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Kinds of Portugal Selected AbstractsCUERDA SECA CERAMICS FROM AL-ANDALUS, ISLAMIC SPAIN AND PORTUGAL (10TH,12TH CENTURIES AD): INVESTIGATION WITH SEM,EDX AND CATHODOLUMINESCENCE*ARCHAEOMETRY, Issue 3 2005R. CHAPOULIE Since little is known about the cuerda seca technique, our aim has been to complete an initial analysis of 11th-century cuerda seca by studying fragments from the 10th century (Pechina, Almería) and the 12th century (Mértola and Almería), so as to establish the diachronic evolution of this technique. Characteristics specific to cuerda seca ceramic glazes were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and quantitative chemical analysis with energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX). The chemical compositions of the different-coloured glazes (green, black, yellow and white) have given us valuable indications about the evolution of the technique. The opacification mode and the firing process were also investigated. With the help of cathodoluminescence (CL) and the study of modern ,cuerda seca' glazed ceramics, new hypotheses regarding the number of firing stages, taking into account glaze and paste transformations and their interactions, are put forward. [source] Social Infrastructure Planning: A Location Model and Solution MethodsCOMPUTER-AIDED CIVIL AND INFRASTRUCTURE ENGINEERING, Issue 8 2007João F. Bigotte Authorities want to determine where to locate the facilities of a social infrastructure network and what should be the capacity of these facilities. Each user must be assigned to its closest facility and, to be economically viable, each facility must serve at least a pre-specified level of demand. The objective is to maximize the accessibility to facilities (i.e., to minimize the distance traveled by users to reach the facilities). A location model that captures the above features is formulated and different solution methods are tested. Among the methods tested, tabu search and a specialized local search heuristic provided the best solutions. The application of the model is illustrated through a case study involving the location of preschools in the municipality of Miranda do Corvo, Portugal. [source] FS01.2 Contact dermatitis to disperse blue 106 in PortugalCONTACT DERMATITIS, Issue 3 2004Francisco M Brandao Disperse blue 106 is one of the most important allergenic textile dyes. We reviewed all the patients that proved to be allergic to this dye, in 10 contact clinics, in Portugal, from 01/2000 to 06/2003. In the first 2 years disperse blue 106 was only tested in suspected cases, while in 2002/2003 it was routinely tested in our standard series. A total of 8957 patients (2797M + 6160F) were tested; fifty five patients (17M + 38F)(0.6%) were allergic to the dye, with a significant difference in incidence between the 2 periods (0.2 to 0.9%); a current relevance was found in 38 (69%) patients. In 5 patients the dermatitis was considered occupational. The main localizations were the axillae (25p), the antecubital fossae and the face (13p each), the neck (11p), the feet (8p), the hands and then trunk (7p each). Thirty six out of 44 patients (80%) that were tested with disperse blue 124 were allergic to this dye. Simultaneous reactions to PPDA and to fragrance mix were observed in 12 and 11 patients, respectively. Allergy to other dyes was found in 15 patients. Blouses and skirts were the main offending garments that induced contact allergy. Although both disperse blue 106 and 124 have been reported as frequent sensitizers, it proved not to be such an important allergen in Portugal. However, if tested routinely it can pick up some unexpected relevant allergic patients. [source] The atrium effect of website openness on the communication of corporate social responsibilityCORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, Issue 1 2008Nuno Guimarães-Costa Abstract This paper applies the image of a Roman atrium to disclosure of CSR activities on company websites, through an examination of the website content of 19 large companies operating in Portugal. The analysis reveals a CSR discourse targeting stakeholders. What is stated is carefully chosen in order to mitigate potential reactions from offended stakeholders, these coming mostly from those areas where their negative impact could be more visible. We conclude that comparison with Roman atria can be made to the extent that (a) websites allow companies to suggest positive images about themselves, (b) their openness forces companies to adopt bi-focal messages where the target does not always coincide with the message's subject and (c) their visibility and accessibility induce companies to take a position on external events and to seek greater alignment between disclosure and action. