Publications

@article{MILLE2027127441,

title = {Multi-tracer evidence of ecological segregation in common dolphins from the European Atlantic, with conservation and management implications},

author = {Tiphaine Mille and Paula Méndez-Fernandez and Florence Caurant and etc and Filipe Alves and Rita Ferreira and etc and Tiphaine Chouvelon},

url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1617138126002335},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnc.2026.127441},

issn = {1617-1381},

year  = {2027},

date = {2027-09-19},

urldate = {2027-01-01},

journal = {Journal for Nature Conservation},

volume = {95},

pages = {127441},

abstract = {Delineating population (sub)structure is critical to support species conservation efforts but is traditionally derived from genetics, which may provide insufficient resolution at the ecological scale – weeks-to-years – for management issues. In the northeast Atlantic, the common dolphin Delphinus delphis is widely distributed but subject to high bycatch rates. While genetic markers indicate one large panmictic population, geographical variations in biogeochemical tracers were investigated here to identify potential discrete units of ecological relevance. A total of 227 recently stranded or biopsied dolphins (2017–2023) was considered, collected on the coasts of France, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, and in offshore waters of the Bay of Biscay and Madeira archipelago. Carbon, nitrogen and sulphur isotopes in skin and muscle, when available, were analysed as short-term (weeks) and medium-term (months) tracers respectively. Organic contaminants in blubber and renal cadmium (Cd) concentrations, when possible, were considered as longer-term tracers (one to several years). Shelf-associated dolphins generally had higher δ13C and δ15N but lower δ34S values in skin than oceanic dolphins, together with a lower proportion of low chlorinated polychlorobiphenyl congeners (for males) and low Cd concentrations compared to published Cd data on oceanic dolphins. Higher δ15N values in muscle were also measured in eastern English Channel individuals. Thus, although interchanges of individuals probably occur, a significant proportion of the NE Atlantic population uses preferential habitats over short to long-time scales. According to the documented spatial difference in bycatch pressure, the observed ecological segregation between neritic and oceanic domains should be considered when delineating management units.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{PIAZZESE2026118886,

title = {Artificial light at night shapes marine early hard-bottom communities in Madeira Island, NE Atlantic},

author = {Laura Piazzese and Elisa Ramminger and Patrício Ramalhosa and Susanne Schäfer and João Canning-Clode and Mark Lenz},

url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X25013621},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.118886},

issn = {0025-326X},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-10-31},

urldate = {2026-01-01},

journal = {Marine Pollution Bulletin},

volume = {222},

pages = {118886},

abstract = {Artificial light at night (ALAN) is increasingly recognised as a pollutant that modifies natural light conditions and negatively impacts terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Marine hard-bottom communities are important components of coastal ecosystems, supporting diverse sessile organisms and early successional processes that can reveal community-level responses to environmental changes. This study investigated the influence of ALAN on early successional marine hard-bottom communities in a field experiment conducted in Madeira, Portugal. Simulated outdoor LED lighting systems were used to expose submerged PVC settlement panels to white and yellow light in order to assess their effects on the establishing communities over a three-month period. Light of both colours significantly altered community composition and the abundances of colonisers such as the hydrozoan Pennaria disticha and the red alga Polysiphonia sertularioides in comparison to assemblages that simultaneously established on non-illuminated surfaces. In general, ALAN-exposed communities exhibited a higher species richness but a lower evenness compared to non-exposed assemblages. Our results reveal the potential of ALAN to alter the biodiversity and structure of shallow-water, benthic communities and underscore the need for further research to assess the consequences of anthropogenic light emissions for coastal marine ecosystems.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{BERNALIBANEZ2026107646,

title = {Concomitant effects of algae invasion and sea urchin mass mortality drive the shift from barrens to turf grounds},

author = {Alejandro Bernal-Ibáñez and Jordi Boada and Eva Cacabelos and Marta Florido-Capilla and Raül Triay-Portella and Patrício Ramalhosa and Rodrigo P. Silva and João Canning-Clode and Ignacio Gestoso},

url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0141113625007032},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2025.107646},

issn = {0141-1136},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-10-25},

urldate = {2026-01-01},

journal = {Marine Environmental Research},

volume = {213},

pages = {107646},

abstract = {Ecosystem regime shifts have received significant attention both from the perspective of the processes governing them and the consequences they entail. Most of the time, the focus is placed on habitat degradation with major transitions happening from healthy habitat states to depauperate conditions. In marine systems, well-known examples include coral reef collapse into macroalgal-dominated habitats and the conversion of kelp forests into sea urchin barrens. In Madeira Island (Macaronesia. NE Atlantic Ocean), the current invasion of the brown macroalgae Rugulopteryx okamurae poses a major threat to native coastal communities with major socioeconomic implications. This species was first detected in the archipelago of Madeira in December 2021 and has since been expanding along the coast of Madeira Island. Later in 2022, a mass mortality event (MME) of the main grazer species in the region, the sea urchin Diadema africanum, was detected. Here, we investigate the direct effects of the synchrony of these two events in time on a major regime shift in the coastal rocky systems along the southern coast of Madeira Island. Benthic surveys were conducted at four sites and two depths (5 m and 15 m) during two years (2021 and 2023), covering both spring and autumn. Results revealed major ecological changes: D. africanum densities dropped to zero, and previously barren areas transitioned into turf- and erect-algae-dominated habitats. including widespread proliferation of R. okamurae. At two sites, R. okamurae became the dominant species across both depths. Species richness and Shannon diversity increased at 15 m in 2023, while patterns at 5 m varied among sites. Our findings highlight the importance of temporal synchrony between ecological disturbances—in this case, invasion and grazer collapse—in driving regime shifts. While the long-term stability of this new state remains uncertain, it adds to growing evidence that algal turfs can act as alternative stable states to both kelp forests and barrens. Given the expected continued spread of R. okamurae in Madeira and across the NE Atlantic and Mediterranean, understanding the mechanisms behind its establishment and ecological impact is essential. Although this shift increased local biodiversitym, it does not signify the recovery of the original marine forests that historically characterized Madeira's reefs.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{https://doi.org/10.1111/con4.70075,

title = {Highly Mobile Seabirds Reveal Areas of Conservation Importance Across the Atlantic Ocean},

author = {Marie-Morgane Rouyer and Ana S. L. Rodrigues and Tammy E. Davies and Bethany L. Clark and etc and Manuel Biscoito and etc and Ana Isabel Fagundes and etc and Maria P. Dias},

