Browsing by Author "Micael, Joana"
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- Allocation of nutrients during the reproductive cycle of Ophidiaster ophidianus (Echinodermata: Asteroidea)Publication . Micael, Joana; Rodrigues, Armindo; Barreto, Maria do Carmo; Alves, Maria J.; Malcolm, Jones; Costa, Ana C.The reproductive cycle of Ophidiaster ophidianus (strictly protected status) from Sa˜o Miguel Island, in the Azorean Archipelago was studied. The reproductive strategy; the energy allocation of each sex during the reproductive cycle and the nutritional condition of the population were analyzed. Gonadal index (GI) showed a clear seasonal pattern with spawning between August and October but histological examination revealed that gamete release can occur throughout the entire year. The pyloric caeca index (PCI) showed little annual variation but with an inverse relationship with the GI. Allocation of energy to the gonads and to the pyloric caeca reflected the seasonal reproductive strategy of this species. Individuals were able to simultaneously develop gonads, pyloric caeca, and quickly regenerate lost arms. There was a major expenditure of energy by females compared to males but, sexual size dimorphism was not observed. The reproductive pattern observed in O. ophidianus combining rich food availability and seawater temperatures characteristic of a temperate zone may be the key to the success of this species in the Azorean oceanic Island.
- Barcoding non-indigenous macroalgae in the AzoresPublication . Santos, Rodolfo; Ferreira, Anastasija; Micael, Joana; Costa, Ana Cristina; Gil-Rodriguez, Maria; Machin, Maria; Gabriel, Daniela; Parente, Manuela I.ABSTRACT: Algae invasions in marine habitats represent a recognized worldwide threat to the integrity of native communities, to economy and even to human health. The em phasis of the present work is on non-indigenous marine macroalgae species in the Azores.
- Biological characterisation of a subtidal tunnel in São Miguel island (Azores)Publication . Micael, Joana; Azevedo, José M. N.Biological characterisation of the Santa Clara submarine tunnel in S. Miguel Island (Azores) is made. Spatial description of the cave is provided and zonation and stratification patterns of sessile epifauna are described. Profiles were based on sketches drawn in loco. Fauna census was conducted with non-destructive techniques: in loco observations complemented by still images. The tunnel is a 14-m long lava tunnel at 14 m depth. It is obstructed in the north end where a small opening permits light penetration and some water circulation. There are two entrances, two twilight zones and one middle dark zone. The floor of the tunnel is predominantly occupied by sponges, the polychaetes Pomatoceros triqueter and the coral Caryophyllia smithii. On vertical walls there were some encrusting sponges and a few corals such as C. inornata. On the ceiling the major groups found were individuals of C. inornata and Spirobranchus polytrema. Several crustacean species (e.g. Dromia marmorea, Scyllarus arctus and Stenopus spinusus) and fishes with sciaphylic habits (e.g. Apogon imberbis, Conger conger, Phycis phycis and Gaidropsarus guttatus) were also seen.
- Contributo para o conhecimento da biodiversidade marinha da ilha das FloresPublication . Dionísio, Maria Ana; Micael, Joana; Parente, Manuela I.; Norberto, Rita; Cunha, Andreia; Brum, João M. M.; Cunha, Luís; Lopes, Cláudia; Monteiro, Sandra; Palmero, Ana M.; Costa, Ana C.No âmbito da XIII Expedição Científica Flores e Corvo/2007, organizada pelo Departamento de Biologia da Universidade dos Açores, efectuaram-se várias observações e recolhas de organismos marinhos, utilizando 3 metodologias: mergulho (bentos), arrasto (plâncton) e prospecção no intertidal.
- Equinodermes : sentinelas da saúde ambientalPublication . Micael, Joana; Silva, NunoA resistência de bactérias a antibióticos tem vindo a ser progressivamente detetada em diferentes habitats. Esta ocorrência está geralmente relacionada com o uso intensivo de fármacos anti-bacterianos em diversas atividades humanas. tais como na produção animal e pode ter como consequência o aparecimento e a disseminação de estirpes resistentes a antibióticos, em animais selvagens. Os agentes anti-bacterianos exercem uma pressão de seleção, não apenas em bactérias patogénicas, mas também na microflora normal do tracto intestinal dos animais. Por sua vez, o tracto intestinal poderá representar um reservatório de genes resistentes a bactérias patogênicas e oportunistas. Assim que entram num ecossistema, os antibióticos podem atuar como um fator ecológico, eliminando as espécies e as estirpes mais suscetíveis e promovendo as mais resistentes. […].
- Equinodermes dos Açores : biodiversidade e conservaçãoPublication . Micael, JoanaOs estudos desenvolvidos pelo CIBIO-UAç acerca da biologia, ecologia e genética dos equinodermes permitirão desenvolver uma estratégia de conservação holística e integrada.