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment. [source] Prevalence of Type 1 diabetes mellitus in Portugal, 1995-1999:cohort of young menDIABETIC MEDICINE, Issue 5 2003A. Macedo No abstract is available for this article. [source] Effects of species and habitat positional errors on the performance and interpretation of species distribution modelsDIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS, Issue 4 2009Patrick E. Osborne Abstract Aim, A key assumption in species distribution modelling is that both species and environmental data layers contain no positional errors, yet this will rarely be true. This study assesses the effect of introduced positional errors on the performance and interpretation of species distribution models. Location, Baixo Alentejo region of Portugal. Methods, Data on steppe bird occurrence were collected using a random stratified sampling design on a 1-km2 pixel grid. Environmental data were sourced from satellite imagery and digital maps. Error was deliberately introduced into the species data as shifts in a random direction of 0,1, 2,3, 4,5 and 0,5 pixels. Whole habitat layers were shifted by 1 pixel to cause mis-registration, and the cumulative effect of one to three shifted layers investigated. Distribution models were built for three species using three algorithms with three replicates. Test models were compared with controls without errors. Results, Positional errors in the species data led to a drop in model performance (larger errors having larger effects , typically up to 10% drop in area under the curve on average), although not enough for models to be rejected. Model interpretation was more severely affected with inconsistencies in the contributing variables. Errors in the habitat layers had similar although lesser effects. Main conclusions, Models with species positional errors are hard to detect, often statistically good, ecologically plausible and useful for prediction, but interpreting them is dangerous. Mis-registered habitat layers produce smaller effects probably because shifting entire layers does not break down the correlation structure to the same extent as random shifts in individual species observations. Spatial autocorrelation in the habitat layers may protect against species positional errors to some extent but the relationship is complex and requires further work. The key recommendation must be that positional errors should be minimised through careful field design and data processing. [source] A model for range expansion of an introduced species: the common waxbill Estrilda astrild in PortugalDIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS, Issue 6 2002Tiago Silva Abstract. The common waxbill Estrilda astrild was first introduced to Portugal from Africa in 1964, and has spread across much of the country and into Spain. We modelled the expansion of the common waxbill on a 20 × 20 km UTM grid in 4-year periods from 1964 to 1999. The time variation of the square root of the occupied area shows that this expansion process is stabilizing in Portugal, and reasons for this are discussed. Several methods used to model biological expansions are not appropriate for the present case, because little quantitative data are available on the species ecology and because this expansion has been spatially heterogeneous. Instead, colonization on a grid was modelled as a function of several biophysical and spatio-temporal variables through the fitting of a multivariate autologistic equation. This approach allows examination of the underlying factors affecting the colonization process. In the case of the common waxbill it was associated positively with its occurrence in adjacent cells, and affected negatively by altitude and higher levels of solar radiation. [source] Growth in relation to microclimatic conditions and physiological characteristics of four Lobaria pulmonaria populations in two contrasting habitatsECOGRAPHY, Issue 1 2004Gisela Gaio-Oliveira The aim of the present study was to compare the physiological characteristics of various populations of the lichen Lobaria pulmonaria in Portugal and Sweden. For this, indirect markers of algal (photobiont) and fungal (mycobiont) activity were measured, as well as their CO2 gasexchange characteristics. Microclimatic conditions and the lichens growth performance in the two countries were compared using reciprocal transplantation. Two populations of L. pulmonaria represented each country: one collected from forest interior conditions and one from forest edge habitats. A non-transplanted "wild" population was also studied in each country, in order to evaluate any transplantation effects per se. The main hypothesis were that; 1) growth should be faster in Portugal due to higher light availability; 2) the energy use efficiency of lichen biomass gain should be similar for the native populations in their respective native habitat; 3) if the lichens were able to adapt to the environmental conditions in the foreign habitat this should be revealed as similar growth rates among all thalli transplanted at the same site, regardless of their origin. Physiologically, the Portuguese and Swedish populations were very similar, both concerning their CO2 gas exchange characteristics and distribution of resources between photo- and mycobiont tissue. Environmental conditions were more advantageous for L. pulmonaria growth in Portugal, i.e. higher photon flux densities and ambient temperatures when the lichens were wet and active, and a lower fraction of the active time occurring in darkness. However, despite similar physiological characteristics of all the studied populations, the Swedish lichens were not able to grow as well in Portugal as the native, while all populations had similarly low growth rates in Sweden. [source] Kinetics and Mechanism of Ni(II) Chelation in Model and Real Solutions of Xylem Sap of Quercus ilexELECTROANALYSIS, Issue 22 2007Margarida, Maria Correia, Santos Abstract The kinetics of formation and dissociation of Ni(II) complexes with oxalic and citric acids was studied by cyclic voltammetry in model solutions of xylem sap of Q. ilex (the dominant tree growing on serpentine soils of Northeast Portugal) using