Terrestrial mammals of Mozambique : current knowledge and future challenges for conservation

Nations must know on what and where to conserve, as required by Convention on Biological Diversity. Only by knowing where we should trust our knowledge of species occurrence, we will be able to make accurate decisions and efficiently allocate the limited resources for improving quality and coverage of species occurrence and distribution and safeguarding biodiversity. Existing knowledge about the biodiversity of Mozambique is scarce across most taxonomic groups. Long periods of armed conflict seriously affected wildlife and scientific research, contributing to this lack of knowledge. This doctoral thesis aimed to compile and map current knowledge about the occurrence of terrestrial mammal fauna in Mozambique, to discuss the challenges for biodiversity conservation in the country. To meet these objectives, an inventory on terrestrial mammal presence was compiling integrating primary species-occurrence data from 1) the GBIF portal; 2) natural history collections; 3) recent survey reports, and 4) scientific literature. The first part of this thesis focuses on the update of the list of terrestrial mammal species reported for the country. The second part investigates the data bias and gaps in knowledge regarding the distribution of terrestrial mammals in Mozambique, providing priority areas for future surveys. The third part offers a first assessment on the effectiveness of Mozambique’s conservation areas to protect the lesser-known taxa given global change and further suggests priority areas for conservation. As a final contribution of this research, we discuss the contribution of different data sources to the inventory and the importance of digitization and mobilization of biodiversity data in poorly studied countries. Overall, the study developed in this thesis is an important starting point and a valuable resource for understanding the occurrence and distribution of terrestrial mammals in Mozambique, contributing with a dataset now acessible for researchers and decision-makers

Mapping Knowledge Gaps of Mozambique’s Terrestrial Mammals

A valuable strategy to support conservation planning is to assess knowledge gaps regarding primary species occurrence data to identify and select areas for future biodiversity surveys. Currently, increasing accessibility to these data allows a cost-effective method for boosting knowledge about a country's biodiversity. For understudied countries where the lack of resources for conservation is more pronounced to resort to primary biodiversity data can be especially beneficial. Here, using a primary species occurrence dataset, we assessed and mapped Mozambique's knowledge gaps regarding terrestrial mammal species by identifying areas that are geographically distant and environmentally different from well-known sites. By comparing gaps from old and recent primary species occurrence data, we identified: (i) gaps of knowledge over time, (ii) the lesser-known taxa, and (iii) areas with potential for spatiotemporal studies. Our results show that the inventory of Mozambique's mammal fauna is near-complete in less than 5% of the territory, with broad areas of the country poorly sampled or not sampled at all. The knowledge gap areas are mostly associated with two ecoregions. The provinces lacking documentation coincide with areas over-explored for natural resources, and many such sites may never be documented. It is our understanding that by prioritising the survey of the knowledge-gap areas will likely produce new records for the country and, continuing the study of the well-known regions will guarantee their potential use for spatiotemporal studies. The implemented approach to assess the knowledge gaps from primary species occurrence data proved to be a powerful strategy to generate information that is essential to species conservation and management plan. However, we are aware that the impact of digital and openly available data depends mostly on its completeness and accuracy, and thus we encourage action from the scientific community and government authorities to support and promote data mobilisation.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Actividades experimentais nas escolas através de uma interacção com a universidade

A forma como a ciência é ensinada nas escolas afecta profundamente a percepção que os estudantes têm do mundo que os rodeia e consequentemente a escolha de uma futura carreira nas ciências. Por outro lado, a abertura da escola à comunidade envolvente, proporciona as condições para a sua participação activa na vida escolar, assim como a promoção do sucesso escolar, através da formação integral dos alunos, dotando-os das competências científicas, tecnológicas e sócio-culturais necessárias a sólidas opções futuras. A química como uma ciência de cariz experimental oferece aos estudantes uma melhor compreensão dos conceitos teóricos leccionados. Este trabalho descreve actividades experimentais realizadas no âmbito de um intercâmbio entre a Escola Secundária/3 de Barcelinhos e o Departamento de Química. Os projectos desenvolvidos foram “Museu das Ciências” na disciplina de Área Projecto do 12º ano de escolaridade. A actividade A Ciência na investigação criminal foi baseada nas oficinas apresentadas no projecto Sentidos da Ciência [1]. Estas actividades experimentais executadas em colaboração entre as escolas e a universidade contribuem para uma maior motivação dos alunos, uma formação científica mais sólida e um conhecimento mais integrado

