Graduated in Faunistic Resources and Environment (1988) at Faculty of Sciences of Lisbon University, and PhD in Marine Sciences – Marine Ecology (2004), started her academic career at University of the Azores in 1990, as assistant trainee. Main research interest is in marine and freshwater biodiversity: aquatic invertebrate biology and ecology and, to a lesser extent, invertebrate taxonomy. The work on freshwater systems started with the invasive crayfish in São Miguel (1996), and in 2004 broadened to freshwater benthic macroinvertebrates and water quality monitoring under WFD. She has been involved in Coastal Zone Management Planning for small islands in the Azores, Marine Spatial Planning and Conservation in Marine Protected Areas. Teaches in University of the Azores since 1991 several courses among which Invertebrate Zoology, Biological Oceanography, Coastal Biology, Ecotoxicology, Marine Environment, Aquatic Ecosystems.
Anais do XII Workshop de Computação Aplicada à Gestão do Meio Ambiente e Recursos Naturais (WCAMA 2021), 2021
Current literature shows the lack of learning object repositories exclusively related to environm... more Current literature shows the lack of learning object repositories exclusively related to environmental education and that there is no predominant software. This paper presents Re-Mar, a marine learning object repository based on open source software. Re-Mar is a part of an effort to promote ocean literacy through educational content for students and teachers. The repository is supported by computational technologies to catalog and organize learning objects to retrieve and reuse. Our prototype shows that is possible to store, catalog, retrieve, and link learning objects to support environmental education and coping with learning objects lifecycle. This is the first step to future aggregation of linked data, ontologies, and artificial intelligence aspects.
Contrasting (sand, algae, rocky-dominated, mixed) benthic habitats were sampled to characterize m... more Contrasting (sand, algae, rocky-dominated, mixed) benthic habitats were sampled to characterize marine nematode diversity inhabiting surface sediments in São Miguel (Azores, North-East Atlantic Ocean) in July 2019. Nematodes were extracted from the surface layer of sediments and morphologically identified using light microscopy. Nematode taxonomy was based on living/fresh specimens) to ensure a suitable recognition of morphological traits. Our results provide a preliminary checklist of free-living marine nematode genera from 21 intertidal and sublittoral sandy beach sites along the coast of São Miguel island, Azores archipelago, Portugal. The nematode fauna was represented by 4 orders, 21 families, and 43 genera.Cyatholaimus,DesmodoraandDaptonemahad two morphospecies each. Enoplida was represented by 8 families and 13 genera, while Chromadorida by 7 families and 18 genera, the latter corresponding to the most diverse nematode group. Monhysterida had 5 families and 10 genera and Arae...
Invasive alien species are a major worldwide driver of biodiversity change. The current study lis... more Invasive alien species are a major worldwide driver of biodiversity change. The current study lists verified records of non-indigenous species (NIS) in European marine waters until 2020, with the purpose of establishing a baseline, assessing trends, and discussing appropriate threshold values for good environmental status (GES) according to the relevant European legislation. All NIS records were verified by national experts and trends are presented in six-year assessment periods from 1970 to 2020 according to the European Union Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Altogether, 874 NIS have been introduced to European marine waters until 2020 with the Mediterranean Sea and North-East Atlantic Ocean hosting most of the introductions. Overall, the number of new introductions has steadily increased since 2000. The annual rate of new introductions reached 21 new NIS in European seas within the last six-year assessment period (2012–2017). This increase is likely due to increased human acti...
AimsThe present study is the first attempt to grasp the scale and richness of marine biological i... more AimsThe present study is the first attempt to grasp the scale and richness of marine biological invasions in Macaronesia. We pioneered a comprehensive non‐native species (NNS), inventory in the region to determine their diversity patterns and native distribution origins. NNS were defined here as the result of both introductions and range expansions. We also used statistical modelling to examine relationships among NNS richness, anthropogenic activities, demographic and geographical variables across Macaronesia.LocationMacaronesia.MethodsA comprehensive literature search was conducted for marine NNS records in Macaronesia, registering the first record's location and year from 1884 to 2020. We used univariate and multivariate analyses to evaluate differences and similarities in community composition. By applying a Generalized Linear Model (GLM), we tested hypotheses regarding NNS richness as a function of anthropogenic activities, demographic and geographical variables.ResultsA to...
