Sapientia

UAlg Scientific Repository

About Sapientia

SAPIENTIA brings together all scientific publications produced by teachers, researchers, and students (theses and dissertations) from the University of Algarve and cooperating entities (ULSALG-Unidade Local de Saúde do Algarve and Ciência Viva network centers in the Algarve) and aims to maximize their visibility, ensure easy access to this collection, improve the public impact of the scientific activity of the University and other entities, as well as ensure the preservation of their memories.

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Recent Submissions

Grazer‐induced bioluminescence and toxicity in marine dinoflagellates

Publication . Gonzalo‐Valmala, Paula; Pourdanandeh, Milad; Lage, Sandra; Selander, Erik

Marine copepods are the most abundant multicellular zooplankton in the global oceans. They imprint their surrounding waters with a unique bouquet of chemical compounds, including polar lipids such as copepodamides. Prey organisms can detect copepodamides and respond by inducing defensive traits including bioluminescence, toxin production, changes in colony size, and structural modifications. This mechanism has been suggested to contribute to harmful algal bloom formation, but to date only a limited number of species and strains have been experimentally exposed to copepodamides. Here, we quantify bioluminescence and toxin content in response to increasing concentrations of copepodamides in three harmful algal bloom-forming species of marine dinoflagellates: Alexandrium catenella, Protoceratium reticulatum, and Gymnodinium catenatum. All three species up-regulated their defensive traits in response to copepodamide exposure, including the first example of copepodamide-induced GC-toxin production. Neither bioluminescence nor toxin production was associated with measurable costs in terms of reduced growth rates. The results support the role of copepodamides as general alarm cues in marine phytoplankton. Moreover, the expression of simultaneous defensive traits may confound studies addressing the costs and benefits of these co-varying traits.

2025-10-31Journal article

Open access

Innovative approaches to mitigating microplastic pollution in effluents and soils

Publication . Magalhães, Solange; Alves, Luís; Medronho, Bruno; Svanedal, Ida; Norgren, Magnus; Rasteiro, Maria Graça

Microplastic pollution represents a significant environmental challenge, as microplastics accumulate in effluents and soils, causing serious risks to ecosystems and human health. Efficient removal of these contaminants is essential to mitigate their potential adverse effects. This review summarizes and critically analyses current methods for the removal of microplastics from effluents and soils, focusing on their effectiveness, advantages, and limitations. Conventional techniques—including filtration, flotation, chemical coagulation, flocculation, and adsorption—are discussed in the context of wastewater treatment and soil remediation. Emerging approaches, such as flocculation processes with special focus on the application of bio-based flocculants, are also highlighted as promising solutions. Key challenges in microplastic removal, including the diversity of microplastic types, their small size, and the complexity of environmental matrices, are addressed. This work intends to contribute to the urgent need for further research to develop more efficient and sustainable strategies for microplastic removal from environmental systems.

2025-10-11Journal article

Open access

Socio‐spatial vulnerabilities, peripheralization and post‐crises resilience: lessons from the portuguese case

Publication . Carmo, Renato Miguel; Pinto, Hugo; Ferrão, João

Existing socio-spatial vulnerabilities in the pre-pandemic moment led to different impacts of COVID-19 on territories, reinforcing ongoing processes of peripheralization. This article develops a new approach to understand the linkages between socio-spatial vulnerabilities and the socio-economic impacts of this crisis. Using data from Portuguese municipalities, a typology of vulnerable territories is defined based on the degree of potential exposure and susceptibility to external shocks. The different groups of municipalities are then related to the impact of the pandemic crisis on unemployment dynamics in 2020 and 2021. The results confirm the existence of increased socio-spatial vulnerability in areas highly dependent on tourism as well as in fragile socio-economic intra-metropolitan areas. The article has implications for thinking forward about socio-spatial vulnerability, peripheralization and the emergence of left-behind places, stressing the need to foster resilience in order to transform regional economies in post-crises recovering periods.

2025-09-07Journal article

Restricted access

Optimizing germination and cultivation of edible halophytes using effluents from an IMTA system

Publication . Castañeda-Loaiza, Viana; Rodrigues, Maria João; Neng, Nuno; Quintas, Célia; Ratao, Isabel; Custódio, Luísa

BACKGROUND: Halophytes offer nature-based solutions to food insecurity and soil degradation, while their integration into integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) systems promotes circular economy practices. This study aimed to optimize the germination and cultivation of edible halophytic species, namely Limbarda crithmoides, Suaeda vera and Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum, using effluents from an IMTA system. Germination was conducted under different substrates (perlite, vermiculite, coco peat, sand and combinations), irrigation (fresh or brackish water) and seed pre-treatments (scarification, gibberellic acid and thermal shock). Cultivation assays assessed plant responses to salinity (25.5–53.4 dS m−1 ) and density (75–600 plants m−2 ) using IMTA-derived aquaculture effluents for irrigation. RESULTS: Salinity significantly reduced seed germination. Limbarda crithmoides had the highest germination rate (61.1%) in vermiculite under freshwater irrigation, whereas S. vera achieved optimal performance in a substrate of sand, organic peat and perlite. Thermal shock slightly improved M. nodiflorum germination. Moderate salinities (35.1–40.7 dS m−1 ) resulted in higher survival and productivity, particularly for S. vera, which showed >86% survival and higher chlorophyll content. At high densities, L. crithmoides and S. vera maintained >75% survival, while M. nodiflorum at 75 plants m−2 effectively reduced nitrate and ammonia concentrations in effluents. All species produced biomass with adequate nutritional and microbiological profiles suitable for human consumption, rich in protein, dietary fiber and bioactive compounds. Suaeda vera at 300 plants m−2 exhibited the highest total content of phenolic compounds. CONCLUSION: This study outlines a sustainable approach to cultivating edible halophytes in IMTA systems, with applications in saline farming, functional foods and aquaculture wastewater treatment.

2025-10-22Journal article

Open access

Investigação em arte, ensino e experiências transcontinentais

Publication . Sales, José Albio Moreira de; Tavares, Mirian

A organização deste livro é um esforço no sentido de divulgar pesquisas no campo da arte/educação e média arte digital produzidas por docentes/pesquisadores que atuam no Brasil, Portugal, Cabo Verde, Marrocos e Macau. A iniciativa teve como ponto de partida a colaboração entre a Universidade Estadual do Ceará (UECE) e a Universidade do Algarve (UAlg), envolvendo, dentre outros setores destas instituições, o Grupo de Pesquisa Investigação em Arte, Ensino e História vinculado ao Programa de Pós-Graduação em Educação da UECE e o Centro de Investigação em Artes e Comunicação (CIAC) da UAlg. Foi essa constante interlocução que nos levou a organizar este livro, dando continuidade a um diálogo profícuo entre as nossas instituições.

2025Book

Open access