Category: Sem categoria

The “Prize Fluviário 2023 – Young Scientist of the Year” promoted by the municipality and Fluviário of Mora, which distinguishes the best article published by a student, was awarded to Isabel Silva, a doctoral student at CESAM. This award aims to distinguish a student (PhD, MSc, Lic.) who has published as first author an article (SCI magazine) in 2023 on the topic of conservation and biodiversity of continental aquatic resources (Estuaries and Rivers). The award-winning article, published in the magazine Environmental Pollution, is also co-authored by Marta Tacão, researcher at CESAM.

See the article here and the news on the Mora Fluviarium website here

Sensibilizar os jovens para a necessidade de proteger a biodiversidade de insetos polinizadores. Este é o grande objetivo do projeto de ciência-cidadã “Be Butterfly Friendly” que está a arrancar em 15 escolas do 1º e 2º ciclos do concelho de Oeiras. O projeto é coordenado por Clarisse Ferreira, estudante de Doutoramento em Biologia da Universidade de Aveiro (UA).

O objetivo central deste projeto, que se pretende que possa ser alargado ao resto do país, é, assim, a sensibilização para a proteção e conservação das borboletas e de outros polinizadores, reconhecendo a sua importância, causas e consequências do seu declínio, recorrendo a recursos como saídas de campo, visitas exploratórias e atividades de sementeira e plantação nas hortas pedagógicas e biológicas, como estratégias na promoção de Educação e Sensibilização Ambiental.

Até agora, são 15 as escolas aderentes que possuem hortas biológicas escolares integradas no projeto “Aqui há Horta” da Câmara Municipal de Oeiras, Divisão do Ambiente e às quais estão a ser atribuídas sementes de espécies de plantas para a criação de Jardins de Borboletas. O projeto, que arrancou já com o início do 2º semestre deste ano letivo e que decorrerá até ao final deste ano letivo de 2023/2024 no município piloto, Oeiras, pretendendo-se que possa ser depois alargado a outras escolas do país.

O “Be Butterfly Friendly” surge no âmbito da tese de doutoramento de Clarisse Ferreira, orientada na UA pela investigadora Olga Ameixa e pelo professor Paulo Silveira, ambos do Departamento de Biologia e do Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar, uma das unidades de investigação da UA.

Em declínio preocupante

“As borboletas, são insetos bastante populares, relativamente fáceis de identificar, sendo, por isso, muito estudados”, aponta Clarisse Ferreira. “À semelhança de outros grupos, as suas populações têm vindo a diminuir, devido sobretudo à perda e fragmentação dos seus habitats, ao uso de pesticidas e às alterações climáticas. Um declínio que pode ter consequências nos serviços de polinização e logo na manutenção dos ecossistemas naturais e na produção de alimentos”, aponta.

A borboleta Melitaea aetherie, ou fritilária-do-Sul, é a espécie bandeira deste projeto. Esta espécie está considerada localmente extinta no município de Oeiras e está classificada como “vulnerável” pela “Lista Vermelha de Grupos de Invertebrados Terrestres e de Água Doce de Portugal Continental”, publicada em 2023. A borboleta alimenta-se do cardo, Cynara cardunculus, também conhecido por cardo leiteiro. Na primeira visita às escolas já foram entregues cardos, Cynara cardunculus, recolhidos no vale de Beijames e cedidos pela ASE – Associação Cultural dos amigos da serra da Estrela.

“Esta primavera, irão ser realizadas, pelo menos, sete saídas de campo para dar a conhecer os insetos em geral e os lepidópteros em particular da Quinta de Recreio do Marquês de Pombal”, aponta Clarisse Ferreira. Esta ação conta com o apoio da Divisão de Educação e Ambiente da Câmara Municipal de Oeiras, através da plataforma “OeirasEduca”, para transportar os alunos das escolas até à Quinta de Cima, à Quinta de Recreio do Marquês de Pombal e à Ribeira da Lage, bem como na disponibilização de um espaço do município para a realização da Exposição dos trabalhos dos alunos a concurso.

O projeto é partilhado pelo Clube de Ciência Viva na Escola Secundária Quinta do Marquês, e pela Associação Portuguesa de Educação Ambiental (ASPEA) e ganhou uma bolsa no valor de 1379 euros, atribuída pela “Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency de Taiwan”, uma organização do Ministério da Agricultura de Taiwan dedicado à gestão florestal sustentável e à conservação da natureza.

Este apoio, foi formalizado no dia 11 de outubro de 2023 na presença do Embaixador Chang, Tsung-Che e do Vice-presidente e Presidente da ASPEA – Joaquim Ramos Pinto, no Centro Económico e Cultural de Taipei, em Lisboa.

[Texto da notícia no site da UA, em https://www.ua.pt/pt/noticias/9/86173]

The magazine ARDEA, published by the association of Dutch ornithologists (NOU) since 1912, highlights on the cover of its most recent issue the article led by Ana Coelho , CESAM PhD student who recently defended her thesis (December 2023).