Validation of a method to measure light distortion surrounding a source of glare

Our objective was to validate a new device dedicated to measure the light disturbances surrounding bright sources of light under different sources of potential variability. Twenty subjects were involved in the study. Light distortion was measured using an experimental prototype (light distortion analyzer, CEORLab, University of Minho, Portugal) comprising twenty-four LED arrays panel at 2 m. Sources of variability included: intrasession and intersession repeated measures, pupil size (3 versus 6 mm), defocus (þ0.50) correction for the working distance, angular resolution (15 deg versus 30 deg), temporal stimuli presentation, and pupil size. Size, shape, location, and irregularity parameters have been obtained. At a low speed of presentation of the stimuli, changes in angular resolution did not have an effect on the results of the parameters measured. Results did not change with pupil size. Intensity of the central glare source significantly influenced the outcomes. Examination time was reduced by 30% when a 30 deg angular resolution was explored instead of 15 deg. Measurements were fast and repeatable under the same experimental conditions. Size and shape parameters showed the highest consistency, whereas location and irregularity parameters showed lower consistency. The system was sensitive to changes in the intensity of the central glare source but not to pupil changes in this sample of healthy subjects.This study has been funded by the FEDER through the COMPETE Program and by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology in the framework of projects PTDC/ SAU-BEB/098391/2008, PTDC/SAU-BEB/098392/2008, and the Strategic Project PEST-C/FIS/UI607/2011

The collection of birds from São Tomé and Príncipe at the Instituto de Investigação Científica Tropical of the University of Lisbon (Portugal)

Data PaperThe former Instituto de Investigação Científica Tropical-IICT (Lisbon, Portugal), recently integrated into the University of Lisbon, gathers important natural history collections from Portuguese-speaking African countries. In this study, we describe the bird collection from the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, which was fully taxonomically checked and georeferenced. The IICT bird collection contains 5598 specimens, of which 559 are from São Tomé and Príncipe, representing 85 taxa, including 19 endemic species and 13 endemic subspecies of birds. The specimens were collected between 1946 and 1973, although 43% of the records are from 1954 and 45% are from 1970. The geographic distribution of samples covers the whole territory, with a higher number of records from São Tomé than from Príncipe. The districts with highest number of records are Pagué (equivalent to Príncipe Island), and Água Grande and Mé-Zochi on São Tomé. Despite the relatively low number of specimens per taxon, the importance of the collection is considerable due to the high number of endemic and threatened species represented. Furthermore, it adds valuable information to the GBIF network, especially for a country whose two islands are each an Endemic Bird Area and for which substantial gaps in ornithological knowledge remaininfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Compassion fatigue among nurses working on an adult emergency and urgent care unit

Objetivo avaliar o nível de fadiga por compaixão em enfermeiros e sua associação em função de características sociodemográficas/profissionais. Método estudo quantitativo, descritivo e transversal, com 87 enfermeiros de um serviço de urgência e emergência de adultos, de um hospital universitário. Aplicaram-se um questionário sociodemográfico/profissional e a escala Professional Quality of Life Scale 5 . Para a análise dos dados, recorreu-se à estatística descritiva e inferencial. Resultados verificou-se que a satisfação por compaixão apresenta as médias mais elevadas, seguida do burnout e do estresse traumático secundário. Encontraram-se no nível elevado 51% dos enfermeiros na satisfação por compaixão, 54% no burnout e 59% no estresse traumático secundário. Os participantes com mais idade apresentaram médias superiores de satisfação por compaixão, enquanto os do sexo feminino, mais novos, com menos tempo de experiência profissional e que não tinham atividades de lazer evidenciaram média superior de estresse traumático secundário. Conclusão existe fadiga por compaixão expressa na grande percentagem de enfermeiros com elevados níveis de burnout e de estresse traumático secundário. A fadiga depende de fatores individuais como idade, sexo, experiência profissional e atividades de lazer. A pesquisa e a compreensão desse fenômeno permitem o desenvolvimento de estratégias de promoção de saúde no trabalho

