Category: Sem categoria

Vesa Havurinne, Heta Mattila, Paulo Cartaxana, and Sónia Cruz, researchers at CESAM/DBIO, together with collaborators from the University of Turku, Finland, have published a study in the journal Communications Biology showing that a common light acclimation mechanism, known as “State Transitions” — which allows green algae to adjust light absorption in response to spectral changes in incident light — is absent in an order of green macroalgae: the Bryopsidales.

Bryopsidales are part of a larger group of algae, Ulvophyceae, that contains species commonly used as food source by very peculiar animals, photosynthetic sea slugs (Sacoglossa). These animals specifically steal chloroplasts from their algal prey and maintain these alien organelles, called kleptoplasts, functional inside their cells for weeks and months in a process known as kleptoplasty. While the lack of state transitions in sea slugs containing Bryopsidales-derived kleptoplasts came as no surprise in this study, the lack of state transitions in sea slugs feeding on other ulvophyte algae that did exhibit strong state transitions was a peculiar finding.

Further investigation revealed that the loss of state transitions in the sea slugs happens immediately upon incorporation of the kleptoplasts. Using confocal microscopy, the chloroplast-to-kleptoplast transition was shown to alter the structure of the chloroplasts dramatically; the chloroplasts in the ulvophyte alga Acetabularia acetabulum exhibited highly diverse shapes and sizes, whereas the kleptoplasts of the sea slug Elysia timida were always highly spherical and seemingly smaller in size.

Experimental manipulation of A. acetabulum chloroplasts to a more spherical shape also resulted in the loss of state transitions, which suggests that the structural changes to the chloroplasts are the overarching mechanistic reason behind their loss in the sea slugs. Other sea slug-prey algae combinations were also inspected under the microscope, which revealed that all kleptoplastic sea slugs enforce a remarkably spherical shape of their kleptoplasts, indicating that it is a fundamental property of functional kleptoplasty in sea slugs.

Figure legend: Major differences in chloroplast shapes between Ulvophyceae macroalgae and both functional and non-functional kleptoplast-bearing sea slugs.

At the beginning of 2025, researchers José Alves and Camilo Carneiro, both from CESAM/DBIO, were contacted by IBAP (Institute for Biodiversity and Protected Areas of Guinea-Bissau) to support the ongoing nomination of the Bijagós Archipelago for inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Sites designated as World Heritage must possess Outstanding Universal Value, meaning they hold fundamental cultural and/or natural significance and meet strict selection criteria. The Bijagós Archipelago is one of the most important wintering grounds in Africa for migratory shorebirds along the East Atlantic Flyway and holds numerous other cultural and natural values that deserve protection for future generations. Following a field visit in late 2024, IBAP received a series of questions from IUCN, on behalf of the evaluation panel, regarding species distribution and the use of different zones within the proposed area.

José Alves, researcher at CESAM/DBIO, explains that the contribution involved two complementary aspects: “on one hand, through the production and dissemination, over the past years, of various scientific publications on macrobenthos, shorebirds and their interactions with local communities; on the other, through a rapid response to IUCN requests following the technical evaluation mission, which included compiling and analysing unpublished data on the spatial use of the archipelago by migratory shorebirds equipped with tracking devices such as GPS tags.”

In less than a week, the scientific team, which also includes Camilo Carneiro, provided the necessary information, showing that between 80% and 95% of the locations from tracked birds occurred within the proposed core protection zone. This evidence proved decisive for IUCN’s recommendation to inscribe the Bijagós Archipelago on the World Heritage List — a milestone that, in José Alves’ words, represents “an important achievement for biodiversity conservation in West Africa. This international recognition guarantees a high level of legal protection for this coastal ecosystem, which is particularly important for shorebirds that are experiencing more severe population declines in this part of the flyway than in other regions.”

With this designation, the Bijagós will become the fifth site along the East Atlantic Flyway to join the list of UNESCO sites with Outstanding Universal Value. Inclusion in this international network will reinforce conservation efforts for migratory shorebirds, contributing to reversing population decline trends across multiple species.

The Directors of the Research Units / Associated Laboratories CCMAR (Centre of Marine Sciences of the Algarve), CESAM (Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, University of Aveiro), CIIMAR (Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research), MARE (Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre), and OKEANOS (Institute for Marine Science Research / University of the Azores) published the following open letter in the Público newspaper:

Portugal is a nation historically and deeply connected to the sea. We have inherited a vast ocean, rich in biodiversity and full of potential, but also fraught with challenges. Managing this heritage requires more than goodwill — it demands solid knowledge, consistent investment, and long-term strategic vision.

What was once an insurmountable barrier is now the most important global route for transporting goods. What used to be an inexhaustible source of food is now an ecosystem where many fish stocks are on the brink of collapse due to overfishing. What was once distant and pristine now receives waste produced by human activity. The sea exerts a constant influence on our lives, notably through the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere.

