Caution is needed when applying Margalef diversity index

The use of diversity indices has increased due to the necessity of testing different methodologies to develop the ecological status classification of water bodies within the water framework directive implementation. The Margalef diversity index is one of the indices applied within these aims. Several software packages calculate various diversity indices. However, these packages do not give any warning that for the Margalef index the data must be organized as absolute numbers and not as a density data matrix. In data expressed as number of individuals per square meter, if the sample size is lower than a square meter this index is sub estimated. With other diversity indices commonly used in ecological evaluation it is indifferent to use density data or absolute numbers since these indices only consider relative proportions in their calculus

The benthic ecology of some Ria Formosa lagoons, with reference to the potential for production of the gilthead seabream (Sparua aurata L.)

Tese de Doutoramento, Ciências Biológicas, Unidade de Ciências e Tecnologia dos Recursos Aquáticos, Universidade do Algarve, 1994Extensive aquaculture is traditional in the Algarve, being practised in lagoons (either in special aquaculture ponds or in water reservoirs of salinas as a supplement to salt production).A aquacultura extensiva no Algarve é uin método de cultura tradicional, sendo praticada em lagoas costeiras (quer em tanques de aquacultura feitos especificamente para esse fim ou em reservatórios de água de salinas como um suplemento para a produção de sal)

Dermatites parasitárias no cão

Dissertação de Mestrado Integrado em Medicina VeterináriaEsta dissertação aborda a perspectiva clínica de algumas dermatites parasitárias frequentes no cão. O diagnóstico é algo difícil devido à semelhança da sintomatologia. Uma anamnese minuciosa é extremamente útil, nomeadamente no que se refere aos dados sobre a raça, a idade, o surgimento dos sintomas e sua evolução, e a presença de outros animais afectados. Existem animais portadores assintomáticos. Nas dermatites contagiosas é fulcral tratar os ambientes contaminados para eliminar fomites e prevenir recidivas. A sarcoptose, a queiletielose e as dermatofitoses são zoonoses. Um exame físico completo é relevante para o diagnóstico. As lesões e a sua distribuição fornecem pistas importantes da etiologia, auxiliando no estabelecimento de diagnósticos diferenciais. Algumas destas dermatites como a DAPP e as dermatites por Malassezia spp. têm uma forte componente alérgica. As dermatofitoses, as dermatites por Malassezia spp. e as demodicoses apresentam factores predisponentes que devem ser eliminados/controlados. Várias técnicas laboratoriais dermatológicas podem ser executadas na prática clínica. Os princípios activos usados no controlo/tratamento e respectivas apresentações comerciais têm acção contra vários agentes, facilitando e melhorando o seu uso. As necessidades do cliente, a sua condição económica, a personalidade e o próprio cão influenciam o controlo/tratamento. A educação do dono aumenta o seu empenho e o sucesso do controlo/tratamento.ABSTRACT - PARASITIC DERMATITIS IN THE DOG - The clinical perspective of some frequent parasitic dermatitis in the dog is approached by this essay. The diagnosis is quite difficult due to the similarity of clinical signs. A thorough history is extremely helpful, especially data on breed, age, onset of symptoms and their development, and the presence of other affected animals. Asymptomatic carriers do exist. The treatment of contaminated environments is crucial in contagious dermatitis to eliminate fomites and prevent relapses. Sarcoptosis, cheyletiellosis and dermatophytosis are zoonoses. A complete physical examination is very useful for diagnosis. Lesions and their distribution give important clues of etiology, helping the establishment of differential diagnosis. Some of these dermatitis such as FAD and Malassezia spp. dermatitis have a strong alergic component. Dermatophytosis, Malassezia spp. dermatitis and demodicosis present predisposing factors that should be eliminated/controlled. Several dermatologic laboratory techniques can be executed in common clinical practice. The drugs used in control/treatment and their commercial presentations have action against several agents, making them easier and better to use. The client’s needs, economic condition, personality and dog influence control/treatment. The owner’s education increases his compliance and the success of control/treatment

The importance of habitat-type for defining the reference conditions and the ecological quality status based on benthic invertebrates: the Ria Formosa coastal lagoon (Southern Portugal) case study

Coastal lagoons are complex systems, with considerable habitat heterogeneity and often subject to high temporal dynamics, which constitutes a great challenge for ecological assessment programs. For defining reference conditions for benthic invertebrates, under the EU Water Framework Directive objectives, historical data from the Ria Formosa leaky lagoon (wet surface area of about 105 km2) located in Southern Portugal was used. The influence of habitat features, such as channel depth, sediment type and seagrass cover, on the expression of these biological communities was inferred by analysing subtidal data collected at stations with different environmental characteristics. Such heterogeneity effect was analysed at the community compositional and structural levels, and also for three indices included in a multimetric Benthic Assessment Tool (BAT). This tool for the assessment of ecological status includes the Margalef index, Shannon-Wiener diversity index, and AZTI’s Marine Biotic Index (AMBI). Significant variations associated with environmental features were reflected on specific reference conditions at four habitats in the lagoon. After habitat calibration, the Benthic Assessment Tool (BAT) revealed that, in general and for the period of time covered by this historical data set, the status of the lagoon corresponded to a good ecological condition, which is mainly due to its high water renewal rate. Such classification is in accordance with the majority of studies at the lagoon. However, at punctual sites with human induced high water residence times, significantly lower BAT values were registered. Such community degradation can be associated with physical stress due to salinity increase and to a degradation of water quality, with occurrence of occasional dystrophic crisis, triggered by low water renewal. Habitat 2 differentiation was a crucial step for a correct evaluation of the ecological condition of invertebrate communities across the lagoonal system

