Ecology of the invertebrate macrofauna of a Ria Formosa lagoon salt marsh

Tese de doutoramento, Ecologia, Faculdade de Ciências do Mar e do Ambiente, Universidade do Algarve, 2003

Feeding ecology and trophic relationships of fish species in the lower Guadiana River Estuary and Castro Marim e Vila Real de Santo Antonio Salt Marsh

In this study we analyze the feeding ecology and trophic relationships of some of the main fish species (Soleidae, Moronidae, Mullidae, Sparidae, Mugilidae, and Batrachoididae) of the lower Estuary of the Guadiana River and the Castro Marim e Vila Real de Santo Antonio Salt Marsh. We examined the stomachs of 1415 fish caught monthly between September 2000 and August 2001. Feeding indices and coefficients were determined and used along with the results of multivariate analysis to develop diagrams of trophic interactions (food webs). Results show that these species are largely opportunistic predators. The most important prey items are amphipods, gobies (Gobiidae), shrimps (Palaemon serratus and Crangon crangon), and polychaete worms. The lower Estuary and associated salt marshes are important nurseries and feeding grounds for the species studied. In this area, it is therefore important to monitor the effects of changes in river runoff, nutrient input, and temperature that result from construction of the Alqueva Dam upstream. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Structure and temporal variations of fish assemblages of the Castro Marim salt marsh, southern Portugal

We studied the ichthyofauna of the Castro Marim salt marsh based on monthly sampling surveys at five sites between September 2000 and August 2001. Sampling took place at night during rising neap tides using a 40-m long beach seine. We sampled a total of 7955 fish specimens (37 995.7 g), comprising 34 species and 17 families. The occurrence of most species was occasional, with Pomatoschistus microps (51.9%) and Atherina spp. (10.3%) being the most abundant species, accounting for 62.2% of the total fish captured. Biomass was dominated by the marine species Liza ramado (15.9%), Mullus surmuletus (13.5%), and Liza aurata (13.4%). Temperature and salinity showed a seasonal pattern, with minimums during the winter months and maximums during the summer months. In contrast, river flow peaked in winter and was lowest during summer. This pattern in river flow appears to be correlated with variations in the fish assemblages, which present two distinct compositions during the two periods. A few species characterise the winter fish assemblage, with dominance by residents and the presence of freshwater species, while the summer assemblage is characterised by the presence of many marine visitors that use the salt marsh in their first months/years of life. Temporal variations in total abundance and biomass reflect fluctuations in the dominant species. Resident species presented the highest abundance values, while marine adventitious species and marine species that use the salt marsh as a nursery ground contributed most to community species richness. Castro Marim salt marsh constitutes an important ecosystem for fishes, providing habitat for many species, especially juveniles, which find conditions within the salt marsh suitable for their development. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Organic-walled dinoflagellate cysts in recent sediments from the Guadiana river estuary, South-East Portugal

Dissertação de Mestrado, Biologia Marinha, Faculdade de Ciências do Mar e do Ambiente, Universidade do Algarve, 2007

Preenchimento sedimentar de duas zonas de dinâmica diferenciada no sapal de Castro Marim

Dissertação de mest. em Estudos Marinhos e Costeiros Ramo Gestão Costeira, Faculdade de Ciências do Mar e do Ambiente, Univ. do Algarve, 2002

Salt removing species

Dissertação de Mestrado, Gestão da Água e da Costa, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade do Algarve, 2007

In vitro spore germination of Polystichum drepanum, a threatened fern from Madeira Island

Polystichum drepanum (Sw) C. Presl is a threatened fern endemic to a few forest areas in the north-west of Madeira Island. The aims of this work were to establish suitable culture conditions for in vitro germination of spores, and to evaluate short-term storage conditions for P drepanum spores. The highest frequency of germination was obtained in Murishage and Skoog (MS) liquid medium, without agitation. However, gametophytes maintained in MS liquid medium did not grow and, after 4 weeks, became anoxic and died. Thus, after germination in liquid medium, gametophytes were transferred to an MS double-phase culture system for further growth. The effects of storage period, temperature, and relative humidity during storage on in vitro spore germination were studied. Spore viability was assessed after 2, 4 and 6 months, and high viability (> 94%) was observed in all the assays. However, germination capability decreased with increased storage periods. The number of sporophytes obtained also decreased with prolonged storage periods. The results indicate that spores of R drepanum stored for 4 months at 21 degrees C maintain high viability and high germination frequency. ne sporophytes obtained were acclimatised in a mixture of peat and vermiculite [2:1 (v/v)] under high relative humidity (90-95%). Seventy-five sporophytes were successfully acclimatised to ex vitro conditions and showed active growth in the glasshouse.

Temporal distribution of the short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) in the south of Madeira Island (Portugal) and relationship with oceanographic variables

Dissertação de mestrado, Biologia Marinha, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade do Algarve, 2015