From September 2019 to August 2023, we will investigate the past, present, and future of coral reefs in the Coral Triangle. The program combines geo-, bio- and climate sciences; 15 Early Stage Researchers will form the backbone of the project, involving 11 international institutes.Key questionsUsing a variety of paleo-ecological and present-day data, 4D-REEF investigates the […]

The aim of AgriTarget is to develop and test nano-enabled carriers that can provide controlled delivery of active ingredients (AIs) to plants in real soil/plant settings. In this project, a carrier is composed of a matrix loaded with nanoparticles/ nanocarriers for target and controlled/ stimuli-responsive delivery of AIs to plant shoots or roots. Following the […]

AgroForWealth aims to develop a strategy for the valorization of a multitude of agro-food and forest residues within the emerging circular economy concept, calling upon a well-defined set of common and integrated biorefinery approaches implementable in a single unit, and easily extended to any type of by-product, and to creat new products with nutraceutical added […]

European aquaculture is facing major challenges: external competition and consumer demands in terms of quality, environmental standards and competitive prices. Feed is one of the main costs of a fish farm, and typically represents 20-50% of the operating cost. However, most commercial fish farms apply non-optimised feeding regimes. Feeding strategies have strong interactions with optimised […]

The AM4SP project aims to plan, develop, demonstrate and validate a set of innovative and disruptive solutions conducive to obtaining an intelligent door panel, integrating customized components, and with ability to match the new demands of the automotive industry, using, from a technological point of view, AM technologies and, from the point of view of […]

AMBIEnCE project aims at assessing the impact of atmospheric organic aerosol (OA) deposition on the molecular composition and reactivity of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in different coastal marine systems. AMBIEnCE also aims at exploring how the intrinsic chemical features of both OA and DOM drive the solubility and bioavailability of atmospheric-derived trace metals (TM) in […]

One of the most important challenges of the 21st century is to meet the world’s demand for sustainably produced biomass for both food and the growing bio-products sector. Increased use of fresh water for agriculture and loss of farmland due to salinity are related concerns. Salicornia europaea (S. europaea) is grown commercially in the EU […]

Forest fires are considered a major environmental problem in Mediterranean countries of southern-Europe, occurring with a high frequency and affecting large areas. Amongst the distinct impacts of wildfires, their role on the production, mobilization and dispersion of contaminants has been increasingly receiving research attention, particularly in what concerns polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and metals. Both […]

There is an increasing awareness about the importance of the manipulation of aquaculture microbiome to improve fish health and production. However, the lack of knowledge about the effect of different strategies for water microbiome modulation on fish pathogens and host-microbe interactions is a stumbling block for developing a sustainable alternative to control aquaculture diseases. In […]

This project aims to design, implement and validate a modular integrated multitrophic aquaculture system (IMTA) for the production of marine and brackish water species, with emphasis on sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax), oyster (Crassostrea gigas), ragworms (Hediste diversicolor), sea asparagus (Salicornia ramosissima) and sea lettuce (Ulva sp.). The different combinations of IMTA modular systems to be […]

Chemical pollution of surface water presents a threat to human health and aquatic environments, with possible effects such as losses of habitats and biodiversity. Therefore, the European Union established a set of norms within the context of the Water Framework Directive (WFD), obligating EU Member States to implement the necessary measures for achieving good physic-chemical […]

Nowadays, there are no information on the best physical-chemical and microbiological conditions to develop aquaculture activities in the Portuguese estuarine systems. Also, there are no identification of the best potential areas of aquaculture in terms of the species with high commercial value.This proposal aims to contribute to the growth and development of aquaculture activities in […]

The ARTUR project aims to assess the impact of tourism on air quality and to investigate how air quality could be a criterion to increase the competitiveness of a tourism destination, focusing on the central region of Portugal. The tourism sector will be characterized in terms of emissions and its impact on air quality estimated […]

Shellfish species represents valuable seafood products both in Portugal and China. In particular, Manila (Asari) clam production is growing faster in Portugal, meanwhile China is already the first producer in the world. Clam market has great social economic value; however, problems still occur concerning clams safety for human consumption and the impact of their exploitation […]

Para além das perdas de biodiversidade e recursos florestais, os incêndios são responsáveis pelo acréscimo de cinzas e material sólido transportados pelas encostas até aos cursos de água, contribuindo para a contaminação dos ecossistemas aquáticos. Para alcançar um bom estado ecológico das massas de água, exigido pela Diretiva Quadro da Água, é fundamental avaliar e […]

O regime de incêndios tem vindo a intensificar-se nas últimas decadas na região Mediterrânica. Em Portugal, os incêndios florestais tem afectados em media 100 mil ha por ano. Uma preocupação social no que toca aos incêndios é o seu impacto nos serviços de ecossistema florestais, onde o controlo da erosão é o principal foco da […]

Future predicted sea level rise and increase in extreme weather events will have significant impacts on society. Prediction of these impacts strongly depends on a correct understanding of precipitation as part of the enhanced global water cycle. Our proposal “ATLantic interactions via atmospheric water cycle: exploiting a unique dataset from the Antarctic Circumnavigation Expedition for […]

In the current scenario of global change, it is important to understand the role of the deep ecosystems of the Arctic Ocean in global biodiversity and ecosystem functioning and services. New data on these still pristine ecosystems, and in particular on the connectivity between populations, is fundamental for defining spatial management strategies. The complex deep […]

Understanding the role played by deep Arctic ecosystems in global biodiversity, ecosystem function and services is important in the current changing oceans. New knowledge on these still pristine ecosystems and, in particular, understanding population connectivity, are critical when defining spatial management strategies. The complex deep Arctic ecosystems on the Gakkel Ridge have been suggested as […]

“STEAM-City project aims to help companies to rethink the resources they need to innovate, grow and establish means to attract a new range of talent – including artistic, creative and human sciences areas – to the new digital opportunities in a STEAM approach (adding the “A” for Arts and creativity to the domains of Science, […]

The project aims to: establish the baseline characterization of African wild dog’s spatial-temporal ecology in QNP; unveil the biogeographical affinities with other African populations and provide insights into the population structure, diversity and gene flow at a regional scale. This baseline information will contribute to; 1) the conservation of such an emblematic predator, by understanding […]

The BETTER PLASTICS project aims to be the Mobilising Project for the Plastics Sector in Portugal, capable of leveraging the sector’s transition to a circular economy. It arises from an initiative by APIP, the Portuguese Plastics Industry Association, which, through this application to the R&TD Mobilising Programmes, aims to mobilise the private sector together with […]

Main objectives and innovationThe main purpose of the BigAir project is to improve the performance of the air quality modelling (AQM) applications in Portugal using big data sets (available at no cost) to calculate the historical and forecast Portuguese atmospheric emissions with high spatial (exact location of emission sources) and temporal (hourly values) resolutions. The […]

The main objectives of the project are: i) to improve the biochemical composition of bivalve molluscs produced in aquaculture, after purification; (ii) improve the organoleptic characteristics of purified bivalves; iii) reduce mortality during the purification process; and iv) increase the shelf life of the purified bivalves. We will study 4 species of bivalve molluscs with […]

Most of coastal countries are affected by proliferation of microalgae – harmful algal blooms (HABs). Some of the species of these microalgae produce toxins affecting marine organisms and can be accumulated by bivalves. Consumption of contaminated seafood may provoke shellfish poisoning in humans that sometimes may lead to death. HABs represent a public health threat […]

The Bons Sinais (BS) estuary sustains an important artisanal fishery (targeting fish and invertebrates) providing an important source of animal protein, employment, revenue etc. to many fishing villages. However, none of the exploited resources (excluding some shrimps) have effective management plans putting most species at risk of overexploitation and affecting the livelihood of fishing villages. […]

The BIOMAG project aims to develop a new technology based on magnetic bionanocomposites for the treatment of water and industrial effluents using a lower energy consumption separation process, with the goal to remove micropollutants that are not usually removed using the conventional technologies for the wastewater treatment, and contribute to an increase in the reuse […]

BioPradaRia aims to contribute to enhancing the protection and restoration of aquatic biodiversity and aquatic ecosystems within the framework of sustainable fishing activities, particularly for a better management or conservation of marine biological resources, having Ria de Aveiro as a case study. In the proposed approach, which combines knowledge of role-players and stakeholders with ‘scientific […]

