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- Do vertebrate-type steroids play a role in bivalve reproduction? a case study across two reproductive cycles of magallana gigasPublication . Rato, Ana Cláudia Nunes; Joaquim, Sandra; Silva, José Paulo da; Anjos, Catarina; Matias, Domitília; Hubbard, PeterIn bivalves, reproduction is regulated by a complex interaction between endogenous and environmental factors, including temperature and food availability. However, hormonal control of the reproductive cycle in bivalves is poorly understood. There is a general belief that vertebrate-type steroids (testosterone, progesterone and 17βoestradiol) are involved in the reproductive cycle of bivalves, even though the necessary enzymes and receptors for such steroids are apparently lacking in the molluscan genome. To investigate the potential role of vertebratetype steroids in reproduction, the current study characterized two consecutive reproductive cycles of the Pacific oyster (Magallana gigas), integrating biochemical composition, reproductive indices, environmental parameters, and steroid levels. Gonadal index (GI), gonadosomatic index, and condition index exhibited clear seasonal fluctuations. Protein, glycogen, and total lipid displayed distinct seasonal patterns, with protein exhibiting structural functions, whereas glycogen and total lipid acted as energy reserves supporting gametogenesis. Both progesterone (0.69-142.33 ng g− 1 ) and testosterone progesterone (2.55-262 ng g− 1 ) levels fluctuated during sampling; progesterone showed correlations with GI, temperature, and protein content, whereas testosterone was mainly associated with environmental factors. These patterns suggest that progesterone may reflect gonadal tissue development and energetic investment rather than acting as a classical sex steroid. The absence of sexspecific steroid patterns, together with the lack of classical steroid receptors in the molluscan genome, supports the hypothesis of an environmental origin and/or an eco-physiological rather than an endocrine role for vertebrate-type steroids in oysters. These findings demonstrate that hormonal studies in bivalves should integrate biochemical, reproductive, and environmental data to understand reproductive strategies.
- Size-dependent salinity tolerance in juvenile stellate sturgeon (Acipenser stellatus): physiological and histopathological responsesPublication . Pajand, Zabih Ollah; Hosseinnia, Esmaeil; Jafari Pastaki, Naghmeh; Hallajian, Ali; Yousefi, Ayoub; Lebria, Arash; Ashori, Alireza; Abdollahpour, HamedWe investigated the physiological, endocrine, and histological responses of juvenile stellate sturgeon (Acipenser stellatus) to salinity challenge across four weight classes (0.89 ± 0.21, 2.01 ± 0.32, 4.84 ± 0.39, and 9.07 ± 1.47 g; mean ± S.E.) and four salinity levels (0, 4, 8, and 12 ppt) over acute to chronic exposure (3–624 h). A total of 4800 juveniles were used across four sequential experiments, with 100 ± 5 fish per tank (12 tanks per experiment). A replicated factorial design (three tanks per treatment) enabled robust assessment of ionoregulation, stress response, and tissue integrity. Plasma osmolality increased from approximately 230 to 266 mOsm kg− 1 during early exposure, followed by progressive convergence toward a narrower physiological range (≈251–284 mOsm kg− 1 ) at 624 h, indicating partial osmotic compensation. This adjustment was driven primarily by sodium, which exhibited the strongest salinity- and size-dependent response, confirming its central role in extracellular osmotic regulation. In contrast, potassium displayed pronounced size-dependent dysregulation, with markedly elevated concentrations in fish 3 g maintained values within or near the physiological range. Cortisol dynamics revealed a clear ontogenetic shift in stress responsiveness. Smaller juveniles (3 g) demonstrated more efficient recovery, with the 5–10 g group achieving ~92% recovery by 96 h, compared to only ~45% in the smallest size class. These endocrine patterns were consistent with ionoregulatory performance and further support a size-dependent transition in physiological resilience. Histopathological analysis corroborated systemic findings. Histopathological analysis using a semi-quantitative scoring system (0–4) revealed significant size- and salinity-dependent tissue alterations. Gill tissues showed lamellar fusion, epithelial lifting, hyperplasia, necrosis, and hemorrhage, with more severe lesions in smaller juveniles at intermediate to high salinities. Kidney tissues exhibited glomerular expansion, tubular degeneration and obstruction, congestion, hemorrhage, and hemosiderin deposition, with lesion severity generally decreasing with increasing body size. These histological patterns were consistent with physiological and endocrine responses and reflected greater structural resilience in larger juveniles under salinity stress. Collectively, these integrated responses identify an empirical transition zone at approximately 3 g under the tested conditions, below which juveniles exhibit limited capacity to maintain physiological homeostasis under salinity challenge. Above this threshold, fish display more effective physiological regulation, resulting in better ion balance, lower stress, and improved tissue integrity. Together, these findings provide mechanistic evidence for size-based acclimation protocols, gradual salinity transitions, and optimized release strategies to enhance survival and performance in aquaculture and stock enhancement programs.
