Halgerda tessellata.

This study represents the first nudibranchs (sea slugs) research of Mozambique. Because they are not part of the charismatic megafauna or commercial species, nudibranchs are often ignored by founder agencies, local government, police makers and even the general public. However while the ecological contribution of each species is unknown, as a community they play a very important role in keeping the reef healthy as they are extremely diverse and therefore vital for the complexity and resilience of the ecosystem.

The tidal reefs are key ecosystems for these colourful animals, as well as for the local communities, especially woman and children who harvest the area for mollusks. However, the tidal reefs of Zavora have been quickly damaged and it is likely that many species might locally disappear even before they are described. The problem lies on the lack of interest and awareness in tidal reef diversity and the rapid destruction of the reefs by illegal fishing nets. This project aims to raise conservation of the tidal reefs by:

1) assessing the diversity of nudibranchs and main marine life on tidal reefs at Zavora;

2) create awareness and interest on the micro-life.

Data collection will be done through SCUBA diving and snorkeling. Posterior studies on nudibranch taxonomy will be conduct. Additionally, underwater clean up and reef relief activities will take place twice a month to reduce human impacts in the tidal reef.

This project will contribute globally for the understanding of nudibranchs diversity by solving taxonomic problems and describing new species. It will fill one of the biggest geographic gap on the knowledge of nudibranch distribution and therefore help to understand wider biogeography questions. At local and national level it is expected that the environmental education activities associated to this project will raise interest in micro marine life and therefore the protection of ecosystems that are crucial to local communities and biodiversity but due the lack of flag species are often forgotten.