Portugal’s ocean area far exceeds its land territory and is seen by many as an untapped gem — a hidden treasure largely yet to be discovered. Its importance is evident in the growing share of maritime economic activities in the national GDP, now at around 5%.

But the Ocean is much more than its most tangible economic value. It is the Ocean that governs our climate. Life on Earth began in the ocean, and it harbours the planet’s greatest biodiversity — much of it still unknown to science. From the Ocean we derive oxygen, energy, food, and much more. The Ocean absorbs much of the carbon dioxide we emit by burning fossil fuels. Without the Gulf Stream, Portugal’s climate would be much colder and harsher. Without the Ocean, Earth’s temperature would be unbearable, making life impossible.

Portugal is entrusted with a significant portion of this natural capital — the Atlantic Ocean — which must be preserved to ensure the well-being of future generations. This is a responsibility that cannot be ignored. And to manage it effectively, knowledge and education are essential.

Despite significant advances in recent decades, science in Portugal continues to face structural and funding limitations, in part due to the country’s well-known budgetary constraints. These challenges hinder its consolidation and international competitiveness.

As in other scientific domains, Marine Sciences in Portugal have advanced considerably, as evidenced by the country’s scientific output per capita, which now ranks second in Europe, behind only Norway. However, we still need to better understand our seas — which requires a science policy and resources that enable us to stand on equal footing with leading international institutions in the field.

Ocean research has its specific challenges

Compared to land-based environments, water is far more viscous than air, and pressure increases by one atmosphere for every 10 metres of depth (one atmosphere being the pressure exerted by the mass of air at sea level). This means that ships, submersibles, and other aquatic vehicles are needed to explore the sea. Moreover, salt water is corrosive and degrades materials more quickly than freshwater or terrestrial environments. This makes marine research, much like space exploration, more expensive than research conducted on land.

In reality, Portugal lacks the means to adequately study its exclusive economic zone — whether in terms of ships, submersibles, or fixed observation systems. National research vessels are rarely accessible to universities and research centres, making it impossible to develop strategies and programmes that go beyond the short term. The existing fleet is, in part, outdated, with high maintenance costs and frequent breakdowns, resulting in prolonged downtimes and insufficient capacity.

Neighbouring countries, such as Spain, have adopted more integrated and collaborative management models that facilitate access by the scientific community to research vessels and promote synergies between institutions. The Spanish oceanographic fleet is coordinated by the Commission for the Coordination and Monitoring of Oceanographic Vessel Activities (COCSABO), ensuring collaboration across institutions and alignment with national and European scientific goals.

It is crucial to guarantee Portuguese scientists access to research vessels — known as “ship time” — and for that, collaboration with state laboratories such as IPMA is essential.

Humanity faces major challenges that can only be addressed through joint action — with ocean preservation at the heart of these efforts. Portugal is responsible for a vast ocean area, which brings added responsibilities in the international context, but also unique opportunities in the blue economy of the future.

Over recent decades, Portugal has established itself as a nation with a scientific vocation and a commitment to knowledge. It is vital that, even in the face of global challenges, the country maintains its commitment to investing in science, recognising its essential role in building effective and sustainable solutions. The goal of reaching 3% of GDP in R&D investment by the end of the decade should be embraced as a national strategic objective — not only to ensure greater global competitiveness, but also to provide a strong foundation for sustainable development.

In the case of Marine Sciences, this effort is even more urgent and relevant. It is a field in which research demands advanced and complex technological tools, with high operating costs and specialised infrastructure. More consistent investment in this area would not only deepen our understanding of the ocean, but also position Portugal as a key partner in tackling climate change, preserving marine biodiversity, and enhancing the value of natural resources.

Securing this future requires placing science at the centre of strategic and structural decisions — and recognising the ocean as a national asset that deserves to be studied, protected, and valued based on the best available knowledge.

On June 5, 2025, the Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) of the University of Aveiro joins the celebrations of World Environment Day, reinforcing its commitment to excellence in scientific research focused on environmental sustainability, ecosystem conservation, and the mitigation of global change.

This day, established by the United Nations in 1972, is an opportunity to highlight the urgent need to protect the planet by promoting public policies and practices grounded in solid scientific knowledge — a central mission of CESAM throughout its two decades of activity as an Associate Laboratory.

With an integrative and transdisciplinary approach, CESAM structures its research into three Thematic Lines and six Research Clusters that address critical areas of environmental and marine sustainability.

Among the many ongoing projects, today we highlight the following as representative of CESAM’s broad scope:

The FONDA project – Fostering Nitrogen Deposition Assessment – aims to strengthen national capacity in modelling and mapping emissions, transport, transformation, and deposition of reactive nitrogen compounds. This is achieved through strategic partnerships with TNO (Netherlands) and Freie Universität Berlin (Germany), positioning CESAM as a national reference in air quality modelling.

