Percorrer por autor "Figueiredo, Elisabete"
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- Contrasting Phenotypic Variability of Life-History Traits of Two Feral Populations of Macrolophus pygmaeus (Hemiptera: Miridae) under Two Alternative DietsPublication . Borges, Isabel; Oliveira, Luísa; Durão, Ana C.; Arruda, Patrícia Melo; Figueiredo, Elisabete; Franco, José Carlos; Lucas, Éric; Soares, António O.Tuta absoluta is a major pest attacking tomato crops. This invasive species emerged in Europe (Spain) in 2006, and 3 years later it spread to Portugal. In 2009/2010, it was recorded for the first time in the Azores archipelago. Macrolophus pygmaeus is a predator widely used as biological control agent against the tomato leaf miner. This study contrasted the life-history traits and population growth parameters of two feral populations of M. pygmaeus, one from Portugal mainland and one from the Azores archipelago. The predators were tested on single prey diet, either of Ephestia kuehniella eggs, a factitious prey used for mass rearing of mirids, or T. absoluta eggs. We predicted that populations would express differences in its phenotypic characteristics, with the Azorean population displaying low performance due to likely low genetic diversity, as expected for insular populations. Our results revealed the inexistence of phenotypic differences in several life history traits, such as immature developmental time, female longevity, males’ body weight and sex ratio. Contrary to our predictions, traits with direct impact on fitness, such as lifetime fertility (95.78 ± 14.23 vs. 61.38 ± 13.52 nymphs), explain better performances for the population of the Azores. Azorean M. pygmaeus females were larger, matured earlier and reproduced at a higher rate for longer periods, than mainland females. Therefore, population growth parameters show a positive advantage for the population of the Azores, fed on T. absoluta (time required for doubling the population Azores, Ek: 8.42 ± 0.50, Ta: 5.76 ± 0.31 and mainland, Ek: 10.88 ± 1.94, Ta: 12.07 ± 3.15). Biological performance of M. pygmaeus was similar when fed with T. absoluta or E. kuehniella that could be beneficial both to optimize mass production of the predator and biological control of the pest. Our results are discussed as well in a fundamental perspective, seeking if differences in biological performance can be explained by lower genetic diversity driven by geographic isolation.
- Prey consumption and conversion efficiency in females of two feral populations of Macrolophus pygmaeus, a biocontrol agent of Tuta absolutaPublication . Borges, Isabel; Oliveira, Luísa; Barbosa, Francisco; Figueiredo, Elisabete; Franco, José Carlos; Durão, Ana; Soares, António O.Macrolophus pygmaeus (Rambur, 1839) (Hemiptera: Miridae) is a polyphagous predator used in programs of biological control and integrated pest management as a natural enemy against small arthropod pests including whiteflies, thrips, spider mites and aphid. This mirid is also successfully mass reared under factitious prey for commercial purposes. In the present study we assessed and compared the prey consumption, weight gain and conversion efficiency in females of two populations of M. pygmaeus, from mainland Portugal and the Azores, fed on single prey diets of Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) eggs, or Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) eggs. We found that female’s prey consumption on eggs of T. absoluta was higher than that of E. kuehniella, presumably due to the comparative size/amount of biomass of the eggs. Translating prey consumption in biomass ingested, we only found a significant difference for consumption on E. kuehniella eggs by M. pygmaeus from the Azores. Despite the smaller size of females from the Azores, they were able to consume more prey and ultimately reaching a similar body weight and conversion efficiency compared with females from mainland, independently of the prey provided. Our results are in line with a previous study, showing differences in the life-history traits of M. pygmaeus from mainland Portugal and Azorean populations fed on alternative prey. From an applied perspective, our results are a contribution to the decision-making on the use of the most effective biocontrol agents for different prey and/or agroecosystem contexts.
