Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2023-07-29"
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- Focusing on social behaviors: Improving the perceived warmth of sharks in an aquarium settingPublication . Neves, Joao; Giger, Jean-Christophe; Alves, Vasco; Soares, NunoSharks are commonly depicted as intentionally dangerous predators and are considered a threat by the general public, limiting support for and success of global shark conservation. Following the SCM framework, this study aimed at testing the effect of information on the social lives of sharks alone or paired with circumstantial humor on the participants’ perceived warmth of sharks before visiting an aquarium. The present study took place in a naturalistic setting, allowing testing of the variables in a pseudo-real-world environment where results can objectively help in the implementation of strategies on the ground. A total sample of 303 visitors participated in this study, where three conditions (control: 100; social information: 102; social information with humor: 101) were tested. Results showed that, although mild, it was possible to affect the warmth dimension of the shark’s stereotype, most likely due to the presence of information about the social lives of sharks. This information slightly leveraged the perceived warmth dimension, although still far from the less threatening stereotype as aimed. Results also highlight the possible importance of using videos within the strategic communication and education approaches in aquariums in order to be most effective in challenging the shark stereotype. Limitations and future research ideas are explored.
- Fate of microbial contamination in a South European Coastal Lagoon (Ria Formosa) under the influence of treated effluents dispersalPublication . Caetano, Sandra; Correia, Cátia; Torres, Ana Flor; Matos, André Filipe; Ferreira, Cristina; Cravo, AlexandraAim: Assessment of the fate of microbial contamination driven from treated wastewater disposal at a highly productive zone on a South European coastal lagoon (Ria Formosa). Methods and results: Microbial indicators of contamination (Total coliforms, Escherichia coli and Enterococci) were evaluated monthly during September 2018-September 2020, at three study areas (Faro, Olhão, Tavira) under different wastewater discharge flows and hydrodynamic conditions. Additional data on E. coli monitoring in bivalves, available from the national institution responsible for their surveillance was also considered. The maximum microbial contamination was found at Faro, the highest-load and less-flushed study area, contrasting the lowest contamination at Olhão, a lower-load and strongly flushed area. The wastewater impact decreased along the spatial dispersal gradients and during high water, particularly at Faro and Tavira study areas, due to a considerable dilution effect. Microbial contamination at Olhão increased during the summer while at the other study areas seasonal evidence was not clear. Data also indicate that E. coli in bivalves from BPZ next to the three study areas reflected the differentiated impact of the wastewater treatment plants effluents on the water quality of those areas. Conclusions: Effluent loads together with local hydrodynamics, water temperature, solar radiation, precipitation and land runoff as well as seabirds populations and environmentally adapted faecal or renaturelized bacterial communities, contributed to microbial contamination of the study areas.