PASTURE+, a project that seeks to improve the sustainability and resilience of sown Mediterranean pastures through the use of biochar, aiming to optimise the interaction between soil, plants, and biota. This will increase pasture productivity and quality and enhance essential ecosystem services, such as water and carbon retention.

RESTORE4Cs, which analyses how the restoration of coastal wetlands contributes to climate change mitigation. One of its goals is to assess carbon storage potential, emissions reduction, and ecosystem benefits. The project develops methodologies to guide restoration actions based on ecological and socioeconomic data and creates decision-support tools to improve climate and biodiversity policies.

“Our scientific dynamism, articulated with the existence of structured transversal research lines, the drive and quality of our members, and the growing interaction with diverse stakeholders, enables CESAM to address contemporary environmental challenges in an integrated manner,” states Amadeu Soares, Director of CESAM. “Our work is aligned with society’s needs, contributing — even through fundamental research, as well as more targeted efforts — to the formulation of sustainable policies based on solid scientific evidence, with the goal of promoting environmental conservation and sustainable development,” concludes the Director of CESAM.

On 28 May, the second edition of the “Pitch or Perish” competition took place, an initiative organised by the PhD Students Group of CESAM (GED-CESAM).

The event featured the participation of several CESAM doctoral students, who presented their research projects in a short and direct pitch format. The aim was to promote the ability to communicate science clearly and accessibly.

During the presentations, there was space for interaction with the audience, who asked questions and contributed to the discussion. The panel of evaluators highlighted the quality and originality of the presentations.

The initiative aimed to encourage good scientific communication practices and foster the exchange of ideas among students and researchers within the CESAM community.

A major international scientific effort has set sail to study freshened groundwater buried beneath the seafloor off the coast of Massachusetts. This water, first discovered in the 1960s, has long puzzled researchers due to its unexpected presence under the ocean. Expedition 501 “New England Shelf Hydrogeology” is the first to directly sample and analyze these offshore aquifers.

Davide Gamboa, researcher at CESAM and professor at the Department of Geosciences of the University of Aveiro, is the lead scientist of the sedimentology team on the expedition. At CESAM, he is part of the Research Cluster RC1 – Deep Sea, Ocean and Transitional Ecosystems, whose mission is to advance knowledge about marine ecosystems, including those of the deep sea and transitional zones, and their interactions with human activities.

Led by Prof. Karen Johannesson (University of Massachusetts Boston) and Prof. Brandon Dugan (Colorado School of Mines), the expedition brings together 41 scientists from 13 nations. The team began offshore operations in May 2025 aboard the L/B Robert, a specialized liftboat equipped with a drilling rig, which departed from Bridgeport, Connecticut on May 19.

Researchers aim to answer key questions: How old is this groundwater? How much is there? How did it get there? And how does it interact with seawater? Hypotheses suggest the water may have been emplaced during periods of low sea level or under ancient glaciers. The team will also investigate microbial communities and the role of these waters in nutrient and carbon cycling.

Sediment and water samples will be collected from depths up to 550 meters at three locations on the New England Shelf. These shallow marine sites were selected based on earlier geophysical studies. Offshore work will continue through early August, followed by onshore analysis in January 2026 at MARUM, University of Bremen, Germany.

The research is conducted by the European Consortium for Ocean Research Drilling (ECORD) under the International Ocean Drilling Programme (IODP³), with support from the US National Science Foundation (NSF). Findings will advance global knowledge of offshore aquifer systems and inform sustainable freshwater management.

All data and core samples will be made publicly available after a one-year moratorium.

More information:
Expedition Overview
Scientific Prospectus
FAQ

Full press release [here]

Photo: Everest@ECORD_IODP3_NSF – The L/B Robert, base for scientists until August.

To protect the Aquatic Warbler, the most threatened passerine bird in continental Europe, the new international project LIFE AWOM (Aquatic Warblers on the Move) was launched this month. In Portugal, the project includes the participation of SPEA and CESAM/UA, who join partners from four countries and two continents to ensure the survival of this species along its migratory route.

José Alves, researcher from CESAM/DBIO, says that, “This project is also an opportunity to raise awareness about the need for coordinated conservation of migratory birds by the multiple countries they call ‘home’. Only by doing so can we safeguard species that depend on habitats thousands of kilometers apart throughout their annual cycle,”.

LIFE AWOM is one of the most comprehensive projects ever undertaken to secure the Aquatic Warbler’s survival along its flyway and reinforces the importance of the Natura 2000 Network as a vital backbone for biodiversity conservation in Europe.

