Groundwater Governance in the Azores Archipelago (Portugal): Valuing and Protecting a Strategic Resource in Small Islands

Microplastics in beach sediments of the Azores archipelago, NE Atlantic

Oceanic islands are exposed to plastic debris that has accumulated in the open ocean, particularly in the subtropical gyres. This study investigates the abundance and typology of microplastics (from 0.1 to 5 mm) on 19 sandy beaches spread across 8 oceanic islands of the Azores archipelago. Between January and April 2016, a total of 341 particles retrieved from all beaches, were identified as microplastics. The highest concentration (50.19 ± 21.93 particles kg-1 dw) was found in Terceira Island. Beach morphology and grain size were important factors explaining microplastic concentration. Fibres were the most dominant morphology recovered (80.9 %), followed by fragments (12.3 %). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed that 41 % of the fibres consisted of polyester and 60 % of the fragments were polyethylene. This research underlines the widespread contamination of microplastics in oceanic islands of the Atlantic Ocean.

Controlled-Release Materials for Remediation of Trichloroethylene Contamination in Groundwater

Groundwater contamination by trichloroethylene (TCE) presents a pressing environmental challenge with far-reaching consequences. Traditional remediation methods have shown limitations in effectively addressing TCE contamination. This study reviews the limitations of conventional remediation techniques and investigates the application of oxidant-based controlled-release materials, including encapsulated, loaded, and gel-based potassium permanganate since the year 2000. Additionally, it examines reductant controlled-release materials and electron donor-release materials such as tetrabutyl orthosilicate (TBOS) and polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB). The findings suggest that controlled-release materials offer a promising avenue for enhancing TCE degradation and promoting groundwater restoration. This study concludes by highlighting the future research directions and the potential of controlled-release materials in addressing TCE contamination challenges.

Identification and Mapping of Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems in the AZORES Volcanic Archipelago (Portugal)

Groundwater contributes to the maintenance of the functioning of ecosystems, through aspects related to hydrodynamics and chemical composition. Groundwater-dependent ecosystems (GDE) also offer a wide spectrum of ecosystem services to populations; therefore, their identification and mapping, which is the focus of the present paper, is of high value to environmental policies; for example, WFD envisages protecting both water bodies and GDE. An ecosystem dependence index was applied to proceed with this task in the Azores archipelago, being estimated by adding the values of three partial variables (spring density; wetlands/lakes; river baseflow) over a 10 by 10 m2 grid; with this methodology avoiding pitfalls due to lack of data. The results enabled the identification and mapping of five GDE, in Flores and São Miguel islands, supported by only three of the 28 groundwater bodies delimited in the Azores RBD. Those groundwater bodies are considered to have a good status according to the WFD requirements; thus, GDE, regardless of their typology, are not at risk of deterioration as a result of the interaction with groundwater. Nevertheless, other studies have shown that some GDE are in conflicting ecological areas and require specific management and protection measures, coupling land use and water resource planning.

Non-indigenous and Invasive Freshwater Species on the Atlantic Islands of the Azores Archipelago

Freshwater systems on remote oceanic islands are particularly vulnerable to biological invasions. The case of freshwater ecosystems in the Azores Archipelago is especially relevant considering the islands’ youth and remoteness, and low natural connectivity. This study presents a review of the introduction and presence of non-indigenous freshwater species in the Azores, retrieved from various historical records, paleoenvironmental reconstructions, published records, and field data from two decades of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) monitoring programs. At least 132 non-indigenous freshwater species have successfully established in the Azores, belonging to several taxonomic groups: cyanobacteria (10), synurophytes (1), desmids (1), diatoms (20), plants (41), invertebrates (45), amphibia (2), and fishes (12). Intentional and accidental introductions have been occurring since the establishment of the first human settlers on the archipelago, impacting freshwater ecosystems. The first reported introductions in the Azores were intentional fish stocking in some lakes. Non-deliberate introductions have recently increased through transport-contaminants (51%) associated with the aquarium trade or agricultural products. In the Azores, the highest number of non-indigenous species occur on the largest and most populated island, São Miguel Island (116), followed by Flores (68). Plants constitute the most representative group of introduced species on all islands, but invertebrates, diatoms, and fishes are also well established on most islands. Among invertebrates, non-indigenous arthropods are the most well-established group on all islands except on the smallest Corvo Island. Many non-indigenous species will likely benefit from climate change and magnified by globalization that increases the probability of the movement of tropical and subtropical species to the Azores. Present trends in international trade, importations, and enhanced connectivity of the archipelago by increasing flights and shipping will probably promote the arrival of new species. Augmented connectivity among islands is likely to improve non-indigenous species dispersal within the archipelago as accidental transportation seems to be an essential pathway for non-indigenous freshwater species already present in the Azores.

Assessing Transportation Patterns in the Azores Archipelago

It is well-known that the ultra-peripheral territories as Islands present several limitations such as the lack of resources, restricted land, mass tourism, and barriers to movement, and connectivity between urban centers. These obstacles make ultra-peripheral regions suitable case studies considering their territorial governance and consequently, sustainable development and growth. Thus, transportation and infrastructure sustainability in these regions are not an exception. Considering all the obstacles present in these regions, the accessibility and connectivity patterns that the local population has in these territories should be assessed and monitored. Thereby, through exploratory tools, the present research assumes to examine, using accessibility and connectivity indicators, the consequences across the social-economic dimension that the regional transportation and infrastructure should convey to the Azores Islands Archipelago populations. Therefore, this article allows us to set the present situation regarding this region’s accessibility and connectivity patterns, creating an additional tool for supporting the main actors’ design and implementation of these territories’ future plans and strategies. Besides, this study enables us to recognize that Pico, Flores, and São Miguel are the ones with better accessibility patterns within the Azores Archipelago.