Feeding diversity index as complementary information in the assessment of ecological quality status

The feeding diversity of macroinvertebrates from the estuary of Mondego was estimated with Shannon–Wiener complementary evenness following the methodology presented in Gamito and Furtado (2009. Ecological Indicators, 9: 1009-1019). Results were compared with those from BAT (Benthic Assessment Tool; Teixeira et al., 2009. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 58: 1477-1786) applied to the same data set, obtained from sampling carried out in 14 estuarine subtidal stations in Spring of 1990, 1992, 1998, 2000 and 2002. The BAT is a multimetric methodology based on three indices, the Shannon-Wiener and Margalef diversity indices, applied in conjunction with AMBI (Marine Biotic Index). To determinate the feeding diversity, each invertebrate was assigned to a feeding group. Six trophic groups were considered: surface deposit feeders, subsurface deposit feeders, herbivores or grazers, suspension feeders and suspension/deposit feeders. The carnivorous, omnivorous and scavengers were all grouped together, forming the sixth group. The results obtained with both tools pointed out, in general, to the same tendencies. However, in few occasions the feeding diversity pointed out to a high or a bad ecological quality condition whereas the BAT indicated a moderate condition. Occasionally, in stations with average species richness, all individuals were assigned to only one to three 2 feeding groups, and the feeding diversity was low. Even if these taxa were included in the first two or three AMBI sensitive groups, with their presence indicating a possible good ecological condition, they all perform the same ecological function, for example, they are all omnivorous. In these cases the trophic functioning of the system is reduced and the lower trophic levels are missing, such as the suspension-feeders and the decomposers or deposit-feeders. On the contrary, a highly diverse trophic assemblage might be found, but composed of taxa assigned to AMBI ecological groups of species indifferent or tolerant to organic enrichment, and of second-order opportunistic species, indicating a moderate ecological condition, while the feeding diversity will be high. The feeding diversity is, therefore, useful as a complementary information index, measuring other aspects of the community organization, which are not required for ecological quality assessment by the WFD, and so not included in metrics such as BAT

Integrated multi-trophic aquaculture systems: energy transfers and food web organization in coastal earthen ponds

Three Ecopath models were built to reproduce 3 experimental treatments carried out in earthen ponds located in Olhao, southern Portugal, to understand the energy transferred and the ecosystem state in integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA). These earthen ponds behave as simplified ecosystems or mesocosms, with well-defined borders, where the relationships between trophic groups can be described through ecosystem modeling. Different combinations of species were produced in these ponds, corresponding to the 3 treatments: (1) fish, oysters and macroalgae (FOM); (2) fish and oysters (FO); and (3) fish and macroalgae (FM). The managed species were meagre Argyrosomus regius, white seabream Diplodus sargus, flathead grey mullet Mugil cephalus, Japanese oyster Crassostrea gigas and sea lettuce Ultra spp. The results showed that the total amount of energy throughput was 15 to 17 times higher when compared with an equivalent naturalized system. The high biomass and low recycling indicated an immature system with low resilience and low stability that demands high rates of water renewal and aeration to maintain good water-quality levels for finfish production. The addition of oysters and macroalgae in the FOM treatment appeared to improve the water quality, since oysters controlled the excess of phytoplankton produced in the ponds by ingesting a fair amount of the phytoplankton, while the macroalgae helped in the absorption of excess nutrients and created a habitat for periphyton and associated macroinvertebrates. Some ecosystem attributes of the FOM ponds approached the values of the naturalized model, suggesting a possible path towards more sustainable aquaculture.COFASP/0003/2015 Interreg Atlantic Area project INTEGRATE EAPA_232/2016 project DIVERSIAQUA Mar2020 16-02-01-FMP-0066 UID/Multi/04326/2019/UID/Multi/04326/2020info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Benthic ecology of semi-natural coastal lagoons, in the Ria Formosa (Southern Portugal), Exposed to different water renewal regimes