This work seeks to answer these challenges related to valorisation of low quality Residual Forest Biomass (RFB) through production of biochar by pyrolysis, which can return back to forest and rural soils to improve nutrient content and productivity, thus reducing fertilisation demand with associated economic gains. This approach will provide both carbon/nutrient cycling and synergies […]

The problem to be investigated: BISPECIAl is an integrated research plan that aims to provide understanding on how marine bivalves, in particular two clam species (Ruditapes decussatus, R. philippinarum), are affected by changes in key environmental drivers, namely alterations related to the exposure to pollutants of emergent concern (pharmaceuticals and nanomaterials) and climate change (salinity […]

Over the coming decades, the world will witness increased competition for limited and finite natural resources. Bio-waste is estimated at up to 138 million tons per year in the EU, of which up to 40% goes to landfill. This includes large amounts of by-catches from the fisheries. Other sources of poorly utilized marine biomass are […]

The global aquaculture sector, growing at an average annual rate of 4%, has become one of the fastest growing food industries. It is estimated that by 2030 the aquaculture sector will provide > 60% of the total consumed fish in the world. Intensive recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) are being increasingly seen as an important technology […]

The main objective of the BLueNIGHTs project is to bring the many facets and faces of people working on Ocean Science & Research to the general public of Europe by organising a series of interconnected EU Blue Researchers Nights (BlueNIGHTs) to demonstrate that the Ocean can be a source of inspiration, an object of interest/study […]

The Agrifood sector has been facing a significant (r)evolution. Demands for “new” healthy fruits are a reality in global markets and the emergence of neglected crops a strong tendency. The main goal of this project is to produce new tamarillo genotypes and develop new products based on tamarillo fruits: better plants for better products.Portugal has […]

Within the scope of the largest intervention of artificial sand nourishment (“Shot”) carried out in Portugal, concerning to the agreement of dredging the ZALI deposits and adjacent Aveiro harbour bottoms, to reinforce the coastal stretch south of Costa Nova, with an estimated volume of more than 2 million cubic meters, the CESAM is responsible for […]

The project aims to develop new markets and products based on cephalopods (squid, octopus, cuttlefish), increasing the profitability of the value chain, and helping to make fishers more competitive in the Atlantic Area. It will enhance capacity to deal with economic challenges arising from the Landing Obligation, globalization of markets, etc., while assuring sustainable fishing.

Fire prevention is being treated as a first priority in Portugal, namely after the dramatic forest fire episodes of 2017. This has to be done in full consideration of the key elements of fire – heat, oxygen and fuel – meaning that a low risk of fire involves removing one or more of these elements. […]

Visit to the Herbarium of the Naturalis Biodiversity Center in Leiden (Netherlands) for the study of specimens of ferns and lycophytes from Timor and coordination meetings with an institution’s specialist.

The atmospheric pollution in Estarreja is a matter of concern, and its impacts on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, as well as on human health, are still unknown. A previous project studied the chemical composition of rainwater in Estarreja and identified that local rainwater contains some contaminants, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and metals, with […]

The European Commission’s Green Deal calls for a sustainable and fair transition for which it is important to keep an informed and empowered society. The European Environmental Agency reports a significant increase of environmental awareness in the last few decades in Europe. However, there is still room for improvement. The objective of this proposal is […]

CLAiR-City aims at substantially improving future air quality and carbon policies in European cities by initiating new modes of engaging citizens, stakeholders and policymakers. The latest social science thinking will be applied to the source apportion of air pollution emissions and concentrations, carbon emissions and health outcomes in order to attribute them not just by […]

Soil degradation is of worldwide concern since it supports life on Earth, providing ecosystem services such as biomass production, carbon sequestration, water purification, food production, among others. Over decades many anthropogenic activities contributed to its degradation and contamination, including the excessive loading of diverse synthetic organic compounds, metals, agrochemicals, nutrients, and many others. At the […]

Ocean warming and acidification (OWA) are two of the major consequences of global climate change. Such processes are proved to affect the seawater carbonate chemistry threatening many marine organisms that critically depend on the secretion of calcium carbonate to produce calcified hard parts. Statoliths are non-skeletal carbonates included in most invertebrates’ gravireceptors, responsible for the […]

Cerastoderma edule, the edible cockle (Bivalvia), is an important economic resource to coastal communities in Portugal, traditionally exploited by local harvesters, some licensed but also unlicensed collectors and vacationers. Concerning the environment and biodiversity protection, cockles are considered keystone species due to their role as ecosystem engineers, carbon sequestration agents and link between trophic levels. […]

The COASTAL project – MiCrofluidic sensOrs for rApid detection of marine toxins in SusTainable AquacuLture, brings together a multidisciplinary team of experts in the field of biological and chemical sensors, micro and nanofabrication, electrochemistry and analytical chemistry, who will work together to develop new approaches for the detection of PST (Paralytic Shellfish Toxins).Main objectivesCOASTAL seeks […]

Cockles provide a wealth of services to coastal communities in the Atlantic Area (AA). COCKLES will restore production and the services provided by this emblematic resource, threatened by disease outbreaks and suboptimal management. Developing aquaculture, resistant strains and recovering natural stocks, optimizing management and upskilling stakeholders will aid recovering resources, increase the understanding of ecosystem […]

There is now evidence that the Balkans and the other European peninsulas represent the most important genetic pools of game species, such as the wild boar (Sus scrofa). Wild boars captured or hunted in the Balkans are commercialized throughout Europe as live animals or meat. Management of genetic resources of this species needs a detailed […]

Freshwater contamination by the presence of microplastics is an environmental urgent issue, and the few available studies suggest that their ecological effects can be as severe as those observed in marine environments. Apart from the physical effects related to the intake and/or ingestion of microplastics, toxic reactions and stress responses to the release of microplastic […]

Ecotoxicological studies usually evaluate the effects of pollutants by considering a continuous contact of organisms with them. This is factual in environments where contamination is distributed evenly or in cases where organisms cannot escape to other areas. However, when the dispersion of contamination is heterogeneous, some organisms can detect the risks of continuous exposure and […]

Ecotoxicological studies usually evaluate the effects of pollutants by considering a continuous contact of organisms with them. This is factual in environments where contamination is distributed evenly or in cases where organisms cannot escape to other areas. However, when the dispersion of contamination is heterogeneous, some organisms can detect the risks of continuous exposure and […]

The project represents a first contribution to the application of conservation measures at the Natura 2000 sites Maceda – Praia da Vieira and Aveiro – Nazaré, which were recently designated in Portugal. The project´s actions are aligned with the Management Plans proposed for these areas. They are mainly focused on reducing the pressures caused by […]

Aquaculture of carnivorous fish remains highly dependent on fishmeal protein and its procurement still relies on exploiting wild fisheries. Any reduction in its utilization, especially if substituted by less expensive plant-derived ingredients, would reduce the ecological burden of this industry and improve its sustainability. The shift towards plant protein still entails a series of implications […]

Running until December 2020, this project, which integrates the measure “Promoting Sustainable, Efficient, Innovative and Competitive Fishing”, in the “Innovation and Knowledge” Action, and in the Intervention “Partnerships between Scientists and Fishermen”, aims the valorization of the fish resources of the Minho River and associated socio-cultural heritage, among consumers, the implementation of good practices among […]

Temperature (T) is a fundamental parameter that affects the behavior of physical, chemical and biological systems in a wide variety of ways. Measuring T is important in many fields: photonic devices, nano/microelectronics, medical diagnostics, nanomedicine. Regarding the several classes of thermometers, one possible approach is to use dye luminescence thermometers. In this sense corroles have […]

The American slipper limpet Crepidula fornicata (Linnaeus, 1758) is a recent invader in the Ria de Aveiro coastal lagoon, with the first occurrence reported in 2014. This alien species, native to the Atlantic coast of the United States of America, is relatively abundant in northern European coast, where it has been reported to have caused […]

[content only available in portuguese]O presente trabalho consiste na primeira caracterização científica e integrada do estudo da pesca e apanha de caranguejo em Portugal. Os trabalhos multidisciplinares a desenvolver implicam estudos científicos e a de colaboração profissionais do sector (Associações de pescadores e de produtores), que visam obter informação sobre diversos aspetos da biologia, ecologia, […]