- The ecosystem services of irrigated orchards: a reviewPublication . Matias, Pedro; Trindade, Ana Rita; Magalhães, Tomás Thormann Abranches de; Lisboa de Souza Junior, Silvio; Zarcos Duarte, Beatriz; Guerreiro David Coelho, Luísa Isabel; Freitas, Miguel João Pisoeiro de; Barrote, Isabel; Duarte, AmilcarIn the context of global population growth and intensifying climate change, ensuring food security remains a critical challenge. Orchards are more productive than arable crops, contributing significantly to the nutrition of a growing population. Ecologically, due to the absence of frequent soil tillage, orchards resemble natural forest ecosystems more closely than other agricultural systems. Irrigated orchards are particularly productive and enhance biodiversity in territories where water scarcity is the limiting factor for ecosystems. This review, the result of extensive reflection and a comprehensive analysis of the literature on orchard sustainability, synthesizes evidence on the diverse ecosystem services provided by these perennial systems. Due to their structural complexity, well-managed orchards contribute significantly to climate regulation through carbon sequestration, microclimate cooling, and soil erosion prevention. Furthermore, they support nutrient cycling and provide cultural value. This paper establishes an integrated scientific framework to inform evidence-based policies and reshape societal perceptions. It argues that recognizing orchards as multifunctional landscapes, rather than mere resource consumers, is critical for environmental resilience, supporting their fair valuation as essential components of a sustainable bioeconomy.
- Diet and feeding strategies of myctophids in the Northeast AtlanticPublication . García-Seoane, Eva; Cruz, Joana; Garrido, Susana; Melle, WebjørnThe trophic ecology of myctophids was investigated during spring 2019 in a large geographical span in the Northeast Atlantic (from Cape Verde to northern France), covering oligotrophic open ocean waters off south Iberia to the productive coastal areas of western Morocco. A total of 417 stomachs from 22 different myctophid species were analysed. Myctophids from the southern areas (from 20 to 42°N) mostly fed on copepods, whereas amphipods were the main prey of myctophids collected in the northern stations (from 42 to 48°N). The calanoids Pleuromamma spp. and Candacia spp., amphipods, euphausiids and decapod larvae were the most positively selected prey by all myctophid species, whenever these prey were present. Pleuromamma spp. were the most important prey for most species, with the largest average contribution to dietary carbon (49.6 ± 21.1%), while Candacia spp. were the dominant prey of Lampanyctus ater (contributing to 40.3% of the estimated dietary carbon), and amphipods were the dominant prey for Hygophum benoiti (39.0%), Myctophum punctatum (58.4%) and Symbolophorus veranyi (56.0%). Results of the present study indicate that myctophids in the Northeast Atlantic are mainly characterized by specialized feeding strategies, although some species showed mixed strategies (Ceratoscopelus warmingii, Lepidophanes gaussi, Lobianchia dofleini and Lobianchia gemellarii) and a few species (Hygophum hygomii, H. benoiti and S. veranyi) showed a generalized feeding strategy. Our data provide key knowledge for food web and ecosystem studies and contribute to determining the trophodynamics of the global mesopelagic fish community.