representative concentrations, pH and ionic strength. The role of magnesium on complex formation was analyzed from solutions where Mg is present at concentration levels found in the xylem sap of Q. ilex growing on both nonserpentine and serpentine soils. Kinetics studies were also done in diluted solutions of real xylem sap samples, spiked with increasing amounts of magnesium. The values obtained for the apparent rate constants were those anticipated by the proposed model. To test the validity of the methodology and mechanisms, formation rate constants, kf (M,1 s,1) of Ni(II) complexes with citrate and oxalate were evaluated that compare with the values from Eigen mechanism. [source] Isolation and properties of methanesulfonate-degrading Afipia felis from Antarctica and comparison with other strains of A. felisENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 1 2005S. Azra Moosvi Summary Three novel strains of methylotrophic Afipia felis were isolated from several locations on Signy Island, Antarctica, and a fourth from estuary sediment from the River Douro, Portugal. They were identified as strains of the ,-2 proteobacterium A. felis by 16S rRNA gene sequence, analysis., Two, strains, tested, were, shown to contain the fdxA gene, diagnostic for A. felis. All strains grew with methanesulfonate (and two strains with dimethylsulfone) as sole carbon substrate. Growth on methanesulfonate required methanesulfonate monooxygenase (MSAMO), using NADH as the reductant and stimulated by reduced flavin nucleotides and Fe(II). Polymerase chain reaction amplification of DNA from an Antarctic strain showed a typical msmA gene for the ,-hydroxylase of MSAMO, and both Antarctic and Portuguese strains contained mxaF, the methanol dehydrogenase large subunit gene. This is the first report of methanesulfonate-degrading bacteria from the Antarctic and of methylotrophy in Afipia, and the first description of any bacterium able to use both methanesulfonate and dimethylsulfone. In contrast, the type strain of A. felis DSM 7326T was not methylotrophic, but grew in defined mineral medium with a wide range of single simple organic substrates. Free-living Afipia strains occurring widely in the natural environment may be significant as methylotrophs, degrading C1 -sulfur compounds, including the recalcitrant organosulfur compound methanesulfonate. [source] Regional development, nature production and the techno-bureaucratic shortcut: the Douro River catchment in PortugalENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND GOVERNANCE, Issue 6 2008Antonio A. R. Ioris Abstract The introduction of the Water Framework Directive in Europe represents a unique opportunity to promote more inclusive strategies for the long-term preservation of (socionatural) water systems. However, the analysis of the Portuguese experience, using the River Douro as a case study, reveals still considerable shortcomings in the assessment of problems and the formulation of solutions. Instead of promoting a meaningful dialogue between social groups and spatial areas, there is a systematic attempt to conform to legal requisites by taking a ,techno-bureaucratic' shortcut that largely reproduces the distortions of previous regulatory approaches. Decisions on water management are part of political disputes about regional development and state reform, such as in relation to the provision of water and electricity by public utilities. Nonetheless, these broader issues have been kept tacitly away from the WFD agenda, which has been concentrated on adjusting established procedures to the (formal) requirements of the new regulation. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment. [source] Public and stakeholder participation in European water policy: a critical review of project evaluation processesENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND GOVERNANCE, Issue 1 2006Nuno Videira Abstract The recent reform of the European water policy recognizes the importance of developing effective mechanisms to support public and stakeholder participation in river basin decision-making processes. This paper critically reviews the evaluation processes of different types of water related project in five European countries (Portugal, Greece, The Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Spain), with respect to participatory criteria. The horizontal comparison of these cases accounted for criteria such as the political and institutional context, the design, the implementation and the evaluation of the outcomes of participation. The results indicated that, in the majority of the case studies, participation was simply adopted to conform to the requisites of the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive. Thus, there was truly no room for the active involvement and collaboration of the interested parties. The development of guidelines, drawing from the analysis of past experiences, is expected to support the implementation of the participatory objectives of the EU water policy. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment. [source] Conceptualizing desertification in Southern Europe: stakeholder interpretations and multiple policy agendasENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND GOVERNANCE, Issue 4 2005M. Juntti Abstract This paper explores the link between agricultural, environmental and structural policies and desertification in Southern Europe. The focus is on the way policy goals evolve in the implementation process and become translated into actions at the operative level. The results derive from policy stakeholder interviews from four research areas situated in Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain. The significance of policies as drivers of desertification varies between the case study areas, and harmful land management practices often result from power imbalances between interest groups involved in land-use planning and policy implementation rather than from flaws in the policies themselves. The vagueness of the definition of what ,desertification' constitutes allows for different interpretations of its nature, significance and the consequent weight it is given in land management decision-making, thus lending itself to be both misinterpreted and misappropriated by different stakeholder interests. The paper discusses the interplay between five different discourses of desertification and four distinct agendas of policy implementation and land use. The agendas either enhance or mitigate desertification and represent the interests of actors who have acquired a powerful position in the network of stakeholders, often relying on, and simultaneously maintaining, discourses and structures that lend them first right to decision-making over the natural resources of the locality. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment. [source] Profile: air quality regulation policy in PortugalENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND GOVERNANCE, Issue 1 2004João F. P. Gomes Ten years after the publication of the first air quality laws in Portugal, and seven years after the publication of the respective emission limits, it seems appropriate to analyse the degree of law enforcement by the Portuguese manufacturing industry. Therefore, based on the emission measurements made regularly by ISQ as the only officially accredited laboratory, a set of about 400 sources is analysed in terms of the compliance with the emission limits regarding total suspended particulate, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and VOCs. The compliance is evaluated through a non-dimensional parameter and plotted versus the emission flow rate to derive conclusions: it was noticed that emission limits are generally respected regarding sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, which does not happen for the other pollutants considered in this study. However, the non-compliance occurs mainly for very low emission flow rates, which suggests some alterations in the emission limits' applicability, which is being revised at the moment. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment. [source] Characterizing sediment acid volatile sulfide concentrations in European streamsENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 1 2007G. Allen Burton Abstract Sediment acid volatile sulfide (AVS) concentrations were measured in wadeable streams of a wide variety of ecoregions of western Europe (84 sites in 10 countries and nine ecoregions) to better understand spatial distribution and ecoregion relationships. Acid volatile sulfide has been shown to be a major factor controlling the bioavailability and toxicity of many common trace metals, such as Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn. Sediment characteristics varied widely. The ratio of the sum of the simultaneously extracted metals (SEM) to AVS ranged from 0.03 to 486.59. The ,SEM-AVS ranged from ,40.02 to 17.71 ,mol/g. On a regional scale, sediment characteristics such as dominant parent soil material showed significant trends in AVS distribution and variation by ecoregion. Total Fe and Mn were correlated weakly with SEM concentrations. Three AVS model approaches (i.e., the SEMAVS ratio, SEM-AVS difference, and carbon normalization) were compared at threshold exceedance levels of SEM/AVS > 9, SEM-AVS > 2, and SEM-AVS/foc > 150 ,mol/g organic carbon (OC). Only 4.76% of the sediments exceeded all three AVS thresholds; 22.6% of the sediments exceeded two models; and 13% of the sediments exceeded one model only. Using the SEM:AVS, SEM-AVS, and fraction of organic carbon models, and including site-specific data and regional soil characteristics, ecoregions 1 (Portugal), 3 (Italy), 4 (Switzerland), and 9 (Belgium/Germany) had the highest potential metals toxicity; ecoregions 13 and 8 (Belgium/France) showed the lowest potential toxicity. However, because AVS can vary widely spatially and temporally, these data should not be considered as representative of the sampled ecoregions. The general relationship between AVS levels and sediment characteristics provides some predictive capability for wadeable streams in the European ecoregions. [source] Variation of metallothionein and metal concentrations in the digestive gland of the clam Ruditapes decussatus: Sex and seasonal effectsENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 3 2001Maria A. Serafim Abstract Metallothionein (MT) and metal (Cd, Cu, and Zn) concentrations were determined in the digestive gland of male and female Ruditapes decussatus. Clams were collected monthly during the period of sexual development, from June to September, at two different sites of a coastal lagoon, the Ria Formosa Lagoon, on the south coast of Portugal. The MT concentrations were determined in the heat-treated cytosolic fraction of the digestive gland of both male and female clams. Total metal (Cd, Cu, and Zn) concentrations in the heat-treated cytosol of the digestive gland were also determined in both sexes. The MT