Distribution and biology of black scabbardfish (Aphanopus carbo Lowe, 1839) in the Northwest of Africa

Tese de mestrado, Biologia (Biologia e Gestão de Recursos Marinhos), 2008, Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de CiênciasBlack scabbardfish (Aphanopus carbo Lowe, 1839) is a benthopelagic species from the Family Trichiuridae that presents a global distribution and is object of an increasing commercial interest. Thus, this study seeks to contribute to the knowledge of the biology of A. carbo distributed in the Norwest Africa, and also helping in the understanding of this species in a more global level. In this work the following aspects are focussed: spatial distribution, size and sex structure, maturity, length-weight relationship and growth, in the area between Tangier and Cape Blanc (35ºN-21ºN). In a general way, A. carbo is distributed between 700 and 1 700 m, although it was more abundant between 800 and 1 400 m, diminishing progressively with depth. The highest captures were obtained between 1 000 and 1 200 m. Regarding size distribution, a bimodal distribution in all the study area was observed, occurring a general trend of size increase with depth, being the mean length of females larger than males. Concerning proportion of sexes, females were always more numerous than males in all the study area. Regarding maturity, percentages of spawning individuals were always superiors in males, what could indicate an advance of males in the spawning period in relation to females. In accordance with the high percentages of resting, pre-spawning and spawning individuals and the low percentages of post-spawners found in the study period (November), it could be said that spawning in this area would probably begin in the early December. The analysis of the length-weight relationship showed a positive allometry in this species. On the other hand, females always reached higher size and weight than males. Finally, from the results obtained in the study of the age and growth the following parameters were estimated: for males, L∞=119 cm, K=0.469 year-1 and t0=-0.385 year; females: L∞=125 cm, K=0.377 year-1 and t0=-0.850 year; and sexes combined: L∞=122 cm, K=0.415 year-1 and t0=-0.645 yearO peixe espada-preto (Aphanopus carbo Lowe, 1839) é uma espécie bentopelágica pertencente à Família Trichiuridae que apresenta uma distribuição global e com um interesse comercial crescente. Por esta razão, este estudo pretende contribuir para aumentar o conhecimento da biologia de A. carbo no noroeste de África (entre Tânger e Cabo Branco (35ºN-21ºN)), acrescentando assim mais informação para uma área de que não se dispunha de dados. Neste trabalho abordam-se aspectos relacionados com a distribuição espacial, estrutura por sexo e comprimento, maturação sexual, relação comprimento-peso e idade e crescimento. De uma maneira geral, A. carbo distribui-se entre 700 e 1 700 m, ainda que tenha sido mais abundante entre 800 e 1 400 m, diminuindo a abundância progressivamente com a profundidade. As maiores capturas foram obtidas entre os 1 000 e 1 200 m. Relativamente à distribuição de comprimentos, observou-se uma distribuição bimodal em toda a zona de estudo, com uma tendência geral do aumento do comprimento com a profundidade, sendo normalmente o comprimento médio das fêmeas superior ao dos machos. No que se refere à proporção de sexos, as fêmeas foram sempre mais numerosas do que os machos em toda a área de estudo. Com respeito à maturação sexual, as percentagens de machos em postura foram sempre superiores às fêmeas, o que poderá indicar um desenvolvimento mais precoce dos mesmos no período de reprodução. As altas percentagens de indivíduos em estado de repouso, pré-postura e postura, e as baixas percentagens em estado de pós-postura encontrados na época de estudo (Novembro), poderá significar que a postura, nesta zona, iniciar-se-á provavelmente em princípios de Dezembro. A análise da relação comprimento-peso revelou a existência de uma alometria positiva nesta espécie. Por outro lado, as fêmeas atingiram sempre maior comprimento e peso do que os machos. Finalmente, dos resultados obtidos no estudo da determinação da idade e crescimento estimaram-se os seguintes parâmetros: para machos, L∞=119 cm, K=0.469 ano -1 e t0=-0.385 ano; fêmeas: L∞=125 cm, K=0.377 ano-1 e t0=-0.850 ano; e totais, L∞=122 cm, K=0.415 ano-1 e t0=-0.645 an

“El origen de la tecnología en la educación: pioneros”

Two visionary Spaniards were precursors of the tools that would subsequently be technological application in the environment of the education programs. We analyze the impact on schools of technology and recognize their genuine pioneersDos visionarios españoles fueron precursores de las herramientas que posteriormente serían programas de aplicaciones tecnológicas en el entorno de la educación. Analizamos el impacto en las escuelas de la tecnología y reconocemos a sus auténticos pionero

