Browsing by Author "Pardal, Miguel"
Now showing 1 - 9 of 9
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- Changes in zooplankton communities along a mercury contamination gradient in a coastal lagoon (Ria de Aveiro, Portugal)Publication . Cardoso, Patricia; Marques, Sónia; D’Ambrosio, Maria; Pereira, Eduarda; Duarte, Armando; Azeiteiro, Ulisses; Pardal, MiguelThe main objective of this paper was to evaluate the impact of mercury on the zooplankton communities’structure and functioning and their bioaccumulation patterns along a contamination gradient in a temperate coastal lagoon. Our results demonstrated that total abundance was not negatively affected by Hg contamination, since the most contaminated areas presented the highest values, being the copepod Acartia tonsa the dominant species, which means that it is a very well adapted and tolerant species to mercury. Nevertheless, negative effects were observed in terms of species diversity, since the most contaminated areas presented the lowest values of species richness, evenness and heterogeneity. Moreover,the spatial mercury gradient was reflected on the bioaccumulation patterns of the zooplankton communities. This reinforces the idea that zooplankton can be considered as an important vehicle of mercury transfer through the food pelagic web since it constitutes a primordial food resource for several commercial fish species.
- Colonization and nursery habitat use patterns of larval and juvenile flatfish species in a small temperate estuaryPublication . Primo, Ana Ligia; Azeiteiro, Ulisses; Marques, Sónia; Martinho, Filipe; Baptista, Joana; Pardal, MiguelMigrations between coastal and estuarine nursery areas are essential for successful completion of the life cycle of several marine fish. The present study evaluates the use of a small temperate estuary, the Mondego, Portugal, as a nursery habitat for several flatfishes during their early life stages. Data from seasonal and diel larval sampling at the mouth of the estuary and both larvae and juvenile monthly spatial distribution in the estuary (2005–2009) were gathered in order to investigate the life cycle of Platichthys flesus, Solea solea and Solea senegalensis. Larvae entrance in the estuary occurred mainly during summer and autumn with no evidence for diel or tidal vertical stratification. S. senegalensis larvae were present in all seasons at downstream areas presenting low successful settlement and juveniles' densities inside the estuary. Conversely, P. flesus and S. solea were mainly present as juveniles with upstream areas being preferred by flounder. Both species larvae seemed to settle in nearby coastal areas. The importance of theMondego estuary for flatfishes differed according to the species, playing an important rolemainly during the first year for all species. The present study highlights the importance of integrating larval and juvenile stages of fish to assess the very important role of estuaries as nursery areas.
- Education, capacity building and public awareness for including ecosystem services in coastal managementPublication . Azeiteiro, Ulisses; Widmer, Walter; Alves, Fátima; Santos, Paulo; Meira-Cartea, Pablo; Gröndahl, Fredrik; Leal Filho, Walter; Pardal, Miguel
- Mercury bioaccumulation and the population dynamics of Mesopodopsis slabberi (Crustacea: Mysidacea) along a mercury contamination gradientPublication . D’Ambrosio, Maria; Marques, Sónia; Azeiteiro, Ulisses; Pardal, Miguel; Pereira, Eduarda; Duarte, Armando; Cardoso, PatriciaThe mercury bioaccumulation and population dynamics of the mysid Mesopodopsis slabberi was assessed along a mercury gradient in Ria de Aveiro (Portugal). M. slabberi is one of the most important mysid species in European temperate coastal shallow waters playing a key ecological role. Nevertheless, no references were found concerning the possible consequences of the Hg on the trophodynamics of these coastal ecosystems. M. slabberi showed a clear bioaccumulation along the Hg gradient and through life, with mature females reaching the highest concentrations. In terms of population structure, higher densities and biomasses of M. slabberi were assessed in the most contaminated areas contrarily to the least polluted areas. Despite the mercury accumulation in its tissues no strong negative effects on the structure and population dynamics of the species were observed. However, mysids might be important in the transfer of metals from the sediments and zooplankton to higher trophic levels such as fishes, most of them with commercial interest.
- Shifts in estuarine zooplankton variability following extreme climate events: a comparison between drought and regular yearsPublication . Marques, Sónia Coutrim; Primo, Ana Lígia; Martinho, Filipe; Azeiteiro, Ulisses; Pardal, MiguelClimate change will likely lead to an increase in temperature and an occurrence of extreme droughts and floods in the 21st century. In particular, coastal and estuarine systems are highly sensitive to climate extremes and changing precipitation patterns, and thus offer invaluable scenarios for the evaluation of climate variability. Zooplankton assemblages and hydroclimate variables were monitored for 8 yr. The main objective was to assess the impact of climate variability, particularly of the 2 most recent drought events in the Mondego estuary (Portugal, southern Europe), which occurred in 2004−2005 and 2007−2008, on the zooplankton population dynamics, with emphasis on how stochastic extrinsic perturbation might influence these populations. Principal component analysis revealed dramatic environmental changes during drought periods, which were reflected in the seasonal and inter-annual patterns in the zooplankton, indicating that hydroclimate forcing is critical in defining zooplankton dynamics. Lower precipitation and higher salinities were the main drivers for the observed patterns, i.e. a major penetration of seawater led to a higher prevalence of marine species. Results also revealed a conspicuous increase in warm water taxa since 2006, which was significantly related to pronounced changes in water temperature. This synchronous variability between water temperature and zooplankton abundance, which had not been evaluated and discriminated in previous studies, suggests the potential impact of warming on zooplankton assemblages. Hence, this study demonstrates the crucial role of zooplankton as valuable indicators of hydrological changes associated with climate factors in estuarine ecosystems.
