Browsing by Author "Vaz, Nuno"
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- Assessment of habitat suitability for common cockles in the Ria the Aveiro Lagoon under average and projected environmental conditionsPublication . Matos, Fábio L.; Vaz, Nuno; Picado, Ana; Dias, João M.; Maia, Francisco; Gaspar, Miguel; Magalhães, LuísaThe common cockle Cerastoderma edule is a widespread bivalve species inhabiting estuarine systems across the North East Atlantic, where it provides several ecosystem services, and represents a valuable fishery resource for local economies. However, anthropogenic pressure and more frequent extreme weather events threaten the resilience of the species. Spatially explicit information on species distribution is critical for the implementation of management and conservation practices. This study assessed the potential distribution of C. edule in the Ria de Aveiro by estimating the habitat suitability using an ensemble approach based on ecological niche modeling and recently developed hydrodynamic and water quality models to forecast both average and projected estuarine conditions. The models were developed for the summer of 2013 and spring of 2019 and potential range shifts in the species distribution were forecasted under projected environmental conditions: high and low estimates of freshwater discharge, a 2 degrees C increase in water temperature, and the combined effect of low freshwater discharge and increased water temperature. The results suggest that salinity, time of submersion, and current velocity play an important role in the distribution of cockles, and large areas were consistently classified with high habitat suitability. Increased freshwater discharge (both seasons) and low discharge coupled to increased temperature (spring) resulted in large decreases in suitable habitat. Conversely, low freshwater discharges and average (unchanged) temperatures increased the suitable habitat in the outermost regions of the Ria. The spatially explicit information provided contributes to a better understanding of the vulnerability of C. edule in the Ria de Aveiro to extreme weather events (e.g., droughts, river floods) and may support adaptive management strategies of the cockle fishery during these conditions. Moreover, this approach can be transferred to other estuarine ecosystems for which data describing the environmental conditions (e.g., derived from numerical models), and information about species presence are available (including data-poor species).
- Dados palinoestratigráficos preliminares do Gorstiano (Silúrico) da Formação de Sazes (Sinclinal do Buçaco)Publication . Lopes, Gilda; Vaz, Nuno; Sequeira, A. J. D.; Piçarra, J. M.; Fernandes, Paulo; Pereira, ZéliaNovos dados bioestratigráficos foram obtidos na sucessão estratigráfica do Paleozóico Inferior da região do Buçaco. A Formação de Sazes (Silúrico) está a ser estudada ao nível palinológico (miosporos e quitinozoários) e de macrofósseis (graptólitos), com o intuito de rever e complementar dados bioestratigráficos anteriormente descritos. Com base nos dados palinológicos, parte da Fm. de Sazes foi datada com mais precisão como pertencendo ao Gorstiano e, pela primeira vez nesta região, também foram identificados criptosporos. Novos dados são esperados com a continuação deste estudo.
- A new approach to palynostratigraphy of the middle–late Famennian Gafo Formation, southern sector of the Pulo do Lobo Domain, SW Iberia (Portugal and Spain)Publication . Mendes, Márcia; Pereira, Zélia; Vaz, Nuno; Díez-Montes, Alejandro; Matos, João X.; Albardeiro, Luis; Manuel Carvalho Fernandes, Paulo; Jorge, Raul; Chew, DavidNew palynological results from the Gafo Formation (southern sector of the Pulo do Lobo Domain, South Portuguese Zone) are integrated with recently studied sections and drillholes from the Portuguese and Spanish sectors. A total of 44 samples were studied, 27 of which were positive for palynomorph taxonomy. This research revealed well preserved palynological assemblages, including 73 spore species allocated to 28 genera, four acritarch genera, three prasinophyte algae genera plus common chitinozoan remains. Some additional forms were retained under open nomenclature. From this, the first complete age determination for the Gafo Formation in Portugal and Spain was achieved, indicating a middle Famennian (Grandispora gracilis–Grandispora famenensis, GF Biozone) to a late Famennian (Grandispora echinata, VH Biozone) age. A greywacke sample from the same Gafo Formation was dated by U–Pb zircon geochronology and a maximum depositional age of 369 ± 2.5 Ma was obtained. A correlation between these palynological and U–Pb zircon data and the palynoflora assemblages of previous authors was made, as well as with the ages of felsic volcanic rocks found intercalated in the Gafo Formation, confirming the complex stratigraphy of Pulo do Lobo Domain. The results are consistent with stratigraphic mapping and structural interpretations, allowing a middle–late Famennian age (GF and VH Biozone) to be assigned to the Gafo Formation sedimentary rocks. This work has also contributed to a reinterpretation of Gafo Formation depositional facies correlatives (e.g. the Santa Barbara Group in Spain) as being the same lithological unit.
- New insights on the Hirnantian palynostratigraphy of the rio Ceira section, Buçaco, PortugalPublication . Lopes, Gilda; Vaz, Nuno; Sequeira, A. J. D.; Piçarra, J. M.; Fernandes, Paulo; Pereira, Zélia; Gutierrez-Marco, J. C.; Rabano, I.; Garcia-Bellido, D.The Lower Palaeozoic successions of Portugal are well represented in the Central Iberian Zone (Cll), one of the main tectonostratigraphic domains of the Iberian Massif. Located in the CIZ, the Bu<;aco Syncline presents one of its most complete Palaeozoic sequences. With a NW-SE orientation, the Lower Palaeozoic lithostratigraphic succession, includes several Ordovician units that ranges from the Lower Ordovician (Tremadocian stage) to the Upper Ordovician (Hirnantian stage) and are unconformably overlain by the Silurian Sazes Formation, at least of Wenlock and Ludlow epochs, in the Rio Ceira Section (Fig.1). This sequence is also well known by its rich palaeontological content in macrofauna (e.g. trilobites, briozoans, echinoderms, ostracods, brachiopods, graptolites) and microfauna (conodonts, chitinozoans, acritarchs) (Delgado, 1908; Henry and Thadeu, 1971; Mitchell, 1974; Henry et al., 1974, 1976; ElaouadDebbaj, 1978; Henry, 1980; Paris, 1979, 1981; Romano, 1982; Romano et aI., 1986; Young, 1985, 1987, 1988,1989).
- Palynomorphs from the Gorstian (Silurian) of the Sazes Formation (Buçaco Syncline), Central Iberian Zone, Portugal - preliminary resultsPublication . Lopes, Gilda; Vaz, Nuno; Sequeira, A. J. D.; Piçarra, J. M.; Fernandes, Paulo; Pereira, ZéliaOccuring in a complex syncline that extends from Buçaco to Penedo de Góis, the studied area is located in the Central Iberian Zone of the Iberian Massif. In this region outcrops a well-preserved and complete stratigraphic succession of Lower Paleozoic age. At the top of the Buçaco Syncline stratigraphic succession, the Silurian Sazes Formation (Paris, 1981), is currently being studied at a palynological (miospores and chitinozoans) and macrofossil (graptolites) level, allowing a preliminary revision and completion of the initial biostratigraphy of this area. This studies will also provide information to support the undergoing surveying mapping project (1:50 000) that is being undertaken by the “Laboratório Nacional de Energia e Geologia” (Portuguese Geological Survey) (Sequeira, in prep).