CCM2-Artigos (em revistas ou actas indexadas)
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- Northernmost record of Amphioctopus burryi (Mollusca: Cephalopoda) in the eastern atlantic and molecular confirmation of its amphi-atlantic distributionPublication . Escánez, Alejandro; Roura, Álvaro; Lugo, David; Wirtz, PeterThe tropical brown-striped octopus (Amphioctopus burryi) is recorded for the first time from Madeira Island. Its identification was confirmed through morphological analysis and DNA barcoding molecular techniques. By also analysing specimens from the Canary Islands and Cabo Verde Islands, we provide evidence supporting the amphi-Atlantic distribution of this species. Furthermore, we discuss the potential role of ongoing ocean warming in the expansion of A. burryi in the Canary Islands and its recent record in Madeira Island.
- Effect of warming on European green crab (Carcinus maenas) populations from larvae to sexual maturityPublication . Monteiro, João Nuno; Ovelheiro, Andreia; SORDO, LAURA; Palma, Jorge; Pinto, Miguel; Teodosio, Maria; Leitão, FranciscoUnderstanding the effects of climate change on the physiology of marine species, particularly during their early life stages (larvae and juveniles), is essential for predicting population dynamics. Carcinus maenas is a widely distributed species of significant ecological and economic importance. This experimental study investigates the effects of warming on the early life stages of the European green crab, C. maenas, through two complementary experiments: (1) larval development and survival were assessed under three temperature regimes-approximately 18.5 degrees C (representing the annual average Portuguese seawater temperature between 1980 and 2020, used as the control), and two projected climate change scenarios: RCP 4.5 (+1.5 degrees C) and RCP 8.5 (+3.5 degrees C), and (2) juvenile survival and growth were monitored in mesocosms from early settlement to sexual maturity. Results indicated that larval mortality exceeded 90 % across all treatments, with 75 % occurring within the first 8 days (95 % CI: 7-8), and that warming enhanced larval survival, with the RCP 4.5 scenario yielding the highest survival rates compared with the control. Additionally, warming also reduced the pelagic larval duration, which declined from 27 (+/- 2) days at 18.5 degrees C to 16 (+/- 1) days at 22 degrees C. Similarly, the duration of the megalopa (settlement) stage decreased from 10 to 6 days. Therefore, despite high mortality, accelerated development under warming may enhance population resilience. Juvenile mortality was also high, with 50 % of settled individuals dying within the first 50 (95 % CI: 31-46) days, and differences in growth and survival between sexes were observed: females reached sexual maturity faster than males 83 +/- 12 and 109 +/- 20 days, respectively. Moreover, only 24 % (95 % CI: 16-34) of the settled females reached sexual maturity, compared to just 9 % of males (95 % CI: 5-18). These results indicate that C. maenas reach reproductive maturity within six months. The biological data reveal a fast growth increment, high larval and juvenile mortality, and suggest that projected climate change scenarios through the end of the century will have a limited impact on the species' population dynamics and recruitment.
- First insights on chemical nature and bioactivity of surface mucus from the Antarctic sponges Mycale (Oxymycale) acerata and Dendrilla antarcticaPublication . Rizzo, Carmen; Silva, José Paulo da; Lauritano, Chiara; Montuori, Eleonora; Papale, Maria; Giudice, Angelina LoThe mucus produced by the Antarctic sponge species Mycale (Oxymycale) acerata and Dendrilla antarctica was ana¬lyzed to investigate its chemical composition and assess potential cytotoxic activity against human tumor cell lines. The mucus samples exhibited a high-water content (98–99%), while inorganic salts represented most of the total dry weight (67.1 ± 2.3%). Sodium was the most abundant element, accounting for 75% in D. antarctica and up to 82% in M. acerata. Other major elements—including magnesium, potassium, and calcium—comprised 3–10% of the inorganic fraction. Pro¬tein content was estimated at 0.44% for M. acerata and 5.63% for D. antarctica, with a carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratio between 3 and 5. Elemental analysis was supported by μFT-IR spectroscopy, which confirmed the presence of inorganic salts, water, and proteinaceous materials. Further characterization by 1H NMR spectroscopy and LC–MS revealed the pres¬ence of amino acids, peptides, sugars, carboxylic acids, nitrogenous bases, and their derivatives. Notably, oxylipin concen¬trations ranged between 1 and 3 ng/L. In addition, M. acerata mucus demonstrated antiproliferative activity, selectively inhibiting the growth of Malme-3 M melanoma cell lines, thus suggesting a potential for cytotoxic effects. Overall, these findings provide the first chemical characterization of Antarctic sponge mucus, providing first insights for its potential exploitation as a novel source of bioactive compounds.
