Sapientia
Repositório Científico da UAlg
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Transdisciplinarity in water management: a systematic review of concepts, practices, and challenges
Publication . de Carvalho Silva, Ana Paula; Ribau Teixeira, Margarida; Nunes, Luís
Transdisciplinarity has become a central paradigm for addressing complex socio-environmental challenges that transcend disciplinary and institutional boundaries. This article revisits the concept from the perspective of water resources management, questioning whether its increasing application has achieved the depth and transformative potential originally envisioned. A systematic review and bibliometric analysis were conducted to examine how transdisciplinarity has been conceptualized and operationalized across 61 international initiatives covering multiple governance scales and institutional contexts. The findings reveal that, although transdisciplinarity is now widely recognized in scientific and policy agendas, its implementation often remains rhetorical or fragmented. Persistent barriers include limited knowledge co-production, asymmetry between scientific and local expertise, and weak participatory mechanisms. Nonetheless, promising experiences demonstrate that when communities are engaged as co-authors of decisions, water governance becomes more legitimate, adaptive, and sustainable. By integrating empirical evidence with conceptual reflection, this study advances understanding of how ethical and methodological co-production can move transdisciplinarity from a normative paradigm toward an actionable framework for water governance.
Assessing fish welfare in small-scale commercial fixed-net fisheries off the southern portuguese coast
Publication . Samel, Vighnesh Nilesh; Costa, Rita; Marçalo, Ana; Frade, Magda; Bentes, Luis; Saraiva, João; Gonçalves, Jorge Manuel Santos; Guerreiro, Pedro Miguel; Claudio D'Iglio
Despite a growing interest in animal welfare in production systems, research on fish welfare remains limited, particularly in commercial fisheries. Fish caught in fixed-net fisheries experience multiple stressors from the time of capture to mortality on deck considered detrimental to their welfare. We examined the impact of bottom-set gill nets and on-board handling on catch welfare using behavioural and physiological indicators. Vitality assessments were performed on four commercially important fish species on-board fishing vessels through a devised vitality scale that included behaviours, morphological condition and reflexes as indicators of welfare. Physiological stress parameters (Cortisol, Glucose, Lactate and Osmolality) were evaluated in blood collected on deck and analysed in relation to the vitality scores. The vitality at arrival on deck as well as the rate of decrease in vitality differed significantly amongst the tested species. Furthermore, Generalised Linear Models predicted that several biological, operational, and environmental variables significantly affect the extent of time the fish shows activity, and hence, on the welfare. Elevated average cortisol levels were found at all the vitality stages highlighting the stress experienced by fish due to the fishing process. The findings of this study enable us to recommend welfare-friendly methods in set-net fisheries to promote better fishing standards.
Medronho: produtos diretos com fileira estabelecida
Publication . Botelho, Goreti; Gomes, Filomena; Melo, Filipe; Rodrigues, Ivo; Oliveira, Jorge André; Varejão, Jorge; Franco, Justina; Vidal, Maria Manuel; Pato, Rosinda Leonor; Santos, Sandra; Ressurreição, Sandrine; Canhoto, Jorge; Martins, João; Figueiredo, Patrícia; Duarte, Filomena L.; Machado, Helena; Caldeira, Ilda; Baleiras-Couto, M. Margarida; Guerreiro, Adriana; Gago, Custódia; Galego, Ludovina; Antunes, Maria Dulce; Miguel, Maria da Graça; Pereira, Afonso; Patrício, Márcia; Gama, João; Guilherme, Rosa; Fonseca, Carlos
O medronho é utilizado tradicionalmente para a produção de aguardente, com particular incidência no Algarve, no Alentejo e na Região Centro, nesta última nos distritos de Coimbra, Guarda e Castelo Branco. A Associação de Produtores de Aguardente de Medronho do Barlavento Algarvio (APAGARBE) foi a primeira Associação que se constituiu com os produtores para a venda de aguardente ao público.