url = {https://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/con4.70075},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1111/con4.70075},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-09-16},

urldate = {2026-01-01},

journal = {Conservation Letters},

volume = {19},

number = {5},

pages = {e70075},

abstract = {ABSTRACT Countries have committed to expanding the marine protected area (MPA) network to 30% of the world's ocean by 2030, more than tripling current coverage, and focusing on areas important for biodiversity. For such expansion to translate into effective conservation of marine biodiversity, it must rely on the best available knowledge. Here, we analyze tracking data on > 13,000 individuals (44 species, eight families) to map the distribution of highly mobile seabirds in the Atlantic Ocean and adjacent seas throughout the year. We identify regions important year-round or seasonally. The High Seas are as important as national waters for highly mobile seabirds but are even less protected. Current Atlantic MPAs hold < 14% of tracked species density, but their expansion to 30% of the ocean could protect up to two thirds. We share this new knowledge layer to support national and international efforts and policies to strategically expand the Atlantic MPA network.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{article_73,

title = {Habitat monopolization by the invasive alga Rugulopteryx okamurae is associated with impaired performance of the grazer Paracentrotus lividus},

author = {Alejandro Bernal-Ibáñez and Jorge Santamaría and Cèlia Sitjà and etc and Ignacio Gestoso and Iván Franco Rodil and Ismael Hachero-Cruzado},

doi = {10.1007/s10530-026-03931-2},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-09-14},

urldate = {2026-01-01},

journal = {Biological Invasions},

volume = {28},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{biology15181619,

title = {Genome Analyses Support Global Effective Panmixia in Sperm Whales},

author = {Muhammad Basil Ali and Menno J. Jong and Ulfur Arnason and etc and Filipe Alves and etc and Axel Janke},

url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/15/18/1619},

doi = {10.3390/biology15181619},

issn = {2079-7737},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-09-13},

urldate = {2026-01-01},

journal = {Biology},

volume = {15},

number = {18},

abstract = {Unlike on land, the oceans present few biogeographic barriers to hinder migration and mate choice. One might therefore expect random mating across entire species ranges, yet this is rarely observed. Even the largest and most mobile marine species like whales often maintain basin-specific lineages. Here, we test whether sperm whales form a single effectively panmictic gene pool. We use the term effective panmixia to refer to the absence of detectable genome-wide allele-frequency differentiation, as opposed to equal mating probabilities among all individuals. We compiled data of 45 whole genomes (of which 41 newly sequenced) to perform phylogenetic and demographic analyses. The analyses uncover a remarkable lack of global population structure: sperm whales from the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans form a single, genetically homogeneous population, suggesting global effective panmixia, with no significant differences in allele frequency. The only exception is the population of the Mediterranean Sea, which forms a distinct cluster, indicating past or ongoing geographic isolation and genetic drift owing to a reduced effective population size. The lack of general population structure elsewhere across the species range highlights the extraordinary global connectivity of this species. This global connectivity may buffer sperm whale populations from loss of variation through genetic drift, whereas the differentiated Mediterranean population remains a regional conservation priority.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{LACORNE2026106043,

title = {Subsistence in post-medieval Funchal (Madeira, Portugal): A zooarchaeological study of the 17th–19th-century animal remains from Rua da Conceição},

author = {Camille Lacorne and Ben Gruwier and Jean-François Mousson and Alexandre Brazão and Manuel Biscoito and etc and Christophe Snoeck},

url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352409X26004785},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2026.106043},

issn = {2352-409X},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-09-09},

urldate = {2026-01-01},

journal = {Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports},

volume = {75},

pages = {106043},

abstract = {The Atlantic island of Madeira, 900 km southwest of the Iberian Peninsula, was among the first regions colonized by Europeans in the 15th-century. Although the Portuguese are known to have implemented a European-style agricultural system on the island, the specific characteristics of this system and the nature of the settlers’ subsistence strategies remain poorly understood. This study presents a faunal analysis of 1,346 animal remains from the colonial site of Rua da Conceição in Funchal (17th–19th-century), providing new insights into patterns of consumption and animal resource use in this early Atlantic colonial context. The assemblage reflects the exploitation of a broad range of taxa, including large and medium-sized domesticates (cattle, pig, caprines), wild birds, and both local and imported marine resources, as well as the presence of small mammals (cat, rabbit, rat) introduced from the mainland. The results also show that cattle may have been the more prominent domestic species within the agro-pastoral system, contrasting with patterns observed at a contemporary colonial site in the Canary Islands where caprines dominate. These findings confirm that the introduction of European subsistence practices, such as wild bird hunting and the introduction of non-native bird and mammal species, may have impacted the ecosystem.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{KAKO2026118630,

title = {Remote sensing and image analysis of macro-plastic litter: A review},

author = {Shin’ichiro Kako and Tomoya Kataoka and Daisuke Matsuoka and etc and João Gama Monteiro and Konstantinos Topouzelis and Atsuhiko Isobe},

url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X25011063},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.118630},

issn = {0025-326X},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-09-09},

urldate = {2026-01-01},

journal = {Marine Pollution Bulletin},

volume = {222},

pages = {118630},

abstract = {Effective reduction of oceanic plastic pollution requires scalable and objective monitoring methods that go beyond traditional human-based surveys. This review synthesizes recent advances in remote sensing and AI-driven image analysis for detecting macro-plastic litter. Peer-reviewed studies published up to 2024 were systematically selected from the Scopus database, focusing on applications of remote sensing platforms including webcams, drones, balloons, aircraft, and satellites for monitoring plastic litter in coastal, riverine, and other aquatic environments. Quantification methods ranged from manual annotation to deep learning-based models. Although machine learning has been increasingly adopted since around 2020, manual screening and rule-based approaches remain prevalent, reflecting the complexity of litter types and shapes. The review revealed considerable variability in quantification metrics—such as litter-covered area, volume, weight, and item count per unit area—which complicates cross-study comparisons and data harmonization. While remote sensing enhances spatial coverage, consistency, and repeatability, it faces persistent challenges, including environmental interference, limited resolution, and inconsistent protocols. Our findings highlight the urgent need for methodological standardization and harmonization of quantification units across platforms and geographic regions. Among available metrics, litter-covered area and item count per unit area are most suitable for cross-platform comparison. Continued development and integration of such technologies hold strong potential to facilitate science-based policymaking and long-term monitoring of plastic transport from land to ocean.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{article_72,

title = {Deciphering mollusc body shape adaptations to varying hydrodynamic conditions and substrate types},

