RAM is a
Iberian Seabird and Marine Mammal Monitoring Network based on the Spanish and
Portuguese coast. The Project co-ordinates the efforts of several studies of
seabirds and cetaceans on the Iberian Peninsula, Balearic Islands, Madeira and
north of Africa (Ceuta and Melilla) to improve the knowledge and conservation
of species distributed along the south European Atlantic and Mediterranean
coast. Participation is free for anybody interested in marine species and the
project is run in a non profit way.
Data
complied by RAM will ultimately provide a long term data set which can be used
to assess the real situation of abundance and movements of seabirds and
cetaceans off the north Spanish and Portuguese coasts. The censuses from the
seashore are a limited method, in terms of their accuracy, but they can be used
to provide an index of the abundance and distribution of species near the
coast. An important point of the counts carried out during RAM monitoring is
the use of a standard methodology to record the information. Data are recorded
following common protocols used by all observers and simultaneously in the same
day. Therefore, those data will give systematic and rigorous information to
obtain results on presence of species by geographic area and by month.
Other
similar projects at other geographic areas such as Britain,
the Netherlands and Scandinavia manage similar databases from the 1970’s.
These programs monitor long-term seabird trends, with the participation of
hundreds of seawatchers. The volunteers monitor the migrations, movements
related to weather, feeding, roost activities and wrecks of seabirds.
Several
Spanish and Portuguese organizations support RAM through their member’s participation
and have helped promote the project.
Objectives:
The main
aim of RAM is to coordinate all ornithologists interested on seabirds and
marine mammals in the southern European coasts. The running of a coordinated
network will focus the observer’s work on following objectives:
1. To
obtain information on abundance and distribution of seabird and marine mammal
species off Spanish and Portuguese coast.
2. To build
a database with data on movements, relative abundances and behaviour.
3. To
standardized the methodology.
4. To
improve the co-operation between ornithologists and cetologists.
5. To
involve volunteers in studies and conservation of marine fauna.
Projects:
Seawatching
Days
The first
activity of RAM has been to carry out the “seabird and cetacean observation
days”. The project organised the observers at different capes and coastal
points along the area (during the same day and hours) to record the presence
and movements of those species. The data collected includes the species,
numbers, flight direction, age of bird, etc.
Participants
of RAM are contacted by email and the Internet. The Project is based on area
coordinators and cape coordinators to organise the census and exchange
information. The project has a web site where information, activities and
periodical reports are available
The
announcement of seawatching days is communicated by email to volunteers and to
the Internet discussion forums of Spain
and Portugal.
At the
beginning of the project, a seawatching protocol, field data sheets and
database were designed. The development of methodologies was carried out by
experienced seabird ornithologists and cetologists. Several versions were finally
adapted to the objectives of the coordinated censuses, trying to design
protocols that were easy to use and understand
by all observers.
Several
days before the “RAM day”, the interested observers contact the heads of capes
who organizes the observation day. The protocols and field data sheets and
instructions are available at the web. After seawatching the observers fill a
basic database (Excel format) and send the data to coordinators. All data are
entered into a database of the project.