This article is one of the results of the Waders of the Bijagós project and reveals the seasonal variation in the diet of 8 species of waders that migrate to and pass through the Bijagos archipelago its non-breeding season. Research shows that during preparation for return migrations to breeding areas, in northern Europe and the Arctic, these species change their diet in a more noticeable way. This may reflect changes in the abundance of their prey or in their selectivity on the part of the birds, which at this stage must acquire substantial energy reserves for migratory flights.

Link to article: https://ardea.nou.nu/ardea_show_abstract.php?lang=uk&nr=4455

The cover of the magazine highlights one of the most abundant species of waders in this archipelago, the Galician sandpiper (Numenius phaeopus), a bird that holds the record for non-stop migratory flights on the East Atlantic migratory route, continuously flying thousands of kilometers between the Iceland (where it breeds) and West Africa where it spends the non-breeding season. Interestingly, the same team of CESAM researchers recently discovered that juveniles of this species also make these long migrations without any stops when they are only around 60 days old. By leaving Iceland significantly later than adults, they embark, in most cases, at their own risk on an ocean crossing that they do not know when it will end.

Link to this other article:https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ibi.13282

The question is the article’s title published in the journal Biodiversidade e Conservação, which includes the participation of researchers from CESAM and the University of Aveiro. This work was carried out as part of the master’s thesis of former UA student Raquel Martins.

As mentioned in the publication, Iberian wolf populations have been decreasing in Portugal due to a combination of factors such as habitat destruction and human persecution. It is particularly worrying in Central Portugal, where wolf packs are highly fragmented, isolated, and have few individuals. Conflicts between humans and wolves are constant in this area due to high levels of livestock predation and the low diversity and abundance of wild prey, such as wild boar and roe deer. That is why human persecution is considered the main threat to the survival of wolves.

By studying public attitudes toward these wolf populations and discerning prevailing patterns, knowledge can be gained to guide management strategies in mitigating these factors.

In this study, 222 questionnaires were carried out among human populations living in Central Portugal, divided into three interest groups (general public, livestock owners, and hunters), to obtain information on aspects such as Attitude, Fear, and Knowledge regarding the wolf.

When analysing the information, the researchers found that attitudes tend to be more positive towards the wolf, with an increase in fear and an increase in knowledge. Factors that influenced fear included gender, knowledge, and personal experience with wolves.

These sections will be used to target specific groups with environmental awareness initiatives, aiming to increase knowledge and reduce sources of fear.

The researchers warn that specific conservation measures, considering the views of interested parties, are needed to effectively protect the Iberian wolf.

See the article here

The Group of PhD Students from the Center for Environmental and Marine Studies at the University of Aveiro, GED-CESAM, in an initiative to connect the non-academic community, organized the first “Pitch or Perish” competition.

In an allusion to a 2014 scientific article, which discussed the importance of publishing scientific work, the organization intended to draw attention to the need for researchers to communicate their work in simple language that is accessible to the non-academic public.

According to the organization, the competition, which took place with the support of CESAM last Wednesday, March 20th, at Café-Restaurante Convívio, aimed to bring together the academic community and the non-academic community of Aveiro, where CESAM-UA is inserted. The doctoral students presented their research work in 3 and 5 minutes in several stages that culminated in the selection of the best presentations by the jury, which included, among others, the vice-coordinators of CESAM Ana Cristina Esteves and Fátima Alves, who is also Director of the UA Department of Environment and Planning, and Ruben Silva, representative of GED-CESAM.

According to Ruben Silva, represented by the organization, “this event is intended to be the first of many. The reception was excellent and the fact that it was held in a public space, a reference for Aveirenses, makes this occasion a unique opportunity to share between two worlds that are sometimes not as connected as they should be”.

GED-CESAM, recently created to represent CESAM-UA PhD students, has as a pillar of its action the strengthening of ties between students and the academic and non-academic community. In this sense, there are already several events planned for the year 2024.

“Biodiversity and habitat preservation” is the theme of this 2nd meeting, which brings together 30 ESE students and José Alves, a researcher from the University of Aveiro, at the table. Our invitation is for you to return to our CAFÉ PACOPAR and join the live broadcast on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYUVyppPER8) on March 21st, next Thursday, at 3:10 pm.

The article entitled “Mammal responses to global changes in human activity vary by trophic group and landscape”, published in Nature Ecology and Evolution and which included the participation of CESAM/Dbio researchers, Rita Torres and João Carvalho, is one of the largest studies on the activity of wild animals, counting more than 163 species of mammals and close to 5000 camera traps around the world, and reveals that depending on the landscape they inhabit and their eating habits, animals react differently to human activity .

Herbivores tend to be more active when human activity increases, while carnivores show the opposite response. In less modified landscapes, such as rural spaces, mammals tend to be less active with increased human activity; while in highly modified landscapes, such as cities, mammals have become particularly active during the night.

These results highlight the importance of taking measures to minimize any harmful effects of human disturbance on wildlife, including reducing overlaps that could lead to conflict.

On February 23rd, Universidade de Aveiro (UAveiro) was visited by two members of the Executive Committee (EC) of the InsectERA Agenda for a meeting to monitor the project and visit the laboratories where the research work is taking place.

This action is part of the strategy established by the European Commission to visit all the partners in order to promote an effective rapprochement and connection within the Agenda.