- Feature papers in BioChem, 2nd EditionPublication . Aureliano, Manuel; Ma, BuyongAs mentioned in the Editorial of the first edition of the Special Issue on “Feature Papers in BioChem”, biochemistry acts as a key cog in the “clock of the knowledge, permitting that wheels from several science areas move each other” [1]. Moreover, the understanding of life on earth is a perpetual topic in biochemistry, with boundaries dependent on the specificities of each time period and scientific environment [1]. Thus, following the first edition, this Special Issue on “Feature Papers in BioChem, 2nd Edition” still emphases interdisciplinary research in diverse and interconnected scientific areas, with a majority from molecular medicine, cell biology and of course biochemistry (Table 1). Among these scientific fields, a wide range of topics were addressed, as expressed by the diversity of the titles and keywords that can be found in each contribution.
- Analysis of the main physical properties of seawater along the coast of AngolaPublication . Guilherme, Fernão; Neves, Maria C.; Relvas, PauloThis study investigates the seasonal and latitudinal variability of the key physical properties of seawater along the Angolan coast, focusing on temperature, salinity, density, and dissolved oxygen. Vertical profile data from the World Ocean Database (2005–2020) were analyzed using Ocean Data View to examine stratification patterns and their relationship with regional circulation features, including the Angola–Benguela Front and coastal upwelling. The results reveal a pronounced south–north gradient, with colder, saltier, and denser surface waters in the southern sector during the cold season, indicative of intensified upwelling influence. The vertical structure is characterized by a surface mixed layer extending to approximately 20–30 m underlain by a sharp thermocline, halocline, and pycnocline between 25 m and 50 m. Dissolved oxygen profiles show the presence of an oxygen minimum layer below the thermocline, particularly pronounced in the central and southern regions, reflecting limited ventilation of subsurface waters. These findings highlight the combined role of stratification, regional circulation, and upwelling dynamics in shaping the physical structure of the Angolan coastal ocean and provide a baseline for future studies in a region that remains poorly documented.
- Special Issue: toxicity of metals, metal-based drugs, and microplasticsPublication . Ścibior, Agnieszka; Aureliano, Manuel; Llopis, JuanIn the present Special Issue (SI), titled “Toxicity of Metals, Metal-Based Drugs, and Microplastics”, an attempt has been made to include reports updating our knowledge about micro- and nanoplastics, certain airborne metals, some metals/metal complexes, chemotherapeutic drugs, and antioxidants. More precisely, this SI provides a review on the development of fluorescent probes essential for monitoring the presence of microand nanoplastics in the environment, examines micro- and nanoplastics as endocrinedisrupting factors, addresses the sources, toxicokinetics, and toxicodynamics of the most relevant metals associated with air pollution and their effects on vulnerable populations, describes some trace metals as essential nutrients and environmental toxicants, discusses the therapeutic potential of metal-based and PARP inhibitor chemotherapy for BRCA1- associated triple-negative breast cancer, and collects data on the influence of cisplatin on the functionality and surface characteristics of mesenchymal stromal cells. In addition, this SI provides valuable findings on the importance of some natural antioxidants like Coenzyme Q10 in addressing the neurotoxic impacts of chemotherapy. The scientific articles making up this SI, i.e., five review articles and two original papers (seven in total), have garnered a total of 44 citations and 23,143 views, indicating an average of 6 citations and 3306 views per publication (26 June 2026). Figure 1 summarizes the issues included in this SI.
- A millennium-scale iberian margin chronology validates the 1755 Lisbon tsunami record and reveals faro recordPublication . Abrantes, Fatima; Domingues Gomes, Sandra; Salvado, Marta; Magalhães, Vitor; Salgueiro, Emilia; Drago, Teresa; Cordeiro, Lívia; Naughton, FilipaThis work presents new data and several age–depth reconstructions based on distinct approaches to improve previously published age models for sedimentary sequences collected on the Iberian Margin middle shelf: PO287 6-1B, 2G (Porto); PO287 26-1B, 3G, and D13902 (Lisbon); and POPEI VC2B (Algarve). The new age models are constructed using radiocarbon dates calibrated with the IntCal20 calibration curve and smooth-spline regressions from the CLAM (non-Bayesian) and Bacon (Bayesian) models. A comparison of the age–depth models generated by the different approaches shows that, beyond the distinct solutions produced by CLAM and Bacon for each site, the differences between the two methods are inconsistent across sites. Furthermore, neither model yielded reliable results for the discontinuous sedimentary sequence with reworked older sediments and a hiatus. In this specific case, the “classical” linear regression (best-fit) approach appears to yield the results that enable intercomparison across all sequences. This exercise confirms the record of the 1755 earthquake and tsunami in the Lisbon core splice and a potential record of the same event in the Eastern Algarve, although the collected data indicate a more distal or lower-energy wave deposit.