Portugal has one of the largest exclusive economic zones of the world and a coastline of approximately 950 km, making its marine resources and aquaculture vital sectors for the Portuguese economy. The green macroalga Codium tomentosum is currently produced by the company ALGAplus in a land-based integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) system and sold for human […]

Every year, millions of tonnes of mineral particles from the Sahara desert are carried by the wind to America, the Caribbean and Europe. Desert dust has been crossing the Atlantic for millions of years, injecting nutrients into the eastern Mediterranean, red clays onto the limestone islands of the Caribbean, freshwater diatoms and phytoliths into the […]

DEEPbaseline is an interdisciplinary project aimed at developing a framework for the co-creation of a knowledge baseline on thediversity and distribution of deep-sea sponge and coral vulnerable species and ecosystems of the continental shelf and upperslope of mainland Portugal. DEEPbaseline brings together scientists from four partner institutions (CIIMAR, IPMA, CESAM andOkeanos), local fishing communities and […]

Consumption of bivalves can pose a risk to public health. The legislation requires the classification of production areas and their regular monitoring to ensure the bivalves’ health. The classification of these zones (A, B, C or D) is based on microbiological faecal contamination (the content of Escherichia coli and presence or absence of Salmonella sp.) […]

This project aims at developing the world’s most efficient, accurate and highly sensitive single nanoplatforms integrating heaters and thermometers. It focuses on the production of size and shape controlled i) lanthanide doped thermometric nanocrystals (oxides, fluorides, phosphates and vanadates) and ii) plasmonic heaters of Au nanostructures (nanoparticles, nanorods, nanostars and nanoshells), which will be subsequently […]

The topics of this joint exchange programme are all related to a specific plant genus of commercial interest and its taxonomy (Taxonomy of the Genus Digitalis), the propagation and investigation of endangered species of this plant genus (Plant Tissue Culture), the natural products used in medicine occurring in Digitalis plants (Therapeutic Use of Cardenolides), and […]

The DORIS project intends to develop a modular autonomous surface vehicle (ASV), having the capability to sample the surface micro-layer, and consequently, perform analysis of surfactant films and the biological communities residing within the micro-layer. This proposal integrates strong technological and scientific components, from conception to validation of the sampling and navigation systems. The scientific […]

Portugal is the 11th largest wine producer in the world and the 5th largest in the European Union. The Douro Demarcated Region (RDD) is the wine-growing area where the famous Port wine is produced, responsible for more than 60 per cent of the total value of national wine exports. In the context of climate change […]

While soils of Estarreja continue to be important sinks of persistent contaminants, existing remediation techniques are often ineffective and fail when addressing multiple contaminants. Biochar – biomass pyrolysed for enhancing carbon sequestration and other biomass productivity – presents a dual potential for improving soil decontamination: its high porosity can both promote adsorption of contaminants and […]

Exposure to hazardous chemicals during first 1000 days of life has been linked to an increased risk of a number of health disorders. Early-life exposure to chemicals is an emerging research field that needs urgently to be clarified, as an attempt to contribute to the exposome research. Food chemical contaminants as mycotoxins are well known […]

Highly ubiquitous, plastics can be found in a wide variety of items, ranging from shopping bags to spaceships. Due to their high disposability rate and low recovery, plastics have accumulated in the environment and have become an alarming pollution issue. Of special concern are microplastics, defined as plastic materials with a dimension <5mm. These can […]

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been identified as a global problem for public health, animal and environment. Monitoring and reporting its occurrence is a priority for health surveillance agencies worldwide. The increasing incidence of AMR in humans and livestock has been linked to the emergence of AMR in wildlife and the global dissemination of resistant bacteria […]

Increasing food production is utterly needed. Nanopesticides offer a promising solution and constitute a rapidly developing technology. There are however, no solid conclusions about their risks to the environment because limited research addressed their ecological effects in a holistic and integrated fashion. Ecotoxicological research on nanopesticides has mostly focused on screening-level experiments. These neglect forces […]

Human activities continue to threaten marine ecosystems’ health and integrity. In spite of the rich marine predator biodiversity in Portugal, most people are unaware of the importance of national waters in the conservation of threatened marine species at European level. The low level of ocean literacy regarding threats to marine top predators, results in a […]

The functionality of Côa Valley as a wildlife corridor is hampered by habitat degradation, wildlife persecution and a lack of awareness about the importance of natural heritage and services that functional ecosystems bring to communities. Rural abandonment represents an opportunity for this area to become a rewilded landscape. The goal of this project is to […]

EMERGE is an innovative 4-year research project funded by the European Commission under the Horizon 2020 programme. The objectives of EMERGE are (i) to quantify and evaluate the effects of potential emission reduction solutions for shipping in Europe for several scenarios, and (ii) to develop effective strategies and measures to reduce the environmental impacts of […]

Pharmaceuticals are considered emerging organic contaminants and concerns on their environmental impact have been raised in the last decades as they have been detected in the environment. Pharmaceuticals enter the aquatic environment mainly due to WWTP effluent discharges or after direct application for veterinary purposes, such as in aquaculture and animal-infection preventing. A commonly found […]

The deep-sea floor ecosystem, one of the largest on the planet, is poorly monitored. Challenges related to direct or indirect anthropogenic actions can only be dealt with if long lasting seafloor and water column observatories networks of biotic and abiotic sensors are deployed to allow for continuous monitoring of the ocean. Worldwide, several initiatives address […]

[Content only available in Portuguese] Sudoeste Europeu partilha a ameaça dos incêndios florestais, acrescida num cenário de mudança socioeconómica e climática. A biodiversidade, solo e serviços de ecossistema são recursos diretamente afetados, tanto na área de incêndio como a jusante, com riscos adicionais como a contaminação de água potável, inundações, danos a infraestruturas, destruição de […]

Fire negatively affects the health and quality of the soil, favouring the occurrence of erosive processes and their loss. This impact on soils is intensified by global warming, which increases the risk of fire. Consequently, new forms of carbon (C) are produced in the soil, also occurring thermal changes in previously existing forms of carbon. […]

The main objective is the characterization and definition of parameters of sizing and location of an detached breakwater, in front of Praia da Vagueira (Vagos Municipality, Aveiro district). This study aims to present to the APA the alternatives and solutions for an detached breakwater, a preliminary solution scheme and its location, the indication of the […]

Photo-autotrophy is restricted to bacteria, algae, and the plant kingdom. Yet, several animals are able to establish a symbiosis with unicellular photo-autotrophic organisms to benefit from photosynthesis. Photosymbiosis is found among sponge, cnidarians, flatworms, mollusks and even a vertebrate. In sea slugs (Gastropoda) two different photosymbiotic associations are found: (1) The Nudibranchia harbor Symbiodinium that […]

The increased moisture availability in the warmer climate can lead to significant increase in precipitation and consequently surface mass balance over the Antarctic ice sheet according to climate modeling studies. In East Antarctica, large increase in the snowfall and surface mass balance has been observed in the recent years. Also freshening of the Southern Ocean […]

Marine biofouling is a global problem with massive economic and environmental costs. This project aims to carry out an integrative assessment of the fate, behaviour and toxicity of an innovative anti-fouling nanoadditive, developed by the company Smallmatek, Lda. that offers high performance solutions to tackle corrosion and biofouling. Thus, the project intends to assess the […]

The main objective of F4F is to demonstrate innovative technologies that can increase the value chain in the forestry sector, with particular emphasis on the pine sector. The various stages of the chain are included, from plants to end products. The demonstration actions are based on pilot projects and proofs of concept carried out in […]

Forest fires are a complex problem in Europe, especially in Southern countries. Fire can seriously impact the environment, rural development and economy. Forest degradation is considered a key to the spreading of human diseases, as COVID-19. Although wildfire research and substantial technical advances have been made in recent years, we have not been able to […]

We will disclose “Why, How and What” leads to increase fungal virulence in polluted soils. Our planet is continuously being challenged and altered by both natural and anthropogenic factors. Among these, climate change is, perhaps, the most relevant and is believed to largely result from human activity. Chemical pollution and climate change cannot be dissociated. […]

The Aveiro and Figueira da Foz tidal inlets have been subject to a series of engineering works with the aim of improving the conditions of navigability and access to the two ports. These works have promoted changes in the coastal sedimentary balance that contributed to a sedimentary deficit south of the inlets. The present study […]