The collection and database of birds of Angola hosted a IICT (Instituto de Investigacao Cientifica Tropical) Lisboa Portugal

The bird collection of the Instituto de Investigação Cientítica Tropical (Lisbon, Portugal) holds 5598 preserved specimens (skins), mainly from Angola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, São Tomé and Principe, and Cape Verde. The subset collection from Angola includes 1560 specimens, which were taxonomically revised and georeferenced for the publication of this data paper. The collection contains a total of 522 taxa, including 161 species and 361 subspecies. Two species are classified by the IUCN Red List as Endangered - the wattled crane (Grus carunculata) and the Gabela bush-shrike (Laniarius amboimensis) - and two are classified as vulnerable - African penguin (Spheniscus demersus) and the white-headed vulture (Trigonoceps occipitalis). The temporal span of the database ranges between 1943 and 1979, but 32% are from years 1958–1959, and 25% from years 1968–1969. The spatial coverage of the collection is uneven, with 2/3 of the records representing only four of the eighteen provinces of the country, namely Huíla, Moxico, Namibe and Cuanza Sul. It adds, however, valuable information for the Huíla area of the Angolan Scarp, which is probably a biodiversity hotspot of global conservation priority. Furthermore, this georeferenced database adds invaluable bird information to the GBIF network, for one of the countries with highest but less known biodiversity in Africa

The collection of birds from Mozambique at the Instituto de Investigação Científica Tropical of the University of Lisbon (Portugal)

The Instituto de Investigação Científica Tropical of the University of Lisbon, which resulted from the recent merger (in 2015) of the former state laboratory Instituto de Investigação Científica Tropical in the University of Lisbon, holds an important collection of bird skins from the Portuguese-speaking African Countries (Angola, Mozambique, São Tomé and Príncipe, Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde), gathered as a result of several scientific expeditions made during the colonial period. In this paper, the subset from Mozambique is described, which was taxonomically revised and georeferenced. It contains 1585 specimens belonging to 412 taxa, collected between 1932 and 1971, but mainly in 1948 (43% of specimens) and 1955 (30% of specimens). The collection covers all eleven provinces of the country, although areas south of the Zambezi River are better represented than those north of the river. The provinces with the highest number of specimens were Maputo, Sofala, and Gaza. Although it is a relatively small collection with a patchy coverage, it adds significantly to Global Biodiversity Information Facility, with 15% of all records available before and during the collecting period (1830–1971) being the second largest dataset for that period for Mozambiqueinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Fatiga por compasión en enfermeros de un servicio hospitalario de urgencias y emergencias de adultos

Objetivo evaluar el nivel de fatiga por compasión de los enfermeros y su asociación con las características sociodemográficas/profesionales. Método se trata de un estudio cuantitativo, descriptivo y transversal, realizado entre 87 enfermeros de un servicio de urgencias y emergencias de adultos de un hospital universitario. Se aplicó un cuestionario sociodemográfico/profesional y la Escala de Calidad de Vida Profesional (ProQOL5). Para el análisis de los datos se utilizaron las estadísticas descriptiva e inferencial. Resultados se comprobó que la satisfacción por compasión alcanza medias elevadas, seguida de burnout y de estrés traumático secundario. En el 51% de los enfermeros se halló satisfacción por compasión, en el 54%, burnout y en el 59%, estrés traumático secundario. Los participantes con más edad presentaban medias superiores de satisfacción por compasión y los del sexo femenino, más jóvenes, con menos tiempo de experiencia profesional y que no participaban de actividades de ocio, evidenciaban una media superior de estrés traumático secundario. Conclusión existe fatiga por compasión expresa en gran porcentaje de los enfermeros con niveles elevados de burnout y de estrés traumático secundario. La fatiga depende de factores individuales como edad, sexo, experiencia profesional y actividades de ocio. La investigación y la comprensión de este fenómeno permiten el desarrollo de estrategias para la promoción de la salud laboral.Objective to assess compassion fatigue levels among nurses and its variation according socio-demographic and professional characteristics. Method quantitative, descriptive and cross-sectional study, with 87 nurses from an emergency and urgent care unit for adults from a university hospital. A socio-demographic and professional questionnaire, along with the Professional Quality of Life Scale 5 were used. Data analysis was performed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results compassion satisfaction presents the highest means, followed by burnout and secondary traumatic stress. Among the participants, 51% presented a high level of compassion satisfaction, 54% a high level of burnout, and 59% a high level of secondary traumatic stress. Older participants presented higher score of compassion satisfaction, and younger nurses, women, nurses having less job experience and nurses without leisure activities showed higher means of secondary traumatic stress. Conclusion we found compassion fatigue, expressed in the large percentage of nurses with high levels of burnout and secondary traumatic stress. Fatigue is related to individual factors such as age, gender, job experience and leisure activities. Doing research and understanding this phenomenon allow the development of health promotion strategies at work.Objetivo avaliar o nível de fadiga por compaixão em enfermeiros e sua associação em função de características sociodemográficas/profissionais. Método estudo quantitativo, descritivo e transversal, com 87 enfermeiros de um serviço de urgência e emergência de adultos, de um hospital universitário. Aplicaram-se um questionário sociodemográfico/profissional e a escala Professional Quality of Life Scale 5 . Para a análise dos dados, recorreu-se à estatística descritiva e inferencial. Resultados verificou-se que a satisfação por compaixão apresenta as médias mais elevadas, seguida do burnout e do estresse traumático secundário. Encontraram-se no nível elevado 51% dos enfermeiros na satisfação por compaixão, 54% no burnout e 59% no estresse traumático secundário. Os participantes com mais idade apresentaram médias superiores de satisfação por compaixão, enquanto os do sexo feminino, mais novos, com menos tempo de experiência profissional e que não tinham atividades de lazer evidenciaram média superior de estresse traumático secundário. Conclusão existe fadiga por compaixão expressa na grande percentagem de enfermeiros com elevados níveis de burnout e de estresse traumático secundário. A fadiga depende de fatores individuais como idade, sexo, experiência profissional e atividades de lazer. A pesquisa e a compreensão desse fenômeno permitem o desenvolvimento de estratégias de promoção de saúde no trabalho

The collection and database of Birds of Angola hosted at IICT (Instituto de Investigação Científica Tropical), Lisboa, Portugal

The bird collection of the Instituto de Investigação Cientítica Tropical (Lisbon, Portugal) holds 5598 preserved specimens (skins), mainly from Angola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, São Tomé and Principe, and Cape Verde. The subset collection from Angola includes 1560 specimens, which were taxonomically revised and georeferenced for the publication of this data paper. The collection contains a total of 522 taxa, including 161 species and 361 subspecies. Two species are classified by the IUCN Red List as Endangered - the wattled crane (Grus carunculata) and the Gabela bush-shrike (Laniarius amboimensis) - and two are classified as vulnerable - African penguin (Spheniscus demersus) and the white-headed vulture (Trigonoceps occipitalis). The temporal span of the database ranges between 1943 and 1979, but 32% are from years 1958–1959, and 25% from years 1968–1969. The spatial coverage of the collection is uneven, with 2/3 of the records representing only four of the eighteen provinces of the country, namely Huíla, Moxico, Namibe and Cuanza Sul. It adds, however, valuable information for the Huíla area of the Angolan Scarp, which is probably a biodiversity hotspot of global conservation priority. Furthermore, this georeferenced database adds invaluable bird information to the GBIF network, for one of the countries with highest but less known biodiversity in Africa