author = {Juan Carlos Rosa Valdivia and Rodrigo Riera and Olivia Martínez-Ruiz and Joana Vasconcelos},

doi = {10.1007/s10750-026-06354-1},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-09-08},

urldate = {2026-01-01},

journal = {Hydrobiologia},

pages = {1-18},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{article_71,

title = {Invasion-driven homogenization overrides habitat fragmentation in intertidal rockpool communities},

author = {Ana Soler-Fajardo and Ignacio Gestoso and Mauro Pardiello and etc and Alejandro Bernal-Ibáñez},

doi = {10.3354/meps15305},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-09-01},

urldate = {2026-01-01},

journal = {Marine Ecology Progress Series},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{SANTOS2026104812,

title = {Protocol for histology-anchored macroscopic staging of gonadal maturity in exploited fishes},

author = {Régis Santos and Mariana Cruz and Wendell Medeiros-Leal and etc and Andreia Braga-Henriques and Ualerson Peixoto},

url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266616672600465X},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xpro.2026.104812},

issn = {2666-1667},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-08-27},

urldate = {2026-01-01},

journal = {STAR Protocols},

volume = {7},

number = {3},

pages = {104812},

abstract = {Summary 

Here, we present a protocol to assign gonadal maturity stages in commercially exploited fishes using a histology-anchored workflow. We describe steps for recording field metadata, photographing gonads, fixing central gonadal tissue, and processing paraffin sections. We then detail procedures for staining sections with hematoxylin and eosin, diagnosing gametogenic features, and assigning stages using a common reproductive-phase framework with species- and sex-specific reference descriptors. This protocol standardizes documentation and decision logic rather than proposing a new maturity scale.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{VASCONCELOS2026110187,

title = {Otolith shape reveals regional phenotypic differentiation in Dentex macrophthalmus across the Atlantic and Mediterranean},

author = {Joana Vasconcelos and Esther Oluwagbemisola Olufade and Alberto Rodríguez Díaz and etc and José G. Pajuelo},

url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272771426004877},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2026.110187},

issn = {0272-7714},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-08-15},

urldate = {2026-01-01},

journal = {Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science},

volume = {342},

pages = {110187},

abstract = {Resolving population structure is essential for sustainable fisheries management, yet regional phenotypic differentiation remains poorly understood in many broadly distributed demersal species. This study used otolith contour shape to examine phenotypic variation in the large-eye dentex, Dentex macrophthalmus, across four regions spanning the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea: Cape Verde, Mauritania, Guinea-Bissau, and Greece. A total of 662 sagittal otolith pairs from juveniles and adults were analysed using wavelet-based shape descriptors, multivariate ordination, and artificial neural network classification. Otolith shape differed significantly among regions in both life stages, indicating that differentiation was detected independently in juveniles and adults. In juveniles, shape variation was driven primarily by differences in rostrum and antirostrum development, notch depth, and dorso-ventral expansion. In adults, differences among regional samples were expressed more strongly through rostrum morphology and variation in the dorsal and postero-ventral margins. Overall classification accuracy reached 75.2% in juveniles and 73.4% in adults. The clearest broad-scale pattern involved a contrast between the Mediterranean and Atlantic samples, although substantial heterogeneity was retained among Atlantic localities. Because sampling years differed among regions, the observed patterns may reflect both spatial and temporal variation. Environmental factors, including temperature, may also have contributed, but were not directly tested. Together, the results show that otolith contour shape is a useful phenotypic marker for distinguishing regional samples of D. macrophthalmus and provide a foundation for integrative studies of stock identity and connectivity.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{RIBEIRO2026120221,

title = {Collaborative science narrows knowledge gaps in marine biological invasions to advance a national framework},

author = {Romeu S. Ribeiro and Cristina Espírito Santo and etc and João Canning-Clode and etc and Paola Parretti and Patrício Ramalhosa and Nuno Castro and etc and Paula Chainho},

url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X26010088},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2026.120221},

issn = {0025-326X},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-08-12},

urldate = {2026-01-01},

journal = {Marine Pollution Bulletin},

volume = {233},

pages = {120221},

abstract = {Large-scale data synthesis is a foundation pillar of modern macroecology, necessary for transitioning fragmented regional data into scalable biosecurity frameworks. This study presents the outcomes of a coordinated nationwide effort to analyze marine Non-Indigenous Species (NIS) records across mainland Portugal, the Azores and Madeira archipelagos using a dual-framework design. Our goals were to update the morphologically confirmed NIS inventory, identify primary introduction pathways, examine temporal and spatial trends, and evaluate genetic database coverage. We delivered an updated checklist comprising 231 morphologically confirmed marine NIS, including five new regional records. Spatial analysis reveals distinct biogeographical divergence: mainland NIS predominantly originate from the temperate North Pacific, probably due to shipping and aquaculture vectors, whereas archipelago NIS originate from the North Atlantic. This pronounced regional variability in pathway dynamics underscores the need for spatially specific management rather than uniform national policies. Also, a systematic genetic gap analysis showed that 71% of these species are cataloged in global repositories, whereas only 12.5% feature locally sourced sequences. To bridge this gap, the second framework introduces a precautionary molecular watchlist of 22 species detected exclusively via DNA-based methods awaiting morphological confirmation. Ultimately, this dual-framework structure demonstrates how integrating taxonomy with provisional molecular data provides a reliable, data-driven baseline, while moving beyond a localized dataset update to offer a scalable reference frame capable of informing regional and global marine biosecurity frameworks.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{DOLTON2026101899,

title = {Whales, their habitats and provided services: updated insights with stakeholder perspectives},

author = {Haley R. Dolton and Paola Parretti and Filipe Alves and Marc Fernandez and Gilberto Carreira and Ana Dinis and Mary Kelly-Quinn},

url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212041626000872},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2026.101899},