The socio-economic and environmental loss as a consequence of the recurrent wildfires in Portugal is a major national concern. Still, not all the wildfire impacts are being considered, such as soil loss and the mobilization of pollutants to aquatic habitats during the post-fire period. The national mitigation strategy to this problem has generally focused the […]

FIRE-MODSAT II proposes to extend the previous developed successful work focusing on the question: How can fire growth simulations be improved? This is accomplished by refining fire spread predictions through improving data quality and uncertainty quantification (Task 2), and model accuracy (Task 3) based on historical large wildfires. Research improvements are integrated into probabilistic fire […]

A key environmental concern in relation to wildfires is that they constitute a diffuse source of contamination to aquatic ecosystems. In burnt forest areas, the increase in surface runoff and associated soil losses induced by fire, promotes the mobilization of hazardous substances, such as metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are well known for […]

Portugal has the highest number of forest ignitions in the countries of southern Europe (Rodrigues et al., 2013). The ability to predict the ignition and spread of forest fires, as well as the behavior of air pollutants emitted, is a decision support tool, important to improve the effectiveness and efficiency in resource management, for operations […]

The fires that devastated Portugal in 2017, were outstanding for several reasons: they caused more than 112 deaths, destroyed hundreds of houses and companies and more than 500000 hectares, establishing absolute records of fire-induced destruction in the country. Among other requests made by society there is the need of producing a better knowledge on the […]

The overall wider objective, to which the project will contribute, is to continue the reform of the system of higher education in the field of fisheries sciences in Egypt to comply with the Bologna Declaration and according to the demands of Strategic Framework for European Cooperation in Education and Training (ET 2020), aimed at improving […]

The eelgrass Zostera marina (Linnaeus, 1753) once covered large areas in the Ria de Aveiro coastal lagoon but is reported locally extinct since 2010. A recent discovery of a new patch of Z. marina, locally known as “Fita”, reinitiates the history of local extinction-recolonisation episodes for this emblematic species in Ria de Aveiro Natura 2000 […]

Flora Iberica is the name of a project born in 1980 that aims at – by original taxonomic research – update and synthesize the current knowledge on the vascular plants spontaneously occurring in the Iberian Peninsula and Balearic Islands, a territory of remarkable floristic richness. Its main objective is to publish an account – both […]

Forest areas are defined by the Environment Blue Book and National Action Plan to Combat Climate Change (PANCD) programmes as key areas to investigate resilience and adaptation strategies to climate change and its impacts. Portugal has favourable characteristics for forest fires due to its Mediterranean/Atlantic climate, characterized by high temperatures, low humidity, strong winds and […]

foRESTER proposes a fast, reliable and informative DSS based on advanced computational intelligence and visualization techniques, that integrates innovative technologies from multi-sensor systems, cutting edge satellite image processing, and near real-time (NRT) fire spread predictions (FSP).

Nature based solutions/green infrastructures will play an important role in tackling urban challenges in a multifunctionalway. In this sense, green roofs/walls are one of the most promising alternatives as they can green the greyinfrastructure and value it. Yet, green roofs/walls have been generally confined to specific cities or countries. Anextensive use of green roofs/walls worldwide […]

The Global Wetlands Project goal is to build a new index of coastal wetland health (including seagrass meadows, mangrove forests and saltmarshes), which can be applied at the global scale, and use it to inform protection and restoration. GLOW features three themes: health, action and engagement. Together, these themes form a real opportunity to help […]

Chemical pollution is recognized as a major cause of worldwide critical decline of amphibians. Though increasing numbers of works already addressed chemical effects on amphibians, a disturbing number has still to be studied. Given the protection status of this group, such toxicity knowledge is crucial to reduce uncertainties associated with amphibian risk assessment (RA). One […]

Marine aquaculture may affect significantly the coastal environment if not properly monitored and operated. Aquaculture activities significantly impact the ecosystems, being the high use of water and wastewater discharge the major drawbacks for its environmental sustainability. The recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) are extremely important as they allow water recycling/reuse, fitting the actual needs to close […]

The GREENCORK Project aims to enable Amorim Cork to be the first company to launch on the market a range of agglomerated cork stoppers with organic adhesives and surface treatments, produced by greener and more sustainable processes. This product will be extremely innovative as it will enable the development of a technical cork stopper with […]

GREENTOUR addresses a variety of innovation actions within a framework of a transregional clustering model that include: (1) methodologies and actions to foster circular economy in the tourism sector at a transregional scale; (2) scientific and methodological innovation through an environmental labeling system with a life cycle perspective to assess the environmental impacts caused by […]

Phytoplankton are key elements of marine ecosystems supporting all higher trophic levels. However, a few species are directly responsible for major economic losses, due to their impact on the exploitation of marine resources, and on human health. The coast of Portugal is regularly affected by blooms of some of these species (HABs), in particular by […]

Phytomicrobiomes (microbial communities associated with plants) are currently recognized as key players in the processes of adaptation of the hosts to biotic and abiotic stress. Within these communities, plant-growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) actively contribute to plant fitness by facilitating access to nutrients, releasing phyto-hormones, degrading or sequestering toxic pollutants, attenuating stress responses, stimulating immune defences […]

Environmental degradation and pollution, climate change, and the destabilization of the ecosystem biodiversity, damage health and quality of life, and affect socially disadvantaged and vulnerable populations. Negative outcomes can be balanced by positive effects that healthy environments, such as green and blue spaces, can have on human and ecosystem health. Socio-economic costs are significant and […]

MOTIVATION: Melanoma is the most aggressive form of skin cancer and one of the most challenging malignancies to treat with a steeply rising incidence and a poor prognosis in advanced stages. Conventional clinical treatment of melanoma often fails in tumor complete eradication, due to the low response rates to single therapies, chemotherapy side effects and […]

“The main objective of the project is to develop an inexpensive, reagentless and easily automatable tool for the early detection and identification of microalgae species responsible for harmful algal blooms (HABs). This tool will be based on the statistical analysis of the microscopic optical images and hyperspectral infrared images of phytoplankton. The project will focus […]

Human activities such as industry and agriculture have resulted in the high contamination of soil and water with heavy metals. This type of contamination induces harmful effects on environmental and human health. In the last years, research on phytoremediation has highlighted the scientific and economic benefits of plants and their associated microorganisms used for the […]

Sustainable development has become a global concern in the last decades. Younger European generations have been raised aware of global environmental issues, but have not been engaged in actively contributing to those ‘global problems’ through stepwise local actions. Youngsters are not aware of their potential as active citizens and their role in the sustainability desired […]

The main vision of InFLOWence is to take advantage of the predictable market penetration of connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs) in short-medium term to influence, in a positive way, the performance of the road transport system in terms of congestion, energy consumption and pollutant emissions. This will be achieved through the development of a prototype […]

The project Inpactus aims to develop new solutions, such as cellulosic pulps with innovative features, new paper products with different specificities and functions, tissue paper with innovative properties, new bioproducts, biofuels and other materials obtained from the deconstruction and conversion of forest biomass and by-products from the pulp industry.This Project responds to challenges in the […]

The Inpactus project aims to develop new solutions, such as cellulose pulps with innovative characteristics, new paper products with different specificities and functions, tissue paper with innovative properties, new bioproducts, biofuels and other materials obtained from the deconstruction and conversion of forest biomass and pulp industry by-products.This project responds to challenges in the pulp, paper […]

Coastal areas are being adversely influenced by key drivers of change (e.g. habitat destruction, pollution, climate change, diseases, invasive species) that force natural populations to adapt to novel environmental conditions. The European Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD, 2008/56/EC), Biodiversity Strategy (EC, 2012) and Regulation on Invasive Alien Species (EC, 2014) recognize the establishment and spread […]

1.MONITORING Breeding bird GPS-tracking at 4 nesting-sites during incubation and chick-rearing in both years. Use tracking data to: a) characterize sensitive at-sea areas of higher birds’ concentration (rafting and foraging) and correlate them with coastal/offshore recreational and economic activities and overlap with IBAs/MPAs; b) characterize spatial niche and correlate with isotopic niche (Nitrogen, Carbon), individual […]