“SPEA is proud to be part of this joint effort, which will enable the restoration of vital habitats in Portugal and strengthen our role in conserving globally threatened migratory birds,” says Julieta Costa, Head of the Conservation Department at SPEA.

The Aquatic Warbler, weighing only 10 grams, migrates thousands of kilometers each year between Central and Eastern Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa. Along this journey, the species relies on healthy wetlands for rest and feeding—ecosystems increasingly under threat from drainage, pollution, and climate change. Its conservation, therefore, demands a coordinated international approach.

Co-funded by the European Union’s LIFE Programme, the LIFE AWOM project brings together organizations from Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, and Senegal to identify and restore 20 priority wetlands along the Aquatic Warbler’s migratory route. Most of these sites are part of the Natura 2000 Network, underlining its essential role in safeguarding European biodiversity.

In addition to ecological habitat restoration, the project includes actions for monitoring, technical training, and integration with public policies such as the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), aiming to promote long-term sustainable solutions. Each participating country will also develop a national action plan dedicated to the species’ conservation.

“Through LIFE AWOM, SPEA reaffirms its commitment to protecting birds and natural wetland habitats in Portugal, contributing to a more resilient and biodiverse future,” adds Julieta Costa.

The official launch of the project took place in Madrid, on May 21–22, with a Public International Conference held at the MITECO Auditorium (Ministry for the Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge), coinciding with Natura 2000 Day and Biodiversity Day. The opening event brought together representatives from public administrations, national and international conservation NGOs, and research centers, reinforcing the collective commitment to transnational cooperation and the protection of endangered migratory species.

Original source: spea.pt, 27 May 2025

Rosário Domingues, researcher at CESAM and professor at DQUA, recently co-authored the scientific article titled “Technical recommendations for analyzing oxylipins by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry”, making a significant contribution to the scientific community involved in bioactive lipid studies.

Published by an international team of experts, the article provides practical and technical guidelines for the rigorous analysis of oxylipins—metabolites derived from polyunsaturated fatty acids that play crucial roles in inflammation, immunity, and homeostasis. Using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS), these molecules can be measured with high sensitivity, making it essential to standardize methodologies to ensure reproducibility and comparability across laboratories.

The contribution of the CESAM/DQUA researcher was essential for the development and critical review of the technical recommendations presented in the article, reflecting her active involvement in cutting-edge lipidomics research.

This work aims to serve as a reference for researchers, clinical laboratories, and industrial users employing LC-MS in oxylipin analysis, promoting data quality and the advancement of biomedical research.

Ana Lillebø, researcher at CESAM/DBIO and coordinator of the A-AAGORA project, took part in “Surfing the Blue: Navigating Ocean-Funding Opportunities”, an event organised by ANI – the Portuguese National Innovation Agency – and the National Committee for the Ocean Decade (CNDO).

During a panel dedicated to successful initiatives in ocean and coastal research, she presented A-AAGORA, highlighted as an example of best practices in marine ecosystem restoration and climate change adaptation, reinforcing its relevance in both national and European policy contexts.

The Portuguese demonstrator of the project (Demo PT) was also represented at the event by partner CCDRC, underlining the region’s active role in coastal resilience and the promotion of transformative change.

Designed to align the objectives of the EU Mission Ocean with the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science and national funding mechanisms, Surfing the Blue brought together key stakeholders from the marine innovation ecosystem. The event showcased projects led by Portuguese institutions that are having an impact on ocean sustainability.

The visibility of A-AAGORA at Surfing the Blue strengthens its role in building a sustainable blue future, driven by science, community engagement, and strategic alignment with ocean policy.

More information here.

Researcher Alexandra Monteiro, from CESAM/DAO, is part of the expert group responsible for drafting the European Union’s recently published technical document, which will serve as a guide for the use of modelling in the new Air Quality Directive (Directive EU 2024/2881). Playing a key role in the production of this document, Alexandra Monteiro authored one of the chapters in the guide, which outlines scientific advances and best practices in the assessment of air quality models.

The technical document provides essential support for the implementation of air quality modelling across Europe, consolidating scientific knowledge and practical guidance for environmental authorities and policymakers. Over the past decades, modelling systems have evolved significantly, enabling more accurate assessments of air pollution and its implications for health and the environment. Now, with the revision of the directive, modelling takes on a more prominent role in air quality management, particularly in the development of air quality plans, identification of emission sources, and future forecasting/scenario planning.

Alexandra Monteiro’s participation highlights the contribution of Portuguese research to the shaping of European environmental policy and underscores CESAM’s relevance at the forefront of climate and atmospheric science, particularly in the field of numerical air quality modelling. With the implementation of the new directive, the guidance resulting from this technical work is expected to play a decisive role in improving air quality and protecting public health across Europe.

Read the document here.