issn = {2212-0416},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-08-06},

urldate = {2026-01-01},

journal = {Ecosystem Services},

volume = {81},

pages = {101899},

abstract = {Understanding ecosystem services (ES) provided by marine environments and highly mobile marine species is essential for advancing ecosystem service–based assessment and management. This study updates current knowledge on marine ES (MES) and whale-related ES (WES) by combining a systematic literature review of peer-reviewed studies published since 2020 with stakeholder-based prioritization across four Atlantic countries. Using the SALSA methodology, 29 studies (18 MES and 11 WES) were analysed to examine assessed services, classification frameworks, and spatial coverage. The review revealed substantial inconsistencies in ES classification approaches, with studies applying different frameworks or no formal framework at all. Marine ES assessments remained strongly biased toward coastal ecosystems, whereas WES studies were the only ones to explicitly address open-ocean systems. Across both bodies of literature, cultural and regulation and maintenance services were most frequently assessed, and no additional WES have been identified since a comprehensive synthesis published in 2020. Stakeholder interviews (n = 67) indicated that provisioning services were perceived as the most important contributions of marine ecosystems, while regulation and maintenance services were prioritized for whales, with bequest value ranked highest among individual WES. Strong support for management measures, including marine protected areas and vessel speed restrictions in whale hotspots, aligned with the prioritization of services related to ecosystem regulation and non-use values. Overall, the results highlight persistent challenges in the consistent classification and assessment of MES and WES and demonstrate the value of integrating literature-based evidence with stakeholder perspectives to support more robust and policy-relevant ecosystem service assessments in marine systems.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{su18157547,

title = {Valorization of Fishery and Aquaculture Wastes in Madeira Archipelago: Addressing Challenges and Opportunities},

author = {Carlos A. P. Andrade and Sónia Costa and César Gomes},

url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/18/15/7547},

doi = {10.3390/su18157547},

issn = {2071-1050},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-07-23},

urldate = {2026-01-01},

journal = {Sustainability},

volume = {18},

number = {15},

abstract = {Fish processing generates substantial quantities of by-products, creating important management and valorization challenges, particularly in insular regions. This study provides a first-order quantification of fishery and aquaculture wastes in the Madeira archipelago. The methodology combined a feed-based mass-balance model, targeted data collection, stakeholder analysis, and valorization assessment. Organic matter (OM) released from marine cage aquaculture was estimated at approximately 851.6 t yr−1 (dry weight), while fish by-products from processing activities in factories and retail stores generated approximately 938 t yr−1 (wet weight). These waste streams differ substantially in their physical characteristics and management pathways, with aquaculture producing diffuse environmental discharges and processing activities generating concentrated and potentially recoverable residues. Structured stakeholder interviews identified limited scale and insufficient raw materials, logistics and labor as the main factors affecting valorization initiatives. A comparative multi-criteria assessment further evaluated potential valorization strategies based on environmental performance and economic viability. Despite the generation of organic residues, the results suggest that effective valorization is constrained less by total waste generation than by biomass fragmentation, logistical limitations, and restricted economies of scale, emphasizing the need for integrated circular management approaches. A combined approach, integrating farm usage of decaying OM from cage systems and locally supported valorization strategies is required to transition towards a more resource-efficient production system.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{nokey,

title = {Closure of the Strait of Hormuz may trigger a bioinvasion super-spreader event},

author = {Mario N. Tamburri and James T. Carlton and April M. H. Blakeslee and Alejandro Bortolus and João Canning-Clode and etc and Bella S. Galil},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-026-03893-5},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-07-22},

journal = {Biological Invasions},

volume = {28},

number = {177},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{11609338,

title = {A Multi-Level Synthetic–Real Data Fusion Framework for Underwater Object Detection},

author = {Rúben Freitas and Vitor Aguiar and Noel Ferreira and João G. Monteiro and etc and Marko Radeta},

doi = {10.1109/ACCESS.2026.3713295},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-07-14},

urldate = {2026-01-01},

journal = {IEEE Access},

pages = {1-1},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{biology15141129,

title = {Discriminating Marine Macroalgae by Volatilomic Fingerprint and Bioactivity: A Chemometric Approach},

author = {Gonçalo Jasmins and Rosa Perestrelo and Ricardo Luís and Rodrigo Silva and Pedro Sousa and Carlos A. P. Andrade and José Câmara},

url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/15/14/1129},

doi = {10.3390/biology15141129},

issn = {2079-7737},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-07-11},

urldate = {2026-07-11},

journal = {Biology},

volume = {15},

number = {14},

abstract = {Marine macroalgae are now considered potential sources of renewable feedstocks to produce valuable bioactive compounds. However, the species-specific volatilomes and their correlation with antioxidant capacity remains largely unknown. This study aimed to investigate the volatilomic fingerprint, total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoids content (TFC) and antioxidant capacity of four macroalgae belonging to distinct taxonomic groups: Rugulopteryx okamurae (brown algae), Asparagopsis taxiformis (red algae), Caulerpa webbiana (green algae), and coralline algae. To achieve this purpose, the volatilomic fingerprint was established using headspace solid-phase microextraction tandem gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (HS-SPME/GC-MS), and the TPC, TFC, and antioxidant capacity were evaluated using in chemico assays. A total of 59 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were identified across the marine macroalgae, encompassing carbonyl compounds (on average, 40.7 ± 13.4% of total volatilomic fraction), hydrocarbons (17.0 ± 8.3%), organohalogens (23.0 ± 10.8%), terpenoids (6.5 ± 2.0%), alcohols (4.5 ± 2.0%), and the remaining chemical families showed a contribution lower than 5% to the total volatilomic fingerprint. Multivariate statistical analyses revealed significant differences (p < 0.05) in the volatilomic fingerprint among the macroalgae investigated, allowing clear discrimination between species. Organohalogen compounds emerged as key discriminant features for C. webbiana and A. taxiformis algae, while hydrocarbons were characteristic of the R. okamurae. Despite taxonomic differences, hexanal, benzaldehyde and β-ionone were VOCs found across all samples. Regarding bioactivity, R. okamurae exhibited the highest TPC (144 mgGAE/100 g DW), TFC (69 ± 6 mg QE/100 g DW), and antioxidant capacity. These findings confirm the large variability of the volatilomes of the different species of macroalgae and demonstrate the power of the HS-SPME/GC-MS, chemometric, and antioxidant analysis strategy for the differentiation of species and the identification of VOCs with valorization potential, helping to transform invasive or unused biomass of these species into new, sustainable bioproducts through emerging technological and biorefinery applications.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{nokey,

title = {Mapping potential pathogen profiling in cetacean blow: comparative insights from sequencing technologies},

author = {Johann Frederick Jaitner and Nicola Gambardella and Luís Afonso and Raul Valente and Filipe Alves and Catarina Magalhães},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1099/mgen.0.001773},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-07-08},

journal = {Microbial Genomics},

volume = {12},

issue = {7},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Canning-Clode_Esson_Monteiro_Dinis_Andrade_Alves_Gueroun_Vieira_Nunes_Mossae_etal._2026,

title = {The Missing Link in the Blue Economy: Empowering the Next Generation Through Blue Skills and Ocean Literacy},