Microplastics are widely distributed contaminants in aquatic environments, originating from intentional production or fragmentation of larger plastics. Their accumulation and persistence in the environment, the potential to interact with other pollutants and organisms, as well as to change the abiotic characteristics of ecosystems, can lead to environmental consequences. It is estimated that over 80% of […]

Small scale fisheries (SSF) are a large component of the EU fleet (80% of the fleet, accounting for about 27% of the revenue generated by EU fisheries and more than 40% of EU fishers). In Portugal, SSF hold great tradition and social, economic and cultural importance (in 2015, employing nearly 12,500 people distributed over 6,216 […]

The aim of the project is to test, evaluate and disseminate measures designed to mitigate the negative effects of linear infrastructures on various species of fauna and, at the same time, to promote the creation, along them, of a Green Infrastructure to support the increase and conservation of biodiversity in the territory in which it […]

The goal of LIFE REFOREST is to demonstrate a new strategy to mitigate soil loss associated to post-fire episodes in forest areas by applying a technosol based in organic waste inoculated with fungal species (mycotechnosol) in order to avoid soil erosion and boost natural regeneration of burnt areas. LIFE REFOREST solution will be based in […]

The wolf Portuguese sub-population located at south of the Douro river is fragmented and isolated due to geographic, ecological and human barriers. Here, there are nine wolf packs, which represents, approximately, 14% of wolf Portuguese population. It is pivotal to minimise the barriers to wolf presence and foster packs connectivity to guarantee the long-term viability […]

The view of the oceans as vast and continuous domains immune to human action has been changing, and the study of connectivity has become fundamental to understanding the resilience of marine organisms and habitats in the face of natural and anthropogenic impacts, and informing stakeholders and policymakers with scientifically based options for ecosystem management and […]

O projeto MACFERTIQUAL pretende encontrar um referencial nutricional mais equilibrado para o atual modelo de produção de Maçã de Alcobaça IGP (Indicação Geográfica Protegida), de modo a desenvolver um novo produto das cultivares do grupo Gala, as mais exportáveis. O referencial nutricional deverá definir novos parâmetros mínimos de qualidade interna e externa, mais elevados e […]

MACROCHESS – A Macroecological Database for Species Distribution across Chemosynthesis-Based Ecosystems is a new database incorporating over a decade of new discoveries and the most recent taxonomic knowledge of species occurring in chemosynthesis-based-ecosystems (CBEs). The database is being compiled by a working group funded by the International Cooperation in Ridge Crest Studies – InterRidge. The […]

“The aim of this project is to use the information generated in previous projects to promote the more efficient management and conservation of the natural values ​​of the region and to contribute to the increase of resilience of the mosaic of habitats in a scenario of climate change and land use, at a global level […]

Several types of pollutants released to the environment by anthropogenic or natural sources can strongly affected the seawater quality with negative consequences to marine activities. For example, persistent organic pollutants like endocrine disruptors and pesticides, and toxins from harmful algal blooms can damage the aquatic environment with multiple effects such as acute and chronic toxicity […]

MASSTRPLAN will train the next generation of interdisciplinary research leaders in advanced molecular analytical techniques to detect oxidized phospholipids & proteins in biological & clinical samples, evaluate their biochemical roles in inflammation, and translate these findings to develop new diagnostic tools.Chronic inflammatory diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease (CVD) & cancer are major causes of […]

This project aims to develop innovative solutions to control the proliferation of a parasite responsible for high mortalities in turbot produced in aquaculture. For that purpose, natural and sustainable prophylaxis/therapeutics methods will be explored towards the maximization of the strategies of fish health management under different scenarios of environmental changes.

The MAXIMUS.PT project aims to develop a holistic study for the hatchery production of juvenile turbot, in order to allow high growth rates (8 g in 80 days of cultivation, from egg) and survival (20% from hatching to 8 g). The multidisciplinary approach to be adopted will allow ACUINOVA to produce turbot juveniles, grounded in […]

Climate change will affect biotic and abiotic soil ecosystem components and therefore ecosystem services. This situation may worsen in metal-contaminated soils where organisms have to deal with multiple stress factors and metal toxicity may change depending on climate conditions. Most research has focused on how single climate factors (temperature, soil moisture) may affect the toxicity […]

Symbiotic microalgae of the family Symbiodiniaceae, sometimes referred to as zooxanthellae, engage in trophic symbioses with corals and many other marine organisms. These mutualistic partnerships, in which the microalgae live as endosymbionts inside the host tissue and provide their host with sugars and other organic nutrients in exchange for protection and inorganic nutrients, play a […]

Highly ubiquitous, plastics can be found in a wide variety of items, ranging from shopping bags to spaceships. Due to their high disposability rate and low recovery, plastics have accumulated in the environment and have become an alarming pollution issue. Of special concern are microplastics, defined as plastic materials with a dimension <5mm. These can […]

The main goal of the submitted research project is the assessment of the presence and prevalence of microplastic particles (MP) in European waters. From the collected particles, an exhaustive repository of the identified MPs will be created, allowing the access of both researchers and the general public to said repository. Ideally, the repository will contain […]

The main goal of this project is to assess the role of migratory shorebirds in ecological networks of temperate and tropical intertidal environments. Despite being seasonal, shorebirds are pivotal predators of benthic invertebrates in coastal areas, having the potential to exert top-down regulation on prey populations which effects can cascade down to multiple trophic levels […]

MIN-GUIDE is a project addressing the need for a secure and sustainable supply of minerals in Europe by developing a ‘Minerals Policy Guide’. The key objectives of the project are (1) providing guidance for EU and MS minerals policy, (2) facilitating minerals policy decision making through knowledge co-production for transferability of best practice minerals policy, […]

In the second project phase of MiningImpact, we will extend our previous work towards three major research interests concerning deep-sea mining: (1) the larger scale environmental impact caused by the suspended sediment plume, (2) the regional connectivity of species and the biodiversity of biological assemblages and their resilience to impacts, and (3) the integrated effects […]

The objective of ModelEco is to develop a biosphere-atmosphere (B-A) model to predict the impacts of large-scale disturbances on the gross primary production (GPP) and evapotranspiration (ET) of forests on the basis of widely available data, i.e. vegetation indices (VI) from satellite imagery and meteorological data. The focus will be on the impacts of wildfires, […]

An important issue today is to understand in what extent cycling of mercury in the future may be altered in regard to Climate Change. Predictions imply that most of the parameters that determine the global mercury cycle today will change. Laranjo bay (Ria de Aveiro) received, during five decades, a large amount of mercury from […]

The objectives of the project are the improvement of packaging and packaging methods of bivalve molluscs, from capture to commercialization, thus contributing to the valorisation of bivalve molluscs produced in Portugal through: i) preservation and improvement of biochemical composition; (ii) improvement of the organoleptic characteristics; (iii) reduction in mortality during the processes of harvesting and […]

Water is important for several Mediterranean and European countries since they suffer from lack of sufficient fresh water sources, especially during the dry summer season. The emerging compounds such as endocrine disruptor compounds can constitute a source of contamination of water. A wide variety of chemical analysis methods are available to monitoring these compounds, however, […]

MOSAIC project aims at addressing “How feasible/profitable is the local-produced biochar to boost quality of Estarreja contaminated soils?” by assessing and transferring technological development over the following hypotheses: (i) biochar can be produced from renewable feedstocks existing in Estarreja; (ii) pyrolysis parameters can be tuned to match biochar production suitable for both immobilisation of soil […]

Recent technological advances made it possible to collect data on the evolution of spatiotemporal phenomena far superior to the existing capacity to analyze and to extract relevant information from them in various scientific areas. Thus, there is a growing need of tools to automate processes of quantitative analysis of spatiotemporal data, guaranteeing levels of objectivity, […]

The abundance of microplastics (MP) in the ocean has increased dramatically in recent decades, particularly in the coastal areas with the largest population. Recent studies have proven the aggregation of MPs with trace elements and persistent organic pollutants. Further studies have aimed to clarify toxicity of MPs in sentinel organisms and the possibility of toxicity […]

The discovery of new and more efficient solutions to deal with injured tissues and organs and to deliver drugs more effectively is a very challenging scientific domain but that corresponds to an economic domain of high added value products in the healthcare domain. 3D bioprinting of living tissue constructs, with specific shapes and functionalities, to […]

Ensuring the health and safety of both population and the wider environment has been entrusted to specialist EU and international organisations such as the OECD, who are tasked with setting up Test Guidelines (TGs) and Guidance Documents (GDs) by which a substance can be assessed. Engineered nanomaterials (ENM) pose a particular problem due to difficulties […]

The production of engineered nanoparticles (NP) is estimated to increase to 58.000 tons/year by 2020 [52], with its consequent release to the water. Despite NP extensive use, there are no guidelines concerning their release in the aquatic systems, namely the marine system, and as far as our knowledge goes, there are no studies regarding NP […]

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The main purpose of this project is to develop innovative technologies that allow the monitoring, in almost real time, of harbour inlets. The system to be developed will collect sea bottom data and local hydrodynamics, namely, the parameterization of the three-dimensional position of the submerged bar and physical parameters – wave height, wave period and […]

The Pine Wilt Disease (PWD) is a complex interaction established between three very distinct organisms: the Pine Wood Nematode (PWN), Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, an insect-vector (gen. Monochamus) and a conifer tree host (insect species and tree species varies throughout the world). The nematode its native from North America, where it doesn’t causes disease to the native […]

The NEPTUNUS project aims to promote the sustainable development of the seafood sector in the Atlantic area by supplying a consistent methodology for products eco-labelling and defining eco-innovation strategies for production and consumption under a circular economy approach. This project will provide key actions for resource efficiency based on life cycle thinking, incorporating producers, policy […]

The NETA Project – New Strategies in Wastewater Treatment, presents an innovative opportunity to develop a process that aims at the valorization of wastewater (AR) transforming them into a source of nutrients and water resources, destined essentially to the agrifood sector, with the simultaneous application of new industrial solutions. Thus, from the conversion of AR […]

The project NEXTRA aims to explore the value chain on EFACEC’s transformers portfolio, with the goal of presenting to the market a new generation of thermally more efficient, reliable, flexible, compact and sustainable transformers.

The NIPOGES project focuses on the sustainable management of the manila clams by transferring knowledge from scientists to fishermen / catchers local communities depending on this species in the following locations: Ria de Aveiro, Lagoa de Óbidos, Tagus estuary and Sado estuary.

Freshwater fish farming in Cabo Delgado emerged in the 2000s, with the development of tilapia fish production. However, this activity has never been sustainable due to the lack of: quality juveniles, technology transfer, adequate feed, and technical capacity to transfer technology. The inexistence of fish feed factories in several geographic locations implicate fish feed importation […]

Allochrony, or the asynchrony in breeding times, between conspecifics can lead to reproductive isolation due to temporal assortative mating, and so to population divergence and speciation. In sympatry, allochrony may be the key driver of reproductive isolation. Alternatively, it can enhance isolation and genetic divergence between allopatric taxa through reinforcement following secondary contact.The NE Atlantic […]

Large marine predators are key elements in ocean ecosystems, acting as regulators of ecosystem services and many have high economic and social value. As such, their rapid and widespread decline as a result of overexploitation and other human impacts has aroused great concern among both scientists and policymakers. In response to this situation, resources and […]

The growing interest in cultured macroalgae for food, feed and pharma in Western countries demands a new knowledge on their constituents and new tools for traceability. Macroalgae’s polar lipids have nutritional, health benefits, and bioactive properties, contributing to their valorisation. Lack of knowledge on their polar lipidome hinders their full biotechnological potential. Lipids, pigments and […]

The guidelines that have been followed in the “Maçã de Alcobaça” sector are the result of the convictions that technicians and producers have acquired during international technical visits to the main competing areas. In the absence of a coherent model, the aim is to gather specific knowledge about apple growing in the PGI region, which […]

PAMPitUP aims to contribute to solve an increasing ecological problem at national and regional levels, which is the invasion by the pampas-grass, Cortaderia selloana (Schult. & Schult. f.) Asch. & Graebn.The main objective of the project is to control this invasive species in the interface between the University Campus and the Special Protection Area of […]

Recently the Minamata Convention on Mercury (2013) recognized mercury (Hg) as a chemical of global concern. Owing to its long-range atmospheric transport and persistence in the environment Hg can ultimately cause significant negative effects on human health. Although anthropogenic Hg emissions have been reduced by half in the last decades, ongoing contamination is still a […]

Pinus is one of the most ecologically and economically significant tree genera in the world having an extreme economic importance to wood and paper industries. Pine pitch canker, caused by the fungus Fusarium circinatum, is an introduced non-native pine disease in natural and planted stands of Europe subject to quarantine measures. To date, there are […]

The main goal of this proposal partnership is to understand the viability of using MSW and biomass blends to produce cheaper and high quality syngas for energy purposes (complementary solution to current grid infrastructure), as will as to understand the environmental, health and climate change consequences of this technology use.

PORBIOTA is a distributed e-infrastructure for managing national biodiversity data, with a view to integrating it into the European e-Science infrastructure for biodiversity and ecosystems research LIFEWATCH (ESFRI Roadmap 2016 Landmark). Adapted according to national needs (research, management, policy, administration, citizen science), but compatible with the requirements of LIFEWATCH and other international initiatives, PORBIOTA aims […]

PORBIOTA is a Portuguese distributed e-infrastructure to manage biodiversity data, which will be integrated in the European e-Science infrastructure for biodiversity and ecosystem research (LIFEWATCH), an ESFRI Roadmap 2016 Landmark. Tailored according to the national needs (research, management, policy, governance, citizen science) but compliant with the requirements of LIFEWATCH and other international initiatives, PORBIOTA aims […]

Phytoparasitic nematodes are responsible for major losses in various crops totalling up to 118 billion dollars a year. In terms of economic impact, root lesion nematodes (RLN), Pratylenchus spp. are in 3rd place, which is directly related to the number of host plants, more than 400 plant species (important agricultural crops, ornamentals, and fruit trees, […]

Currently, aquaculture contributes for more than 40% to the total fish production and the market of aquaculture products is expected to grow significantly. Disease outbreaks are responsible for about 20% of the estimated financial losses in aquaculture production and can significantly endanger both consumers and the environment. The presence of potentially dangerous populations of microbial […]

Conjugated linolenic acid (CLnA) isomers are promising compounds due to their chemical similarities with the healthy omega 3 and Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and bioactivity at lower doses than this former compound[1, 2]. Moreover, some bacteria from foods transform linolenic (ALA) into CLnA and improved the in vivo fatty acid (FA) composition of liver, adipose […]

ProBioMar aims to contribute for the protection and restoration of aquatic biodiversity and aquatic ecosystems within the framework of sustainable fishing activities, contributing to the effective management and conservation of marine biological resources, taking Ria de Aveiro as a case of study. Combining ecology-based knowledge and modelling expertise, ProBioMar emerges in the sense of improving […]

This joint project aims to better understand continental breakup, factors influencing mantle exhumation and processes in the rift to drift transition at the ContinentOcean Transition (COT) through a comparative study of the South China Sea (SCS) and the West Iberian (WI) continental margins. In the SCS, a multichannel seismic reflection survey with deployment of ocean […]

The PROTEUS project aims to develop new products, alternative raw materials and technologies associated with the valorisation of by-products resulting from pulp and paper production, from a circular economy perspective. The by-products considered in PROTEUS are dregs, grits, fly ash and sludge (biological and calcareous), as well as specific liquid effluents (alkaline and D0 – […]

The importance of biodiversity for ecosystem functioning has been a central focus of discussion, since the growth of intensive agriculture. In recent years, this practice has caused an erosion of functional biodiversity, resulting in a decrease in the arthropod fauna activity and the destruction of habitats (food resources and hibernation sites) critical to species survival. […]

The R3forest project aims to implement and evaluate an array of technical solutions simultaneously, which use best practice synergies to achieve a healthy soil, tackle erosion, increase biodiversity, manage invasive species and maintain forest production at the same time.

