The Centre for Environmental Monitoring and Interpretation (CMIA) of Vila do Conde is a municipal equipment with scientific and technical coordination of CIIMAR (Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research – a research and advanced training institution of the University of Porto) that aims to develop actions for environmental awareness and promote the construction of databases of environmental quality at the local level in order to contribute for improving the environment at a regional level.
To celebrate Save the Frogs Day, CMIA of Vila do Conde, in collaboration with the Ponds with Life Project and theYouth Centre of Campanhã (Pole of Vila do Conde) held, last April 30, an event that began in the Youth Centre of Campanhã and ended in the Protected Landscape of the Coastline Vila do Conde and Mindelo Ornithological Reserve (PPLVC-ROM).
Given the connection of the young of the Youth Centre of Campanhã with the conservation of amphibians due to the construction of a wetlands complex in the center’s land, we considered this event as an excellent opportunity to return the contribution of this institution in biodiversity conservation!
The young people joined, participated with the biologist Dr. Ana Ferreira (from Ponds with Life Project) and helped with various valences: as nature photographers and amateur biologists, the youth helped in the discovery of the biodiversity of wetlands within the Youth Centre of Campanhã and abroad in Mindelo Ornithological Reserve.
From the observed amphibian species, we highlight several larvae from the european toad (Bufo bufo) and natterjack toad (Epidalea calamita), larvae of marbled newt (Triturus marmoratus) and of fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra) and several juvenils of iberian painted frogs (Discoglossus galganoi). But there were also other species than just amphibians in the ponds, that are also very important for this aquatic ecosystem: it was possible to observe stick insects (Ranatra linearis), water striders (Gerris sp.), backswimmers (Notonecta glauca), a water cricket (Velia caprai), dragonfly larvae (Anisoptera sub-order), caddis insects (Trichoptera order), seed shrimps (Class Ostracoda), among others …
At the end of the activity, the participants found themselves extremely motivated, ready for another activity!