- Trophic group responses to marine reserve protection in temperate and tropical reefs: a systematic review and meta-analysisPublication . Cardoso-Andrade, Mariana; Horta e Costa, Barbara; Hall, Andreia; Gonçalves, Jorge Manuel Santos; Queiroga, HenriqueMarine reserves impact not only exploited species but also other groups, highlighting broader ecological effects within marine communities. While some of these effects are well documented, comprehensive assessments of overall reserve impacts on functional guilds and community structure remain limited. Our systematic review and meta-analyses used structural metrics to test global patterns across 138 tropical and temperate reef reserves, covering seven fish and invertebrate trophic groups and 11 macroalgae and coral morphological groups (99 studies, 679 response-ratio values). In tropical reserves, herbivorous fish presented the highest positive response, followed by carnivores. Potential indirect negative effects may result from predatory fish reducing herbivorous invertebrates and herbivorous fish decreasing macroalgae. Coral cover was higher inside reserves, while algal cover declined. In temperate reserves, herbivorous invertebrate declines did not appear to consistently affect macroalgae, indicating context-dependent outcomes. These results suggest both direct and indirect effects of protection, contributing to valuable insights for ecosystem-based management.
- Tropical ecosystem shifts at the Eocene–Oligocene transition in the southwestern Caribbean regionPublication . Trejos-Tamayo, Raúl; Garzón, Darwin; Ochoa, Diana; Plata-Torres, Angelo; Frontalini, Fabrizio; Vallejo-Hincapié, Felipe; Abrantes, Fatima; Magalhães, Vitor; Arias-Villegas, Viviana; Jaramillo, Carlos; Escobar, Jaime; Curtis, Jason H.; Flores, José-Abel; Osorio-Tabares, Constanza; Duque Castaño, Monica Liliana; Bedoya, Erika; Pardo-Trujillo, AndrésThe Eocene-Oligocene transition (EOT; similar to 34 Ma) marks a pivotal climatic shift from a warm, ice-free world to a cooler, glaciated climate driven by a significant decline in atmospheric pCO2 levels. This global cooling event, characterized by the first major Antarctic glaciation and a similar to 50 m sea-level fall, triggered selective extinctions in marine ecosystems and restructured sedimentary processes, making it one of the most significant climatic events of the Cenozoic. While the global impacts of the EOT are well documented, its effects on the marine environment of NW South America remain poorly understood. This region's unique position as a connection between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans before the closure of the Central American Seaway provides a valuable window into tropical ecosystem responses during this period. This study integrates micropaleontological and geochemical data from the ANH-SJ-1 drill core in the Colombian Caribbean to evaluate the impacts of global climatic shifts on tropical marine ecosystems. Palynological indicators, including the terrestrial/marine (T/M) index, along with XRF-derived elemental ratios (Zr/Rb, Ti/Al, K/Al, and K/Rb), reflect enhanced continental input during the EOT. These patterns suggest intensified erosion and detrital transport to bathyal depths, likely driven by rapid sea-level fall and hypopycnal flows. Calcareous nannofossil trophic indices reveal elevated surface productivity, likely fueled by increased continental nutrient influx, supported by higher Ba/Ti ratios that indicate enhanced organic matter export to the seafloor. The resulting oxygen depletion favored infaunal over epifaunal benthic foraminifera, marking a shift in community structure. Improved carbonate preservation across the transition, evidenced by a shift from agglutinated to calcareous benthic foraminifera and higher Ca/Ti ratios, reflects a deepening of the carbonate compensation depth (CCD), likely due to enhanced alkalinity from continental weathering. A positive delta 13Corg excursion (similar to 0.84 parts per thousand) aligns with global records and supports contributions from organic carbon oxidation, volcanic inputs, and weathering. Although limited by the number of available samples and low fossil abundances in some intervals, our multiproxy approach enables a coherent reconstruction of environmental dynamics. The ANH-SJ-1 record highlights the sensitivity of tropical systems to global climatic shifts and reinforces the importance of tropical data for understanding Cenozoic climate evolution and anticipating future ecosystem responses.