author = {João Canning-Clode and Diane Esson and João Gama Monteiro and Ana Dinis and Carlos Andrade and Filipe Alves and Sonia K. M. Gueroun and Dinarte Vieira and Patricia Nunes and etc and Alexander W. Tudhope},

doi = {10.1017/cft.2026.10042},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-07-07},

urldate = {2026-07-07},

journal = {Cambridge Prisms: Coastal Futures},

pages = {1–15},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{DEVEER2026130401,

title = {Ground truthing marine litter stranding hotspots for the Eastern Pacific Ocean coasts: A collaborative approach with school communities},

author = {Diamela De Veer and María Amenábar Cristi and Jostein Baeza Álvarez and etc and Sabine Rech and etc and Martin Thiel},

url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S030147972601861X},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2026.130401},

issn = {0301-4797},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-07-03},

urldate = {2026-01-01},

journal = {Journal of Environmental Management},

volume = {413},

pages = {130401},

abstract = {Oceanographic models predict relatively high rates of floating litter arrivals on shores influenced by onshore currents compared to regions with extensive offshore transport, such as Eastern Boundary Upwelling Systems. However, the lack of large-scale observations along continental coasts has prevented tests of this prediction. Volunteer participants (here, schoolchildren) sampled marine litter on continental beaches along 12,000 km of the East Pacific coast from 30°N to 45°S to assess the presence of biofouling organisms on objects with positive buoyancy. The presence of sessile biota indicates that litter items spent sufficient time in the water for these organisms to colonize, while positive buoyancy is necessary for litter to be transported by marine currents. In agreement with the predictions from Lagrangian particle simulations, higher proportions of floating litter with biofouling arrived along Central American beaches influenced by the Equatorial Current System than on the shores within Eastern Boundary Upwelling Systems. Our study highlights the considerable potential of participatory science to generate extensive, long-term, and reliable measures of floating litter and associated biota along coasts.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.70223,

title = {Site Fidelity and Residency Patterns of Rough-Toothed Dolphins (Steno bredanensis) in Madeira Island Using Photo-Identification},

author = {Claire Raffaelli and Annalisa Sambolino and Rita Ferreira and Raquel Alves and Eliette Hamard and Ana Marçalo and Filipe Alves},

url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/mms.70223},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.70223},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-07-02},

urldate = {2026-01-01},

journal = {Marine Mammal Science},

volume = {42},

number = {3},

pages = {e70223},

abstract = {ABSTRACT The rough-toothed dolphin (Steno bredanensis) is distributed in warm waters worldwide, yet its spatial ecology remains poorly understood, especially in the Eastern North Atlantic. This study presents the first assessment of site fidelity and residency patterns for the species in this region, using year-round photo-identification data collected in Madeira Island between 2016 and 2024. A total of 1092 captures from 637 individuals showed that 62.5% were captured only once. The remaining individuals showed that 26.1% were recaptured intra-annually and 19.6% interannually (mean = 3 captures},

note = {e70223 9955370},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{nokey,

title = {Marine biofouling communities: a global synthesis of research trends, knowledge gaps, and future directions},

author = {Dean S. Janiak and Susana Carvalho and Dylan M. Cottrell and etc and Juan Sempere-Valverde and etc and Patrício Ramalhosa and Edson A. Vieira},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.3354/meps15160},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-06-25},

urldate = {2026-06-25},

journal = {Marine Ecology Progress Series},

volume = {788},

pages = {meps15160},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{article_70,

title = {An open-access dataset of odontocete acoustic signals from the Madeira archipelago},

author = {Laura Redaelli and Francesco Caruso and Manuel Santos and Filipe Alves and Ana Dinis},

doi = {10.1038/s41597-026-07675-5},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-06-24},

urldate = {2026-01-01},

journal = {Scientific Data},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{nokey,

title = {Data- and code-archiving in the British Ecological Society journals: present status and recommendations for future improvements},

author = {Natalie Cooper and Bethany Allen and Nour Almaani and etc and Moritz Klaassen and etc and Saras Mei Windecker},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210x.70338},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-06-02},

urldate = {2026-06-02},

journal = {Methods in Ecology and Evolution},

volume = {17},

issue = {7},

pages = {1954-1966},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{article_69,

title = {Diversity and functional group composition drive biogeographic patterns in marine biogenic structural complexity},

author = {Dean Janiak and Matthew Whalen and David Branson and Soledad Álvarez and etc and João Canning-Clode and etc and Patrício Ramalhosa and etc and Mark Torchin},

doi = {10.1002/ecy.70412},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-05-24},

urldate = {2026-05-24},

journal = {Ecology},

volume = {107},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{10.3389/fmars.2026.1776136,

title = {Governance in marine protected areas of Macaronesia: challenges and opportunities for ecotourism},

author = {Daniela Casimiro and Maria Anunciação A. Ventura and Andrea Z. Z. Botelho and Candelaria Cecilia-Ruano and Paola Parretti and José Guerreiro},

url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science/articles/10.3389/fmars.2026.1776136},

doi = {10.3389/fmars.2026.1776136},

issn = {2296-7745},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-05-19},

urldate = {2026-01-01},

journal = {Frontiers in Marine Science},

volume = {Volume 13 - 2026},

abstract = {The global decline of marine biodiversity has intensified the need for international efforts to expand and strengthen marine protected areas (MPAs). In Macaronesia, tourism represents a key driver of economic growth and social prosperity. However, a rapid increase in visitor numbers, combined with ecological sensitivity inherent to island systems, has heightened pressure on marine environments and highlighted the need for sustainable tourism models. Ecotourism represents a potential way to balance conservation, economic development, and community well-being, especially within MPAs. Meanwhile, the success of this balance depends heavily on effective governance; yet limited attention has been paid as to how governance structures in Macaronesia influence the integration of ecotourism into MPAs. This study analyses the role of institutional and legal governance in supporting ecotourism development in the MPAs of the four Macaronesian archipelagos (Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands and Cabo Verde). A comparative qualitative analysis of institutional and legal governance frameworks was conducted for each archipelago, examining relevant legislation, institutional structures and maritime tourism regulations to identify strengths, limitations and administrative conditions affecting the integration of ecotourism in MPAs. The analysis reveals varying governance capacities across the archipelagos, all of which are characterised by complex legal systems and fragmented management of MPAs and maritime tourism. Despite these barriers, ecotourism remains a viable pathway within Macaronesia’s MPAs, provided that the governing institutional and legal structures are refined to prioritise conservation outcomes.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{10.1093/icesjms/fsag058,

