Browsing by Author "Marques, Catarina"
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- Development and validation of an experimental life support system for assessing the effects of global climate change and environmental contamination on estuarine and coastal marine benthic communitiesPublication . Coelho, Francisco J. R. C.; Rocha, Rui J. M.; Pires, Ana C. C.; Ladeiro, Bruno; Castanheira, Jose M.; Costa, Rodrigo; Almeida, Adelaide; Cunha, Angela; Lillebo, Ana Isabel; Ribeiro, Rui; Pereira, Ruth; Lopes, Isabel; Marques, Catarina; Moreira-Santos, Matilde; Calado, Ricardo; Cleary, Daniel F. R.; Gomes, Newton C. M.An experimental life support system (ELSS) was constructed to study the interactive effects of multiple stressors on coastal and estuarine benthic communities, specifically perturbations driven by global climate change and anthropogenic environmental contamination. The ELSS allows researchers to control salinity, pH, temperature, ultraviolet radiation (UVR), tidal rhythms and exposure to selected contaminants. Unlike most microcosms previously described, our system enables true independent replication (including randomization). In addition to this, it can be assembled using commercially available materials and equipment, thereby facilitating the replication of identical experimental setups in different geographical locations. Here, we validate the reproducibility and environmental quality of the system by comparing chemical and biological parameters recorded in our ELSS with those prevalent in the natural environment. Water, sediment microbial community and ragworm (the polychaete Hediste diversicolor) samples were obtained from four microcosms after 57days of operation. In general, average concentrations of dissolved inorganic nutrients (NO3-; NH4+ and PO4-3) in the water column of the ELSS experimental control units were within the range of concentrations recorded in the natural environment. While some shifts in bacterial community composition were observed between in situ and ELSS sediment samples, the relative abundance of most metabolically active bacterial taxa appeared to be stable. In addition, ELSS operation did not significantly affect survival, oxidative stress and neurological biomarkers of the model organism Hediste diversicolor. The validation data indicate that this system can be used to assess independent or interactive effects of climate change and environmental contamination on benthic communities. Researchers will be able to simulate the effects of these stressors on processes driven by microbial communities, sediment and seawater chemistry and to evaluate potential consequences to sediment toxicity using model organisms such as Hediste diversicolor.
- Segmenting graduates consumers of higher education in tourism: An extension of the ECSI ModelPublication . Eurico, Sofia; Pinto, Patrícia; Silva, João Albino; Marques, CatarinaThis research explores the European Consumer Satisfaction Index model applied to higher education in tourism by accounting for unobserved heterogeneity. In particular, it intends to identify segments of Higher Education Institutions’ consumers based on the structural model estimates of the European Consumer Satisfaction Index, enlarged with the employability construct. A model-based segmentation approach in Partial Least Squares path modelling is used. The European Consumer Satisfaction Index was properly adjusted to the educational framework and has shown its effectiveness when assessing students’ satisfaction regarding the attended Higher Education Institution. Two distinctive, graduates’ segments were identified using a sample of 166 Higher Education Institutions’ consumers. Results confirm the assumption of heterogeneity as the relationships differ across segments and the need for Higher Education Institutions to differently target those segments in such a competitive context. These results may be used strategically by Higher Education Institutions and policy makers as segments of graduates are identified according to their perception of employability and the future influence of this on their satisfaction. Deepening the knowledge on their consumers, Higher Education Institutions will be better prepared to adjust their educational performance to graduates’ best interests and to promote their offer.
- Socio‐cultural impacts of peer‐to‐peer accommodation on host communitiesPublication . Petruzzi, Marina A.; Marques, Catarina; Campos, Ana CláudiaPeer-to-peer accommodation has recently emerged as a central focus of research in tourism and hospitality. However, research on socio-cultural impacts of peer-to-peer accommodation is fragmented. This study reviews the relevant literature on the socio-cultural impacts of peer-to-peer accommodation on host communities and proposes an integrative framework and a working definition for goal socio-cultural impacts of peer-to-peer accommodation. This literature review contributes to knowledge of how this business paradigm affects and frames host communities and integrates the factors that should be explored by researchers, policymakers, and organizations to manage the impacts of peer-to-peer accommodation on host communities.