- Assessment of cell disruption methods in an integrated multi-product biorefinery for Nannochloropsis Oceanica: from process design to economic analysis.Publication . Cunha, Pedro; Carvalho, Bernardo; Kholany, Mariam; Pereira, Hugo; Varela, JoãoMicroalgae are bioresources with significant potential within a sustainable, circular, bio-economy. However, high production costs have limited the widespread use of algae biomass. This study aimed to develop a multi-product biorefinery for Nannochloropsis oceanica that generates multiple revenue streams from the biomass, thereby enhancing the economic viability of algal production. The effectiveness of cell wall disruption using high-pressure homogenization and enzymatic hydrolysis was evaluated. Enzymatic hydrolysis solubilized nearly half (48.2 ± 1.5%) of the dry cell weight, compared to only 27.3 ± 3.2% with high-pressure homogenization, resulting in more concentrated water-soluble fractions and significantly higher protein extraction yields. Lipid extracts obtained after enzymatic hydrolysis had higher lipid (72.0 ± 5.3% w/w) and eicosapentaenoic acid (28.1 ± 6.9% w/w) contents than those from high-pressure homogenization (38.8 ± 6.1% w/w lipids; 9.1 ± 0.6% w/w eicosapentaenoic acid), despite similar lipid extraction yields (around 30%). Increasing the ethanol volumetric ratio from 58% to 75% v/v significantly improved lipid extraction yields (57.4 ± 3.1%) in the enzymatic hydrolysis-based biorefinery, with even higher yields observed upon scaling up (70.1%). All fractions, including lipid extracts, exhibited a balanced essential amino acid profile that exceeded the WHO/FAO/UNU-recommended values. A preliminary economic analysis indicated that lipid production was more cost-effective when cells were permeabilized by enzymatic hydrolysis than by high-pressure homogenization.
- Chemical and bioactivity profiling of the invasive macroalga rugulopteryx okamurae collected in southern Portugal supporting biotechnological valorisation approachesPublication . D’Unienville, Amandine; Lasnel, Lucas; Macquigneau, Wadi; Trentin, Riccardo; Pais, Adriana C. S.; Rodrigues, Maria João; Santos, Sónia A. O.; Custódio, LuísaThe invasive brown macroalga Rugulopteryx okamurae has rapidly expanded across the Mediterranean–Atlantic region, generating severe ecological impacts. Nevertheless, the considerable amount of biomass available creates opportunities for valorisation within circular bioeconomy frameworks. This study provides an integrated characterization of the chemical profile and bioactivities of freshly collected floating biomass of R. okamurae from southern Portugal. Proximate composition was determined, and lipophilic (hexane) and hydrophilic (water) extracts were analyzed by GC–MS and spectrophotometric methods. Antioxidant activity was assessed using complementary radical-scavenging, reducing power, and metal-chelation assays, and enzyme inhibition was evaluated against targets associated with neurodegenerative, metabolic, and dermatological disorders. The lipophilic fraction was dominated by long-chain alkanes (≈101 mg/g extract) and sterols, particularly fucosterol (≈43 mg/g extract), but exhibited low radical-scavenging capacity (no EC50 reached in DPPH or ABTS assays), and no relevant enzyme inhibition. In contrast, the water extract contained measurable phlorotannins (6.61 mg PGE/g extract) and showed moderate antioxidant (ABTS: EC50 = 5.17 mg/mL; FRAP: EC50 = 0.78 mg/mL) and enzyme inhibition activities (BChE: IC50 = 5.17 mg/mL; tyrosinase: IC50 = 0.78 mg/mL). Compared with previous studies on R. okamurae, this work applies a systematic fractionation of biomass from southern Portugal into polar and non-polar fractions and, for the first time, correlates the resulting detailed chemical profiles with multiple bioactivities. This approach revealed a clear functional differentiation between fractions, with bioactivity being mainly associated with polar metabolites. Overall, these findings highlight the value of structured extraction strategies for biomass valorisation and support the sustainable management of R. okamurae.