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Projeto de investigação
How pelagic fish larvae find suitable nursery habitats? A comparison between Atlantic temperate and tropical ecosystems
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Environmental variability and fishing effects on artisanal flatfish fisheries along the Portuguese coast
Publication . Baptista, Vânia; Blasco, Ignacio Pérez; Bueno-Pardo, Juan; Teodosio, Maria; Leitão, Francisco
Assessing the effects of fishing activity and environmental variability on fishing species might help to understand their fluctuations and to manage them accordingly. However, despite the increasing number of studies linking fisheries and environmental data, few had a multi-species approach considering flatfish species and different age groups. Therefore, this study aims to determine the effects of environmental and fishing related variables on commercial flatfish species across different regions of the Portuguese coast. For that, sea surface temperature, North Atlantic Oscillation, upwelling index, wind components, river discharges and fishing effort were related to landings per unit effort (LPUE) of five commercial flatfish species (Pleuronectes platessa, Dicologlossa cuneata, Microchirus spp., Solea lascaris, and Solea solea) fished by the artisanal fleet along different regions of Portuguese coast (Northwestern coast, Southwestern coast, and Southern coast), using a multi-model statistical approach from 1989 to 2009. The fishing effort had the same effect along the life cycle and was negatively related with LPUE trends for most of the species. Regarding to environmental variability, during early phases (larval to juvenile - age-group-0) the factors that affected the recruitment, in addition to being related to the physiological needs (e.g., sea surface temperature) of individuals that will trigger growth and survival, were related to larval transport and dispersion from offshore spawning areas to coastal nursery habitats beyond (e.g., wind components and upwelling). For juvenile and young-adult phases (age-groups I and II), the effects of environmental variability appeared to be linked to physiological needs important for growth and maturation (e.g., temperature). Concluding, different effects were observed depending on the region, species, and life-cycle phase. Therefore, these environmental-fishing relationships should be used when managing local fishing resources.
Dynamics of Decapoda larvae communities in a southwest Iberian estuary: Understanding the impact of different thermal regimes
Publication . Monteiro, Marta; Cruz, Joana; Azeiteiro, Ulisses; Marques, Sónia Cotrim; Baptista, Vânia; Teodosio, Maria
Environmental conditions play a pivotal role in shaping the dynamics of meroplanktonic communities, which represent a vital life stage, crucial for successful recruitment. Specifically, temperature can impact the survival and duration of larval development in decapod crustacean species. The objective of this study is to analyze the community of decapod larvae in the Guadiana estuary, located in southwest Iberia. The analysis focuses on the community's taxonomic composition, temporal variability, and the influence of environmental factors. Particularly, the study emphasizes investigating the impacts of different thermal regimes on the abundance of these assemblages. A comprehensive zooplankton sampling program was conducted at a single station in the lower estuary, from 2014 to 2022. The decapod larvae assemblages are dominated by Upogebia spp., followed by Diogenes pugilator, Panopeus africanus, Afropinnotheres monodi, and Polybius henslowii species. The results of structural equation modeling unveiled a strong influence of water temperature and salinity on the community, while chlorophyll-a concentration, river runoff, and the large-scale climatic mode North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) revealed no impact on the abundance of these assemblages. Overall, the community and the main taxa displayed a positive linear trend in response to increased salinity. However, the effect of increasing temperature varied among species. In the current climatic scenario, water temperature emerges as a critical factor in predicting seasonal variation of the assemblages' abundances, exhibiting a marked seasonality during spring and summer. Predictive models used to investigate future scenarios, Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 2.6 and RCP 8.5, defined by the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), where the temperature is expected to rise 2 degrees C and 4.3 degrees C by 2100, suggest the possibility for an alteration in assemblages' composition, where the abundances of D. pugilator, the second most abundant species, tend to decrease abruptly. Reported evidence, coupled with the typical Mediterranean climate of the region, where extreme climatic events, like marine heatwaves, are becoming more frequent, the high connectivity with the Mediterranean Sea, where invasion by non-indigenous species is increasing, also connected with changes in freshwater discharges, may trigger significant alterations in species dominance and abundance, with ecological and socio-economic implications.
