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- Enhancing carob flour (Ceratonia siliqua L.) for by-product utilization in food industries: carob syrup production, functional profiling and applicationPublication . Vilas-Boas, Ana Martins; Brassesco, María Emilia; Quintino, Andreia; Medronho, Bruno; Vieira, Margarida; Brandão, Teresa R. S.; Silva, Cristina L. M.; Silva, Beatriz; Azevedo, Miguel; Pintado, ManuelaThe focus on by-product valorization in the food industry, particularly from the carob pod, underscores a commitment to sustainability and resource efficiency. This fruit, sourced from the leguminous evergreen carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua L.), is renowned for its adaptable flavour and nutritional value, in Mediterranean regions such as Portugal. Its production yields significant by-products, presenting environmental challenges when not managed efficiently. Innovative approaches, including integral carob flour production, aim to optimize utilization while minimizing waste and energy consumption. This study repurposed carob waste to produce novel, value-added ingredients like carob syrup, by thermal hydrolysis of integral carob flour using water at 1:3 solidto-liquid ratio - obtaining up to 50 % solubility yield. The resulting syrup exhibited 72 % ◦Brix, a melting temperature (Tm) of approximately 130 ◦C and predominantly viscous behavior with minimal elastic (solid-like) response. Lastly, the syrup was incorporated into a carob-based brigadeiro, replacing conventional glucosefructose syrup. Simulated gastrointestinal digestion revealed enhanced bioaccessibility of sugars and phenolics, and increased antioxidant activity during the intestinal phase. Despite sugar availability, the prebiotic activity of the syrup decreased when embedded in the brigadeiro matrix, potentially due to interactions with polyphenols or organic acids. Cytotoxicity and permeability assays confirmed safety at ≤0.5 % (w/v) and supported intestinal barrier integrity. These findings support the use of integral carob flour for producing multifunctional ingredients, contributing to circular economy models while meeting consumer demands for healthier, sustainable food products.
- Safe applications of ozone in tropical marine RAS: determining impacts of elevated total residual oxidants (TRO) on Stylophora pistillata and Xenia sp. holobiontsPublication . Weidlich, Sabine; Keuter, Sabine; Aires, Tania; Engelen, Aschwin; Kunzmann, AndreasOzone-aided treatment of seawater creates secondary oxidants, which can be toxic for aquaculture animals. We aimed to define safe limits of ozonation-derived total residual oxidants (TRO) for Stylophora pistillata and Xenia sp. by conducting a 96 h acute toxicity experiment. In a chronic exposure experiment we then determined the impacts of three sub-lethal levels of TRO on animal health over four weeks by monitoring respiration, net photosynthesis, photosynthetic efficiency, and three oxidative stress biomarkers (CAT, SOD, LPO). We further documented the changes in coral surface microbiomes exposed to elevated TRO with 16S rRNA amplicon gene sequence analysis. We showed that Xenia sp. is more susceptible to elevated TRO, with first mortalities occurring within 24 h at 0.188 mg L-1 and higher. In Stylophora, mortalities were observable within 24 h at 1.272 mg L− 1 and after 72 h at 0.353 mg L− 1 TRO. Sub-lethal TRO levels caused higher respiration and lower photosynthetic efficiency in Xenia, and increased catalase activity by 29–42 % in Stylophora and by 38–45 % in Xenia, while not impacting lipid peroxidation or superoxide dismutase activity. Microbiomes displayed TRO-induced changes in both species, with a decline in Saprospiraceae as a potential indicator for ozone-inflicted mucus layer degradation. Vibrionaceae fully disappeared from Stylophora pistillata microbiomes after 26 days of exposure to 0.131 mg L-1 TRO, suggesting ozonation as a potential tool to treat pathogens in coral aquaculture. Our study represents the first analysis of ozonation-induced impacts on coral holobionts, thereby providing a guideline for the safe application of ozone in coral cultivation.
- Assessing the impact of gram-negative bacteria on the common octopus, in relation to rising sea temperature: a study of total protein concentration and hemolysis activity in hemolymphPublication . White, Daniella-Mari; Karaveti, Emmanouela; Bakopoulos, VasileiosFish farming may pose a risk to adjacent octopus farms due to pathogen transmission. Moreover, the immune defense mechanisms of cephalopods are still not fully understood. This study aimed to determine changes in total protein concentration and hemolysis activity of Octopus vulgaris hemolymph, after intramuscular (IM) or intravenous (IV) challenges with aquaculture fish pathogens (either Photobacterium damselae subsp. piscicida or damselae or Vibrio alginolyticus or anguillarum O1) at two temperatures (21 ± 0.5 ℃ and 24 ± 0.5 ℃). Results showed that Octopus vulgaris exhibited a mean total protein concentration of 173.93 ± 69.37 mg/mL across all experimental conditions, markedly exceeding values reported for other mollusks, such as the bivalves Chamelea gallina (0.75–1.66 mg/mL) and Mytilus galloprovincialis (0.59–1.60 mg/mL). Patterns of total protein concentration, related to the genera of the pathogen used for the challenges, were observed. Four-way ANOVA revealed significant main effects of bacterium (F(3, 144) = 54.360, p < 0.001) and temperature (F(1, 144) = 10.014, p = 0.002) on total protein, along with multiple significant interaction effects, including bacterium × temperature, route × time, and bacterium × route × temperature × time (all p < 0.001). Hemolysis remained at low levels across both experimental temperatures, challenge routes, and pathogens, not exceeding 25 % in any case. Values above 15 % and up to 20 % were recorded in specific conditions, such as Photobacterium damselae subsp. damselae at 24 ± 0.5 ◦C on Day 3 in CIM-, IM-, and IV- control and challenged groups respectivelly; V. alginolyticus at 24 ± 0.5 ◦C on Day 3 in IM-challenged groups; and Vibrio anguillarum O1 at 21 ± 0.5 ◦C on Day 3 and Day 7 in IM-challenged groups. ANOVA for hemolytic activity showed significant main effects of bacterium (F(3, 144) = 22.032, p < 0.001) and temperature (F(1, 144) = 4.083, p = 0.045), with multiple significant interactions, including bacterium × temperature, route × time, and bacterium × route × temperature × time (all p < 0.001). These results indicate that the route of challenge may play a major role in hemolysis activity, with temperature and time post-challenge also exerting significant effects, possibly through a complex synergistic interaction. Our results may assist in elucidating common octopus defense mechanisms against common fish pathogens and provide important information to the scientific community and the marine aquaculture sector.
- Environmental DNA as a complementary tool for monitoring fish assemblages in coastal lagoons: Insights for conservationPublication . Fernandez, Sara; Monteiro, Pedro; Garcia-Vazquez, Eva; Gonçalves, Jorge Manuel Santos; Erzini, KarimFor their scarcity, invasive species in early invasion stages and endangered species are often difficult to detect compromising both conservation and ecosystem protection. Here environmental DNA (eDNA) was compared with beach seining for monitoring fish diversity in the protected Natural Park Ria Formosa lagoon (Portugal). Surface water for eDNA extraction was collected before sampling a mean of 1400m2 from ten diverse shallow water habitats with a 25 m beach seine. Fragments of the 12S rRNA and COI mitochondrial genes were PCRamplified and taxonomy was assigned to amplicon sequence variants. Sampling with the beach seine resulted in the identification of 33 species and 4 genera while 28 species were identified based on eDNA, with 18 taxa in common. Greater taxonomic resolution at a species level was possible with eDNA. While the majority of species detected with both methods were of least concern according to IUCN criteria, eDNA detected one invasive (the weakfish Cynoscion regalis with 12S marker) and two critically endangered species (the ray Aetomylaeus bovinus with 12S and the eel Anguilla anguilla with COI marker), none of which were caught by beach seining. C. regalis is a threat in Portuguese waters and should be surveyed in Ria Formosa. The results highlight the usefulness of eDNA as a cost-effective complementary method to traditional monitoring, especially for rare species. Based on these results, we recommend the use of eDNA with multiple markers in surface and bottom water samples in long-term monitoring programmes, to enhance the detection of rare, elusive species in coastal lagoons.
- Glowing hazards: toxicological effects of festive glowsticksPublication . Paixão, Pedro Henrique; Santana, Felipe Teixeira; Guimarães, Murilo Vieira; Castro, João Vitor de; Pereira, Vinicius Gonçalves; Prieto, Camila; Oliveira, Lilly Cristine Cunha De; Soares, Vitória Nogueira; Oliveira, Otto Müller Patrão de; Ribeiro, Caio CesarThe widespread use and improper disposal of glowsticks (GS), especially during coastal festivities and in industrial fishing, raise ecotoxicological concerns for marine ecosystems. These devices contain complex chemical mixtures, including oxalate esters, hydrogen peroxide, phthalates, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), many of which can generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cause toxic effects. This study assessed the acute toxicity of four GS colors (green, red, yellow, and blue) using embryo-larval development and mortality assays on three marine invertebrates: the sea urchin Echinometra lucunter, the sand dollar Mellita quinquiesperforata, and the brine shrimp Artemia salina. All colors caused developmental or lethal effects, with green GS consistently showing the highest toxicity. In E. lucunter, green GS fully inhibited larval development at all tested concentrations; EC50 values for yellow, red, and blue were 0.00072, 0.00877, and 0.02156 mL⋅L− 1 , respectively. For M. quinquiesperforata, EC50s were 0.00538 (green), 0.05471 (red), and 0.0000732 mL⋅L− 1 (blue); yellow GS caused total mortality, precluding EC50 determination. In A. salina, LC50s were 0.00410 (yellow), 0.00583 (blue), and 0.01193 mL⋅L− 1 (red); green GS had a NOEC of 0.0001 and LOEC of 0.001 mL⋅L− 1 , with no definable LC50. Results revealed species- and color-dependent sensitivity, implicating dye composition as a key toxicity driver. This is the first report of GS-derived toxicity in sand dollars and the first to provide comparative profiles across marine taxa. Findings highlight the need for regulation and environmental oversight of chemiluminescent product disposal.
- Editors' Corner: Blubber thickness in cetaceansPublication . Canario, AdelinoWang Y, Zhang Q, Xu Q, Zhang H, Liu X, Yang G. Cetacean-specific GPR12 mutation is functionally associated with blubber thickening. Gene, volume 968, 10 October 2025, 149734. https://doi.org/10.1016 /j.gene.2025.149734. The blubber, a thick layer of fatty tissue, is a key adaptation in aquatic mammals, providing energy storage and facilitating buoyancy and locomotion (Berta, 2023). Blubber thickening has evolved independently in cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises), sirenians (manatees and dugongs), and pinnipeds (seals, sea lions, and walruses), raising questions about the genetic basis of this adaptation. Wang et al. (2025) reasoned that G protein-coupled receptor genes associated with the regulation of lipid metabolism could be involved, and homed in on GPR12, whose deficiency in mice leads to obesity and dyslipidemia (Bjursell et al., 2006)
- Seasonal, spatial, and high-frequency monitoring of dissolved oxygen and net ecosystem metabolism in a shallow coastal lagoon, Ria Formosa – PortugalPublication . Correia, Cátia; Jacob, José; Cravo, AlexandraThis study provides a detailed assessment of dissolved oxygen (DO) dynamics and net ecosystem metabolism (NEM) in the Ria Formosa coastal lagoon, highlighting how spatial and temporal variability shape mesotidal ecosystems. Complementary approaches were applied: short-term (24 h) diel oxygen open-water method at two stations (eastern and western boundaries) in comparison with the bottle incubation method, and a 2.5-year high-frequency dataset at an inner station lagoon. DO showed clear seasonal patterns, largely driven by photosynthesis and respiration, but strongly modulated by water circulation and hydrodynamics. Sporadic hypoxic events (DO ≤ 2 mg L−1) were observed but do not represent a risk. The boundary stations are shallower and colonized by submerged vegetation, displayed stronger diel fluctuations than at the inner station, underscoring the role of biological processes in lagoon metabolism. NEM estimates revealed strong spatial contrasts: the western station was autotrophic, while the eastern station predominantly attributed to restricted water exchange. Long-term records from the inner station indicated a slightly heterotrophic status, reinforcing the value of sustained high-frequency monitoring for capturing ecosystem trends overlooked by short-term approaches. The results also highlight lagoon–coastal ocean connectivity, suggesting dual exchanges: local production may be exported offshore to sustain adjacent coastal areas, while coastal processes, such as upwelling, can also influence lagoon metabolism. Methodological comparisons confirmed that bottle incubation method underestimated NEM relative to diel oxygen open-water method, emphasizing the role of hydrodynamics in mesotidal system metabolism. Although sampling focused on western and eastern boundaries and inner lagoon, the strong tidal renewal in the main and secondary channels suggests Ria Formosa overall is close to metabolic balance, with spatial heterogeneity shaped by hydrodynamics, vegetation, and coastal forcing. By integrating short-term, high-frequency, and long-term observations, this study advances understanding of metabolism in coastal lagoons, offering key insights for predicting ecosystem responses to climate change and for guiding management of vulnerable coastal environments.
