GBA - Artigos em Revistas Nacionais / Articles in National Journals
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- Arthropods and other Biota associated with the Azorean Trees and Shrubs : Juniperus brevifoliaPublication . Nunes, Rui; Gabriel, Rosalina; Elias, Rui B.; Rigal, François; Borges, Paulo A. V.This work aims to characterize the arthropods and other biota (lichens, bryophytes, vascular plants and birds) associated with the Azorean endemic tree, Juniperus brevifolia. This is the first of a series of publications that will (i) provide a comprehensive list of all the biota associated with the main Azorean endemic trees and shrubs, (ii) describe in detail the diver-sity, abundance and spatial patterns of canopy arthropods, and (iii) whenever possible, to extend biodiversity assessments to communities of bryophytes, lichens, vascular plants and vertebrates. We use standardized sampled data from BALA project for canopy arthropods and for the remaining taxa we surveyed literature data and the Herbarium of University of Azores. Juniperus brevifolia occurs in a wide range of elevation belts in Azores and accommodates a remarkable large number of taxa: besides canopy arthropods (161 species) it is also an important substrate to other vascular species (six species), bryophytes (105 species), lichens (106 species) and also birds (four species). In addition, the species richness and particularly the abundance of endemics are dominant, and the number of conservation concern species for bryophytes is noteworthy (30 out of 70). The complexity of the tree and the high diversity of micro-habitats created the conditions for epiphytic species to easily colonize all parts of the tree, from the bottom, trunk and branches. The communities associated with the Azorean cedar are consequently of a high conservation value and should be further investigated in their ecological dynamics.
- Scoping the potencial for outdoor microalgae production in the AzoresPublication . Xavier, Emanuel D.; Neto, Ana I.; Reis, Alberto; Azevedo, José M. N.Microalgae cultivation has received much attention due to some desirable characteristics such as fast growth rates, high photosynthetic efficiencies and the production of valuable biochemicals. Mass cultivation of microalgae for commercial purposes is already a reality in some locations being an activity with approximately 45 years. The Azores archipelago, located in the North Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Portugal, features a temperate climate. To evaluate the feasibility of local outdoor microalgae production, certain fundamental factors must be analysed. In this study water, light, temperature, carbon sources, nutrients, international outlook and regional context were analyzed from the perspective of a local outdoor commercial microalgae production. A SWOT analysis was applied to the analysed factors to evaluate the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. The results nominate the Azores as a promising location to implement an outdoor production of valueadded products from microalgae.
- Long-term monitoring across elevational gradients (II) : vascular plants on Pico Island (Azores) transectPublication . Coelho, Márcia Catarina Mendes; Elias, Rui B.; Kluge, Jürgen; Pereira, Fernando E. A.; Henriques, Débora; Aranda, Silvia C.; Borges, Paulo A. V.; Ah-Peng, Claudine; Gabriel, RosalinaPico Island remains one of the last remnants of natural vegetation in the Azores, including the largest natural protected area; nevertheless, habitat change and the spread of exotic plants are visible, especially in those areas where human presence prevails. Currently, the lowlands are vastly occupied by pastures dominated by exotic herbs/grasses and most forests are dominated by Pittosporum undulatum. This paper aims to: i) review previous botanical studies related to elevational gradients; ii) investigate vascular plants composition and abundance in native vegetation, following an elevational transect (from 10 to 2200 m); and iii) investigate some patterns of the recorded diversity and distribution of vascular plants. Methodology follows a standardized protocol with observations in 100 m2 plots. A total of 88 species were recorded, representing 35% of the indigenous but only 5% of the exotic species previously known from Pico. The richest areas were found between 600 and 1000 m and the areas with the lowest proportion of indigenous species occurred between 1800 and 2200 m. The recorded composition and richness values of endemic and native vascular plants support the high ecological and conservation value of the studied areas and constitute a good basis for long-term monitoring projects.
- Area prioritization for insect pollinator communities on an oceanic islandPublication . Picanço, Ana; Rigal, François; Borges, Paulo A. V.Conservation studies usually assess the effectiveness of protected areas and draft proposals on the inclusion of new areas to gain legal protection status, paying little attention to the unprotected surrounding matrix of the respective protected areas network. By combining species distribution modeling and a site selection method, we aim to quantify the contribution of different land uses to insect pollinator conservation on a small oceanic island i.e. Terceira Island (Azores, Portugal). Our results showed that, in addition to well preserved and protected native forest in Terceira, other land uses, such as naturalized vegetation areas, exotic forests, and semi-natural pastures, could serve as a continuum for the protected areas network. This result suggests that protecting marginal non-natural areas may also be important, especially when areas with well- preserved natural habitats are scarce. This spatial planning approach can be easily applied to other islands in the archipelago and any similar island systems, to better plan conservation efforts (such as habitat restoration) and to design specific buffer zones around a protected areas network.
- Living inside termites : an overview of symbiotic interactions, with emphasis on flagellate protistsPublication . Duarte, Sónia; Nunes, Lina; Borges, Paulo A. V.; Fossdal, Carl G.; Nobre, TâniaTo degrade lignocellulose efficiently, lower termites rely on their digestive tract’s specific features (i.e., physiological properties and enzymes) and on the network of symbiotic fauna harboured in their hindgut. This complex ecosystem, has different levels of symbiosis, and is a result of diverse co-evolutionary events and the singular social behaviour of termites. The partnership between termites and flagellate protists, together with prokaryotes, has been very successful because of their co-adaptative ability and efficacy in resolving the needs of the involved organisms: this tripartite symbiosis may have reached a physiologically stable, though dynamic, evolutionary equilibrium. The diversity of flagellate protists fauna associated with lower termites could be explained by a division of labour to accomplish the intricate process of lignocellulose digestion, and the ability to disrupt this function has potential use for termite control. Multi-level symbiosis strategy processes, or the cellulolytic capacity of flagellate protists, may lead to innovative pathways for other research areas with potential spin-offs for industrial and commercial use.
