- Faro, Portugal
- Fish Migration, Biological invasions, Biological Invasions and Ecosystem Functioning, Estuarine Ecology, Guadiana estuary, Biological Oceanography, and 11 moreEstuary, Marine Biology and Oceanography, Estuaries, Fish Ecology, Stable Isotopes, Coastal Lagoons, Aquatic Ecology, River Inflow, Plankton, Otolith, and Zooplankton ecologyedit
Ocean jellification is associated with increasing occurrence of jellyfishes. Jellyfish are gelatinous organisms, with a life cycle composed by sessile stage (polyp) and free living stage (medusa). Blooms jellies, which may have negative... more
Ocean jellification is associated with increasing occurrence of jellyfishes. Jellyfish are gelatinous organisms, with a life cycle composed by sessile stage (polyp) and free living stage (medusa). Blooms jellies, which may have negative impact on fisheries and tourism, are strongly driven by the availability of food, since predators are relatively reduce. The diet of jellies includes small crustacean, egg and fish larvae. Yet, recent UAlg studies showed a much more diverse diet (ex: drifting microbes, terrestrial detritus). Major contributors for ocean jellification are closed connect to men activities and include: (1) excessive input of nutrients (ex: sewage agriculture fertilizers), (2) overfishing of fishes and sea turtles; (3) introduction of artificial structures and (4) changes in hydrological cycle (ex: river dams).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
The physical characteristics of the Guadiana estuary and the richness of its adjacent territories were essential in defining the historical and cultural context of the entire region. The extended navigability of the estuary was... more
The physical characteristics of the Guadiana estuary and the richness of its adjacent territories were essential in defining the historical and cultural context of the entire region. The extended navigability of the estuary was fundamental to establish trade routes with the Mediterranean civilizations, namely with the Phoenicians, Greeks, and Carthaginians. These civilizations created several commercial harbors along the Guadiana, namely in Mértola, Alcoutim, Castro Marim and Ayamonte. In these locations the human presence dates back as far as the Neolithic (12,000 to 4,000 BCE) and the Chalcolithic periods (4,000 to 3,100 BCE). Later, the Romans (II BCE to V CE), the Alans (V to VI CE.), the Visigoths (VI to VIII CE), and the Arabs (VIII to XIII CE) successively settled in this Iberian region, until the borders of the continental Portuguese territory were set in the 13th century. The predominant North-South direction of the estuary is intrinsically linked with the definition of the...
Biological invasions are among the most challenging ecological and conservation riddles of our times. Fortunately, citizen science projects became a valuable tool to detect non-indigenous species (NIS), document their spread, prevent... more
Biological invasions are among the most challenging ecological and conservation riddles of our times. Fortunately, citizen science projects became a valuable tool to detect non-indigenous species (NIS), document their spread, prevent dispersion, and eradicate localized populations. We evaluated the most undisputed definitions of citizen science and proposed that a combination of two of them is a better reflection of what citizen science has become. Thus, citizen science is any environmental and/or biological data collection and analysis, including data quality control, undertaken by members of the general public, as individuals or as organized groups of citizens, with the guidance and/or assistance of scientists toward solving environmental and/or community questions. With this review, we also assessed how citizen science has been advancing biological invasions research and its focus, by analyzing 126 peer-reviewed articles that used citizen science methods or data concerning NIS. M...