Remember that the InsectERA Mobilizing Agenda is one of the 22 Mobilizing/Green Agendas for Business Innovation of the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) in which the UAveiro participates. Specifically, this Agenda aims to explore the potential of insects as a bioindustrial tool and has an eligible investment of 1.7 million euros at UAveiro.

At the university’s facilities, the group visited the Applied Ecology and Ecotoxicology laboratory – CESAM (Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies), where the In Frass and OneHealth Work Package (WP) experiments are taking place. These are experiences of using organic fertilizers generated from the bioconversion of insects and assessing the challenges, benefits and solutions for human, animal and environmental health along the value chain and the impact of each product and service generated. This visit was accompanied by teacher Susana Loureiro, who showed the work that has been carried out.

A visit was also made to the Technology Laboratory Complex where work is being carried out under the WP In4.0 in a visit led by researcher Mara Freire. This WP aims to increase insect production capacity with the application of automated systems and new insect processing and production optimization techniques, giving rise to new production management and traceability software, increasing productivity and efficiency for insect producers.

As part of this action, the members of the Executive Committee also met with the researchers responsible for the three Agenda projects at UAveiro: Susana Loureiro, Paula Quinteiro, Mara Freire and their teams. The status of each project and the results obtained, as well as the obstacles faced, were presented, sharing information and promoting an exchange of ideas. 

More information and updates on the Agenda’s developments can be found at https://www.insectera.pt/.

Text by: Notícias UA.

Increasingly frequent all over the planet, the Iberian Peninsula will also be affected by droughts during this century. This is the main conclusion of a study carried out at Universidade de Aveiro (UAveiro) that predicts changes in the drought regime, which could bring changes to the way of life of Portuguese and Spaniards.

Carried out by researchers João Miguel Dias and Humberto Pereira, from the Department of Physics (DFis) and the Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) of UAveiro, in collaboration with researchers Nieves Lorenzo and Ines Alvarez from the University of Vigo, the study published in the journal Atmospheric Research, characterizes the occurrence and spatial variability of droughts in the Iberian Peninsula over the next 50 years considering two scenarios of greenhouse gas concentration in the atmosphere (one moderate and one severe) defined by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPPC).

In this context, two types of drought were analyzed: meteorological (which are defined as a measure of the deviation of precipitation from the normal/expected value) and hydrological (which relate to the reduction of average water levels in reservoirs and in the ground).

“The main results of the study show that, for both IPCC scenarios, meteorological droughts will be less frequent overall in the Iberian Peninsula in the period 2006-2040, but more intense and long-lasting in the eastern region of the Iberian Peninsula, with this effect intensifying throughout the 21st century,” points out Humberto Pereira.

By 2040, says the researcher, “hydrological droughts are expected to be more common and intense in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula, and less frequent but longer-lasting in the other regions of the peninsula”. For the period from 2041 to 2075, the frequency and intensity of these droughts will decrease in the most moderate scenario and increase slightly in the most severe scenario.

Predicting the spatial and temporal characteristics of droughts “is crucial to understanding and mitigating their future impacts on the Iberian Peninsula’s ecosystems and reducing the potential risks arising from them”.

Meteorological and hydrological droughts can have various consequences in the region under study. The UAveiro researchers point out that “at an economic level, they could result in negative impacts on agriculture, tourism and energy production; at an environmental level, they will have negative impacts on the region’s biodiversity, soil degradation and a potential increase in the risk of forest fires; and at a social level, with the possible shortage of drinking water for the population”.

It should be noted that the results were obtained using the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), an index widely used to characterize the drought regime on different time scales, which is based exclusively on precipitation. “It is well known that drought phenomena can be influenced by other factors, such as air temperature, seasonality, and even the characteristics of the terrain, which requires a more complex characterization and prediction of these phenomena,” says João Miguel Dias.

Text by: Notícias UA.

This week (5-7 March) CESAM will host an international workshop to develop the first ever Atlantic-scale maps of the distribution of key species and habitats to inform the development of a deep-ocean biodiversity digital twin.

The workshop, co-organized by the University of Aveiro and the University of Plymouth under the umbrella of the UN Ocean Decade Programme, Challenger 150 (www.challenger150.world), is supported by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology of the United Kingdom. Researchers from 12 countries (Portugal, United Kingdom, Norway, Iceland, Ireland, France, Spain, South Africa, Canada, USA, Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina) will meet to deliver Atlantic scale unified datasets for the distribution of key species and habitats supporting onward modelling of distributions both now and under climate change scenarios.  

Predicting how the marine biological ecosystem will respond to climate change, and its subsequent impacts on industry and wider society is a key driver in the development of Ocean Digital Twins. Digital Twins are virtual models of a real system that enable simulations to determine possible outcomes of different decision pathways. However, they require terabytes of observations, ideally taken across different ocean regions, in order to model ocean system responses to ‘what if’ scenarios. They therefore demand significant international cooperation. Portugal and the UK have a long history of oceanographic research. Both nations currently co-lead the Challenger 150 programme, which coordinates deep-sea biodiversity research to inform sustainable development.