Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2025-08"
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- Seasonal variation in seabird abundance and bycatch at artisanal bottom-set net fisheries in the southern Iberian Atlantic coastPublication . Pereira, Jorge M.; Ramos, Jaime A.; Almeida, Ana; Marçalo, Ana; Carvalho, Flávia; Fagundes, Isabel; Gonçalves, Jorge Manuel Santos; Frade, Magda; Oliveira, Nuno; Nascimento, Tânia; Paiva, Vitor H.Bycatch is a major cause of seabird mortality, yet most studies focus on industrial fisheries, with limited knowledge on artisanal fisheries. This study investigates the seasonal abundance of seabirds off the southern-eastern coast of mainland Portugal, their attendance at artisanal bottom-set net fisheries, and observed bycatch, using onboard observations and fishermen interviews. From March 2020 to November 2022, 24,643 seabirds were observed attending fishing vessels in 183 daily fishing trips (98.4 % of 186 trips), spanning 20 species across 7 families, with 25 seabirds recorded as bycatch. Lesser black-backed and Yellow-legged gulls (Larus fuscus and Larus michahellis) were the most abundant species, followed by Audouin's gulls (Ichthyaetus audouinii), Great shearwaters (Ardenna gravis), and Northern gannets (Morus bassanus). During summer, the abundance of Yellow-legged and Audouin's gulls (local breeders) and Lesser black-backed gulls (non-breeding species) increased with fishery catch per unit effort. Great shearwaters were more affected by gear type, exhibiting higher attendance and bycatch in trammel nets during autumn. 65 % of Great shearwater bycatch occurred during a single fishing event, probably from fishermen cleaning nets and discarding fish and viscera during net setting. Fishermen interviews identified Northern gannets and Great cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo) as the most frequently bycaught species, particularly in winter when onboard observations were limited. These findings underscore the impact of artisanal fisheries on seabird populations and highlight the importance of combining onboard data with fishermen interviews to improve bycatch estimates and inform conservation efforts. Our study also suggests that fishermen behaviour during fishery operations significantly influence seabird bycatch.
- Offshore wind farms threaten the endangered Brazilian kelp lLminaria abyssalis: a call for urgent nature-positive actionPublication . Anderson, A. B.; Opsahl-Sorteberg, H. G.; Gomes, L. E. O.; Horta, P.; Chapman, A. S.; Serrao, Ester A.; Joyeux, J-C.Constructions of offshore wind farms over 15,000 km2 are planned on the continental shelf - home to the indigenous critically endangered kelp Laminaria abyssalis and are currently under technical evaluation by the Brazilian environmental authorities (the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources, IBAMA). Construction, maintenance and routine activity near the facilities are expected to intensify the anthropogenic pressure on the kelp’s restricted habitat (33,000 km2 ). Monitoring conducted since 2022 by the global RESTORESEAS project has highlighted the danger of a major reduction in the effective niche of L. abyssalis, raising concerns about its possible functional extinction. Immediate remapping of kelp beds combined with marine forest restoration strategies are essential to prevent irreversible loss and secure current biodiversity to face future climate changes.
- Correlation between trace element concentrations in the blood of female hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) and egg quality in nesting populations of São Tomé IslandPublication . Morão, Inês F. C.; Simões, Tiago; Casado, Roger B.; Vieira, Sara; Ferreira-Airaud, Betânia; Caliani, Ilaria; Noi, Agata Di; Casini, Silvia; Fossi, Maria C.; Lemos, Marco F. L.; Novais, Sara C.Metals and metalloids can pose a significant threat to sea turtles, as these contaminants tend to accumulate in their bodies over time, due to their long lifespans and varied feeding habits. S˜ ao Tom´e and Príncipe’s archipelago hosts the last remaining rookery for hawksbill sea turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) in the region. The study aimed to determine the levels of metals and metalloids accumulated by this population and to investigate their possible genotoxicity in nesting females’ blood as well as potential effects on their eggs in terms of morphometric characteristics and the quality of their lipidic reserves, essential for embryo development. Higher levels of Hg were found to be correlated with increased “lobed-shaped nuclei” in erythrocytic count, suggesting genotoxicity effects in this population. Higher levels of Se were correlated with thicker and heavier eggshells, while Pb levels were associated with the reduction of the egg’s diameter. Metal contamination in females’ blood significantly affected yolk polar fatty acids. Significant negative correlations were found between general metal contamination (PLI) and saturated fatty acids (SFA), while positive correlations were observed for essential omega-6 fatty acids (n6), mostly influenced by Cu, Fe, and Hg concentrations. This suggests that these omega-6 fatty acids are being synthesized from SFA, potentially indicating stress response by metal exposure. The present results point to some potential alterations in the normal embryonic development of these turtle eggs, influenced by metal contamination, which should raise some concerns about the future of this critically endangered species and call for additional conservation efforts in the region.
