NaGISA - Institute of Oceanology PAS - methods


NAGISA employs a simple, cost efficient and intentionally low-tech sampling protocol that can be adopted by many research groups and countries, promoting local community involvement. The ultimate goal is a series of well-distributed standard transects from the high inter-tidal zone to the depth of 20m covering the world, which can be repeated over a 50-year or greater time frame.

NaGISA focuses on two key shallow water habitats: seagrasses and rocky seashores.


  • rocky sea shores

    • three sampling sites in each geographical area

    • samples taken at high tide, mid tide, low tide, 5 m, 10 m and (optionally) 15 m and 20 m

    • 5 replicates at each depths

    • a replicate consist of: 1mx1m frame - estimaton of macroalgae coverage, 0.5m x 0.5 m frame - sample of macroalgea, 0.25 m x 0.25 m frame- sample of macroalgae and benthos




  • sea grasses

    • three sampling sites in each geographical area

    • 5 replicates located in the center of the sea-grass patch

    • a replicate consist of: 5 cm diameter core for sea grasses and macrofauna and 2 cm diameter core for meiofauna

    • macrofauna sieved on 0.5 mm sieve, meiofauna sieved on 0.063 mm



  • link to protocols at NaGISA web page




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