Chapter Empowering student engagement and environmental understanding: the Coastal Health Monitoring Scheme (CHMS) in the Balearic Islands, Spain

Overview & Synopsis

A partnership between the Iberostar Foundation and the University of the Balearic Islands through the Chair of the Sea, Coastal Health Monitoring Scheme has a dual purpose: training students in marine biodiversity monitoring and collecting critical coastal ecosystem data. Launched in 2021 on Ibiza with 12 stations, it now boasts 50 stations: 20 in Mallorca, 15 in Menorca, 10 in Ibiza, and 5 in Formentera. Undergraduate Biology students from the University of the Balearic Islands conduct this project. Each station undergoes comprehensive surveys in spring and summer, including three 60 m2 transects to quantify species density, focusing on sea urchins, sponges, sea cucumbers, and anemones. Population structure analysis is performed by measuring diameters of sea urchins and anemones. Variable-length transects assess benthic species like sea snails and limpets, while others study crab species diversity and Blennoidea fish abundance. Data collected forms a comprehensive biodiversity inventory, enhanced by submerged sand samples to measure organic content and granulometric composition. The CHMS's success is supported by the Iberostar Fdn., Baleària Fdn., local councils, and Island Councils, aiding in transportation, accommodation, and mobility. This collaborative approach enriches marine biology education and contributes valuable insights into coastal ecosystems.