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- Monitorização e deteção da térmita de madeira seca nos Açores : Ano de 2019 & Plano estratégico de controle e erradicaçãoPublication . Guerreiro, Orlando; Borges, Paulo A. V.A térmita de madeira seca Cryptotermes brevis (Walker, 1853) (Insecta, Blattodea) é uma praga que ataca as estruturas das habitações estando confirmada a sua presença em seis das nove ilhas que constituem o arquipélago dos Açores. A monitorização da praga é realizada continuamente desde 2009 na cidade de Angra do Heroísmo (Terceira) e, desde 2010 nas cidades de Ponta Delgada (São Miguel) e Horta (Faial). Nas localidades de Santa Cruz das Ribeiras, Calheta do Nesquim (Pico), Calheta (São Jorge) e Vila do Porto e Maia (Santa Maria) a monitorização é realizada desde 2011. Esta monitorização é realizada pela captura de alados, térmitas reprodutoras com a capacidade de voo, com armadilhas e consequente contagem desses indivíduos. Esta monitorização é realizada no interior dos edifícios e permite obter importante informação acerca do grau de infestação e potencial de dispersão da praga para os edifícios num raio de cerca de 100m. Para deteção de novos focos de infestação foi realizada pela primeira vez em 2018 a monitorização em duas localidades (Praia da Vitória, Ilha Terceira e Lagoa, S. Miguel) onde a presença da térmita de madeira seca era desconhecida através da colocação de armadilhas cromotrópicas colantes junto de candeeiros de iluminação publica com um espaçamento de entre 50 a 200m de acordo com disponibilidade. Este trabalho pioneiro foi alargado a todas as ilhas (exceção a Santa Maria) de forma a verificar a presença de alados de térmitas de madeira seca. Os dados existentes no Sistema de Certificação de Infestação por Térmitas também foram processados, em conjunto com dados de monitorização exterior e de edifícios, recorrendo a um Sistema de Informação Geográfica (SIG), para obtenção de mapas com as zonas afetadas e consequente risco de infestação. Durante o ano de 2019 foi continuado o trabalho de pesquisa porta – porta iniciado no ano anterior, integrando a Universidade dos Açores e as direções regionais de Ambiente e Habitação. Esta pesquisa surgiu no seguimento de sessões de esclarecimento realizadas entre o final de 2017 e início de 2018 nas ilhas de Santa Maria, S. Jorge e Pico. Este trabalho permitiu verificar de forma bastante fiável a propagação da térmita de madeira seca nestas ilhas onde, até então, apenas alguns edifícios estavam indicados como infestados pela térmita de madeira seca C. brevis. As zonas mais afetadas pela praga são as cidades de Angra do Heroísmo e Ponta Delgada, nomeadamente nas zonas centrais e mais antigas das cidades, havendo, no entanto, um claro alastramento para zonas mais periféricas. A cidade da Horta apresenta já uma área de risco de infestação preocupante resultando, aparentemente, da dispersão natural da espécie e do transporte de materiais infestados. Nas ilhas de Pico (Ribeiras e Calheta de Nesquim), S. Jorge (Calheta) e Santa Maria a dispersão da infestação e número de edifícios afetados é bastante superior ao registado até 2017. O número de edifícios afetados e a área de risco de dispersão da infestação aumentou mais de 100% nessas ilhas sendo importante uma rápida intervenção para evitar que esta se propague para níveis incontroláveis. Foi detetada a presença de alados da espécie C. brevis em armadilhas exteriores colocadas nas localidades de Lagoa (S. Miguel), Praia da Vitória (Ilha Terceira) e Velas (S. Jorge) indicando a presença de novos focos de infestação. Este dado juntamente com o registo de vários certificados em zonas onde não era; até então; registada a ocorrência da espécie é demonstrativo do seu rápido alastramento.
- Characterization of the Mechanical Performance in Compression Perpendicular to the Grain of Insect-Deteriorated TimberPublication . Verbist, Maxime; Branco, Jorge M.; Nunes, LinaAmong biological agents, insect attacks may cause severe degradation of timber structures in the service life of buildings which leads to lower mechanical performance and, thus, maintenance problems over time. Additionally, compression perpendicular to the grain always features a weak spot with respect to the long-term mechanical performance of timber members and joints. In the present work, the respective strength and elastic modulus were thus investigated for insect deteriorated wood. Following a standardized geometry, small samples degraded by anobiids were extracted from beams made of sweet chestnut wood (Castanea sativa Mill.) that were removed from service. Visual assessment of the external wood surfaces was then performed to identify areas infested by insects. Afterwards, destructive monotonic compression tests were carried out perpendicularly to the grain on the damaged area to determine the loss of compressive strength and elastic modulus. The experimental results showed that the loss of compressive strength and elastic modulus might be linearly correlated to the wood density loss for small samples infested by insects. Nonetheless, future work should focus on determining accurately the density loss in the insect-deteriorated part through non- or semi-destructive tests, in order to establish stronger relationships with the mechanical properties loss investigated.