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This paper aims to set the record straight regarding the first observations of Corbicula fluminea (Müller, 1775) in the Guadiana River Basin. According to the available data, C. fluminea was first observed in 1988 and not in 2006 as... more
This paper aims to set the record straight regarding the first observations of Corbicula fluminea (Müller, 1775) in the Guadiana River Basin. According to the available data, C. fluminea was first observed in 1988 and not in 2006 as suggested by Pérez-Bote and Fernandéz (2008). The first observations of C. fluminea in the Guadiana estuary were reported in 2000. In 2003, C. fluminea was already well established in the estuary and in many rivers and streams. C. fluminea is likely to expand its current biogeographic distribution in Portugal, since suitable lentic habitats for colonization will be created by the implementation of the “National program of dams with high hydraulic potential”, which should be concluded by 2016
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The objective of this study was to evaluate how inter-annual changes in freshwater inputs have affected the decapod assemblages in the Guadiana estuary. Three major areas in the estuary were sampled during the summer, in 2001 (high inflow... more
The objective of this study was to evaluate how inter-annual changes in freshwater inputs have affected the decapod assemblages in the Guadiana estuary. Three major areas in the estuary were sampled during the summer, in 2001 (high inflow year and before the filling of the Alqueva dam), in 2002 (low inflow and after filling of the Alqueva dam), and in 2008 and 2009 (low inflow and after consolidation of the impacts of the Alqueva dam). A significant increase in total decapod densities was recorded for the entire estuary, but especially in the upper estuary, after the closure of the dam in 2002. Changes in salinity, turbidity and temperature, which were mainly due to changes in freshwater input and climatic influence (North Atlantic Oscillation index), had an important influence on the structure of the decapod crustacean assemblages. The major conclusions of the study were that, following the construction of the Alqueva dam and regularization of the freshwater inflow, the decapod cru...
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Recruitment predictions for fish are often difficult to make due to the intrinsic variability of species and the incomplete sampling procedures. The aim of this study was to analyse the fish larval catches (abundance, diversity, size and... more
Recruitment predictions for fish are often difficult to make due to the intrinsic variability of species and the incomplete sampling procedures. The aim of this study was to analyse the fish larval catches (abundance, diversity, size and damage) from a standard 500 µm ichthyoplankton net and different light traps (structure, size and light intensity) in temperate coastal turbid waters. Catches from different gears were always made on the same date or season, same location and same tidal phase. Results showed that light traps captured significantly bigger larvae (almost post-flexion) than those captured with the ichthyoplankton net, nevertheless the diversity was lower. Clupeidae species were the most represented taxon; however, the traps also caught Atherinidae, Gobiidae, Sparidae, Soleidae and Labridae. The light traps were less stressful devices, allowing the capture of live and active larvae. This showed other possible uses for the light trap, e.g. larval behavioural and physiolo...
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structure and connectivity of the European conger eel (Conger conger) across the north-eastern Atlantic and western Mediterranean: integrating molecular and otolith elemental approaches
Climate change and the overall increase of seawater temperature is causing a poleward shift in species distribution, which includes a phenomenon described as tropicalization of temperate regions. This work aims at reporting the first... more
Climate change and the overall increase of seawater temperature is causing a poleward shift in species distribution, which includes a phenomenon described as tropicalization of temperate regions. This work aims at reporting the first records of four species off the southwestern Iberian Peninsula, namely oceanic puffer Lagocephalus lagocephalus Linnaeus, 1758, Madeira rockfish Scorpaena maderensis Valenciennes, 1833, ornate wrasse Thalassoma pavo Linnaeus, 1758, and bearded fireworm Hermodice carunculata Pallas, 1766. These last three species, along with other occurrences of aquatic fauna and flora along the Portuguese coast, reveal an ongoing process of poleward expansion of several species for which a comprehensive survey along the entire Iberian Peninsula is urgent. The putative origins of these subtropical and tropical species off continental Portugal are discussed, as well as the urgent need of public awareness due to potential health risks resulting from the toxicity of two of ...
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Research Interests: Earth Sciences, Fisheries, Biology, Ecology of Coastal Systems, Aquaculture, and 15 moreBiological Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Ichthyoplankton, Coastal Lagoons, Marine fish eggs and larvae, Fish Larvae, Sardina Pilchardus, Ria Formosa, Ria Formosa Lagoon, European Anchovy, European sardine, Engraulis encrasicolus, Fish Recruitment, Atherina presbyter, and pelagic zone
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A reduction of inflow to the Guadiana River on the border between Portugal and Spain may directly contribute to the degradation of fish habitats. Changes are expected to the spawning behaviour of Engraulis encrasicolus adults, to the... more
A reduction of inflow to the Guadiana River on the border between Portugal and Spain may directly contribute to the degradation of fish habitats. Changes are expected to the spawning behaviour of Engraulis encrasicolus adults, to the migration patterns of larvae in the estuary, and to ...
