh ecosystem restoration processes.

Led by MARE researcher Bernardo Duarte, the project also includes colleagues Vanessa Fonseca, Ricardo Melo and Susanne Tanner from the same unit, and a multidisciplinary team of other researchers from BioISI - Institute of Biosystems and Integrative Sciences and CE3C - Center for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Change, and associated laboratories ARNET - Aquatic Research Network and CHANGE - Institute for Global Change and Sustainability.

Salt marshes play an important ecological and socio-economic role, but have suffered a worrying decline due to anthropogenic pressures. In addition to the loss of plant biodiversity, there are significant negative impacts on the fauna dependent on the marsh, particularly fish species of commercial interest. The recovery of these ecosystems is essential!

This project's work plan aims to study Portuguese salt marshes, identifying and characterizing the marine microorganisms that live near the roots of salt marsh plants and that have the potential to stimulate their growth. These microorganisms will then be tested in the laboratory as 'natural fertilizers' on plants subjected to stressful conditions. After selecting the microorganisms with the greatest biostimulant potential, species of salt marsh plants will be transplanted, in a pilot trial in a degraded salt marsh, and inoculated with the previously selected microorganisms. The transplanted areas will then be monitored.

The results of the project will make it possible to create action plans for monitoring the recovery of salt marshes and to understand the best marine biostimulant solution for restoring these ecosystems.

This two-year project is funded by the MAR2030 Operational Program for a total amount of 502,080 euros.