Sucederam-se outras, nomeadamente a Associação para a Promoção do Medronho (Arbutus) com sede em Odemira e que conta com mais de 60
associados de todo o país. Existem diversos produtos no mercado nacional, desde produtos fermentados ou que envolvem fermentação de matéria-prima (cerveja, chocolate com recheio, pão de medronho, vinagre), produtos que envolvem fermentação/ destilação (aguardente, licor, melosa e gin) a produtos não fermentados (compota, doce, geleia, entre outros).
Phylogenomics as baseline for taxonomy description: Amphibiibacter pelophylacis gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel taxon of the family Sphaerotilaceae, class Betaproteobacteria, isolated from the skin microbiota of Pelophylax perezi from different populations
Publication . Costa, Sara; Proença, Diogo Neves; Lopes, Isabel; Morais, Paula V.
Bacterial strain SL12-8T was characterized and isolated from the skin microbiota of Pelophylax perezi, the Perez’s frog. Strain SL12-8T stained Gram-negative and formed rod-shaped cells that grew optimally at 25 °C and pH 7.0–7.5. The G+C content of the DNA was 66.2 mol%. Ubiquinone 8 was the respiratory quinone identified in the studied strain and the most closely related taxon. The major fatty acids were summed in feature 3 and summed in feature 8 and C16:0, representing 84% of the total fatty acids. Phylogenetic analyses based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence placed strain SL12-8T within the order Burkholderiales in a distinct lineage. The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of strain SL12-8T to that of Rubrivivax albus, Scleromatobacter humisilvae, Piscinibacter aquaticus, Azohydromonas caseinilytica and Aquincola agrisoli were 94.41, 94.08, 93.72, 93.72 and 93.64%, respectively. The draft genome sequence of strain SL12-8T comprises 3,115,197 bases with a 313-fold mapped genome coverage. The assembled genome consists of 53 large contigs with more than 500 bp, and the genome encodes 2,814 putative coding sequences. The analysis of the available genomes from the closest genera showed 124 core genes that reveal a novel genus-level clade including the strain SL12-8T . Analysis of the SL12-8T genome revealed the presence of the beta-lactone and terpene biosynthetic gene clusters. The phylogenomic, phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic data showed that strain SL12-8T (=UCCCB 131T =CECT 30762T ) represents the type of a novel species and genus, for which we propose the name Amphibiibacter pelophylacis gen. nov., sp. nov.
From Lignocellulosic residues to protein sources: insights into biomass pre-treatments and conversion
Publication . Vera dos Anjos, Isabela; Coelho, Natacha; Duarte, Hugo; Proença, Diogo Neves; Duarte, Maria F.; Jorge de Barros, Raúl José; Raposo, Sara; Gonçalves, Sandra; Romano, Anabela; Medronho, Bruno
With the global population steadily rising, the demand for sustainable protein sources has become increasingly urgent. Traditional animal- and plant-based proteins face challenges related to scalability, resource efficiency, and environmental impact. In this context, single-cell protein has emerged as a promising alternative. Derived from microorganisms such as algae, bacteria, fungi, and yeast, single-cell protein offers a high nutritional profileincluding all essential amino acids and vitamins—while enabling rapid production, minimal land and water requirements, and no generation of greenhouse gas emissions. A particularly compelling advantage of single-cell protein is its ability to be produced from agro-industrial waste, converting low-cost residues into valuable nutritional resources and contributing to environmental sustainability. Among these waste streams, lignocellulosic biomass from agricultural and forestry residues stands out as a renewable, biodegradable, and abundant feedstock. This review explores the potential of lignocellulosic waste as a substrate for single-cell protein production, emphasizing both its environmental advantages and nutritional value. It highlights the single-cell protein role as a sustainable and scalable alternative to conventional protein sources. The review also identifies key scientific, economic, and regulatory challenges, and recognizes the importance of targeted investments, particularly in policy development, public awareness, and technological innovation, to enable the broader adoption and acceptance of single-cell protein -based products.