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The presence of sardine larval stages inside estuaries has generally been regarded as accidental and restricted to the lower part of estuaries. Sampling done with a zooplankton net in the Guadiana estuary corroborated this hypothesis.... more
The presence of sardine larval stages inside estuaries has generally been regarded as accidental and restricted to the lower part of estuaries. Sampling done with a zooplankton net in the Guadiana estuary corroborated this hypothesis. Late sardine larvae (32.8 ± 2.0 mm) were, however, unexpectedly collected with an otter trawl, 14 km upstream from the mouth of the estuary. Thus, this work intends to: (1) discriminate and compare the abiotic characteristics of the sites where maximum abundance of sardine larval stages were registered, when captured with a zooplankton net, with the characteris- tics of the sites where late sardine larvae were collected with an otter trawl; (2) demonstrate that the presence of the late sardine larvae inside the Guadiana estuary was not accidental. The average salinity of the site were late larvae where collected was 4.2 ± 2.3, i.e. 87.3% lower than the average salinity where maximum abundance of early larvae was registered. We suggest that the presence...
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Promoting the consumption of edible aquatic invasive species has gained popularity to minimize its impacts while easing pressure on native resources. Weakfish Cynoscion regalis (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) is one of the most recent... more
Promoting the consumption of edible aquatic invasive species has gained popularity to minimize its impacts while easing pressure on native resources. Weakfish Cynoscion regalis (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) is one of the most recent invasive fish species in the Iberian Peninsula (Europe) which once sustained an important fishery in the native range (Northwest Atlantic Ocean). Portugal ranks third in the list of the world’s top fish consumers, so promoting a weakfish fishery could at least help minimize the impacts upon native species, since weakfish have innate traits that are likely appreciated by Portuguese fish consumers. However, introducing a new species to consumers is challenging owing to consumers’ habits and unfamiliarity with the species. So, we aimed to (i) evaluate the acceptance of weakfish by a panel of Portuguese fish consumers and (ii) create outreach actions – partnerships with local Chefs and press releases – to explain to a broader public what invasive species are and promote the consumption of edible aquatic invasive species. The survey that we conducted to Portuguese fish consumers showed that weakfish has great chances of being well accepted by the public – 90% of consumers would buy weakfish because they appreciated its appearance, flavour, and texture, besides being a wild fish. The outreach actions reached a few million people because 46 online articles were published, and three news pieces broadcasted on national television. Overall, our strategy greatly increased the public’s awareness about invasive species, which can be replicated elsewhere in the world.
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About 3.1 billion people around the world live within 100 km of the coastline. If you are one of those people, then you also live near an estuary. What you probably do not know is that many alien species live in this underwater world, and... more
About 3.1 billion people around the world live within 100 km of the coastline. If you are one of those people, then you also live near an estuary. What you probably do not know is that many alien species live in this underwater world, and we are not talking about extraterrestrial species from outer space. Are you scared? Well, do not be! These alien species are from planet Earth. In this article, we will tell you what alien species are, why scientists study them, how any species may become an alien, and how a few alien species may become an invasive species. You will also learn how you can help scientists find and track alien species, and how to defeat them. Along the way, we will give examples of alien species living in the San Francisco Estuary in North America, a paradise for hundreds of alien species.
The study and conservation of cetaceans benefit from systematic studies and non-systematic records about sightings and strandings. However, iEcology (internet ecology) was critical for numerous ecological studies and should be in the... more
The study and conservation of cetaceans benefit from systematic studies and non-systematic records about sightings and strandings. However, iEcology (internet ecology) was critical for numerous ecological studies and should be in the toolkit of cetacean ecologists. We hypothesize that iEcology is irreplaceable to obtain diversity data about cetaceans in poorly monitored regions that coincide with touristic destinations, where whale-watching companies go out to sea regularly and post their sightings on social media. Our study assessed the advantages and disadvantages of iEcology while obtaining the first broadscale and long-term assessment about cetaceans’ diversity off the Algarve, a European tourist destination with numerous whale-watching companies. We retrieved 1,299 time-referenced records about 15 species posted on Facebook and Instagram between 2011 and 2020. Data collected from Biodiversity4All, an online citizen science biodiversity database, disclosed georeferenced records ...