- The Parasitoid Eretmocerus hayati Is Compatible with Barrier Cropping to Decrease Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci MED) Densities on Cotton in ChinaPublication . Zhang, Xiaoming; Ferrante, Marco; Wan, Fang-Hao; Yang, Nian-Wan; Lövei, Gábor L.The whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) cryptic species Mediterranean (MED), is a destructive insect pest worldwide. In order to contribute to controlling B. tabaci by non-chemical methods, we examined the possibility of using a combination of trap/barrier crops and a parasitoid natural enemy in cotton. We performed field experiments using cantaloupe (Cucumis melo) and sunflower (Helianthus annuus) as trap crops and maize (Zea mays) as a barrier crop combined with periodic releases of the parasitoid Eretmocerus hayati in Hebei Province, Northern China. All treatments significantly reduced immature whitefly densities. Parasitism rate was significantly higher in cotton plots intercropped with sunflower and with perimeter-planted cantaloupe. Adult whitefly density was negatively related to parasitoid abundance and was significantly lower in cotton plots intercropped with maize than in the control plots. Intercropping was more effective than perimeter-planting at reducing B. tabaci densities and increasing yield. Parasitoid dispersal was not hampered by barrier crops, indicating that the two methods of control are compatible. These results contribute to the development of integrated pest management methods against this important pest.
- GC- and UHPLC-MS Profiles as a Tool to Valorizate the Red Alga Asparagopsis armataPublication . Lesenfants, Marie L.; Seca, Ana M. L.; Silva, Artur M. S.; Pinto, Diana C. G. A.Asparagopsis armata is considered a biological invader and this red alga is in the last few years one of the worst nightmares for Azores coast biodiversity. So efforts to find an economically valuable application are welcome. In this context biological evaluations of its extracts, such as anti-aging, antioxidant and anticholinesterasic activities, were recently presented [1,2]. Naturally, the knowledge of this species chemical composition is utmost importance not only to find some valuable utilization but also to discovery its mechanisms of defence that can explain its invasive behaviour. In our effort to contribute to this problem solution we establish the GC-MS and UHPLC-MS profiles of both the non-polar and polar extracts. The main compounds in the lipophilic extract were palmitic acid and 1-monopalmitin and brominated compounds dominate both extracts. The detailed results will be presented and discussed in the presentation.
- Desconstruindo Retóricas de MedoPublication . Gil, Ana Cristina Correia, dir.; Fialho, Adolfo Fernando da Fonte, ed.
- Wildlife inventory from camera-trapping surveys in the Azores (Pico and Terceira islands)Publication . Lamelas-López, Lucas; Pardavila, Xose; Amorim, Isabel R.; Borges, Paulo A. V.The present publication provides a dataset from five camera-trapping sampling campaigns on two islands of the Azorean archipelago (Pico and Terceira islands), between 2013-2018. This dataset was obtained as a by-product of campaigns designed for different purposes. The sampling campaigns were designed to: (i) study the ecology of introduced mammals; (ii) assess the impact of introduced mammals on native birds (Azores woodpigeon - Columba palumbus azorica and Cory's shearwater - Calonectris diomeda borealis), through nest predation; and (iii) obtain information about the impact of vertebrates on agricultural systems, particularly on Azorean traditional vineyards. A total of 258 sites and 47 nests were sampled using camera traps. These sampling campaigns provided a large data series that allowed the creation of a vertebrate wildlife inventory.
- Standardised inventories of spiders (Arachnida, Araneae) of Macaronesia II : The native forests and dry habitats of Madeira archipelago (Madeira and Porto Santo islands)Publication . Malumbres-Olarte, Jagoba; Boieiro, Mário; Cardoso, Pedro; Carvalho, Rui; Crespo, Luís C.; Gabriel, Rosalina; Macías Hernández, Nuria; Paulo, Octávio S.; Pereira, Fernando; Rego, Carla; Ros Prieto, Alejandra; Silva, Isamberto; Vieira, Ana; Rigal, François; Borges, Paulo A. V.BACKGROUND: Here we present the data obtained from the samples collected as part of a large research project (MACDIV) which aims at understanding the drivers of spider (Araneae) community assembly in Macaronesian islands. To obtain the data, we applied the sampling protocol COBRA (Conservation Oriented Biodiversity Rapid Assessment), in twelve 50 m x 50 m native forest plots and five dry habitat plots on the island of Madeiraand in 5 dry habitat plots on the island of Porto Santo. Through this publication, we contribute to the knowledge of the arachnofauna of the Madeiran archipelago. NEW INFORMATION: From the samples that we collected, we obtained a total of 14,902 specimens, of which 49% were adults (7,263). We identified these specimens to 87 species and 18 morphospecies (undescribed), belonging to 26 families. Species of the family Linyphiidae dominated the samples, with 24 (morpho)species. Out of the 105 recorded (morpho)species, 34 were endemic, 26 native non-endemic, 22 introduced and 23 species of unknown origin. We report seven new records of possibly recently introduced species in the Madeiran archipelago. We also present 21 new records for Madeira island and 32 for Porto Santo (33 for the whole archipelago).