Biotic integrity of the arthropod communities in the natural forests of Azores

Copyright © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2006.The loss of biotic integrity in ecosystems due to human pressure has been receiving much attention from the scientific community. The primary aim of this study is to understand how the increasing human pressure on natural forests in the Azorean archipelago (North Atlantic) is affecting their epigean arthropod communities and which biological parameters it affects most. An expert team did fieldwork covering most of the natural forests (mainly inside nature reserves) of the archipelago using standardized pitfall trapping. To build a multimetric index we tested a number of taxonomic and ecological parameters that can potentially be influenced by disturbance. Sixteen of these were found to be significantly influenced by disturbance in forests. We retained seven metrics due to both, desirable scalability properties and relatively low correlation between them. These included the percentages of endemic and predator species richness and also predator abundance, which are inversely related to disturbance; and the percentages of native and saprophagous species richness and introduced and herbivore abundance, which are positively related to disturbance. All seven metrics were combined in an Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) value. We then proceeded to understand which potential disturbance factors are influencing the biotic integrity of communities and how such influence is felt. Five disturbance factors were found to influence the IBI, although in different ways: the size and fragmentation of reserves, the distance of sites to the reserve borders, the invasion by alien plants and the density of human paths at the sites. Given that only percentages of taxonomical or ecological characteristics were chosen as metrics, we tested and found the scalability of the IBI to be possible, allowing the comparison of sites with different collecting effort or even the comparison of reserves with different areas and numbers of collecting sites in each. Finally, we propose a novel graphical representation for multimetric indices like the IBI, one which allows retaining much of the information that is usually lost in multimetric indices

Evaluating the performance of species richness estimators: sensitivity to sample grain size

Copyright © 2006 British Ecological Society.1. Fifteen species richness estimators (three asymptotic based on species accumulation curves, 11 nonparametric, and one based in the species-area relationship) were compared by examining their performance in estimating the total species richness of epigean arthropods in the Azorean Laurisilva forests. Data obtained with standardized sampling of 78 transects in natural forest remnants of five islands were aggregated in seven different grains (i.e. ways of defining a single sample): islands, natural areas, transects, pairs of traps, traps, database records and individuals to assess the effect of using different sampling units on species richness estimations. 2. Estimated species richness scores depended both on the estimator considered and on the grain size used to aggregate data. However, several estimators (ACE, Chao1, Jackknife1 and 2 and Bootstrap) were precise in spite of grain variations. Weibull and several recent estimators [proposed by Rosenzweig et al. (Conservation Biology, 2003, 17, 864-874), and Ugland et al. (Journal of Animal Ecology, 2003, 72, 888-897)] performed poorly. 3. Estimations developed using the smaller grain sizes (pair of traps, traps, records and individuals) presented similar scores in a number of estimators (the above-mentioned plus ICE, Chao2, Michaelis-Menten, Negative Exponential and Clench). The estimations from those four sample sizes were also highly correlated. 4. Contrary to other studies, we conclude that most species richness estimators may be useful in biodiversity studies. Owing to their inherent formulas, several nonparametric and asymptotic estimators present insensitivity to differences in the way the samples are aggregated. Thus, they could be used to compare species richness scores obtained from different sampling strategies. Our results also point out that species richness estimations coming from small grain sizes can be directly compared and other estimators could give more precise results in those cases. We propose a decision framework based on our results and on the literature to assess which estimator should be used to compare species richness scores of different sites, depending on the grain size of the original data, and of the kind of data available (species occurrence or abundance data)

Arthropods as surrogates of diversity at different spatial scales

Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.This study evaluates the effectiveness of taxonomic, colonization and trophic groups of arthropods from native forests of the Azores archipelago as surrogates of the diversity of other arthropod groups and of the remaining arthropods. Consistency in the performance of surrogates was tested across three spatial scales and using two measures of diversity. Pitfall and beating samples from 109 transects, 18 forest fragments and seven islands were analysed. The results showed that Araneae, Hemiptera and small orders taxonomic groups; native, endemic and introduced colonization groups; and the herbivores trophic group were consistent surrogates of the remaining diversity across the three spatial scales analysed, for both alpha and dissimilarity diversities. However, none of the subsets considered was significantly related with all of the other subsets at any of the three spatial scales. The effectiveness of surrogacy was dependent on the spatial level considered, and groups behaved inconsistently depending on the measure of diversity used. The value of a group as a diversity surrogate should be evaluated for a study area for a given spatial scale and diversity measure, in accordance with the scale and measure that will be used for biodiversity assessments and monitoring programs in that area

A gestão da marca e sua influência para a construção de uma imagem forte caso Apple

O trabalho desenvolvido pretende demonstrar como os significados que uma marca transmite influenciam na construção de uma imagem forte de uma empresa. Apesar de as organizações criarem identidades de marca, são as pessoas que criam o significado da marca. Entretanto, não é um dado certo, está aberto à interpretação. Portanto, saber utilizar corretamente as estratégias de marketing e publicidade, ajuda neste processo, porque elas são influenciadoras. Além disso, será a forma da empresa transmitir a essência da marca, fazendo com que as pessoas façam as devidas associações em suas mentes. Esta monografia apresenta conceitos e teorias sobre comunicação, publicidade, marketing, marca e sociedade de consumo, respectivamente. Para melhor entendimento, há um estudo de caso aplicado à marca Apple, mostrando como ela se tornou a empresa mais valiosa e influente do mundo após sofrer uma crise na década de 90 que quase a levou à falência. Por fim, há uma análise, relacionando a teoria estudada com a prática na jornada da Apple. De fato, a empresa implementou o que a teoria preconizava e alcançou sucesso

Towards systematic conservation planning in the Azores

Several field methodologies, analytical measures and theoretical patterns have been explored for conservation planning for arthropods in native forests of the Azores archipelago. Here, the outcomes are assembled to make recommendations on practical strategies to assess arthropod diversity and to select and manage protected native forests in the Azores. Suggestions are made on how to apply similar plans for conservation of other plant and animal groups in these forests. Potential threats to the Azorean native forest are described and measures to minimize them are proposed. Future studies are also suggested that would improve the present knowledge of arthropod diversity and distribution in Azorean native forests and could assist in the identification of suitable conservation strategies

Diversity and distribution of arthropods in native forests of the Azores archipelago

Since 1999, our knowledge of arthropods in native forests of the Azores has improved greatly. Under the BALA project (Biodiversity of Arthropods of Laurisilva of the Azores), an extensive standardised sampling protocol was employed in most of the native forest cover of the Archipelago. Additionally, in 2003 and 2004, more intensive sampling was carried out in several fragments, resulting in nearly a doubling of the number of samples collected. A total of 6,770 samples from 100 sites distributed amongst 18 fragments of seven islands have been collected, resulting in almost 140,000 specimens having been caught. Overall, 452 arthropod species belonging to Araneae, Opilionida, Pseudoscorpionida, Myriapoda and Insecta (excluding Diptera and Hymenoptera) were recorded. Altogether, Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Araneae and Lepidoptera comprised the major proportion of the total diversity (84%) and total abundance (78%) found. Endemic species comprised almost half of the individuals sampled. Most of the taxonomic, colonization, and trophic groups analysed showed a significantly left unimodal distribution of species occurrences, with almost all islands, fragments or sites having exclusive species. Araneae was the only group to show a strong bimodal distribution. Only a third of the species was common to both the canopy and soil, the remaining being equally exclusive to each stratum. Canopy and soil strata showed a strongly distinct species composition, the composition being more similar within the same stratum regardless of the location, than within samples from both strata at the same location. Possible reasons for these findings are explored. The procedures applied in the sampling protocol are also discussed

Arthropods as surrogates of diversity at different spatial scales

Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.This study evaluates the effectiveness of taxonomic, colonization and trophic groups of arthropods from native forests of the Azores archipelago as surrogates of the diversity of other arthropod groups and of the remaining arthropods. Consistency in the performance of surrogates was tested across three spatial scales and using two measures of diversity. Pitfall and beating samples from 109 transects, 18 forest fragments and seven islands were analysed. The results showed that Araneae, Hemiptera and small orders taxonomic groups; native, endemic and introduced colonization groups; and the herbivores trophic group were consistent surrogates of the remaining diversity across the three spatial scales analysed, for both alpha and dissimilarity diversities. However, none of the subsets considered was significantly related with all of the other subsets at any of the three spatial scales. The effectiveness of surrogacy was dependent on the spatial level considered, and groups behaved inconsistently depending on the measure of diversity used. The value of a group as a diversity surrogate should be evaluated for a study area for a given spatial scale and diversity measure, in accordance with the scale and measure that will be used for biodiversity assessments and monitoring programs in that area

Patterns of alpha and beta diversity of epigean arthropods at contrasting land-uses of an oceanic island (Terceira, Azores)

"[…]. To study the effect of land-use change in biological communities it is necessary to understand how are the different components of diversity distributed in space. Diversity has long been separated into different components according to the phenomena that interest ecologists (Whittaker, 1960, 1972): i) local species richness, i.e., alpha (community) diversity that measures the species richness of a local assemblage; ii) beta diversity, the degree of difference between communities (Whittaker et al., 2001), that measures turnover of species between communities and; iii) gamma (regional) diversity, which can be considered an equivalent to alpha diversity on a larger scale, but reflects the allopatric distribution of related taxa. Alpha diversity, of which species richness is just the most visible measure, is perhaps the most studied aspect of diversity. However, probably more important than knowing how many species live in a site at a given time, it is to know what species are these. In islands, where the introduction of non-indigenous species is one of the major threats to indigenous species (Borges et al., 2006; Martín et al., 2008), especially endemics, this question is even more significant. Even if man-made habitats are species rich, they may be empty of species considered as conservation priority and abundant in exotic species (Cardoso et al. 2009a). […]" (da Introdução)Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portugal