- O guano como alicerce do Império Inca e da conservação da NaturezaPublication . Rodrigues, Pedro; Micael, JoanaA origem da conservação da Natureza tem sido associada à Revolução Industrial no século XIX quando George Perkins Marsh deu a conhecer os impactos irreversíveis das ações humanas sobre a Natureza no seu livro Man and Nature (O Homem e a Natureza) de 1864. Poucos anos depois, em 1872, surgiu a criação do primeiro Parque Natural do Mundo, o Yellowstone National Park. No entanto, as origens da conservação da Natureza e da aplicação de medidas para proteção de espécies selvagens e seus habitats naturais, podem ser bem mais antigas do que se pensava. O Império Inca (1400-1533 CE), foi o maior Império da América Pré-Colombiana estendendo-se por 4000 km desde a Amazónia até ao Pacífico, passando pela cordilheira dos Andes e o deserto do Atacama. A rápida expansão deste Império, que chegou a albergar 10 milhões de pessoas, teve por base de sustento da população à agricultura e, como grande parte do território era árido, os Incas aproveitaram o conhecimento ancestral dos povos costeiros sobre o potencial do guano (excremento) de aves marinhas como fertilizante. […].
- Marine algal flora of São Miguel Island, AzoresPublication . Neto, Ana I.; Moreu, Ignacio; Rosas-Alquicira, Edgar; León-Cisneros, Karla; Cacabelos, Eva; Botelho, Andrea Z.; Micael, Joana; Costa, Ana C.; Neto, Raul M. A.; Azevedo, José M. N.; Monteiro, Sandra; Resendes, Roberto; Afonso, Pedro; Prestes, Afonso L.; Patarra, Rita F.; Álvaro, Nuno V.; Milla-Figueras, David; Ballesteros, Enric; Fletcher, Robert L.; Farnham, William F.; Tittley, Ian; Parente, Manuela I.BACKGROUND The macroalgal flora of the Island of São Miguel (eastern group of the Azores Archipelago) has attracted the interest of many researchers in the past, the first publications going back to the nineteenth century. Initial studies were mainly taxonomic, resulting in the publication of a checklist of the Azorean benthic marine algae. Later, the establishment of the University of the Azores on the Island permitted the logistic conditions to develop both temporal studies and long-term research and this resulted in a significant increase on research directed at the benthic marine algae and littoral communities of the Island and consequent publications. Prior to the present paper, the known macroalgal flora of São Miguel Island comprised around 260 species. Despite this richness, a significant amount of the research was never made public, notably Masters and PhD theses encompassing information regarding presence data recorded at littoral and sublittoral levels down to a depth of approximately 40 m around the Island and the many collections made, which resulted in vouchers deposited in the AZB Herbarium Ruy Telles Palhinha and the LSM- Molecular Systematics Laboratory at the Faculty of Sciences and Technology of the University of the Azores. The present publication lists the macroalgal taxonomic records, together with information on their ecology and occurrence around São Miguel Island, improving the knowledge of the Azorean macroalgal flora at local and regional scales. NEW INFORMATION A total of 12,781 specimens (including some identified only to genus) belonging to 431 taxa of macroalgae are registered, comprising 284 Rhodophyta, 59 Chlorophyta and 88 Ochrophyta (Phaeophyceae). Of these, 323 were identified to species level (212 Rhodophyta, 48 Chlorophyta and 63 Ochrophyta), of which 61 are new records for the Island (42 Rhodophyta, 9 Chlorophyta and 10 Ochrophyta), one an Azorean endemic (Predaea feldmannii subsp. azorica Gabriel), five are Macaronesian endemisms (the red algae Botryocladia macaronesica Afonso-Carrillo, Sobrino, Tittley & Neto, Laurencia viridis Gil-Rodríguez & Haroun, Millerella tinerfensis (Seoane-Camba) S.M.Boo & J.M.Rico, Phyllophora gelidioides P.Crouan & H.Crouan ex Karsakoff and the green alga Codium elisabethiae O.C.Schmidt), 19 are introduced species (15 Rhodophyta, two Chlorophyta and two Ochrophyta) and 32 are of uncertain status (21 Rhodophyta, five Chlorophyta and six Ochrophyta).
- Re-visiting Vila do Porto marina (Santa Maria, Azores archipelago)Publication . Micael, Joana; Parente, Manuela I.; Gabriel, Daniela; Costa, Ana CristinaABSTRACT: Harbours and marinas are important places of introduction and spread of non-native organisms, due to local, regional and international shipping activities, both commercial and recreational. Moreover, marina infrastructures are an increasingly common form of artificial habitat, which is likely to increase the recruitment of organisms relative to natural shores. The association of marine wildlife with artificial structures represents, generally, a preliminary indicator of the colonization status of invasive species. Santa Maria island is located in the Eastern Group of the Azores and is the southernmost island of the archipelago.
- The non indigenous macroalgae’s hide-and-seek playPublication . Parente, Manuela I.; Botelho, A.Z.; Micael, Joana; Torres, Raquel; Milla-Figueras, David; Gabriel, Daniela; Monteiro, João; Ballesteros, Enric; Prestes, Afonso L.; Costa, Ana CristinaABSTRACT: The colonization rate of Atlantic oceanic archipelagos by non-indigenous species of marine macroalgae has been shown to be higher than in continental locations. The NIS macroalgae list in the Azores that started to be compiled since the late eighties has been updated by data collected during the regional monitoring program of marine NIS. Under this program monitoring sites have been mainly located in marinas and their neighboring areas.