- The stress response in antarctic fish: HPI modulation, cortisol profiles, interrenal sensitivity, and gene expression of notothenia rossii acclimated to temperature challengesPublication . Guerreiro, Pedro Miguel; Silva, Sandra; Louro, Bruno; Alves, Alexandra C.; Couto, Elsa; Canario, AdelinoThe Antarctic Ocean is one of the most extreme marine environments. Antarctic fishes evolved in stable cold thermal conditions (−1.9 ◦C to 2 ◦C) for roughly 20 million years, displaying structural and functional features resulting from adaptation or inherited from resilient ancestral species. Climate change forecast models show temperatures may increase at a relevant pace. As fish face a warmer future, their physiological ability to adapt is uncertain. We aimed at evaluating the capabilities of the hypothalamus–pituitary–interrenal (HPI) axis in Antarctic fish and show plasma cortisol profiles, expression of key genes, the sensitivity of the ex vivo interrenal tissue, and the responses to known modulators of the HPI axis in temperature-acclimated fish before and after stress. Notothenia rossii were collected from the waters of Admiralty and Maxwell bays, in King George Island, and transferred to an open circuit with ocean-pumped seawater. Upon acclimation, three sets of experiments were performed: (1) eight groups at 2 ◦C were injected with drugs involved in blockage or stimulation of cortisol release/action (saline, cortisol, dexamethasone, metyrapone, spironolactone, mifepristone) and then kept at control or transferred to 6 ◦C and sampled after 36 h; (2) fish at 2 ◦C were exposed to a standard stress test (SST: chasing+netting+1min air exposure), returned to the respective tank and sampled after 1, 4 and 24 h, while one undisturbed group served as control; (3) six groups were acclimated to 2, 5 and 8 ◦C for 10 days when the control group of each temperature was sacrificed. The other group received SST and was sacrificed 90 min after. Plasma and tissue samples were collected for cortisol and stress-related genes, and the interrenal was used in vitro to determine sensitivity to ACTH in a perfusion system with a continuous flow of oxygenated ringers, and 20 min fractions were collected for 240 min. Cortisol was measured via radioimmunoassay, while glucose and lactate were determined using colorimetric kits; gene expression was evaluated by qPCR. Manipulation of the HPI axis revealed that these fish show similar dynamics to those reported in temperate fish but with lower amplitude. After SST, cortisol peaked at 1–4 h and reduced to basal between 24 and 48 h. Temperature influenced the cortisol response to SST. At higher temperatures, cortisol levels in the non-stressed group were as high as in fish subjected to SST. Interrenal cells showed little response to ACTH in warm conditions, suggesting low sensitivity and/or exhaustion. Liver cortisol receptor genes were downregulated, possibly indicating a peripheral desensitization process that parallels HPI. These results show the ability to respond to stress at cold and mild temperatures but important impairments and substantial allostasis in warm or continuously increasing temperatures.
- First assessment of the thryssa vitrirostris (Engraulidae) beach seine fishery in northeastern mozambiquePublication . Manuessa, Bonifácio; Morais, Eurico; Borges, Teresa Cerveira; Teodosio, Maria; Leitão, FranciscoMonthly length-frequency data, from 2009 to 2014, was used to estimate the growth parameters, mortality, and spawning season, and to assess the exploitation status of Thryssa vitrirostris (Engraulidae) fisheries in Pebane. The von Bertalanffy asymptotic length (L∞) and growth rate (K) were 25.1 cm (standard length) and 0.41 per year (standard length), respectively. Two proxy recruitment peaks were found: the first peak of recruitment occurs from April to July, and the second recruitment peak from September to October. The total estimated mortality rates (Z), natural mortality (M), and fishing mortality (F) were Z = 1.31, M = 0.92, and F = 0.39. For the beach seine gear, the size at first catch of T. vitrirostris was Lc25 = 4.43 cm. The 50% retention size of the catch was Lc50 = 5.39 cm. The retention probability analyses revealed a large rate of juvenile fishing mortality (54.2%). The estimated exploitation rate (0.30) was below the maximum exploitation rate (0.48), and above the optimal sustainable exploitation rate (E50 = 0.28), evidencing a sustainable fishery. However, under such an exploitation regime, it is advised that a continuously monitoring-survey of T. vitrirostris is maintained. An increase in migration of fishermen has been recently recorded in Pebane, due to its rich fisheries, which can increase the fishing effort and the risk of overexploitation if management measures (such as mesh size increase) are not taken in advance.