- Teoria da Mudança para a Conservação dos Polinizadores em PortugalPublication . Castro, Sílvia; Loureiro, João; Schoonman, Marten; Thijssen, Martijn; Nave, Anabela; Penado, Andreia; Galveias, Adriana; Oliveira, Bárbara; Rego, Carla; Fernandes, Claúdia; Figueiredo, Elisabete; Monteiro, Eva; Ceia, Helena; Freitas, Helena; Santos, Inês; Godinho, Joana; Nunes, João; Sousa, Luís Guilherme; Fino, Maria Luís; Canelas Boieiro, Mário Rui; Carmo, Mário; Anjos, Ofélia; Antunes, Sandra; Ferreira, Sofia; Ferreira, SóniaRESUMO: CONTEXTO Os workshops da Teoria da Mudança (TdM), promovidos pela Aliança Promote Pollinators, têm como objetivo auxiliar o desenvolvimento de estratégias para a conservação dos insetos polinizadores. Isto é alcançado através da construção de uma narrativa que estabelece relações causa-efeito entre ações específicas e resultados desejados, e como estes resultados contribuem para o impacto desejado – a conservação dos polinizadores. Esta iniciativa representa uma oportunidade para os membros da Aliança que carecem de uma iniciativa governamental em prol dos polinizadores, como Portugal, para estabelecer a base do futuro Plano de Ação para os Polinizadores. METODOLOGIA A TdM para os Polinizadores em Portugal envolveu 24 participantes portugueses e 2 consultores internacionais, em representação de 23 organizações diferentes. O processo envolveu um conjunto de reuniões participativas realizadas online entre abril de 2022 e julho de 2023. As reuniões incluíram três workshops com os consultores da Promote Pollinators e do Naturalis Biodiversity Center e 15 reuniões intermédias da equipa portuguesa dedicadas ao desenvolvimento conceptual do diagrama. Adicionalmente, realizaram-se cinco reuniões específicas para a construção da narrativa apresentada neste documento. RESULTADOS Durante o desenvolvimento da TdM para os polinizadores em Portugal, foram identificados quatro temas principais, cada um com a sua narrativa de causa-efeito, e todos intrinsecamente ligados: políticas públicas & financiamento, investigação & conhecimento, práticas & gestão e sensibilização & ecoliteracia. No total, foram identificadas ações, compostas por 54 atividades e 38 resultados, que convergem para a seguinte declaração de impacto definida coletivamente: Um mundo onde os polinizadores e os serviços dos ecossistemas que estes providenciam são abundantes em todas as paisagens, incluindo áreas naturais, florestais, agrícolas e urbanas. O processo e seus resultados foram apresentados na Conferência das Nações Unidas sobre Biodiversidade COP15, durante o evento paralelo organizado pela Aliança Promote Pollinators focado na conservação dos polinizadores. CONCLUSÕES O processo colaborativo passo-a-passo da TdM permitiu estruturar o conhecimento (científico), opiniões e ideias, estabelecendo assim as bases para um futuro plano de ação estratégico e impactante. O processo permitiu igualmente fortalecer as relações interpessoais entre os participantes, direcionando-os para a elaboração coletiva de um plano de ação consensual, focado em resultados com impacto de larga escala para a conservação efetiva dos polinizadores.
- Theory of change for a national pollinator strategy in PortugalPublication . Castro, Sílvia; Loureiro, João; Shoonman, Marten; Thijssen, Martijn; Nave, Anabela; Penado, Andreia; Galveias, Adriana; Oliveira, Bárbara; Rego, Carla; Fernandes, Claúdia; Figueiredo, Elisabete; Monteiro, Eva; Ceia, Helena; Freitas, Helena; Santos, Inês; Godinho, Joana; Nunes, João; Sousa, Luís Guilherme; Fino, Maria Luís; Canelas Boieiro, Mário Rui; Carmo, Mário; Anjos, Ofélia; Antunes, Sandra; Ferreira, Sofia; Ferreira, SóniaABSTRACT: BACKGROUND The Theory of Change (ToC) workshops supported by Promote Pollinators Alliance aim to assist the development of pollinator strategies by building a cause-effect roadmap on how specific actions can trigger intended outcomes, and how these subsequently contribute to the desired impact, i.e., pollinator conservation. This initiative provides an opportunity for members lacking a national governmental initiative focused on pollinators, such as Portugal, to develop the basis for a future Pollinator Action Plan. METHODOLOGY The Portuguese Pollinator ToC engaged 24 participants and 2 international consultants, representing 23 organizations, in a series of participatory online meetings from April 2022 to July 2023. The meetings included 3 workshops with Promote Pollinators and Naturalis Biodiversity Center consultants, 15 intermediate meetings of the Portuguese team to develop the conceptual diagram, and 5 meetings to build the narrative presented here. RESULTS During the development of the Portuguese Pollinator ToC, four main themes were identified, each with its pathway but intimately connected: policy & funding, research & knowledge, practices & management and awareness & ecoliteracy. Altogether, 92 actions were identified, including 54 activities and 38 outcomes. All pathways contributed to the following impact statement identified collectively: pollinators and the ecosystem services they provide are promoted across all landscapes (including natural, forest, agricultural and urban areas). The process was presented at the COP15 UN Biodiversity Conference, at the side event organized by the Promote Pollinators Alliance on pollination protection. CONCLUSIONS The stepwise and co-construction ToC process enabled us to structure the (scientific) knowledge, opinions and ideas and to establish the bases for a future, impactful strategic plan. The process also enabled us to strengthen interpersonal relationships towards the construction of a consensual, jointly coordinated action plan that focuses on desired large-scale outcomes to effectively conserve pollinators.