Phenotypic Plasticity and the Invasiveness of Three _Taraxacum_ Species

*Background/Question/Methods* 
Many factors have been found to be associated with the success of invasive species. Phenotypic plasticity, the ability of a plant genotype to respond to different environmental conditions by producing different phenotypes, is thought to play an important role plant invasions. In three major experiments, I tested the hypothesis that the invasive _Taraxacum officinale_ (common dandelion) and its non-invasive congener _T. laevigatum_ will exhibit different phenotypic plasticity in germination, growth, and reproduction. I also proposed that their responses to various environments could be used to assess the invasive behavior of a potential crop species: _T. kok-saghyz_.

*Results/Conclusions* 
The results revealed complicated responses of the three species in various environments. The invasive _T. officinale_ showed higher germination in high alternating temperature, and accumulated more biomass than the non-invasive _T. laevigatum_ in favorable greenhouse conditions. Surprisingly, _T. laevigatum_ germinated better than _T. officinale_ in other stressful environments (dark, low water potential, long aging period), and also exhibited higher fecundity in favorable greenhouse conditions. In field experiments, however, the performance of _T. officinale_ was overwhelmingly better than _T. laevigatum_, which suffered very high mortality and failed to survive for more than two growing seasons. These results suggest that _T. officinale_ might benefit from its ability to grow, reproduce, and survive in various environments, while _T. laevigatum_ relies on seed reproduction to maintain its population. With the exception of germination, the responses of _T. kok-saghyz_ were more like _T. officinale_ than _T. laevigatum_, which suggested that this species has some potential to behave as a weed

Vinte anos depois do muro

[Recensão a] L’Histoire. S.l. n.º 346 (Out. 2009)

Malhas do comunismo nacionalizado

[Recensão a] NEVES, José - Comunismo e Nacionalismo em Portugal. Política, Cultura e História no século XX. Lisboa : Tinta da China, 2008. 502 p

As vozes que ainda nos falam da guerra

[Recensão a] CABRÉ, Jaume - As vozes do rio Pamano. S.l. : Tinta da China, 2008. 653 p

Repressive dynamics and political subjectivities: the case of Peniche Prison

Este artigo analisa a experiência dos presos políticos no troço final do Estado Novo. Tomando a cadeia do Forte de Peniche como ponto de observação, explora-se o modo como as identidades políticas foram definidas, e até reforçadas, através do conflito com as dinâmicas coercivas emanadas da prisão. O confinamento, as regras, o isolamento, a vigilância e a punicão construíram uma teia punitiva destinada à produção de “corpos dóceis”. Diante disso, os presos contrapuseram estratégias de resistência que não só buscavam elidir a realidade objectiva da clausura como reafirmar a sua subjectividade militante. O artigo explora o papel das clivagens ideológicas entre os presos na operacionalização de distintas culturas de reivindicação e modos de vivenciar o quotidiano do cárcere, mostrando ao mesmo tempo como a vida prisional interagia com dinâmicas políticas mais amplas.This paper analyzes the experience of political prisoners in the final stages of theEstado Novo dictatorship. It uses the Peniche Fort prison as a case study, exploring the way in which political identities were defined, and even reinforced, throughout the struggle against coercive dynamics. Physical confinement, rules, isolation, surveillance, and punishment laid the foundations for a punitive structure that aimed to produce “docile bodies.” On the other hand, prisoners built up resistance strategies intended not only to escape the objective reality of incarceration, but also to assert their militant subjectivity. The article explores how ideological splits led to distinct cultures of protest and ways of experiencing everyday life inside the prison, whilst also revealing how prison life interacted with broader political dynamics

A ditadura com olhos de ver

[Recensão a] DIAS, Susana de Sousa - 48. S.l. : s.n., 2010. Filme (93 min.)

Memórias políticas do Séc. XX

[Recensão a] LOFF, Manuel; PIEDADE, Filipe; SOUTELO, Luciana Castro - Ditaduras e Revolução: Democracia e Políticas da Memória. Coimbra : Almedina, 2015