title = {The effects of marine protected area designation and associated restrictions on fisheries in EU MPAs},

author = {Elliot J Brown and Karin Johanna van der Reijden and Nuno Castro and etc and Robert C Wakeford},

url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsag058},

doi = {10.1093/icesjms/fsag058},

issn = {1054-3139},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-05-09},

urldate = {2026-01-01},

journal = {ICES Journal of Marine Science},

volume = {83},

number = {5},

pages = {fsag058},

abstract = {Marine protected areas (MPAs) are central to European Union (EU) marine policy, yet their effectiveness remains contested, especially with regard to ongoing fishing activities. Using officially reported fisheries effort data from vessel monitoring systems and logbooks, we analysed 781 MPAs across four ICES ecoregions to quantify fishing activity and assess responses to MPA designation and the imposition of fisheries restrictions. We aggregated effort by gear type, i.e. mobile bottom-contacting gears (MBCG) and passive or pelagic gears (PPG). We applied post-hoc before-after-control-impact (BACI) analyses using generalized linear mixed models. A total of 60% of MPAs were fished after designation, including 44% with MBCG and 55% with PPG, with regional variation from 40% in the Celtic Seas to 89% in the Bay of Biscay and Iberian Coast. MPA designation alone did not significantly change fishing effort for any gear category. The imposition of fisheries restrictions reduced effort across all gears, with declines of 30% in MPAs compared to 13% in adjacent controls. Similar reductions were observed for MBCG (31% vs 15%) and PPG (26% vs 9%). MPAs with benthic conservation objectives experienced reductions in MBCG effort (25% vs 9%), but no significant changes in PPG nor total effort. These findings indicate that designation without accompanying restrictions does not alter fishing behaviour. Contrastingly, fishing restrictions can reduce effort in MPAs, albeit with strong site-level variability, and depending on the type of restrictions that are put in place. Our results highlight the need to set clear conservation objectives when designating MPAs and to develop follow-on management measures tailored to these objectives. By leveraging official effort data and BACI designs at a regional scale, this study provides robust evidence to inform policy discussions on the effects of MPAs as fisheries management tools in EU waters.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{LAVRADOR2026100635,

title = {Tracking marine invaders in Portuguese marinas by DNA metabarcoding from coast to archipelagos},

author = {Ana S. Lavrador and Inês Afonso and Paula Chainho and etc and Paola Parretti and Patrício Ramalhosa and etc and Sofia Duarte},

url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772735126000892},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watbs.2026.100635},

issn = {2772-7351},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-05-05},

urldate = {2026-01-01},

journal = {Water Biology and Security},

pages = {100635},

abstract = {Marine non-indigenous species (NIS), introduced primarily through shipping in marinas and ports, pose significant threats to coastal biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, requiring effective management strategies, especially for monitoring aimed at early detection. This study aimed to capture a comprehensive snapshot of the geographic variation of marine invertebrate assemblages and NIS occurrence, across 10 recreational marinas in Portugal (6 on the mainland - Viana do Castelo, Porto, Aveiro (2 marinas), and Lisbon (2 marinas) - and 2 in each archipelago, Madeira and the Azores). In each marina, hard substrates, zooplankton, and water samples (for eDNA) were collected in triplicate during summer for metabarcoding profiling, yielding 111 samples. Using Illumina MiSeq sequencing of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene (313 bp) and the V4 region of the small subunit 18S rRNA gene (18S, approximately 400 bp), we detected 641 species from 21 phyla, 39 of which were NIS (7 phyla). Less than 1% of the species and 5% of NIS were detected in all marinas. The Azores had the highest numbers of both exclusive native species (97) and NIS (6). In contrast, Aveiro had the lowest number of exclusive native species (38), while the lowest numbers of exclusive NIS were observed in both the North and Aveiro (1 each). Detection success also varied among sample types: zooplankton samples recovered the highest proportion of total species (64%), whereas hard substrates in the islands and water samples in mainland Portugal recovered the highest proportions of NIS. A Principal Coordinate Analysis indicated a distinct separation among communities forming three main groups: (1) Viana do Castelo, Porto, and Aveiro; (2) Lisbon; and (3) Madeira and the Azores. Similarity between these groups is negatively correlated with geographic distance and overlaps with ecoregions previously identified within Lusitania. In the Azores, 9 NIS were recorded for the first time, and one in Madeira. We also recorded a considerable number of potential range expansions of NIS, predominantly along the mainland coast, in both North (N), South (S) or S-N directions, which suggests a high potential for DNA metabarcoding to be included in future national marine biomonitoring campaigns.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JC023436,

title = {Great Meteor Seamount Circulation Revisited: Insights Into Cold-Water Coral Habitat Potential},

author = {Vibe Schourup-Kristensen and Lindsey Jo Broadus and Janus Larsen and etc and Manfred Kaufmann and etc and Christian Mohn},

url = {https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1029/2025JC023436},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JC023436},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-05-03},

urldate = {2026-01-01},

journal = {Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans},

volume = {131},

number = {5},

pages = {e2025JC023436},

abstract = {Abstract Seamounts play a crucial role in shaping deep-sea ecosystem structure, influencing ocean circulation, enhancing biological productivity, and supporting diverse marine life. The Great Meteor Seamount (GMS), is the largest seamount in the North Atlantic and a key ecological feature in the regional network of the Protected Areas of the Azores Archipelago, but remains poorly understood in terms of small-scale physical-biological interactions. Using a new high-resolution setup of the FlexSem hydrodynamic model, we analyze ocean circulation and water mass properties around GMS over a 9-month period. The results reveal a persistent anticyclonic re-circulation along the upper seamount slopes and doming of isopycnals above the summit. Variations in density and temperature drive two distinct circulation and mixing regimes: A cold, dense period with bottom-intensified Taylor cap circulation and strong vertical coupling, and a warm, stratified period with enhanced stratification and reduced vertical mixing. The high resolution of the model makes it possible to compare habitat-suitability maps for benthic filter-feeding organisms with maps of internal wave slope characteristics, revealing a key role of internal wave induced mixing in supporting cold-water corals and other benthic filter-feeding communities. The study highlights the significance of biophysical interactions at the seamount and emphasizes the need for further research into small-scale processes that support biological growth.},

note = {e2025JC023436 2025JC023436},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{article_67,

title = {Site-specific variation and non-indigenous species detection in Arabian Gulf biofouling communities using DNA metabarcoding and photographic surveys},