- Small-scale artisanal fisheries and its networks: the case of Arte Xávega in PortugalPublication . Alves, Fátima; Casaleiro, Paula; Valentim, Cristina Sá; Castro, Paula; Pardal, MiguelThis paper examines the management process of the Arte Xávega related to the implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and the Portuguese artisanal fishing regulation. This study looks at a formal normativity and seeks to discern how it is achieved. The methodology is based on the analysis of European and national legal documents collected until 2017 and mobilises a reticular approach, which directs our gaze at the complex interactions guided by contingency and heterogeneity. It is argued that the local governance of the Arte Xávega is a highly wide-ranging and diverse process and simultaneously a local and global one through which diverse types of appropriations and translations occur. Throughout this interconnected process between different actors and scales as they seek to implement policies, the different actors’ interests are re-represented and re-ordered in the national legislation and norms. Considering this perspective, governance of artisanal fishing is highly contested and unpredictable, shaped by tensions, negotiations, and entangled networks crossing national and transnational scales and perceptions.
- Sociocultural and educational factors in the sustainability of coastal zones : the prestige oil spill in Galicia, ten years laterPublication . Carvalho, Sara; Alves, Fátima; Azeiteiro, Ulisses; Meira-Cartea, Pablo; Pardal, MiguelPurpose - Environmental threats of immediate risk in areas such as coastal zones (CZ) have aroused new trends of citizenship and participatory democracy. This article intends to analyse elements within those trends, such as environmental culture; socio-political context; dynamics of social associative movement and integration of local knowledge. It also aims to contribute to an overview of the opportunities and barriers found in considering sociocultural and educational challenges in CZ. Design/methodology/approach - In this analysis, case studies of integrated coastal management occurring worldwide were selected and reviewed, considering several nuances of socio-economic and political contexts of CZ. Experiences of public response to coastal catastrophes such the Prestige oil spill in Spain, are also described. Findings – Whether implementing sustainable coastal management through either balanced systems (between large and small-scale strategies) or through largely bottom-up approaches, participation is detected as one of the main factors for a successul integrated approach. Principles such as participatory governance and social justice should be adopted in initial phases of sustainable management processes and preferably involve all of the implied actors of CZ. Originality/value - The literature reviewed provides specific highlights on factors that have empirically contributed to participatory sustainability of CZ, integrating three dimensions of citizenship: education, society’s dynamics and culture.
- The contribution of scientific research for integrated coastal management: the Mondego estuary as study casePublication . Costa, Sonia; Azeiteiro, Ulisses; Pardal, MiguelThe present paper quantifies and summarizes the research performed in the Mondego estuary (Portugal) over the last decades. Online databases were used to quantitatively assess the international publications, the master dissertations and PhD theses focused in the research about that estuary, from 1989 to 2012. In general, there had been a notable growth trend in publication output. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science was the most active journal publishing on Mondego estuary. Field studies were the predominant type of research and the population/community dynamics and functioning have been one of the main research topics. Towards the time, the estuary has been used as local for several studies and the existing database has been useful to test theoretical ecological hypotheses and to support some management decisions and ecosystem restoration schemes. The efforts intended to its preservations are justified by its high ecological value, presenting large diversity of habitats and biodiversity, and its socio-economic importance, providing goods and services to population. The published research results cover several aspects of the system including the hydrology, the nutrient cycling, the communities’ structure, diversity and dynamics. Moreover, research focused in existing environmental problems like eutrophication, extreme climatic events and contaminants, characterizing them and proposing solutions. The Mondego estuarine water quality status, was also intensely studied especially in order to implement the Water Framework Directive. The Mondego estuary has suffered intense anthropogenic pressure and hydromorphological modifications over the last decades that induced a progressive decline in its ecological condition. In order to reverse the tendency of the ecosystem degradation a restoration project was implemented in 1997/98, followed by a more intensive intervention in 2006. Parallels, the estuary suffered the effects of climate changes that seems to masked the response of water quality and biological communities to mitigation measures. Although we are only at an early stage in the projected trends of global warming, ecological responses to recent climate change are already clearly visible in this shallow water temperate estuarine system.
- The use of an estuarine system (Mondego estuary, Portugal) as didactic tool to incorporate education for sustainable development into school curriculaPublication . Costa, Sonia; Pardal, Miguel; Azeiteiro, UlissesThe present paper reviews and discusses the use of the Mondego estuary (Portugal) ecosystem as educational tool for science and environmental teachers/educators. The Mondego estuary is a coastal area of acknowledged high socioeconomic and environmental value (National Ecological Reserve, Important Bird Area and RAMSAR site) whose characteristics (e.g. two distinct subsystems with different physicochemical and ecological characteristics, strong environmental gradients, and anthropogenic pressures) have been used for educational purposes. However, besides the vast available scientific output focused in the Mondego estuary, few had the focal point in its pedagogical potentialities (were only published three MSc dissertations and two book chapters in books of Environmental Education incorporating teaching strategies to approach issues, behind different educational perspectives). The Mondego estuary is presented here as an ecosystem that can be used for educational purposes related to ecology, conservation biology, and sustainability in the coastal zone. In order to use the Mondego estuarine system under an educational framework, some examples of tools to address the pedagogical potentialities, like interpretative routes, analysis of scientific texts, and teachers training programs are presented.