This proposal proposes the development and empowerment of low-cost autonomous air, surface and submarine vehicles for operations of prevention, monitoring, surveillance and response to marine pollution events. In conjunction with current numerical modelling tools, it aims to minimize the inherent costs to operations, increase their speed and facilitate the identification of polluting sources. Through the […]

However, the integration of chemical assessment (environmental burden), ecological data (effects in the biota) and ecotoxicological evidences (cause-effect relationships) is still scarce. This project intends to apply a structured Environmental Risk Assessment framework collecting data from and integrating these three lines of evidence to the Fildes Peninsula, which has been highlighted as a hotspot of […]

Commercial-scale mining for polymetallic nodules could have a major impact on the deep-sea environment, but the effects of these mining activities on organisms are very poorly known. In addition to the removal of nodules, that are essential for many species, nodule mining will also cause sediment plumes that may bury or smother seafloor organisms and […]

The environmental management of cyanobacteria blooms driving eutrophication and potentially representing environmental and human health risks is critical. Here, an add-on to typical management strategies is proposed and explored through the commercial valuation of this nuisance biomass, following-up on previous projects by the research team addressing similar rationales. Although the potential of cyanobacteria as sources […]

Aquaculture has developed strongly in recent decades, leading to highly sophisticated fish farms, making considerable use of feed, hormones and antibiotics, with a recognized environmental impact. To guarantee the economic sustainability of the sector, production has been intensified using water recirculation systems and appropriate treatments to optimize the use of this valuable resource. Concerns about […]

“With the implementation of WFD, contemporary trace element contamination issues in aquatic systems will occur through internal loading from sediment contaminant sinks. Such events result in loss of ecosystem services and biodiversity, and may implicate rehabilitation. Therefore, the development of rehabilitation strategies to remediate these historically contaminated areas is a challenge to the scientific community.The […]

The WFD implementation set limits for contaminant discharges into aquatic ecosystems. Therefore, current contamination events result mainly from geochemical processes involving contaminants stored in sediments. These processes result in the loss of ecosystem services, such as the loss of recreational value in impacted areas, reduced biodiversity, fish and other food and feed resources contamination, and […]

This project is part of the legal provisions on the environment that form part of the Habitats Directive on the Preservation of Natural Habitats and Wild Fauna and Flora (92/43/CEE) and regulate the Natura 2000 Network, the Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Zones. More specifically, this project aims to: i) update information on […]

This project aims at formulating cocktails of autochthonous plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) suitable for targeted manipulations of the rhizosphere of the halophyte Salicornia ramosissima. The objective is to modulate the metabolome of the plant towards the production of high added value metabolites, while improving stress tolerance to climate change and environmental deterioration. The work […]

Human diet may present both potential risks and benefits to consumers. The balance between risk and benefit is of interest to food authorities developing food policy and consumer advice, to businesses developing new food products, and to consumers considering dietary changes. The risk-benefit assessment (RBA), a relatively new discipline, intends to estimate the benefits and […]

The rupestrian marks identified over the Côa Valley are the evidence that the link between ungulates and Humans is a long tradition that dates back to the Palaeolithic period. By harnessing animal traction, humans have shaped Mediterranean landscapes for centuries, causing the degradation of ecosystem services and the extirpation of biodiversity, including wild ungulates. Today, […]

With the SafeApple project, and through the use of more ecological methodologies that have already been studied and developed on a laboratory scale, the aim is to preserve the distinctive quality characteristics of the Alcobaça apple for a longer period of time. The aim is also to increase the value of this product, since the […]

In the last century sea level rose 12-22 cm on a global average and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reiterates sea level will continue to rise. Major concerns regard the intrusion of seawater into coastal low-lying ecosystems; most host a large/unique biodiversity and are vital for nature conservation (targeted by EU environmental-related Strategies/Directives, e.g. […]

Artificial beach nourishment constitutes an effective and environmental friendly protection that guarantees existing standards of coastal defence and management against coastal erosion while preserving beach recreational values. To improve the design and performance of such operations, a comprehensive understanding of the processes governing nourished beach evolution is needed. The quantification of morpho-sedimentary changes involving artificial […]

The contamination of bivalve molluscs by lipophilic toxins is responsible for human intoxications with manifestations that can be severe. In Portugal, the most common toxins are those of the okadaic acid (OA) group, associated with diarrheic intoxications called DSP (Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning). Given the danger of these intoxications, several species of bivalves with commercial interest […]

Animal migration is a permanent source of wonder. Billions of birds connect regions (and people!) widely separated, redistributing themselves over the planet. Migratory birds also are amongst the most threatened by global change. But our understanding of migration is still limited in multiple aspects, which has implications for our ability to conserve species and to […]

Bivalve production in Portugal has been increasing substantially, leading the mollusc commercialisation rankings in some national production areas, so its economic impact on the domestic and export markets is increasingly relevant. However, bivalve production sites are often affected by faecal contamination, promoting the accumulation of pathogenic bacteria in these filter organisms. The need to apply […]

The production of shellfish in Portugal has been increasing substantially, leading the ranking of mollusc marketing in some areas of national production, so its economic impact on the domestic and export market is increasingly relevant. However, the bivalves production sites are frequently affected by fecal contamination, what promotes the accumulation of pathogenic bacteria in these […]

In view of the worldwide pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, it is urgent to create user-friendly and cost-effective tools capable of providing an early, fast and efficient diagnostic of infection by citizens. In this sense, the SENSECOR project aims to develop Proof of Concept of an innovative and unprecedented system that integrates several units: immunosensory […]

The catastrophic wildfires of 2017 have triggered in the civil society a broad debate about future decisions and actions towards the rehabilitation and valorisation of Portuguese forests. Although sustainable forest management is a central pillar on public policies in Portugal, the decision-making processes are still traditional and centralized and have evidenced limitations both in the […]

The Supporting Implementation of Maritime Spatial Planning in the Atlantic (SIMAtlantic) project aims to support the establishment and implementation of the Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) in five European Atlantic countries. This objective will be achieved by building capacity for transboundary cooperation and undertaking concrete actions of direct relevance for competent authorities tasked with developing maritime […]

The SimbioSalt project aims to investigate an alternative valorization of those residues whereby, through the combination of technologies, a solution will be developed to obtain a commercially valuable product – purified brine – with two potential uses: (i) use within the industry that generated the brine, or (ii) use within the tanning industry (for skin […]

The SisMAR project aims to develop a risk analysis support system for sea operations based on predictive and monitoring components of the marine environment and vessel location, seeking to promote a significant increase in inland waterway safety by fishing and recreational vessels. It also intends to develop and install a visibility measurement and forecasting system […]

Light pollution due to human activities has become an emergent issue of environmental concern. Numerous human health and ecological detrimental effects of anthropogenicinduced changes to light conditions and especially of artificial light at night (ALAN) have been identified during recent years. Most studies have been conducted on terrestrial ecosystems and/or on vertebrates showing that ALAN […]

Marine plastic pollution is a substantial threat to wildlife and human health. The ability to detect floating plastic debris in short periods after they enter the ocean is a mitigating factor, which avoids the degradation of the macroplastics into smaller pieces and the consequential threat to the food chain. Leveraging on the breadth of experience […]

Corrosion is a result of thermodynamically-driven processes which occur due to the interaction of active metal alloys with the surrounding environment, leading to the degradation of metallic structures. This problem is particularly relevant in offshore structures (oil platforms, windmills, etc.) due to particularly aggressive conditions such as high salinity and humidity. Although there are several […]

The Integrated Programme SmartBioR is composed by a single research line entitled Smart Valorization of Endogenous Marine Biological Resources Under a Changing Climate. It addresses The Valorization and Efficient Use of Endogenous Natural Resources, a priority for Portugal Centro-Region. It aims to strengthen regional scientific research, technological development and innovation through the recruitment of highly […]

The main purpose of the SmokeStorm project is to develop, test and operationalize a web platform delivering near-real time smoke dispersion forecasts, as well as user friendly information on the potential effects on human health and visibility, to be used by Portuguese stakeholders. In fact, the Extreme Wildfires Events (EWE) recently registered in Australia, United […]

Air is a natural resource that is part of local and global ecosystem services. The latest burden estimates reflect the impressive role air pollution, and principally particles lower than 10 and 2.5 um (PM10 or PM2.5), plays in cardiorespiratory illness and premature deaths. Also, air pollution and climate change are closely related. While technological progresses […]

With ESA Coastal Erosion Evolution, our ambition is to reaffirm that the coastal erosion issue from space has to be tackled in close connection with the coastal community and stakeholder requirements, in order to align the satellite products with coastal areas particularities and the end user needs. But in the meanwhile, the satellite products cannot […]