- Understanding planktonic diatoms to inform site selection for shellfish offshore aquaculture systemsPublication . Araújo Freitas, Carla Alexandra; Goela, Priscila; Icely, John; Dias Duarte Fragoso, Bruno; de Oliveira Júnior, Luciano; Cristina, Sónia; Newton, AliceSustainable bivalve aquaculture offers a solution to rising food demand. This study aimed to help identify suitable offshore shellfish aquaculture sites in coastal upwelling regions. Here, planktonic diatom abundance, crucial for bivalve growth, is a key success factor. A successful bivalve production area was analysed to understand how diatom dynamics and upwelling influence a suitable location for shellfish offshore aquaculture. A diatom-based criterion for site selection is proposed. Surface water samples were collected over two years in southwest Iberia, near a major upwelling centre. Phytoplankton abundance and composition were assessed along with chlorophyll-a concentration and wind-stress upwelling indices. Episodes of high diatom concentrations were frequent and distributed throughout the year. Most diatom blooms were dominated by Pseudo-nitzschia, particularly the delicatissima group. Although this genus is potentially toxic, the levels of amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP) toxin-the domoic acid (DA) in bivalves were mostly low or undetectable, even during periods of high Pseudo-nitzschia abundances. Conversely, the less abundant Pseudo-nitzschia seriata group presence often coincided with detectable DA in bivalves. These findings suggest that high Pseudo-nitzschia abundance does not hinder aquaculture and may even benefit it when the delicatissima group prevails in high numbers. Focusing on the Pseudo-nitzschia seriata group in predictive models may better predict DA levels for harvest closures, minimising economic losses and health risks. This is particularly true for locations where the seriata group is the one linked to DA production. Additionally, we identified oceanographic conditions coinciding with DA levels exceeding regulatory limit.
- The influence of the storage period on the suppressive capacity of composts enriched with trichoderma atroviridePublication . Guerreiro David Coelho, Luísa Isabel; Reis, Mário; Dionísio, Lídia; Guerrero, CarlosComposts can be used to improve soil fertility while controlling soil diseases, contributing to the circular economy in agriculture. Biological control of soil diseases may be achieved by the activity of antagonistic microorganisms, that, by different ways, prevent the development of phytopathogenic microorganisms, being Trichoderma spp. one of the best-known antagonistic fungi. In this work, the evolution of the suppressive capacity during a storage period of one year, was evaluated on two composts enriched with Trichoderma atroviride, against Rhizoctonia solani, Clarireedia spp. and Sclerotium rolfsii in turfgrass (Agrostis stolonifera). Both composts, obtained from agro-industrial residues, were enriched with T. atroviride, and stored at room temperature, in the dark. The composts were tested in vivo, at 0, 6 and 12 months of storage, as substrates for turfgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L. cv. T1) grown in pots. Plants were inoculated with the above-mentioned pathogenic fungi and the incidence and the severity of the diseases, AUDPC and BCI, were determined during the storage period. The highest biological control performance was achieved after 6 months of storage, especially on the composts enriched with Trichoderma atroviride.