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2022
Pedro M. Raposeiro , Armand Hern andez, Sergi Pla-Rabes , V ıtor Gonçalves , Roberto Bao , Albert... more Pedro M. Raposeiro , Armand Hern andez, Sergi Pla-Rabes , V ıtor Gonçalves , Roberto Bao , Alberto S aez , Timothy Shanahan, Mario Benavente , Erik J. de Boer, Nora Richter, Ver onica Gordon, Helena Marques , Pedro M. Sousa, Mart ın Souto , Miguel G. Matias , Nicole Aguiar, C atia Pereira, Catarina Ritter , Mar ıa Jes us Rubio , Marina Salcedo , David V azquez-Loureiro , Olga Margalef , Linda A. Amaral-Zettler , Ana Cristina Costa , Yongsong Huang , Jacqueline F. N. van Leeuwen, Pere Masqu e , Ricardo Prego , Ana Carolina Ruiz-Fern andez , Joan-Albert Sanchez-Cabeza , Ricardo Trigo, and Santiago Giralt
The algal flora of the Island of Santa Maria (eastern group of the Azores archipelago) has attrac... more The algal flora of the Island of Santa Maria (eastern group of the Azores archipelago) has attracted interest of researchers on past occasions (Drouët 1866, Agardh 1870, Trelease 1897, Schmidt 1931, Ardré et al. 1974, Fralick and Hehre 1990, Neto et al. 1991, Morton and Britton 2000, Amen et al. 2005, Wallenstein and Neto 2006, Tittley et al. 2009, Wallenstein et al. 2009a, Wallenstein et al. 2010, Botelho et al. 2010, Torres et al. 2010, León-Cisneros et al. 2011, Martins et al. 2014, Micael et al. 2014, Rebelo et al. 2014, Ávila et al. 2015, Ávila et al. 2016, Machín-Sánchez et al. 2016, Uchman et al. 2016, Johnson et al. 2017, Parente et al. 2018). Nevertheless, the Island macroalgal flora is not well-known as published information reflects limited collections obtained in short-term visits by scientists. To overcome this, a thorough investigation, encompassing collections and presence data recording, was undertaken at both the littoral and sublittoral levels down to a depth of ap...
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2021
Significance We use a diverse set of lake and landscape proxy indicators to characterize initial ... more Significance We use a diverse set of lake and landscape proxy indicators to characterize initial human occupation and its impacts on the Azores Archipelago. The occupation of these islands began between 700 and 850 CE, 700 years earlier than suggested by documentary sources. These early occupations caused widespread ecological and landscape disturbance and raise doubts about the islands' presumed pristine nature during Portuguese arrival. The earliest explorers arrived at the end of the early Middle Ages, when temperatures were higher than average, and the westerly winds were weaker, facilitating arrivals to the archipelago from northeastern Europe and inhibiting exploration from southern Europe. This is consistent with archaeological and genetic research suggesting the Norse were the first to colonize the Azores Archipelago.
Detection of new non-indigenous species is often delayed when taxonomically challenging taxa are ... more Detection of new non-indigenous species is often delayed when taxonomically challenging taxa are involved, such as small-sized marine organisms. The present study highlights the relevance of scientific cooperation in the early detection of the invader amphipod Stenothoe georgiana. Originally described from North Carolina (USA), the species was recently found in Chile and the Western Mediterranean. Here, we provide the first record of the species in Macaronesia, Atlantic coasts of continental Europe, North Africa and Australia, and extend its known distribution along the Mediterranean coast. Just like other small crustaceans, shipping (including recreational boating) and aquaculture are probably the main vectors of introduction and secondary spread for this amphipod species. This case of S. georgiana sheds light on the importance of promoting taxonomical knowledge, and building multidisciplinary expertise networks that ensure an effective spread of alien species information. We also ...