- Lab-scale optimization of aurantiochytrium sp. culture medium for improved growth and DHA productionPublication . Trovão, Mafalda; Pereira, Hugo; Costa, Margarida; Machado, Adriana; Barros, Ana; Soares, Maria; Carvalho, Bernardo; Silva, Joana Teles; Varela, João; Silva, JoanaThraustochytrids have gained increasing relevance over the last decades, due to their fast growth and outstanding capacity to accumulate polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), particularly docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). In this context, the present work aimed to optimize the growth performance and DHA yields by improving the culture medium of Aurantiochytrium sp. AF0043. Accordingly, two distinct culture media were optimized: (i) an inorganic optimized medium (IOM), containing only monosodium glutamate and glucose as nitrogen and carbon sources, respectively; and (ii) an organic and sustainable waste-based optimized medium (WOM), containing corn steep powder and glycerol, added in fed-batch mode, as nitrogen and carbon sources, respectively. Overall, the lab-scale optimization allowed to increase the biomass yield 1.5-fold and enhance DHA content 1.7-fold using IOM. Moreover, WOM enabled a 2-fold increase in biomass yield and a significant improvement in lipid contents, from 22.78% to 31.14%. However, DHA content was enhanced almost 3-fold, from an initial content of 10.12% to 29.66% of total fatty acids contained in the biomass. Therefore, these results strongly suggest, not only that the production pipeline was significantly improved but also confirmed the potential use of Aurantiochytrium sp. AF0043 as a source of DHA.
- Transcriptomic analysis of differentially expressed genes in kidney and intestine of dicentrarchus iabrax fed different nutritional amounts of inorganic phosphatePublication . Vargas Lagos, Carolina Fabiola; Silva, Sandra; Guerrero, Laura; Oca, Marco Montes de; Louro, Bruno; Carvalho Alves, Alexandra; Rotllant, Josep; Guerreiro, Pedro MiguelPhosphorus (P), in the form of inorganic phosphate (Pi), is one of the most important macronutrients for all organisms, including fish. It is indispensable for the formation of hard tissues such as bones, but also for cell signalling and cell membrane formation, and energy transduction, among many other functions and is kept under well-controlled conditions, since its deficiency or overload may lead to skeletal malformation or ectopic calcification, disturbances of intermediary metabolism, growth and function impairment, endocrine dysfunction, and eventually death. Fish feeds used in aquaculture are therefore P-rich but excess/unused/excreted P in the effluents can lead to eutrophication and a consequent deleterious change in the aquatic ecosystem. The objective of this study was to evaluate the expression profiles and transcripts modified by dietary P, to identify pathways and mechanisms involved in P transport and regulation in the kidney and intestine. Juvenile Dicentrarchus labrax were fed using a commercial feed (1.1% P) or tailored-made feeds containing 0.05%, 1.1%, or 3% Pi. Fish (duplicate tanks, n = 10) were fed for 70 days and weighed periodically to evaluate growth changes. Kidney and intestine were used for RNA extraction. Next-Generation Sequencing and RNAseq library preparation were performed in an Illumina system following the manufacturer’s recommendations. Annotation was performed using the available sea bass genome assembly. Bioinformatic analysis showed significant differences in expression patterns among the three conditions tested in both tissues. In the kidney, increased P led to a total of 135 differentially expressed genes (DEGs; 82 up and 53 down), while only 54 (11 up and 43 down) genes responded to P restriction. In the intestine, high P affected the expression of 50 genes (16 up and 34 down) whereas only 26 (6 up and 20 down) were modified by low P. However, DEGs between high and low P were 156 in kidney and 154 in intestine. Preliminary analysis suggests the most affected pathways were those involved in cellular metabolism and phosphorylation but also on the structure of cell membranes, either for maintaining membrane integrity or in genes related to transmembrane ion transport. We expect this research to reveal the molecular implications of dietary P imbalance looking at specific targets such as membrane transporters and regulatory factors, but also to the larger metabolic pathways affected in these two key organs for P uptake and excretion.
- Polyoxovanadates contribution to pharmacological, antimicrobial and toxicological actions of vanadiumPublication . Fraqueza, Gil; Aureliano, ManuelStudies of the pharmacological action of vanadium compounds have shown that vanadium has been arousing interest as a potential candidate for therapeutic applications. Polyoxovanadates (POVs) emerge from polyoxometalatates (POMs) and are responsible for an increase in the number of vanadium studies on multidirectional biological activity in view of their application in biomedicine. In fact, increasing research studies have shown POVs’ anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-parasitic, anti-viral, anti-cancer as well as anti-diabetic activities. Herein, we highlight decavanadate and decavanadate compounds, perhaps the most studied POVs in biology, strengthening the potential use of such metallodrugs in the future. Thus, vanadium compounds, including POVs, show a great potential in the treatment of many types of diseases.