author = {Sahar Chebaane and Eva Aylagas and Juan Sempere-Valverde and etc and Susana Carvalho},

doi = {10.1038/s41598-026-41227-6},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-04-28},

urldate = {2026-01-01},

journal = {Scientific Reports},

volume = {16},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{article_66,

title = {Systemic pathways to desirable futures: options for the marine ecosystem-based management of wicked problems},

author = {Bruno Meirelles and Ben Boteler and Angel Borja and etc and Paola Parretti and etc and David Lusseau},

doi = {10.1038/s44168-026-00356-4},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-04-23},

urldate = {2026-01-01},

journal = {npj Climate Action},

volume = {5},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{article_65,

title = {Marine biofouling communities: a global synthesis of research trends, knowledge gaps, and future directions},

author = {Dean Janiak and Susana Carvalho and Dylan Cottrell and etc and Juan Sempere-Valverde and Martin Thiel and Patrício Ramalhosa and Edson Vieira},

doi = {10.3354/meps15160},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-04-15},

urldate = {2026-01-01},

journal = {Marine Ecology Progress Series},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{nokey,

title = {Northernmost occurrence of the tropical invasive red alga Asparagopsis taxiformis (Bonnemaisoniales, Rhodophyta) in European waters},

author = {Eva Cacabelos and Alejandro Bernal-Ibáñez and Ignacio Gestoso and Marianela Zanolla and João Faria},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.3391/bir.2026.15.2.21},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-03-30},

urldate = {2026-03-30},

journal = {BioInvasions Records},

volume = {15},

issue = {2},

pages = {475–482},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{article_64,

title = {A low-latency deep learning framework for volcanic ash cloud nowcasting using geostationary satellite imagery},

author = {Décio Alves and Marko Radeta and Fabio Mendonça and Lucas Pereira and F. Morgado-Dias},

doi = {10.1038/s41598-026-42230-7},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-03-22},

urldate = {2026-01-01},

journal = {Scientific Reports},

volume = {16},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{article_68,

title = {Identification and classification of repeated whistle types from free-ranging rough-toothed dolphins (Steno bredanensis)},

author = {Laura Redaelli and Vincent Janik and Filipe Alves and Julie Oswald and Marc Fernandez and Eliette Hamard and Laela Sayigh and Manuel Santos and Ana Dinis and Francesco Caruso},

doi = {10.1038/s41598-026-44853-2},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-03-20},

urldate = {2026-01-01},

journal = {Scientific Reports},

volume = {16},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{article_63,

title = {Seasonal and Interannual Variation of Common Dolphin, Delphinus delphis, Density in Portuguese Waters},

author = {Miguel Martins and Marc Fernandez and Ana Marçalo and Nuno Oliveira and Tiago Marques},

doi = {10.1111/mms.70160},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-03-16},

urldate = {2026-01-01},

journal = {Marine Mammal Science},

volume = {42},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{HAMARD2026104878,

title = {Natural markings and population parameters of Blainville’s beaked whales in Madeira Island},

author = {Eliette Hamard and Marc Fernandez and Rita Ferreira and Annalisa Sambolino and Ana Dinis and Anja Badenas Krakauer and Filipe Alves},

url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352485526001337},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2026.104878},

issn = {2352-4855},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-03-16},

urldate = {2026-01-01},

journal = {Regional Studies in Marine Science},

volume = {96},

pages = {104878},

abstract = {Population parameters have been studied for only five out of 24 beaked whale species in limited locations. This study provides novel knowledge on the natural markings and population parameters of Blainville’s beaked whales (Mesoplodon densirostris). Using photographic-identification data from adults and subadults of both sexes in Madeira Island (Eastern North Atlantic, 2015–2020), we estimated abundance and survival using capture-recapture models, the Robust Design (RD) and the POPAN. We calculated the proportion of marked individuals (i.e., at least slightly distinctive) as 0.88, with new marks appearing every 0.4 years (range = 0.1–0.7). Annual abundance estimates from both models were similar and showed no trend. The corrected annual abundance estimates from the POPAN best-fitting model ranged from 42 whales (95% CI = 39–46 in 2016, and 95% CI = 39–48 in 2019) to 61 (95% CI = 51–72 in 2015). The POPAN model estimated a corrected super-population of 112 individuals (95% CI = 99–134) between 2015 and 2020. Survival rates of 0.98 (95% CI = 0.83–1.0) and 0.99 (95% CI = 0.97–1.00) were estimated (excluding transients) from the RD and POPAN models, respectively, which are similar to other regions. Despite potential caveats discussed in our analysis, these plausible estimates for a relatively small population should be considered in conservation and management strategies, highlighting the need to monitor the potential impact of local human activities.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{https://doi.org/10.1111/fwb.70177,

title = {Moderators of Organic Matter Decomposition in Portuguese Streams: A Field Study and Literature Review},

author = {Verónica Ferreira and Sónia R. Q. Serra and Ana Raquel Calapez and etc and João Canning-Clode and Patrício Ramalhosa and Soledad Álvarez and etc and Maria João Feio},

url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/fwb.70177},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1111/fwb.70177},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-02-20},

urldate = {2026-02-20},

journal = {Freshwater Biology},

volume = {71},

number = {2},

pages = {e70177},

abstract = {ABSTRACT Organic matter decomposition is a fundamental ecosystem process in streams, which have a large aquatic-terrestrial interface. The sensitivity of organic matter decomposition to changes in environmental conditions promoted by human activities is relatively well understood at large and local scales. In contrast, less is known about the natural variability of organic matter decomposition along natural gradients, especially at intermediate spatial scales. This gap undermines the use of organic matter decomposition as a tool to assess stream functional integrity in biomonitoring programmes. This study aimed at identifying the main moderators of organic matter decomposition under undisturbed conditions to establish natural baseline variation in organic matter decomposition rates in Portuguese streams. A field study was carried out to assess organic matter decomposition rates in 37 least-disturbed streams distributed throughout continental Portugal and Madeira Island. This study addressed gaps in empirical research by using poplar organic matter, including wood, and undertaking the incubation in spring, while previous studies were carried out preferably in autumn/winter and used alder and oak leaf litter. A systematic literature review was also conducted to compile organic matter decomposition rates from least-disturbed streams across continental Portugal and the Azores archipelago. Organic matter type (leaves or wood), shredder access (fine-mesh or coarse-mesh bags), season (autumn/winter or spring/summer), water nitrate concentration, the presence of exotic vegetation, distance to the source, and percentage shade emerged as main moderators of organic matter decomposition in the field study. Organic matter type and identity (genus), shredder access, season, stream type (national Water Framework Directive typologies), hydrological regime (permanent or intermittent), water temperature, conductivity, and soluble reactive phosphorus concentrations were also important moderators of organic matter decomposition for the compilation of the field data and literature review data. There was considerable variation in organic matter decomposition across least-disturbed streams, reflecting differences in organic matter type and identity, shredder access, season, and environmental conditions. Therefore, for organic matter decomposition to be used as a tool to assess stream functional integrity, it is necessary to standardise the protocol by selecting specific organic matter types and species, mesh types, and incubation seasons to minimise variation caused by these factors. Choosing stream typologies relevant for the decomposition process (e.g., as outlined in the Water Framework Directive), along with identifying reference decomposition ranges for each typology, may facilitate the assessment of deviations in stream functioning from reference conditions.},

