Projects

The impact of climatic variation in the expression of sexual selection remains largely unknown. In order to meaningfully address this issue, we have proposed a set of objectives, which would ultimately allow for the development of a model linking temperature regimes, the opportunity for sexual selection and the expression of secondary sexual characters (often seen as resulting solely from sexual selection action through generations). These objectives depended on 1) the depiction of the mating system of the worm pipefish (using a new set of purposely developed microsatellites) expressed in two geographically distant populations (which we rapidly expanded to three, as suggested by the referees of our initial project proposal); 2) the ability to continuously measure pipefish phenotypes throughout a breeding season, encompassing the forecasted dynamics of the system, and use the individual phenotypes as a way of identifying pipefish in monitored populations; 3) access mating preferences and fitness variation in studied populations; and 4) understand N. lumbriciformis genetic differentiation along its distributional range.

I was the Principal Investigator.

(PTDC/AAC-CLI/112936/2009)

Biological invasions are global phenomena that threaten terrestrial, marine and freshwater biodiversity. In particular, invasions are leading to an increasing replacement of native species by generalist invaders, with widespread, ecological and evolutionary implications . Generally, the success of non-native invasive species has been linked to the biological characteristics of the invaders (such as body size, growth rate and reproductive strategies) or to the environmental conditions of the receptor region. Interestingly, a new trend is now focusing on chemical signalling processes and their significant importance to exotic species colonization, perpetuation and expansion in a new region. As all these issues are not independent, recent reviews have been calling for comprehensive studies that consider them jointly, highlighting the priority of “research than can lead to novel insights about the mechanisms underpinning the invasion process”. Supported by the vast expertise and the extensive background of its research team, the current project will integrate a pioneer study on chemically mediated interactions among native/non-native species, together with basic life history research addressing one major case of biodiversity loss in hypersaline aquatic environments: the eradication of the native populations of brine shrimp (Artemia salina and A. parthenogenetica) by their introduced congener, A. franciscana.

I was the co-PI.

(PTDC/MAR/108369/2008)

The presence of Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in the environment is a growing problem, not only to wildlife but also to Humans. The effects reported in several vertebrate species, include male altered/abnormal blood hormone levels, reduced fertility and fecundity, female masculinisation and male feminization. Although several mechanisms may be involved in these reproductive abnormalities, most of the reported effects are though to result from disruption due to estrogenic mimic substances. These include industrial chemicals such as alkylphenolic compounds, the synthetic steroid Ethynylestradiol and natural substances such 17-alpha-estradiol. However, in the aquatic environment, estrogenic compounds do not exist alone. Instead, there is a complex mixture of estrogenic, androgenic, anti-estrogenic and anti-androgenic compounds. Therefore, single ecotoxicological evaluations may not reflect the multitude of antagonistic or synergistic stimulus that wildlife animals may face. This clearly indicates that there is the need for more robust methodological designs that takes in consideration these uncertainties. In this context, we will evaluate the effects of mixtures of EDCs in two fish species with different life-styles. The selected compounds are though to be the most important environmental androgens (tributyltin;TBT and triphenyltin- TPT) and estrogens (Etynylestradiol; EE2). While the feminization effect of EE2 on vertebrate animals is well recognised, the masculinising effects of TBT in vertebrates (i.e., imbalance of fish sex ratio in favour of males and sperm abnormalities) only very recently was reported for two distinct fish species. The combined effects of both groups of compounds in fish reproduction are, at present, unknown. Hence, this project will be the first approach to investigate the potential synergistic or antagonistic effects of mixtures of these extremely important environmental contaminants. Additionally, we will evaluate the effects of EDCs in the courtship behaviour of the selected species. For many vertebrate species, including fishes, changes in the normal pattern of courtship behaviour may have dramatic results in the reproductive performance. Overall, the project will constitute a new approach to environmental studies involving the study of effects of EDCs in vertebrates.

I was the co-PI.

(POCI/MAR/60895/2004)

A crescente pressão humana que se faz sentir sobre as zonas costeiras, traduzida num contínuo aumento da ocupação e utilização do litoral e, consequentemente, numa acentuada degradação ambiental, torna urgente o desenvolvimento de medidas adequadas a uma gestão racional e eficaz destes ecossistemas. A implementação destas medidas implica, no entanto, um profundo conhecimento sobre a distribuição dos organismos ao longo da costa portuguesa, a identificação dos factores responsáveis por essa distribuição, quer a nível local (geomorfologia, utilização dos recursos, poluição), quer a nível regional (afinidades biogeográficas, diferenças climáticas), e os processos que estruturam e regulam as comunidades marinhas da orla litoral. No que diz respeito às comunidades intertidais da costa portuguesa, a informação existente revela-se de carácter disperso e fragmentário. No entanto, a importância biogeográfica desta costa é sobejamente reconhecida, sabendo-se que constitui um limite de distribuição, não só para diversas espécies bóreo-atlânticas, como também para outras características de águas temperadas-quentes. A total ausência de séries cronológicas e de abordagens extensivas tem dificultado a interpretação dos resultados até agora obtidos e impossibilitado uma avaliação adequada das características destas comunidades e dos factores responsáveis pela sua regulação. Assim, considerando a importância que esta informação terá para futuros programas de gestão e conservação das zonas costeiras, não esquecendo as possibilidades de investigação de processos tão importantes como as alterações climáticas globais e os efeitos directos da acção antropogénica, consideram-se como prioritários os seguintes objectivos: 1) Identificar os padrões biogeográficos que caracterizam a costa continental portuguesa, determinando os limites ou gradientes de distribuição das espécies intertidais e analisando a sua importância ao nível da composição e estruturação das comunidades; 2) Analisar as variações temporais da distribuição e abundância dos principais organismos intertidais a diferentes escalas geográficas; 3) Contribuir para uma estratégia de gestão das zonas costeiras, definindo critérios que permitam avaliar a importância local ou regional das várias zonas da costa portuguesa (biodiversidade, biogeografia, estado de conservação) e desenvolver meios que possibilitem a monitorização destes ecossistemas.

I was a researcher.

(PRAXIS XXI 2/2.1/MAR/1746/95)