and metal concentrations in the digestive gland were not sex dependent in this species. Therefore, these results suggest that random samples can be used to determine MT and metal concentrations in the digestive gland of R. decussatus. Seasonal and site-specific dependency, however, were detected for MT, Cd, and Cu concentrations. The maximum concentration levels of MT, Cd, and Cu were detected in July and August for both sexes in the same area. Zinc concentrations, however, did not show marked seasonal variations, indicating that this species is able to regulate zinc concentrations. The highest MT concentrations were significantly related to the highest metal concentrations. [source] Whiteflies on tomato crops in Portugal,EPPO BULLETIN, Issue 1 2002A. Lopes In Portugal during the 1960/1980s, there was intensive development of vegetable crop production, in particular protected crops, of which tomato was the most important. The main producing regions now are Ribatejo e Oeste, Alentejo and Algarve. Tomato presents extensive phytosanitary problems, being host to a wide range of pests, including the whiteflies Trialeurodes vaporariorum, in protected crops, and Bemisia tabaci, in protected and field crops. Portugal has applied for the status of an EU ,protected zone' for this latter pest. As B. tabaci is an important vector of a large number of viruses, including tomato yellow leaf curl viruses (TYLCV), a monitoring programme of the tomato crop was implemented in Portugal. Preliminary data are presented concerning B. tabaci in the three main tomato-growing regions of the country. [source] Situation of the whiteflies Bemisia tabaci and Trialeurodes vaporariorum in protected tomato crops in Algarve (Portugal),EPPO BULLETIN, Issue 1 2002N. E. Ramos Protected tomato is the most important horticultural crop in the Algarve (south of Portugal). However, the growing area has decreased by almost 48% since 1995, mainly as a result of the pests Bemisia tabaci and Trialeurodes vaporariorum and the epidemics of Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV), a Begomovirus transmitted by B. tabaci. Both whiteflies are vectors of economically important viruses. Recently, Tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV), a member of the genus Crinivirus, transmitted by both B. tabaci and T. vaporariorum, was reported infecting tomato crops in Algarve. A study was carried out to evaluate the dynamics of whitefly populations on tomato crops in Algarve. Population counts of B. tabaci were high in the first months of autumn, then decreased until January, when numbers of T. vaporariorum became higher. Counts of B. tabaci then increased again. [source] The alcohol,tobacco relationship: a prospective study among adolescents in six European countriesADDICTION, Issue 12 2003J. J. L. Wetzels ABSTRACT Aim This study examined the earliest stages in drug involvement, in terms of the relationship between alcohol and tobacco use, among adolescents from six European countries (Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom). International, gender and age differences were studied. Design, setting and participants A large international sample of European adolescents (n = 10170, mean age = 13.3 years) was followed longitudinally. Data were gathered in the autumn terms of 1998 and 1999 by means of self-administered questionnaires. Measures Adolescents' self-reports on smoking and alcohol behaviour were used. Both behaviours were classified into two categories, that of adolescents who had never used the substance and that of those who had used the substance at least once in their lives. Logistic regression was used to determine which substance was the best predictor of the subsequent use of the other substance. Findings Alcohol use and tobacco use were found to be associated with each other reciprocally. Results revealed that in Europe as a whole, tobacco use predicted subsequent alcohol use better than the converse. However, for Dutch girls, alcohol use predicted subsequent smoking behaviour better than the converse. Conclusion The findings suggest that the development of alcohol and tobacco use patterns are closely related, but the order of progression is not universal and may reflect cultural factors. [source] Stepwise geographical traceability of virgin olive oils by chemical profiles using artificial neural network modelsEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF LIPID SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, Issue 10 2009Diego L. García-González Abstract The geographical traceability of virgin olive oils implies the use of analytical methods that allow the identification of the origin of the oil and the authentication of the information boasted on the labels. In this work, the geographical identification of the virgin olive oils has been addressed by complete chemical characterisation of samples (64 compounds analysed by GC and HPLC) and the design of artificial neural network (ANN) models for each one of the levels of a proposed classification scheme. A high number of samples (687) from Spain, Italy and Portugal served as training and test sets for the ANN models. The highest classification level, focused on the grouping of samples by country, was achieved through analysis of fatty acids, with 99.9% of samples classified. Other levels (region, province, Protected Designations of Origin or PDO) were focused on Spanish oils and required additional series of compounds (sterols, alcohols, hydrocarbons) as