- Da página à tela e da tela à rota: “O Quatrilho” como impulsionador do roteiro agroturismo na cidade de Gramado, RS, BrasilPublication . Diaz, Ronaldo; Ferreira, Luciane Tedeschini; Baleiro, RitaO turismo literário e cinematográfico tem recebido atenção junto a gestores, influenciando educação, cultura e economia. Este estudo foca no roteiro literário-cinematográfico “O Quatrilho”, em Gramado, RS, Brasil, que combina turismo cultural e obras literárias/fílmicas. Iniciamos com uma análise teórica da relação entre literatura, cinema e turismo, seguindo com a análise da obra “O Quatrilho” e sua adaptação cinematográfica, destacando os elementos do roteiro. Utilizando perspectivas bakhtinianas (Bakhtin, 1997) e análise de conteúdo (Bardin, 2011), investigamos os comentários de visitantes no TripAdvisor. Os resultados mostram que o roteiro proporciona experiências autênticas e imersivas, mesmo para aqueles não familiarizados com as obras, sendo que os turistas destacam, nesse tour a hospitalidade, cultura local e simplicidade.
- Comparing the diagnostic performance of ultrasound elastography and magnetic resonance imaging to differentiate benign and malignant breast lesions: a systematic review and meta-analysisPublication . Gomes, Ana Filipa; Justino, David; Tomás, Carina; Jesus, Diogo; Macedo, Ana; Pinto, Ezequiel; Leitao, HelenaObjective: The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was comparing diagnostic performance of ultrasound elastography (UE), strain UE and shear wave elastography (SWE), with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in differentiating benign and malignant breast lesions. Methods: Literature search of MEDLINE, Web of Science, SCOPUS and Google Scholar was performed in June 2023. Included studies used Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) and histopathology as reference standard. A bivariate random-effects model was used to calculate sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), positive and negative likelihood ratios and area under the curve (AUC). Meta-regression subgroup analysis was performed. Results: Nine studies and 536 lesions were included. Pooled sensitivity was not different between MRI vs UE [MRI: 94% (95% CI: 88.2%-96.9%) vs UE: 90% (95% CI: 84.7%-93.1%); P=0.153] but a difference was found for specificity [UE: 78% (95% CI: 66.3%-86.4%) vs MRI: 71.3% (95% CI: 52.1%-85%); P=0.0065]. Strain UE showed higher specificity and similar sensitivity to SWE [strain UE: 0.85 (95% CI: 0.71-0.93) vs SWE: 0.72 (95% 0.58-0.83); P=0.017 and strain UE: 0.87 (95% CI 0.79-0.93) vs SWE: 0.91 (95% CI 0.85-0.95); P=0.311, respectively]. AUC was similar between MRI vs UE [0.91 (95% CI 0.87-0.95) vs 0.92 (95% CI 0.88-0.95); P=0.452, respectively] as was DOR [MRI: 38.083 (95% CI: 12.401-116.957) vs UE: 30.395 (95% CI: 16.572-55.75); P > 0.05]. Meta-regression analysis found no significant differences in the diagnostic accuracy between MRI, strain UE and SWE. Conclusion: Our results show that UE when compared to MRI has adequate performance in differentiating benign and malignant breast lesions.
- Predictors of baboon sleep site selection in gorongosa national parkPublication . Lewis‐Bevan, Lynn; Hammond, Philippa; Carvalho, Susana; Biro, DoraObjectives: This research aimed to understand how sleep site selection compared to other study sites in baboons living in a lowpredator density, highly seasonal environment. We compared baboon troops in two distinct habitat types with different seasonal influences within the park, one that flooded annually and one that did not. We compared their sleep site use, reuse, and location relative to home range boundaries and areas of interest (AOIs) with each other and baboons in other areas to understand whether season, habitat familiarity, or position in the home range influenced sleep site choice. Methods: Using GPS collar data taken at 15-min intervals from four gray-footed chacma baboons (Papio ursinus griseipes) in Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique, we established the location of sleep sites, home range boundaries, and AOIs, or places where the baboons repeatedly stopped for more than 15 min. Study subjects ranged either in dense woodland or in a seasonally flooded alluvial floodplain. We used a linear mixed-effects model to predict sleep site reuse based on distance to the habitat edge and AOIs, and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests to determine if morning or evening AOIs influenced sleep site location. We counted the number of reuses of each sleep site before and after the flooding period and compared this data to data in other baboon study sites. Results: We found that, as in other study sites with less seasonality and higher predation risk, baboons in Gorongosa change sleep site frequently and utilize multiple sleep sites throughout their home range, although they more often use sleep sites closer to the center of their home ranges. However, unlike other studies, we found that the location of the last AOI of the day more strongly predicted sleep site location than the first AOI of the next day in one troop, with baboons traveling further from their sleep site to their first AOI in the morning than from their last evening AOI to the sleep site. Conclusions: Despite high seasonality and low predator density, baboons in Gorongosa National Park changed sleep sites frequently, as do other studied baboon troops in areas with high nocturnal predation rates. In addition, their propensity to sleep closer to the last AOI of the day may imply that they plan their daily paths toward their chosen sleep site, or that they sleep opportunistically at the end of the day. This study provides a baseline of behavioral data for comparison to other sites and future work in Gorongosa, where predator density continues to rise since the time of the study.
