In early May Rui Seabra, a Portuguese marine biologist and National Geographic Explorer, came to visit us.
Rui is the leader of the Atlantic Ocean Coupled Coastal Temperature and Biodiversity Observation Network (CCTBON) research project. This project is installing a network of data temperature loggers to monitor rocky shore temperatures and biodiversity patterns at over 160 sites along all the Atlantic coasts. The aim is to study the vulnerability of marine and coastal species to global warming.
He trained us in the installation and monitoring of his data loggers, and we now have them installed in three sites in the Forth – at Cramond, North Berwick and Lower Largo, and readings are being taken regularly and sent back to CCTBON. We also learned how to monitor rocky shore biodiversity in the vicinity of the data loggers to provide attached information for the project.
As well as contributing to his project we are able to use the information for our own purposes – the loggers will continue to give readings for 15 years – and we have already been amazed at the temperature variations recorded at our different locations. This data is helping providing us valuable data for our new Above and Below project! We are looking forward to seeing him again next spring.