well as the fatty acids to obtain classification rates higher than 90%. The classification of oils into different PDOs , the last and most difficult level of classification , showed the highest root mean square errors. The classification percentages, however, were still higher than 90% in the test set, which proves the application of the traceability methodology for a chemical verification of PDO claims. [source] Pedotransfer functions for solute transport parameters of Portuguese soilsEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE, Issue 4 2001M. C. Gonc, alves Summary The purpose of this study is to quantify solute transport parameters of fine-textured soils in an irrigation district in southern Portugal and to investigate their prediction from basic soil properties and unsaturated hydraulic parameters. Solute displacement experiments were carried out on 24 undisturbed soil samples by applying a 0.05 m KCl pulse during steady flow. The chloride breakthrough curves (BTCs) were asymmetric, with early breakthrough and considerable tailing characteristic of non-equilibrium transport. The retardation factor (R), dispersion coefficient (D), partitioning coefficient (,), and mass transfer coefficient (,) were estimated by optimizing the solution of the non-equilibrium convection,dispersion equation (CDE) to the breakthrough data. The solution could adequately describe the observed data as proved by a median of 0.972 for the coefficient of determination (r2) and a median for the mean squared error (MSE) of 5.1 × 10,6. The median value for R of 0.587 suggests that Cl, was excluded from a substantial part of the liquid phase. The value for , was typically less than 0.5, but the non-equilibrium effects were mitigated by a large mass transfer coefficient (, > 1). Pedotransfer functions (PTFs) were developed with regression and neural network analyses to predict R, D, , and , from basic soil properties and unsaturated hydraulic parameters. Fairly accurate predictions could be obtained for logD (r2 , 0.9) and , (r2 , 0.8). Prediction for R and log, were relatively poor (r2 , 0.5). The artificial neural networks were all somewhat more accurate than the regression equations. The networks are also more suitable for predicting transport parameters because they require only three input variables, whereas the regression equations contain many predictor variables. [source] RESEARCH ARTICLE: Farysizyma gen. nov., an anamorphic genus in the Ustilaginales to accommodate three novel epiphytic basidiomycetous yeast species from America, Europe and AsiaFEMS YEAST RESEARCH, Issue 3 2008João Inácio Abstract Among many isolates that resulted from four independent surveys of yeasts associated with plants in Brazil, the USA, Portugal and Taiwan, we have characterized eighteen basidiomycetous strains, two of which were conspecific with the type strain of Rhodotorula acheniorum, whereas the remaining sixteen isolates appeared not to correspond to any previously described species. Microsatellite-PCR fingerprinting with primers M13 and (GTG)5 confirmed that the latter strains formed three genetically distinct groups. Each group was considered to represent a distinct species based on nucleotide sequences of the D1/D2 domains of the 26S rRNA gene and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. Phylogenetic analyses of sequence data placed the putative novel species in a clade with R. acheniorum and the dimorphic smut fungus Farysia chardoniana. A novel anamorphic genus, Farysizyma, is created to accommodate the three undescribed species, which were named Farysizyma itapuensis, Farysizyma setubalensis and Farysizyma taiwaniana. A new combination, Farysizyma acheniorum, is proposed for R. acheniorum, which may represent the yeast-phase anamorph of Farysia thuemenii. [source] Diplodus spp. assemblages on artificial reefs: importance for near shore fisheriesFISHERIES MANAGEMENT & ECOLOGY, Issue 2 2009F. LEITÃO Abstract, Artificial reefs have been deployed along the southern coast of Portugal (Algarve) since 1990 to enhance artisanal fisheries. The objectives of this study were to: (1) describe the colonisation process; (2) assess the role of the artificial reefs in terms of juvenile recruitment and growth and as mating/spawning areas and (3) evaluate the potential of artificial reefs as near shore artisanal fishing grounds for three economically important fish species, Diplodus bellottii (Steindachner), Diplodus sargus (L.) and Diplodus vulgaris (Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire). The fish assemblages were monitored after the deployment of a large artificial reef (Faro/Ancão) in 2002. Colonisation rates for the three species were fast. Artificial reefs play a multiple role for Diplodus spp., acting as recruitment, growth and nursery areas for juveniles, and spawning/mating areas for adults, and can thus be considered essential fish habitat. Three months after deployment of the artificial reefs, exploitable biomass was 16, 29 and 8 kg per reef group, respectively, for D. bellotti, D. sargus and D. vulgaris. These results indicate that artificial reefs quickly become good fishing grounds, where suitable financial yields may be obtained by fisher. Moreover, the artificial reefs became new and alternative fishing grounds, allowing reduction of fishing effort over traditional rocky areas that are scarce along the Algarve coast. Management measures for artificial reefs, in terms of fishing strategies, are discussed. [source] Assessing