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 2020
The amphipod Ericthonius didymus Krapp-Schickel, 2013 is reported for the first time outside its ... more The amphipod Ericthonius didymus Krapp-Schickel, 2013 is reported for the first time outside its type locality in European waters, from the French Atlantic coast and from the Azores, Portugal. In particular, a large population was recorded in Arcachon, France. Molecular analyses were made to confirm the validity of three closely related Ericthonius species: E. didymus, E. convexus and E. pugnax. An identification key is provided, distinguishing Ericthonius species into three groups, based on the presence or absence of stridulating ridges on coxa 2 and posterodistal lobe on basis of male pereopod 5.
Anais do XII Workshop de Computação Aplicada à Gestão do Meio Ambiente e Recursos Naturais (WCAMA 2021), 2021
Current literature shows the lack of learning object repositories exclusively related to environm... more Current literature shows the lack of learning object repositories exclusively related to environmental education and that there is no predominant software. This paper presents Re-Mar, a marine learning object repository based on open source software. Re-Mar is a part of an effort to promote ocean literacy through educational content for students and teachers. The repository is supported by computational technologies to catalog and organize learning objects to retrieve and reuse. Our prototype shows that is possible to store, catalog, retrieve, and link learning objects to support environmental education and coping with learning objects lifecycle. This is the first step to future aggregation of linked data, ontologies, and artificial intelligence aspects.
Contrasting (sand, algae, rocky-dominated, mixed) benthic habitats were sampled to characterize m... more Contrasting (sand, algae, rocky-dominated, mixed) benthic habitats were sampled to characterize marine nematode diversity inhabiting surface sediments in São Miguel (Azores, North-East Atlantic Ocean) in July 2019. Nematodes were extracted from the surface layer of sediments and morphologically identified using light microscopy. Nematode taxonomy was based on living/fresh specimens) to ensure a suitable recognition of morphological traits. Our results provide a preliminary checklist of free-living marine nematode genera from 21 intertidal and sublittoral sandy beach sites along the coast of São Miguel island, Azores archipelago, Portugal. The nematode fauna was represented by 4 orders, 21 families, and 43 genera.Cyatholaimus,DesmodoraandDaptonemahad two morphospecies each. Enoplida was represented by 8 families and 13 genera, while Chromadorida by 7 families and 18 genera, the latter corresponding to the most diverse nematode group. Monhysterida had 5 families and 10 genera and Arae...
Invasive alien species are a major worldwide driver of biodiversity change. The current study lis... more Invasive alien species are a major worldwide driver of biodiversity change. The current study lists verified records of non-indigenous species (NIS) in European marine waters until 2020, with the purpose of establishing a baseline, assessing trends, and discussing appropriate threshold values for good environmental status (GES) according to the relevant European legislation. All NIS records were verified by national experts and trends are presented in six-year assessment periods from 1970 to 2020 according to the European Union Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Altogether, 874 NIS have been introduced to European marine waters until 2020 with the Mediterranean Sea and North-East Atlantic Ocean hosting most of the introductions. Overall, the number of new introductions has steadily increased since 2000. The annual rate of new introductions reached 21 new NIS in European seas within the last six-year assessment period (2012–2017). This increase is likely due to increased human acti...
AimsThe present study is the first attempt to grasp the scale and richness of marine biological i... more AimsThe present study is the first attempt to grasp the scale and richness of marine biological invasions in Macaronesia. We pioneered a comprehensive non‐native species (NNS), inventory in the region to determine their diversity patterns and native distribution origins. NNS were defined here as the result of both introductions and range expansions. We also used statistical modelling to examine relationships among NNS richness, anthropogenic activities, demographic and geographical variables across Macaronesia.LocationMacaronesia.MethodsA comprehensive literature search was conducted for marine NNS records in Macaronesia, registering the first record's location and year from 1884 to 2020. We used univariate and multivariate analyses to evaluate differences and similarities in community composition. By applying a Generalized Linear Model (GLM), we tested hypotheses regarding NNS richness as a function of anthropogenic activities, demographic and geographical variables.ResultsA to...