- Anti-aging activity of Lobophora variegata ethanolic and methanolic extracts and their fractionsPublication . Rosa, Gonçalo P.; Costa, Ana C.; Medeiros, D.; Seca, Ana M. L.; Barreto, Maria do CarmoSeaweed have promising applications within food, cosmetic and health industries, which led to an increased interest in studying these organisms [1]. In several coastal areas, thousands of tons of macroalgae are cast on beaches and shorelines and it would be very interesting if this biomass could be managed, allowing the extraction of added-value compounds. In this context, polar extracts (methanol and ethanol) of a macroalgal beach cast sample mainly composed of “Lobophora variegate” were prepared and the anti-aging and antioxidant activities were evaluated. The preliminary results showed interesting results, and thus these crude extracts were then fractionated sequentially by their solubility in dichloromethane, acetone and ethyl acetate, resulting in 4 semi-pure fractions each, which were also tested. Fractions A1.1.1 and A1.2.3 were very good tyrosinase inhibitors (IC₅₀ = 37.87 and 24.01 μg/mL, respectively) and fractions A1.1.2 and A1.2.2 presented very good inhibition of elastase (IC₅₀ = 44.76 and 20.86 μg/mL, respectively). However, none of the fractions was active against collagenase. These results show that further purifications of these fractions can lead to the isolation of bioactive added-value compounds.
- Avaliação 2017-19- CQ – Ana Maria Loureiro da Seca – comprovativosPublication . Seca, Ana M. L.
- International scientists formulate a roadmap for insect conservation and recoveryPublication . Harvey, Jeffrey A.; Heinen, Robin; Armbrecht, Inge; Basset, Yves; Baxter-Gilbert, James H.; Bezemer, T. Martijn; Böhm, Monika; Bommarco, Riccardo; Borges, Paulo A. V.; Cardoso, Pedro; Clausnitzer, Viola; Cornelisse, Tara; Crone, Elizabeth E.; Dicke, Marcel; Dijkstra, Klaas-Douwe B.; Dyer, Lee; Ellers, Jacintha; Fartmann, Thomas; Forister, Mathew L.; Furlong, Michael J.; Garcia-Aguayo, Andres; Gerlach, Justin; Gols, Rieta; Goulson, Dave; Habel, Jan-Christian; Haddad, Nick M.; Hallmann, Caspar A.; Henriques, Sérgio; Herberstein, Marie E.; Hochkirch, Axel; Hughes, Alice C.; Jepsen, Sarina; Jones, T. Hefin; Kaydan, Bora M.; Kleijn, David; Klein, Alexandra-Maria; Latty, Tanya; Leather, Simon R.; Lewis, Sara M.; Lister, Bradford C.; Losey, John E.; Lowe, Elizabeth C.; Macadam, Craig R.; Montoya-Lerma, James; Nagano, Christopher D.; Ogan, Sophie; Orr, Michael C.; Painting, Christina J.; Pham, Thai-Hong; Potts, Simon G.; Rauf, Aunu; Roslin, Tomas L.; Samways, Michael J.; Sanchez-Bayo, Francisco; Sar, Sim A.; Schultz, Cheryl B.; Soares, António O.; Thancharoen, Anchana; Tscharntke, Teja; Tylianakis, Jason M.; Umbers, Kate D. L.; Vet, Louise E. M.; Visser, Marcel E.; Vujic, Ante; Wagner, David L.; WallisDeVries, Michiel F.; Westphal, Catrin; White, Thomas E.; Wilkins, Vicky L.; Williams, Paul H.; Wyckhuys, Kris A. G.; Zhu, Zeng-Rong; de Kroon, HansA growing number of studies are providing evidence that a suite of anthropogenic stressors — habitat loss and fragmentation, pollution, invasive species, climate change and overharvesting — are seriously reducing insect and other invertebrate abundance, diversity and biomass across the biosphere. These declines affect all functional groups: herbivores, detritivores, parasitoids, predators and pollinators. Insects are vitally important in a wide range of ecosystem services of which some are vitally important for food production and security (for example, pollination and pest control). […].
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