Applying ecohydrology to promote a nature-based solution
Publication . Teodosio, Maria; Faria, Silvana; Baptista, Vânia; Wolanski, Eric
This chapter aims to develop an ecohydrological modelling approach to propose an
environmental engineering solution based on historical nature-based information
to alleviate the severe water degradation problem within Luanda Bay, Angola.
This solution would improve local communities' ecosystem health and quality of
life. The model suggests a simple and practical solution to solving the pollution
problem by opening a cut from the bay's shallows to the sea. This will essentially
reproduce an old bay opening to the sea, which was filled early in the last century.
The residence time of water in the shallows of Luanda Bay would be reduced to
about one week by excavating the channel over the land is straightforward. This
should return the system to a more natural state and improve the water quality for
recreational activities, increase the quality of marine food resources, reduce toxic
algae blooms, and improve the quality of life of people in the area. Nevertheless,
preventing pollutants from reaching Luanda Bay is the only long-term solution to
restore a healthy environment in Luanda Bay
Blackfordia virginica in non-native distribution range: a potential food source for humans?
Publication . Cruz, Mariana; Dias, Ester; Custódio, Luísa; Encarnação, João Pedro da Silva; Cruz, Joana; Baptista, Vânia; Teodosio, Maria
The seasonal occurrence of the Black Sea jellyfish Blackfordia virginica Mayer, 1910 blooms is a reason of concern in the Guadiana estuary in the South of Portugal (South-West Europe), causing considerable economic and ecological impacts to fisheries. Due to jellyfish biochemical properties, they may represent an opportunity as an alternative food source for humans. In this context, this work evaluated the nutritional profile of B. virginica (proximate composition, amino acids, minerals, and fatty acids methyl ester content). Blackfordia virginica biomass may be adequate for human consumption, as it has nutritional properties resembling other edible jellyfish species, with relevant levels of minerals, moderate content in crude protein, low-fat content, and a low energetic value. The high Cd levels in the biomass of B. virginica from the Guadiana Estuary may compromise its safety as a food source. Moreover, if these jellyfishes are proven as an edible invasive species, their management through fisheries should evaluate the cost effectiveness of investments.
Anthropogenic particles ingestion by fish larvae in important nursery areas of Iberia (South Europe)
Publication . Zeri, Giulia; Baptista, Vânia; Teodosio, Maria; Cruz, Joana
Microplastics (MPs) are now widespread in the marine environment, and their levels are expected to rise as larger plastic debris continues to break down and new plastic waste enters the ocean. Microplastics ingestion has been documented in fish larvae, which are already particularly vulnerable to predation, environmental stressors, and starvation. This study examines for the first time MPs ingestion by wild fish larvae in Southern Iberia, focusing on two key nursery ecosystems of Portugal: the Ria Formosa coastal lagoon and the Guadiana River estuary. Fish larvae collected monthly from surface water, between April 2023 and March 2024, exhibited encounter rates (ER - Total number of ingested particles/ Total number of organisms analysed *100) of 12.99% in Ria Formosa and 11.54% in the Guadiana estuary. No significant differences were observed in ER among taxa and locations. The ingested particles ranged in size from 20 μm to 2 mm and were predominantly made of rayon, transparent and in the form of fibres. No correlation was found between the size of the larvae and that of the ingested particles. Although larval size had a positive effect on MP ingestion, this effect was not significant. There were no differences in polymer type ingestion among taxa. Our results underline the role of nursery areas as exposure spots and the underestimated pressure of the textile industry on marine ecosystems. Further research is needed to assess the potential consequences of this exposure for larval survival, recruitment success, and the health of adult fish populations.
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Entidade financiadora
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Programa de financiamento
CEEC IND4ed
Número da atribuição
2021.00956.CEECIND/CP1678/CT0001