- Seasonal dynamics of arthropods in the humid native forests of Terceira Island (Azores)Publication . Borges, Paulo A. V.; Pimentel, Reinaldo M. S.; Carvalho, Rui; Nunes, Rui; Wallon, Sophie; Ros-Prieto, A.This work aims to provide a first detailed description of the results obtained in a seasonal abundance study of arthropods in the native pristine humid forest from Terceira Island (Azores). Ten sites were sampled during four years with SLAM (Sea, Land, and Air Malaise) traps targeting several arthropod taxa with good dispersal abilities as well as epigean species crawling into the trap. Samples were taken every three months in nine sites between 2012 and 2016 and monthly in one of the sites between 2014 and 2015. A total of 147 arthropod species and morphospecies were sampled mostly belonging to Hemiptera, Araneae and Coleoptera. Four endemic species, the tree lace-hopper Cixius azoterceirae, the capsid bug Pinalitus oromii, the bristletail Trigoniophthalmus borgesi and a morphospecies of Aleyrodidae accounted for 50% of all adult specimens. Most species peak in abundance in summer, but monthly data allowed the identification of other seasonal patterns.
- Long-term monitoring across elevational gradients (III) : vascular plants on Terceira Island (Azores) transectPublication . Henriques, Débora; Elias, Rui B.; Coelho, Márcia Catarina Mendes; Hernandéz, R. H.; Pereira, Fernando E. A.; Gabriel, RosalinaAnthropogenic disturbance often drives habitat loss, ecological fragmentation and a decrease in biodiversity. This is especially problematic in islands, which are bounded and isolated systems. In the Azores, human settlement led to a significant contraction of the archipelago’s original native forested areas, which nowadays occupy only small patches and are additionally threatened by the spread of invasive species. Focusing on Terceira Island, this study aimed to assess the composition of vascular plant communities, and the abundance and distribution patterns of vascular plant species in permanent 100 m2 plots set up in the best preserved vegetation patches along an elevational gradient (from 40 to 1000 m a.s.l.). Sampling yielded a total of 50 species, of which 41 are indigenous and nine are exotic. The richest and best preserved communities were found between 600 m and 1000 m, corresponding to Juniperus-Ilex montane forest and Calluna-Juniperus altimontane scrubland formations. Nonetheless, exotic species were prevalent between 200 m and 400 m, with Pittosporum undulatum clearly dominating the canopy. These results support the high ecological and conservation value of the vegetation formations found in the island’s upper half, while calling attention to the biological invasions and homogenization processes occurring at its lower half. Long-term monitoring in these plots will further reveal direction and rates of change in community composition, allowing for more informed management and conservation strategies in the island.
- One fish and seven invertebrate species new for the marine fauna of Cape Verde IslandsPublication . Wirtz, Peter; Oliveira, Emanuel; Bachschmid, GeorgThe sea anemone Alicia mirabilis, the opisthobranch gastropods Tethys fimbria, Scyllaea pelagica, the shrimps Alpheus crockeri, Lysmata moorei and Processa macrophthalma, the antennariid fish Histrio histrio, and an undetermined arminacean are recorded from the Cape Verde Islands for the first time. The presence of the parasitic gastropod Echineulima leucophaes is confirmed.
- Arthropod diversity patterns in three coastal marshes in Terceira Island (Azores)Publication . Borges, Paulo A. V.; Pimentel, C.; Brito, Mariana dos Reis; Borda-de-Água, Luís; Gabriel, RosalinaThe coastal wet areas of Praia da Vitória (Terceira, Azores) were investigated to describe the ground and aerial (herbaceous and canopy) arthropod communities by comparing patterns of species composition, abundance and diversity. Three wet areas were studied: Paul da Praia da Vitória (PPV), Paul do Belo Jardim (PBJ) and Paul da Pedreira do Cabo da Praia (PPCP). A standardized protocol (based on the COBRA protocol) was performed with day and night sampling of arthropods with a total of 56 samples per site. Common diversity metrics (Hill series) were calculated and abundance patterns were investigated using species abundance distributions (SAD). All investigated communities were dominated by native non-endemic and exotic species; only seven out of the 132 endemic arthropod species and subspecies existing in Terceira Island were found in the area. The logseries described well the communities, with a prevalence of rare species. The three sites seem to work as a complementary network of wet areas with specific arthropod communities possibly related to their specific features. However, Paul do Belo Jardim (PBJ) performed better for many of the investigated indicators, and two IUCN endangered species, the true weevil Drouetius oceanicus oceanicus and the Azorean cone-head grasshopper (Conocephalus chavesi) are relatively abundant there. Due to habitat changes that occurred between 2006 and 2010 in PPV, only one of the three most abundant ground-beetles recorded in 1991-1993 and 2003 was found but only after some additional sampling in a small remnant of the original habitat.
- New records of Cephalopods from Ascension Island (central Atlantic) found in yellowfin tuna stomachsPublication . Downes, Katie; Savage, J.A.K.; Brickle, PaulThe squid Hyaloteuthis pelagica (Bosc, 1802) and the octopus, Ocythoe tuberculate Rafinesque, 1814 have been recorded from Ascension Island for the first time. Both species were found in yellowfin tuna stomachs caught from inshore coastal waters (within 5 km). The specimens were in good condition with distinguishing features still apparent, signifying very recent ingestion. Morphological features were examined, photographs taken and specimens stored for use as part of an on-going study investigating dietary habits of yellowfin tuna.
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