Several studies in semi-natural coastal lagoons in the Ria Formosa lagoonal system have been carried out. These man-made water reservoirs behave as small lagoons with one opening to the tidal channels, which may be intermittent. Because of their size, these reservoirs are ideal sites for ecological studies. Water quality and macrobenthic fauna were analysed in five water reservoirs. All reservoirs received the same incoming water through a tidal channel, but they differed in water renewal regime. Multidimensional Scaling (MDS) and Discriminant Analysis were used to evaluate the similarity among sites, stations and sampling occasions. Different levels of taxonomic resolution (family, large taxonomic groups and phylum level) were also evaluated. The separation of sites and stations became unclear using high taxonomic levels. Results from the multivariate analyses suggest a slight differentiation of the stations according to sampling occasion but a clear differentiation of the several water reservoirs. Some of the lagoons studied with low water renewal rates showed strong environmental variations. They were characterised by low diversity indexes and abundance of small-sized organisms. Other lagoons, with high water renewal rates, showed low environmental variation and well diversified and structured benthic communities. The main environmental factor that seems to affect the benthic communities was the variation in salinity between neap and spring tides, which is related with the water renewal regime. Coastal lagoons offer a protected shallow habitat, which can be highly productive. Well structured communities, controlled by k-strategists, can develop and settle in leaky lagoons, that is, lagoons with wide entrance channels and tidal currents which guarantee a good water renewal. In these lagoons, biomass can accumulate in large organisms. In contrast, lagoons with a single narrow entrance, that may be closed for long periods, are characterised by persistent physical stress and are dominated by communities of small-sized r-strategists

Innovation for Sustainability and Networking

Throughout human history, innovation has been the main factor in adapting humanity to its settings. On the basis of earlier practice, human creativity allows the finding of new, permanent ways to do things. their applications encourage new spaces, new necessities and new lifestyles. Innovation has been an element of human capacities from its earlier stages, but it has been recognized only recently as a clear device of social and economic change

Effects of climate change on fisheries : from a global to a regional perspective

Tese de doutoramento, Biologia (Biologia Marinha e Aquacultura), Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências, 2016The present thesis focused on the effects of climate change on fisheries, both on a global and on a regional scale. Trends in annual catches of fish species in the large marine ecosystems of the world were analysed, taking into account changes in sea surface temperature (SST). The results obtained in this analysis agreed with a poleward shift in distribution of fish species as a response to ocean warming. The Portuguese coast is located in a biogeographic transition zone, where the effects of climate change are higher, which makes it particularly adequate for studies on the effect of climate change on fisheries. Landings of biogeographic groups of fish species were compared, for each Portuguese fleet component: trawl, purse-seine and multi-gear fisheries. Results pointed out to an easier adaptation of multi-gear fisheries to the effects of climate change. A long time series analysis was performed for Setúbal, an important fishing port in central Portugal. In 86 years, mean annual SST has increased 0.9 ºC in the area. The main target species in 2012 were the same as in 1927. However, their landings have changed and have responded to changes in environmental variables, particularly SST. The influence of river drainage on landings of coastal ports in the vicinity of four estuaries was investigated. No significant correlations between river drainage and landings were found, which could be due to a stronger dependence of the food web on the nutrients provided by coastal upwelling. Also, the possible interaction of several other smaller scale factors acting on recruitment of commercial species may mask the effects of river drainage on landings. Recruitment and landings of European sardine (Sardina pilchardus) and Atlantic horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus), two highly consumed fish species in Portugal, were modelled. Models obtained emphasized the influence of SST and wind strength in landings of these pelagic species. Finally, trends in landings of the most important fishing métiers, as well as the vulnerability and adaptation capacity of Portuguese fisheries to climate change were analysed. A latitudinal pattern in the number of new species found in landings was observed, agreeing with a northward shift of subtropical species. The south coast showed a higher vulnerability to climate change, in terms of both exposure and sensitivity of target species and ecosystems to its effects. Trawl fisheries and multi-gear fisheries may be more adaptable and less vulnerable to climate change than purse-seine fisheries. In fact, the high sensitivity of sardine to the effects of climate change makes purse-seine fisheries particularly vulnerable to climate change. Overall, results responded to the main objective of this thesis of assessing trends and relationships between climate change and fisheries. Suggestions for future research in this subject are also proposed.Programa operacional Potencial Humano (POPH) do Quadro de Referência Estratégico Nacional (QREN

Trophic food web and ecosystem attributes of a water reservoir of the Ria Formosa (south Portugal)

Using a top-down modelling approach, a balanced trophic food web model of a water reservoir of the Ria Formosa lagoonal system was constructed. Few adjustments of input data were necessary to run the model since most of the parameters were estimated at the study site and the characteristics of the water reservoir allowed a high degree of control and precision in terms of sampling and data collection. Trophic levels of the 14 compartments included in the model varied between 1.0 for primary producers and detritus to 3.4 for carnivorous fish and the 14 groups were aggregated in a food chain with six trophic levels. The water reservoir has a detritus based food chain, with the majority of the biomass concentrated in the first two levels, the producers level and the herbivore/detritivore level (97.6%). The transfer efficiencies were low, and decreased with increasing level number, varying between 6.0 and 0.2%. The degree of "ecosystem maturity" was difficult to establish, but several parameters indicate that it could be high. The water reservoir studied, which has similar environmental and ecological characteristics as the Ria Formosa lagoon. is near its carrying capacity. (C) 2004, Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved