12 research outputs found
Are farm to fork strategy goals reasonable and achievable? State of the art of Península de Setubal’s winegrowers
The European Union’s “farm to fork” strategy sets out several objectives to be achieved by farmers, who, among others, relate to increasing biodiversity, protecting soils and reducing the use of pesticides. The use of pesticides in 235 winegrowers in the Palmela region was evaluated between 2016 and 2021. To support some of the answers, a socio-economic survey was also carried out. The data analysed included the number of treatments, the dosages used, compliance with the pre-harvest interval, the reason why winegrowers performed phytosanitary treatment and how they chose a pesticide. In addition, residue analyses were carried out at the entrance of the grapes into the winery to assess whether the MRL was exceeded and whether were not authorised pesticides were used in the vine. For each year, it was found that, on average, farmers spray seven times, although the trend was to decrease and the most used pesticide belong to groups 3 (Triazol), according to the FRAC Codes. It was concluded that fear of diseases and pests and “empirical experience” sometimes go beyond knowledge and technology. In addition, the weak valorisation of grapes and discouragement with the implementation of some poorly reported strategies are factors that fuel the concern about the difficulty in achieving the goals
Large-scale screening of unknown varieties in a grapevine intra-varietal variability collection
Since the last decade of the last century, it is known that many old grapevine varieties are descendants of other varieties through natural crossing. Portugal has an important program for the conservation of representative samples of intra-varietal variability of all autochthonous varieties, managed by the Portuguese Association for Grapevine Diversity (PORVID), which makes looking for genotypes with dubious identification an important activity from a perspective of its valorisation. This communication presents the results of the molecular analysis of 5,000 samples (accessions) from the PORVID’s collection, using nine microsatellite loci currently recommended by the International Organization of Vine and Wine (OIV) for genetic grapevine identification. The results obtained confirmed the molecular identity of 4,220 samples corresponding to 214 varieties present in the official list of Portuguese varieties. In 780 samples, 95 profiles with a plural number of accessions revealed not to be listed in the Vitis International Variety Catalogue (VIVC) database, corresponding to possible varieties either descendent from natural crossing from at least one known parental variety, or from undetermined origin. Furthermore, the need for a comprehensive strategy aimed at uncovering other hidden varieties is discussed to prevent their imminent loss, deepen understanding of their origin, and add economic value and sustainability to the vine and wine sector
Are farm to fork strategy goals reasonable and achievable? State of the art of Península de Setubal’s winegrowers
The European Union’s “farm to fork” strategy sets out several objectives to be achieved by farmers, who, among others, relate to increasing biodiversity, protecting soils and reducing the use of pesticides. The use of pesticides in 235 winegrowers in the Palmela region was evaluated between 2016 and 2021. To support some of the answers, a socio-economic survey was also carried out. The data analysed included the number of treatments, the dosages used, compliance with the pre-harvest interval, the reason why winegrowers performed phytosanitary treatment and how they chose a pesticide. In addition, residue analyses were carried out at the entrance of the grapes into the winery to assess whether the MRL was exceeded and whether were not authorised pesticides were used in the vine. For each year, it was found that, on average, farmers spray seven times, although the trend was to decrease and the most used pesticide belong to groups 3 (Triazol), according to the FRAC Codes. It was concluded that fear of diseases and pests and “empirical experience” sometimes go beyond knowledge and technology. In addition, the weak valorisation of grapes and discouragement with the implementation of some poorly reported strategies are factors that fuel the concern about the difficulty in achieving the goals
New bio-cronostratigraphical data from the SW sector of the Guadalquivir basin (Lepe-Ayamonte Area, Huelva, Spain)
The paleontological data of the marine neogene sediments in the Lepe-Ayamonte area, Huelva (SW of the Guadalquivir basin) allow to establish a relative chronology from the presence of calcareous nannoplancton and malacofaunes. These data are congruent with the previous radiometric ag
Stratigraphic correlation between upper neogene units in the SW sector of the Iberian Peninsula
Upper Neogene Units (Late Miocene-Early Pliocene) in the SW sector of the Iberian Penninsula (Algarve, S of Portugal and Huelva-Sevilla, SW of Spain) have been finally correlated on the basis of bio-chronostratigraphic data obtained in new fossiliferous points of Huelva province (Lepe-Ayamonte area
The behaviour of grapevine growers in the decision-making of using Plant Protection Products (PPP) from Palmela region
In current days, the major challenges for farmers are the impact of plant protection products (PPP) on the public health, the environment protection, residues reduction, bees and non-target organisms, as well as, the withdrawal of many active ingredients and climate changes. Given the current situation, sustainable use of PPP is a main objective and priority. The decisions making of using PPP of 235 winegrowers from Palmela region, which do not have regular technical assistance, were assessed during 2016 until 2019. The data analysed included the number of applications, the dosages used and the compliance of pre-harvest interval (PHI). For each year, it was observed that a winegrower, on average, made seven treatments, although the tendency is a decrease to reduce the number of treatments. The PPP most used belong to the groups 3 (Triazoles), M02 (Inorganic) and M04 + 4 (Phthalimides + Phenyl Amides) according FRAC Code. Regardless of the climatic conditions and the disease pressure in the vineyard, the winegrowers used PPP every 14 days. Fear and “empiric experience” sometimes overtake knowledge and technology. That could only be changed with trust between technical assistance and farmers. That could be the solution to face the mentioned challenges and to offer sustainable wines from Palmela region
A guide to extant coccolithophores (Calcihaptophycidae, Haptophyta) using light microscopy
We present here a collection of light microscope, and comparative scanning electron microscope, images
of extant coccolithophores, sampled from various oceanic locations, and also from cultured strains. This series of im ages is intended to provide students and researchers interested in extant coccolithophore biology with an accessible
means of identifying the common coccolithophore species found in modern assemblages.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Long-term assessment of climate induced regime shifts in coastal areas
Resilience has become an important theoretical context for interpreting the sustainability of socio-ecological systems because of its applicability to socioeconomic and environmental systems under changing conditions, regardless if changes are slow and less perceptible. Estuarine and coastal ecosystems around the world are constantly changing in response to combined effects of climate drivers and human activities, and many of them may be approaching critical thresholds threatening their healthy functioning and services they provide. However, shifts from one ecological stable state to another can last for long periods, making long-term studies necessary to understand the real nature of these transitions.
Estuaries contain sediments that preserve the signature of multiple processes acting upon the coastal system. These records can therefore provide valuable palaeoecological data covering decadal to millennial time-scales and overcome the lack of long-term monitoring data required to investigate these processes. SWe have collected sediment cores from shallow, near-coast sites in the Sado estuary that provides a natural archive of environmental change since the early Holocene. The Sado Estuary is the second largest estuary in Portugal, with an area of approximately 24,000 ha. It is a mesotidal system, well mixed and generally well oxygenated, with a salinity variation depending on the annual precipitation and river flow. Most of the estuary is classified as a natural reserve but it also plays an important role in the local and national economy. Tidal marsh habitats cover about 30% of the total area. The Sado estuary is a good example of a site where human pressures and natural values coexist each other.
Using a combined spatial and temporal approach, this work aims to study ecological resilience and regime shifts in this part of the SW Portuguese coast. Thus, we study the sedimentary infill of a number of tidal marshes located in the Sado estuary to assess variability in both sensitivity and exposure to sea level rise (SLR) at a local scale. Site-specific accretion and wetland elevation change are quantified, and temporal trends understood to produce reliable projections of the effect of SLR. Empirical time-series of tidal data and coeval sedimentological records obtained from the study sites regarding wetland response and sea level changes are used to assess past trends that can inform future scenarios of wetland changes and responses. Contemporary data and multiannual to millennial reconstructions provide insights on patterns and drivers of abrupt environmental change in response to SLR and yield important information on the avergae state and natural variability of the coastal system. We expect that our results will provide information on the long-term development and patterns of variability of the Sado estuary in relation to socio-cultural activities, which is vital to understand and mitigate the effects of global change on coastal ecosystems
Definition of the Portuguese frameworks with international relevance as an input for the European geological heritage characterisation
This work constitutes the first contribution for the systematisation of the geological heritage knowledge in Portugal, following the international recomendations for the characterisation of geological heritage (IUGS, ProGEO). The application of the ProGEO methodology has resulted on the creation of fourteen frameworks with international relevance, established by consensus among the Portuguese geological community. The description of each category in this paper is not exhaustive and just the most relevant scientific settings are presented. The following are the three key outcomes of this work: i) At a national level, the most important geosites are identified, indicating where geoconservation efforts should be prioritised through scientific justification; ii) At a regional level, conditions have been developed to foster dialogue with Spanish colleagues in order to create Iberian frameworks; iii) At an international level, is now possible to integrate Portuguese geosites in the global inventories promoted by IUGS, UNESCO, and ProGEO
Large-scale screening of unknown varieties in a grapevine intra-varietal variability collection
Since the last decade of the last century, it is known that many old grapevine varieties are descendants of other varieties through natural crossing. Portugal has an important program for the conservation of representative samples of intra-varietal variability of all autochthonous varieties, managed by the Portuguese Association for Grapevine Diversity (PORVID), which makes looking for genotypes with dubious identification an important activity from a perspective of its valorisation. This communication presents the results of the molecular analysis of 5,000 samples (accessions) from the PORVID’s collection, using nine microsatellite loci currently recommended by the International Organization of Vine and Wine (OIV) for genetic grapevine identification. The results obtained confirmed the molecular identity of 4,220 samples corresponding to 214 varieties present in the official list of Portuguese varieties. In 780 samples, 95 profiles with a plural number of accessions revealed not to be listed in the Vitis International Variety Catalogue (VIVC) database, corresponding to possible varieties either descendent from natural crossing from at least one known parental variety, or from undetermined origin. Furthermore, the need for a comprehensive strategy aimed at uncovering other hidden varieties is discussed to prevent their imminent loss, deepen understanding of their origin, and add economic value and sustainability to the vine and wine sector