- FLT201, a novel liver-directed AAV gene therapy candidate for Gaucher disease type 1Publication . Comper, Fabrizio; Miranda, Carlos J.; Liou, Benjamin; Dodev, Tihomir; Jeyakumar, Jey M.; Canavese, Miriam; Cocita, Clement; Khoshrou, Khashayar; Tiscornia, Gustavo; Chisari, Elisa; Stotter, Emmaline; Shehu, Erald; Sridharan,; Yu, I-Mei; Pandya, Jalpa; Khinder, Jalpa; Northcott, Natalie; Kalcheva, Petya; Correia, Samantha; Sun, Ying; Dane, Allison P.; Sheridan, Rose; Nathwani, Amit C.; Corbau, RomualdGaucher disease type 1 (GD1) is caused by mutations in the GBA1 gene, which result in deficient enzyme beta-glucocerebrosidase (GCase) activity and production with the harmful accumulation of the lipid substrate glucocerebroside. Replacement of GCase is current standard of care for GD1; however, GCase has a relatively short active half-life at both physiological and lysosomal pH and biweekly intravenous administration does not provide a consistent exposure to active enzyme. FLT201 is the first adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene therapy in clinical trials for treatment of GD1. FLT201 consists of a rationally designed AAV capsid (AAVS3) containing an expression cassette with an engineered GBA1 transgene that encodes a unique glucocerebrosidase variant (GCase85). GCase85 includes an engineered disulfide, which results in a >6-fold increase in active half-life in human serum and a >21-fold increase in active half-life at lysosomal pH conditions, with similar catalytic properties to those of wild-type and exogenous GCase. Preclinical data indicate that FLT201 could offer a durable treatment for Gaucher disease type 1, addressing unmet needs related to substrate accumulation in tissues poorly treated by current enzyme replacement therapy. The improved stability of the engineered GCase85 variant is predicted to be crucial for FLT201's therapeutic effectiveness.
- Exposure of an intertidal fish to simulated heatwaves and suspended sediment – a multistressor approachPublication . Resende, Anna Carolina; Vinagre, Catarina; Rogers, AliceExtreme climatic events, such as marine heatwaves (MHW) and increased suspended sediment concentration (SSC), are increasing in frequency and intensity, resulting in sudden changes to coastal environments, especially intertidal zones. Intertidal animals experience conditions that substantially fluctuate over temporal and spatial scales and therefore require the ability to physiologically tolerate these fluctuations. Since multiple stressors often co-occur and natural populations tend to respond to local environmental fluctuations, we aimed to investigate individual and combined effects of MHW and increased suspended sedimentation in Forsterygion lapillum from two neighbouring coastal areas with distinct water temperatures and wave current regimes by assessing fish oxygen consumption rate, mortality and weight loss. Results showed that in both F. lapillum populations, oxygen consumption rate and survival probability were unaffected by any treatment. However, fish from both populations lost weight during heatwave and multistressor treatments (i.e. heatwave and sedimentation), while fish from the sedimentation treatment alone did not lose weight. Although a direct effect on fish respiration was not found, our results indicate that F. lapillum performance is reduced when exposed to heatwaves individually and in combination with increased sediment suspension. Weight loss indicates that fish experiencing these stressors were unable to meet their metabolic demands.