Natura 2000 network estuaries in Cantabria (Invertebrates)

This dataset contains information on the abundance and biomass of benthic macroinvertebrates collected in the estuaries of Tina Menor, Oyambre, and Joyel (Cantabria, northern Spain) between 2016 and 2019. The monitoring program was part of the LIFE CONVIVE project, which aimed to address the challenge of integrating human activities with the conservation objectives of the Natura 2000 Network in the estuaries of Cantabria. The project implemented environmental restoration actions and citizen awareness initiatives to promote the ecological value and sustainable use of these coastal ecosystems. Sampling was carried out during summer at two stations in the Tina Menor estuary, two in Oyambre, and seven in Joyel.Acknowledgements: This work was carried out within the framework of the LIFE CONVIVE project, co-financed by the LIFE programme of the European Union. We would like to thank the project partners: the Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries, and Rural Development of the Government of Cantabria, the Municipality of Arnuero, Constructora Obras Públicas San Emeterio S.A., the Spanish Ornithological Society (SEO/BirdLife), and Aves Cantábricas S.L. for their support and collaboration.
Introduction: The LIFE-CONVIVE project (Integration of human activities into the conservation objectives of the Natura 2000 Network along the Cantabrian coast) was developed to promote coexistence between human use and biodiversity conservation in the estuarine systems of Cantabria (northern Spain). Estuaries are ecosystems of high ecological and socio-economic importance, but they are also among the most threatened environments due to hydrodynamic alterations, eutrophication, invasive species, and human occupation. The project aimed to improve the conservation status of coastal and estuarine habitats included in the Natura 2000 Network through restoration and management actions carried out between 2015 and 2019. The project included interventions in several estuarine systems (Tina Menor, Oyambre, and Joyel), addressing specific ecological problems and restoration needs in each site. In the Tina Menor estuary, located at the mouth of the Nansa River and included within the Natura 2000 site Rías Occidentales y Duna de Oyambre, ten habitats of community interest were identified, together with more than thirty bird species, some of which are listed in Annex I of the EU Birds Directive. Restoration actions focused on the eastern margin of the estuary, in the area surrounding the aquaculture facilities of Tina Menor S.L., where anthropogenic dikes and reclaimed land have created semi-enclosed lagoons with limited water exchange. The actions implemented included the removal of the invasive plant Baccharis halimifolia (over 4 ha), the installation of a green filter at the wastewater discharge point to reduce nutrient input, and the development of a biodiversity management plan for birds. These measures aimed to enhance habitat quality and biodiversity conservation within approximately 30 ha of the estuarine system. The Oyambre estuary, also part of the Natura 2000 site Rías Occidentales y Duna de Oyambre, consists of two tidal branches, the Ría de la Rabia and the Ría del Capitán. Restoration efforts were focused on the Ría del Capitán, an area highly modified by the construction of tidal dikes that have led to siltation and partial desiccation of the marsh. The proposed actions included restoring tidal dynamics through the enlargement of the Zapedo dike opening and removing Baccharis halimifolia from 14 ha of saltmarsh. These actions aimed to improve the conservation status of habitats 1330 (Atlantic salt meadows) and 1420 (Mediterranean and thermo-Atlantic halophilous scrubs) within a total restored area of 35 ha. The Joyel estuary, part of the Natura 2000 site and Natural Park Marismas de Santoña, Victoria y Joyel, is characterized by seven habitats of community interest and a high diversity of bird species, many of them protected under the Birds and Habitats Directives. Historically, this estuary has been heavily modified by dike construction and land reclamation, leading to the formation of two large semi-enclosed lagoons: Santa Olaja and Joyel. These areas experience limited water renewal and eutrophication. Restoration actions included optimizing the hydrodynamics of the Santa Olaja lagoon, removing green macroalgae proliferations, repairing the Soano dike gates to restore tidal exchange in the Joyel lagoon, removing Baccharis halimifolia from over 4 ha of marshland, and developing a bird biodiversity management plan. The overall objective was to restore favorable conservation status for habitats 1330 and 1420 and support the educational and cultural functions of the Santa Olaja mill, which serves as an environmental interpretation center. Overall, LIFE-CONVIVE implemented a set of coordinated restoration, management, and awareness-raising actions across several estuarine and coastal systems in Cantabria, contributing to the long-term conservation of habitats and species of community interest within the Natura 2000 Network.Purpose: The LIFE-CONVIVE project aimed to promote the integration of human activities with the conservation objectives of the Natura 2000 Network in the estuaries of Cantabria (northern Spain). The project focused on restoring and improving the ecological status of estuarine habitats through actions such as the removal of invasive species, the regeneration of hydrodynamic conditions by reopening dikes, and the reduction of anthropogenic pressures. In addition, the project sought to raise public awareness of the ecological value and ecosystem services provided by estuarine environments and to optimize future restoration initiatives through monitoring, dissemination, and the development of management and conservation plans.