Anchovies, salmon, sardines, gobies, mullets, flounder, bass, barbels, eels, shad, and even sharks—what do they have in common? Well, at certain points in their lives you may find them in estuaries, the final sections of rivers before... more
Anchovies, salmon, sardines, gobies, mullets, flounder, bass, barbels, eels, shad, and even sharks—what do they have in common? Well, at certain points in their lives you may find them in estuaries, the final sections of rivers before they meet the ocean. Some fish live in estuaries their entire lives. However, some fish species prefer living in the freshwater parts of estuaries, others only live close to the ocean, and a few others spread throughout the estuary. Some species prefer living close to the bottom, some in marshes, and some constantly swim around in the estuary. Some prefer eating other fish, while other species like worms, or insects, or microscopic animals. Unfortunately, many estuarine species are in danger, and all because of humans. In this article, we will tell you why estuaries are such special places for fish and describe some of the species that call the San Francisco Estuary their home.
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The Sense Acuity and Behavioral (SAAB) Hypothesis proposes that the swimming capabilities and sensorial acuity of temperate fish larvae allows them to find and swim towards coastal nursery areas, which are crucial for their recruitment.... more
The Sense Acuity and Behavioral (SAAB) Hypothesis proposes that the swimming capabilities and sensorial acuity of temperate fish larvae allows them to find and swim towards coastal nursery areas, which are crucial for their recruitment. To gather further evidence to support this theory, it is necessary to understand how horizontal swimming capability varies along fish larvae ontogeny. Therefore, we studied the swimming capability of white seabream Diplodus sargus (Linnaeus, 1758) larvae along ontogeny, and their relationship with physiological condition. Thus, critical swimming speed (Ucrit) and the distance swam (km) during endurance tests were determined for fish larvae from 15 to 55 days post-hatching (DPH), and their physiological condition (RNA, DNA and protein contents) was assessed. The critical swimming speed of white seabream larvae increased along ontogeny from 1.1 cm s−1 (15 DPH) to 23 cm s−1 (50 and 55 DPH), and the distance swam by larvae in the endurance experiments in...
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Cryptic invasions are defined as the introduction and spread of non-native lineages within the species' native range (intra-specific cryptic invasion) or the invasion of non-native species that goes unnoticed due to misidentification... more
Cryptic invasions are defined as the introduction and spread of non-native lineages within the species' native range (intra-specific cryptic invasion) or the invasion of non-native species that goes unnoticed due to misidentification as a native or another invasive species (inter-specific cryptic invasion). While population-specific attributes are acknowledged to play a critical role in the success and impact of biological invasions in general, our knowledge of the causes and consequences of cryptic invasions is largely neglected. Cryptic invasions are inherently difficult to recognize and, despite being likely widespread, often go undetected. In this review, we analyse the sources, mechanisms, and consequences of cryptic invasions. Using a bibliometric survey, we first quantify the relative proportion of study questions, taxa, and geographic regions. We then highlight the value of comparative information from archived specimens in uncovering the occurrence and timing of cryptic...
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The feeding ecology of Blackfordia virginica was evaluated concurrently with their ecophysiological condition in a temperate estuary. The diet of B. virginica is composed not only of metazooplankton, as commonly observed for other... more
The feeding ecology of Blackfordia virginica was evaluated concurrently with their ecophysiological condition in a temperate estuary. The diet of B. virginica is composed not only of metazooplankton, as commonly observed for other jellyfish species, but also of phytoplankton, ciliates and detritus. This feeding behavior might explain their good nutritional condition and sustainable growth during bloom peaks, when zooplankton abundance has already decreased significantly.
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Since the publication of " The Migrations of Fish " by Prof. Alexander Meek in 1916, a number of books have been published on this subject. However, most of these books only cover one type of migratory mechanisms. This book aims to... more
Since the publication of " The Migrations of Fish " by Prof. Alexander Meek in 1916, a number of books have been published on this subject. However, most of these books only cover one type of migratory mechanisms. This book aims to overcome this drawback by presenting a comprehensive coverage of all life history strategies-amphidromy, diadromy, oceanodromy and potadromy in one book. The first section of this book reviews the history of fish migration studies, and the main trends and challenges of fish migration research. The second section describes the main processes and patterns associated with all migratory life history strategies, as well as the main problems associated with their conservation. The relevance of life history plasticity for migratory fishes has been highlighted in this section. Finally, the third section provides examples of the main methodologies used to study fish migration.