The Space for Shore consortium in the framework of the ESA Coastal Erosion program has been working since 2019 to engage coastal managers in charge of beach and shoreline planning in the adoption of EO-based satellite products fed by satellite data coming from various historical and ongoing EO missions. In this new phase is intended […]

The use of new technologies for shoreline monitoring has significantly increased during the past 20 years (airborne lidar topographic surveys, photogrammetry, in situ laser scanning) but their definitive adoption still depends on their cost to effectiveness ratio. At the same time, previous work has shown high-resolution (Pleiades-like) optical satellite remote sensing to be adequate and […]

The main objective of the project is to ensure the implementation of the National Strandings Network in the North of Portugal, to gather data on the occurrence and distribution patterns of the main species of marine mammals and reptiles in the region, to evaluate their main mortality causes and to collect biological samples. This will […]

Industrial development provides benefits to society, but also leads to significant environmental changes often traduced in reducing the quality of soil, air, and water. In this scope, industrial activities, mining and agricultural sectors can be cited. Nanostructured materials have been receiving significant attention for remediation of degraded areas and treatment of liquid effluents. Materials like […]

Microplastics are contaminants found in aquatic environments, caused by the intentional production or fragmentation of larger plastics. Their accumulation and persistence in the environment, the potential to interact with other pollutants and organisms, as well as altering the abiotic characteristics of ecosystems, can lead to environmental consequences. It is estimated that more than 80 per […]

Monitoring sea turtle and marine mammal populations on the Portuguese coast allows to quantify mortality rates for each of the species that occur in the Continental Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Sea turtle and marine mammal strandings occur in all regions where these specimens are present. The main objectives of this project taking place in the […]

SUShI aims to contribute to the delivery of sustainable solutions to the protein supply crisis in aquaculture using insects. To meet the demands of a growing population, is necessary to produce sustainably enough nutritious food. Aquaculture is a growing and efficient food production system, which has apparently reduced the pressure on ocean fisheries in line […]

Societies with ambitious programs on renewable energies and seeking carbon neutral energy mixes (e.g. Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Scotland, Iceland, Portugal) besides the development of sustainable solutions for photovoltaic (PV) energy conversion, are seeking a variety of energy storage concepts to deal with the high variability and intermittence of renewable energies, and corresponding supply-demand gaps. This […]

Replacement of pine by eucalypt plantations is a common forest conversion in Portugal after fire and after clear cutting of mature pine plantations. Abundant spontaneous pine regeneration, however, is often observed in new planted eucalypt stands and, to a lesser degree, in newly planted pine stands, particularly in Central Portugal, implying that forest management planning […]

This research proposal unties three Excellent Portuguese R&D Units from the public and private sectors, formalized as consortium partners, in addition to one biotechnology-based company specialized in bioprocess optimization and one foreign consultant with outstanding expertise in analytical chemistry. Featuring a highly multidisciplinary team with 15 doctorates, this project fosters excellent scientific dissemination, training and […]

The current proposal has the general aim of evaluating the environmental quality of the water and sediment of the Potiritá and Capim rivers in the Paragominas region, under the influence of the Norsk Hydro Mining company. An integrated approach using physical, chemical and biological tools through examining metal concentrations, histopathological and biochemical biomarkers; and population […]

Coastal systems often serve as sinks for toxic elements, and changes in salinity, pH and temperature, predicted to occur in the next decades due to global climate change, are expected to influence elements geochemistry in aquatic systems. The effects of these changes may also alter biota sensitivity and elements uptake rates. These fluctuations can lead […]

Transnational Access to Hydralab Major Research InfrastructureAccess to the Large Oscillating Water Tunnel (LOWT) of WL|Delft Hydraulics The knowledge and modelling of sand transport induced by waves and currents still has considerable shortcomings. Two large knowledge gaps in sand transport processes are: i) sand transport induced by skewed waves and ii) sand transport due to […]

Project TraSeafood aims to determine elemental and/or biochemical fingerprints present in marine endogenous resources captured and/or cultured along the Atlantic western and south-western Iberian coast that can be used to trace their place of origin. The following species will be addressed in this unprecedented effort to develop an integrative framework towards the traceability of geographic […]

Worldwide, rats are responsible for major economic losses, including damage to human dwellings and food spoilage. Rats are also important vectors for the spread of numerous diseases to humans and animals. Globalised trading routes facilitate the dispersal of rats and their pathogens, with seaports constituting pivotal entry points and potential hotspots of disease. Rodent control […]

Mirid bugs are important biological control agents mainly in protected but also in field vegetable crops. Several species are zoophytophagous meaning they can feed on both animal and vegetable food sources. In Portugal growers have been releasing Nesidiocoris tenuis (Nt) into tomato greenhouses, to control whiteflies and leaf miners, and recently Tuta absoluta. Nt is […]

UNaLab will develop, via co-creation with stakeholders and implementation of ‘living lab’ demonstration areas, a robust evidence base and European framework of innovative, replicable, and locally-attuned nature-based solutions (NBSs) to enhance the climate and water resilience of cities. UNaLab focuses on urban ecological water management, accompanied with greening measures and innovative and inclusive urban design. […]

Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) have a global spreading in the environment. Once in the environment, biota will uptake them. Their chemical nature is diverse, from inorganics (e.g. SiO2) to organics (e.g. carbon nanotubes-CNTs). Currently, of major concern, are also nanoplastics (considered here as a group of ENMs) enclosing polymer binders and nano-fillers/additives. Additionally, ENMs can be […]

The forest is an essential strategic resource for a green economy. About 10 million hectares of pine forest are at risk from resinous pine canker (CRP), an infection caused by the fungus Fusarium circinatum. Integrated forest disease management is not a simple path but rather a set of complementary measures, including but rather a set […]

VESPRA arises for the improvement of the risk management mechanisms, focusing in the border area between Spain and Portugal both for local risks as forest fires, and for other general ones such as the affectation by adverse meteorological phenomena or the dispersion of pollutants in wide areas. Within the project, an international protocol will be […]

Since the early 90s, the continuous input of pharmaceuticals into the environment has brought environmental chemists and toxicologists to join forces in order to tackle obstacles and answer questions regarding the eventual risk posed by such compounds to human and environmental health. One of the main challenges in the area of analytical chemistry is the […]

[Only available in Portuguese]Este projecto irá originar novo conhecimento sobre as interacções de espécies prioritárias com habitats protegidos na Zona deProteção Especial (ZPE) do estuário do Tejo. Para tal, pretende-se implementar um sistema inovador de alta precisão noseguimento remoto de aves limícolas, tanto na área intertidal como nos habitats supralitorais. O sistema tem por base […]

The depletion of water resources and decline in water quality is one of the greatest challenges to meet sustainable development. The quantification of water use is crucial for identifying potential opportunities to reduce water consumption and pollution. In this context, the water footprint (WF) has been proposed recently as a tool based on life cycle […]

The development of efficient and cost-effective methodologies to remove pharmaceuticals from contaminated effluents constitute a key point to reduce the input of these pollutants into water resources. Removal of pharmaceuticals from water by adsorption onto activated carbons (AC) is considered one of the most powerful solutions for this problem, but the high costs of commercial […]

Waste printed circuit boards (PCBs) account for about 3% of nearly 50Mt/year global E-waste generation. They are constituted by a heterogeneous mixture of metals, ceramic and plastics. Among these fractions, the driving force for recycling waste PCBs is the recovery of metals (in particular Au). Because PCBs contain many base and precious metals (PMs), which […]

Groundwater (GW) is a major source of water supply in Europe. This natural resource is endangered by several factors, such as improper water management policies, including over-exploitation, and contamination by anthropogenic activities. Ignoring the profound consequences of GW depletion and quality deterioration is the foundation on which unsustainable water policies are built. The goal of […]

Conversion of native ecosystems to agriculture, agro-forestry or forestry systems is considered a major threat to biodiversity, since it induces changes in the composition and structure of communities, and likely the modification of ecological processes. Despite its negative effects, converted systems can still sustain wildlife, including some menaced species, which manage to adapt to new […]

WinTherface addresses the study of thermally driven exchange flows in lake-wetlands interfaces. The project motivation arises from the relevant ecological and environmental impacts of exchange flows in lake-wetland interfaces, playing a key role in the transport of nutrients and pollutants. Despite of the advances on isolated mechanisms, the interaction of buoyancy, drag and wind forces […]