- The late pliocene to early pleistocene lomekwi faunas, west Turkana, Kenya: systematics, paleoecology, and biochronologyPublication . Geraads, Denis; Bobe, René; Ward, Carol V.; Plavcan, J. Michael; Manthi, Fredrick KyaloWe describe here the vertebrate fauna collected by the West Turkana Paleo Project at Lomekwi, a site best known for yielding the holotype of Kenyanthropus platyops and Lomekwian stone tools, and consisting of several collecting areas providing fossil samples ranging in age from about 3.6 to 2.2 Ma. Analysis of the newly recovered material, alongside a thorough revision of earlier collections, has led to the identification of 85 vertebrate taxa, which provide biochronological indications that help refine the site's chronology and shed light on the paleoenvironmental conditions prevailing during a critical period of early hominin diversification. The newly described fauna illustrates that during the time of Kenyanthropus, hominins shared their landscapes with a rich assemblage of vertebrates, including abundant megaherbivores, some 28 species of artiodactyls, diverse large and medium-size carnivores, and giant crocodiles as apex predators in the lakes and rivers of the Turkana region in the Pliocene. Among primates, the recurring association of Theropithecus with hominins is found at Lomekwi as it is elsewhere. Paleoenvironmental proxies from the Turkana region emphasize the complex and dynamic nature of the habitats that supported this rich biodiversity.
- Early Pleistocene (1.94–1.46 Ma) records for the upper mediterranean outflow Water branch reveal low and high latitude climate influencesPublication . Voelker, Antje; Ducassou, Emanuelle; Balestra, Barbara; Flores, Jose Abel; Acton, Gary D.; Richter, Carl; Xuan, Chuang; Lofi, Johanna; Alberto, Ana; Kuhnert, Henning; Zarikian, Carlos A. AlvarezThe Mediterranean Outflow Water (MOW), modified by paleoceanographic conditions and tectonic processes, played a significant role in the formation of sediments drifts along the Iberian Margin. Using sediment samples from IODP Hole U1387C, we explore the Early Pleistocene history of the upper MOW core above the central Faro Drift in the Gulf of Cadiz. The time series of benthic foraminifer stable isotope and grain size related data have a rigorous stratigraphic framework consisting of nannofossil biostratigraphy and paleomagnetic and delta 18O stratigraphy. The paleoenvironmental records are supplemented by natural gamma ray downhole logging data. Above the hiatus associated with the youngest dolostone, sandy to muddy contourite sedimentation started at 1.946 Ma, i.e., within Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 74, at IODP Site U1387, slightly younger than at IODP Site U1389. Formation of contourite layers, reflected in the sortable silt and sand percentage records, strongly reacted to precession forcing, including semi- and quarter-precession cycles. The majority of the contourite beds developed during stadial (colder) climate periods, like previous observations from the Early to Late Pleistocene. Formation of contourite layers within MIS 53, MIS 55 and MIS 65, however, appear to be linked to the prevailing atmospheric conditions over North Africa. Periods of poor ventilation in the upper MOW were linked to insolation maxima and reduced ventilation in the Mediterranean Sea. Here, MIS 51 presents a peculiar case as poor ventilation reached from the surface to the lower North Atlantic Deep Water range, reflecting unique interglacial conditions that merit future exploration.