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2022
Pedro M. Raposeiro , Armand Hern andez, Sergi Pla-Rabes , V ıtor Gonçalves , Roberto Bao , Albert... more Pedro M. Raposeiro , Armand Hern andez, Sergi Pla-Rabes , V ıtor Gonçalves , Roberto Bao , Alberto S aez , Timothy Shanahan, Mario Benavente , Erik J. de Boer, Nora Richter, Ver onica Gordon, Helena Marques , Pedro M. Sousa, Mart ın Souto , Miguel G. Matias , Nicole Aguiar, C atia Pereira, Catarina Ritter , Mar ıa Jes us Rubio , Marina Salcedo , David V azquez-Loureiro , Olga Margalef , Linda A. Amaral-Zettler , Ana Cristina Costa , Yongsong Huang , Jacqueline F. N. van Leeuwen, Pere Masqu e , Ricardo Prego , Ana Carolina Ruiz-Fern andez , Joan-Albert Sanchez-Cabeza , Ricardo Trigo, and Santiago Giralt
The algal flora of the Island of Santa Maria (eastern group of the Azores archipelago) has attrac... more The algal flora of the Island of Santa Maria (eastern group of the Azores archipelago) has attracted interest of researchers on past occasions (Drouët 1866, Agardh 1870, Trelease 1897, Schmidt 1931, Ardré et al. 1974, Fralick and Hehre 1990, Neto et al. 1991, Morton and Britton 2000, Amen et al. 2005, Wallenstein and Neto 2006, Tittley et al. 2009, Wallenstein et al. 2009a, Wallenstein et al. 2010, Botelho et al. 2010, Torres et al. 2010, León-Cisneros et al. 2011, Martins et al. 2014, Micael et al. 2014, Rebelo et al. 2014, Ávila et al. 2015, Ávila et al. 2016, Machín-Sánchez et al. 2016, Uchman et al. 2016, Johnson et al. 2017, Parente et al. 2018). Nevertheless, the Island macroalgal flora is not well-known as published information reflects limited collections obtained in short-term visits by scientists. To overcome this, a thorough investigation, encompassing collections and presence data recording, was undertaken at both the littoral and sublittoral levels down to a depth of ap...
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2021
Significance We use a diverse set of lake and landscape proxy indicators to characterize initial ... more Significance We use a diverse set of lake and landscape proxy indicators to characterize initial human occupation and its impacts on the Azores Archipelago. The occupation of these islands began between 700 and 850 CE, 700 years earlier than suggested by documentary sources. These early occupations caused widespread ecological and landscape disturbance and raise doubts about the islands' presumed pristine nature during Portuguese arrival. The earliest explorers arrived at the end of the early Middle Ages, when temperatures were higher than average, and the westerly winds were weaker, facilitating arrivals to the archipelago from northeastern Europe and inhibiting exploration from southern Europe. This is consistent with archaeological and genetic research suggesting the Norse were the first to colonize the Azores Archipelago.
Detection of new non-indigenous species is often delayed when taxonomically challenging taxa are ... more Detection of new non-indigenous species is often delayed when taxonomically challenging taxa are involved, such as small-sized marine organisms. The present study highlights the relevance of scientific cooperation in the early detection of the invader amphipod Stenothoe georgiana. Originally described from North Carolina (USA), the species was recently found in Chile and the Western Mediterranean. Here, we provide the first record of the species in Macaronesia, Atlantic coasts of continental Europe, North Africa and Australia, and extend its known distribution along the Mediterranean coast. Just like other small crustaceans, shipping (including recreational boating) and aquaculture are probably the main vectors of introduction and secondary spread for this amphipod species. This case of S. georgiana sheds light on the importance of promoting taxonomical knowledge, and building multidisciplinary expertise networks that ensure an effective spread of alien species information. We also ...
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 2020
The amphipod Ericthonius didymus Krapp-Schickel, 2013 is reported for the first time outside its ... more The amphipod Ericthonius didymus Krapp-Schickel, 2013 is reported for the first time outside its type locality in European waters, from the French Atlantic coast and from the Azores, Portugal. In particular, a large population was recorded in Arcachon, France. Molecular analyses were made to confirm the validity of three closely related Ericthonius species: E. didymus, E. convexus and E. pugnax. An identification key is provided, distinguishing Ericthonius species into three groups, based on the presence or absence of stridulating ridges on coxa 2 and posterodistal lobe on basis of male pereopod 5.
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