biotic integrity in a Mediterranean watershed: development and evaluation of a fish-based indexFISHERIES MANAGEMENT & ECOLOGY, Issue 4 2008M. F. MAGALHÃES Abstract, Biological indicators for Mediterranean rivers are poorly developed. This study evaluates the effectiveness of the Index of Biotic Integrity approach (IBI) with fish assemblages in the Guadiana catchment, a typical Mediterranean watershed in Southern Portugal. Reference sites were selected from a set of 95 sites, using a multivariate approach. Fifty-five candidate metrics were screened for range, responsiveness, precision and redundancy. Final metrics included: proportion of native fish, number of intolerant and intermediate species, number of invertivore native fish, number of phyto-lithophilic and polyphilic species, and catches of exotics. The IBI scores correlated with composite gradients of human impact and differed significantly between reference and non-reference sites. Application of the IBI to an independent validation set with 123 sites produced results congruent with the development set and repeatable assessments at 22 sites showed concordance in IBI scoring. This application highlights the effectiveness of the IBI approach even with fish assemblages of limited diversity and ecological specialisation as in Mediterranean streams. [source] Trends in NE Atlantic landings (southern Portugal): identifying the relative importance of fisheries and environmental variablesFISHERIES OCEANOGRAPHY, Issue 3 2005KARIM ERZINI Abstract Time series of commercial landings from the Algarve (southern Portugal) from 1982 to 1999 were analyzed using min/max autocorrelation factor analysis (MAFA) and dynamic factor analysis (DFA). These techniques were used to identify trends and explore the relationships between the response variables (annual landings of 12 species) and explanatory variables [sea surface temperature, rainfall, an upwelling index, Guadiana river (south-east Portugal) flow, the North Atlantic oscillation, the number of licensed fishing vessels and the number of commercial fishermen]. Landings were more highly correlated with non-lagged environmental variables and in particular with Guadiana river flow. Both techniques gave coherent results, with the most important trend being a steady decline over time. A DFA model with two explanatory variables (Guadiana river flow and number of fishermen) and three common trends (smoothing functions over time) gave good fits to 10 of the 12 species. Results of other models indicated that river flow is the more important explanatory variable in this model. Changes in the mean flow and discharge regime of the Guadiana river resulting from the construction of the Alqueva dam, completed in 2002, are therefore likely to have a significant and deleterious impact on Algarve fisheries landings. [source] Antioxidant activity of six Portuguese thyme species essential oils,FLAVOUR AND FRAGRANCE JOURNAL, Issue 3 2010S. Anahi Dandlen Abstract The essential oils of Thymus caespititius, T. camphoratus, T. capitellatus, T. carnosus, T. pulegioides, T. zygis subsp. zygis and T. zygis subsp. sylvestris collected in different regions of Portugal, including the Azores islands, were evaluated for preventing lipid peroxidation and scavenging free radicals, and hydroxyl and superoxide anions. T. zygis subsp. zygis oil possessed the best capacity for preventing lipid peroxidation (IC50 = 0.030 ± 0.003,mg/ml), immediately followed by the oils isolated from T. zygis subsp. sylvestris collected in different regions of Portugal. IC50 values ranged from 0.066 ± 0.003 to 0.087 ± 0.001,mg/ml in oils isolated from samples from Alcanena and Duas Igrejas, respectively. The oils isolated from T. zygis subsp. sylvestris, independent of the harvesting region, were shown to be the most effective for scavenging free radicals (0.358,0.453,mg/ml). The best capacity for scavenging hydroxyl radicals was found in the oils of T. camphoratus collected in Espartal and of T. caespititius of Lordelo, with IC50 < 0.5,mg/ml. The low oil amount did not allow IC50 values for the superoxide anion scavenging determination, therefore considering a unique oil concentration (5,mg/ml), the highest inhibition percentages (?50%) were registered with the essential oils of T. zygis subsp. sylvestris from Duas Igrejas and Covão do Coelho, and of T. capitellatus from Sines. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Pittosporum undulatum Vent. grown in Portugal: secretory structures, seasonal variation and enantiomeric composition of its essential oilFLAVOUR AND FRAGRANCE JOURNAL, Issue 1 2007Nicolau J. Ferreira Abstract Aerial parts of Pittosporum undulatum were collected fortnightly for 1 year at the Parque de Saúde de Lisboa. Collective samples of two populations were investigated, i.e. from pruned and non-pruned trees, and in addition samples from one pruned and one non-pruned individual. An SEM study of the aerial parts showed the presence of non-glandular T-shaped trichomes, and capitate trichomes with an elongated stalk and two to four round-shaped cells on the top. Numerous canals were seen at the level of the capsule wall as well as in the leaves and stems. Essential oil samples were isolated from the (deep-frozen) aerial parts by hydrodistillation to estimate the oil yields, and by distillation,extraction to determine their percentage composition, and analysed by GC and GC,MS. Monoterpenes (59,97%) were dominant in all oils, sabinene (5,58%), limonene (2,37%) and terpinen-4-ol (4,27%) being the major components, although in different relative amounts during the year of collection. Benzyl benzoate (8%) and benzyl salicylate (10%) attained high relative amounts in the oils from fully developed flowers, whereas in the oils from the other plant parts their relative amounts did not exceed 1%. The enantiomeric ratio of sabinene, limonene and terpinen-4-ol was investigated in the leaf, flower and capsule oils, showing dominance of the (+)-forms and homogeneity between all the oil samples. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Crayfish effects on seeds and seedlings: identification and quantification of damageFRESHWATER BIOLOGY, Issue 4 2005PEDRO M. ANASTÁCIO Summary 1. The red-swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) is an invasive species and an important pest of wet-seeded rice fields (Oryza sativa) in California (U.S.A.) and in Portugal. Our work quantifies rice consumption and non-consumptive destruction and identifies the types of direct damage inflicted by crayfish. 2. The following fractions were quantified in the presence and absence of crayfish and at 3 and 6 days of rice development: (1) non-germinated seeds, (2) damaged seeds, (3) seeds not recovered, (4) intact rooted seedlings, (5) rooted damaged seedlings, (6) uprooted intact seedlings, (7) uprooted damaged seedlings. 3. Coarse particulate organic matter (CPOM) fragments produced during the feeding process were <2% of the material removed by crayfish. 4. Damage occurred with or without uprooting of the plants, but the incidence of uprooting without consumption was low (1.4%). 5. Consumption of recently developed parts of the rice plant was the main cause of damage and the observed effect was stronger on 6-day-old than on 3-day-old seedlings. Seedlings were more affected by crayfish than were seeds. 6. Crayfish affected the majority of seeds and seedlings available although consumption was low: 0.015 g dry weight (DW) rice g,1 wet weight (WW) crayfish per 12 h at 3 days and 0.063 g DW rice g,1 WW crayfish per 12 h at 6 days. 7. Our results are important for the mitigation of crayfish related problems in rice fields and for understanding the mechanisms of crayfish-macrophyte interactions. [source] Stratigraphy and formation processes of the Upper Pleistocene deposit at Gruta da Oliveira, Almonda karstic system, Torres Novas, PortugalGEOARCHAEOLOGY: AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL, Issue 3 2009Diego E. Angelucci Gruta da Oliveira is a cave located in the Almonda karstic system in central Portugal. Its Upper Pleistocene fill is made up of gravitational sediments with varied biogenic and anthropogenic inputs. The archaeological sequence (35,70 ka) is fairly homogeneous, reflecting a predominantly moist climatic context modulated by millennial-scale variations. Human occupation was almost continuous throughout. In the richer archaeological layers (8,14), the anthropogenic components are in primary position, and post-depositional processes are restricted, although penecontemporaneous biological activity,such as hyena scavenging,overprinted the record. In layers 15,19, the excavated area corresponds to the footslope of a talus, where accumulation proceeded mainly through runoff and where the lithics and bones derive from occupations situated ca. 5m outward. The base of the deposit is >2m from the current base of the excavation, suggesting that Oxygen Isotope Stage (OIS)-4 and OIS-5 sediments underlay the deposit already exposed. This study confirms the archaeological integrity of the Mousterian assemblages found in the different layers, and, given the dates for layer 8, supports the hypothesis that Neanderthals survived in western Iberia until at least 35,000,38,000 calendar years ago. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] Chemical and isotopic signatures of Na/HCO3/CO2 -rich geofluids, North PortugalGEOFLUIDS (ELECTRONIC), Issue 4 2006J. M. MARQUES Abstract Geochemical and isotopic studies have been undertaken to assess the origin of CO2 -rich waters issuing in the northern part of Portugal. These solutions are hot (76°C) to cold (17°C) Na,HCO3 mineral waters. The ,2H and ,18O signatures of the mineral waters reflect the influence of altitude on meteoric recharge. The lack of an 18O-shift indicates there has been no high temperature water,rock interaction at depth, corroborating the results of several chemical geothermometers (reservoir temperature of about 120°C). The low 14C activity (up to 9.9 pmC) measured in some of the cold CO2 -rich mineral waters (total dissolved inorganic carbon) is incompatible with the presence of 3H (from 1.7 to 4.1 TU) in those waters, which indicates relatively short subsurface circulation times. The ,13C values of CO2 gas and dissolved inorganic carbon range between ,6, and ,1, versus Vienna-Peedee Belemnite, indicating that the total carbon in the recharge waters is being diluted by larger quantities of CO2 (14C-free) introduced from deep-seated (upper mantle) sources, masking the 14C-dating values. The differences in the 87Sr/86Sr ratios of the studied thermal and mineral waters seem to be caused by water,rock interaction with different granitic rocks. Chlorine isotope signatures (,0.4, < ,37Cl < +0.4, versus standard mean ocean chloride) indicate that Cl in these waters could be derived from mixing of a small amount of igneous Cl from leaching of granitic rocks. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||