note = {e70177 3272692},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{OUTINEN2026119407,

title = {The haunting challenge of the trends and pathway assessments on newly introduced non-indigenous species in European seas},

author = {Okko Outinen and Peter A. U. Stæhr and Romeu S. Ribeiro and etc and João Canning-Clode and Paola Parretti and Patrício Ramalhosa and Nuno Castro},

url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X26001943},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2026.119407},

issn = {0025-326X},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-02-12},

urldate = {2026-01-01},

journal = {Marine Pollution Bulletin},

volume = {226},

pages = {119407},

abstract = {The spread of aquatic non-indigenous species (NIS) is recognised as a major threat to the recipient regions ecosystems. The present study reviewed all NIS that have been introduced to the marine waters of the European Union (EU) until 2021, and their introduction pathways. Further, the study statistically analysed temporal trends in new NIS introductions and addressed uncertainties in relation to transporting pathways. Time-series analyses indicated that the observed trends in new NIS introductions have followed smoothly increasing trajectories for the entire study area, Mediterranean Sea, North-East Atlantic Ocean, and the Baltic Sea, whereas abrupt increase was detected for the Black Sea. It is noteworthy that the increasing trends started to slow down at the end of 2010s. Strongly increased research interest towards marine invasions since the early 2000s, and new environmental policies likely affected the observed trends. Future updates will be key to assessing whether this slowdown is truly a persisting trend or only an anomaly in the long term. The pathway assessment suffered from notable uncertainties, as the assigned confidence levels for pathways were low or unassigned for a large proportion of the introduced NIS in all study regions. Transport by shipping vectors was assigned as the most common pathway (51%) for new NIS introductions to EU seas, although there was very rarely direct evidence of this. The study highlights the need to overcome the pathway uncertainties, as robust information on introduction pathways is critical to manage new NIS introductions effectively.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{nokey,

title = {Exploring deep-sea Actinomycetota chemical diversity by using the OSMAC approach},

author = {Sofia Correia and Inês Ribeiro and Andreia Braga-Henriques and etc and Maria F. Carvalho},

url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science/articles/10.3389/fmars.2026.1754764/full},

doi = {10.3389/fmars.2026.1754764},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-02-06},

journal = {Frontiers in Marine Science},

volume = {13},

number = {1754764},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{10.1093/gbe/evaf246,

title = {Parallel Erosion of a Testis-Specific Na+/K+ ATPase in Three Mammalian Lineages Sheds Light into the Evolution of Spermatozoa Energetics},

author = {Raul Valente and André M Machado and Eva Pericuesta and etc and Filipe Alves and etc and L Filipe C Castro},

url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evaf246},

doi = {10.1093/gbe/evaf246},

issn = {1759-6653},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-02-02},

urldate = {2026-01-01},

journal = {Genome Biology and Evolution},

volume = {18},

number = {2},

pages = {evaf246},

abstract = {Understanding how extant physiological landscapes arise from novel genetic interactions is key to elucidating phenotypic evolution. Sperm cells exemplify a striking case of functional compartmentalization shaped by molecular adjustments, notably regarding energy metabolism. Here, we examine the impact of gene duplication and loss on the evolution of sperm energetics in mammals. Our findings reveal that the acquisition of an exclusive mechanism controlling the sperm plasma membrane Na+ gradient, critical for glucose uptake, emerged in the ancestor of mammals through gene duplication, which originated the Na+/K+ ATPase transporting subunit alpha 4 transporter (Atp1a4). Furthermore, we demonstrate that testis-specific expression of Atp1a4 was acquired after the divergence from monotremes. Notably, we identify three independent pseudogenization events of Atp1a4, including in pangolins, the naked mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber) and toothed whales. The recurrent loss of function in Atp1a4 coincides with the erosion of the testis-specific glycolytic pathway in these lineages. Furthermore, enrichment analysis of striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) and naked mole-rat testis transcriptomes also suggests significant alterations in sperm capacitation processes. Overall, we show that the elaboration of a sodium-dependent glucose uptake wiring was a key innovation in the energetic landscape governing mammalian spermatozoa, with secondary gene loss in three separate lineages pointing to drastic alterations in motility and capacitation processes. Our findings illustrate how metabolic pathways co-shaped by gene duplication and erosion define extant physiological phenotypes.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{nokey,

title = {Intertidal Invertebrate Diversity of the Selvagens Islands: A Baseline Inventory},

author = {Mar Humet and Rui Seabra and Fernando P. Lima and Catia Monteiro and João Canning-Clode and João G. Monteiro and Rocío Nieto-Vilela},

url = {https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41208-025-01022-y#citeas},

doi = {10.1007/s41208-025-01022-y},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-01-27},

journal = {Thalassas},

volume = {42},

number = {16},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{RADETA2026104650,

title = {MARS Lander: Georeferencing Landing and Pop Points of Untethered Ocean Monitoring Systems using Fundamental Physics},

author = {Marko Radeta and Zahra Behboodi and Vladimir Zekovic and etc and João Pestana and Dinarte Vieira and Sílvia Almeida and Morgado Dias and João Canning Clode and Rui Caldeira and Paulo Relvas and Antonio Vasiljevic},

url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0967063726000038},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr.2026.104650},

issn = {0967-0637},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-01-20},

urldate = {2026-01-20},

journal = {Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers},

pages = {104650},

abstract = {Subsurface observations are crucial for understanding the ocean's role in Earth’s climate and for refining climate models. However, existing aquatic monitoring systems that allow such insights remain complex and costly due to their high demands for deployment, sampling, and recapture. Since low-cost, easy-to-deploy deep-sea landers are scarce, and with the aim of facilitating more subsurface observations, this study provides a simple method for georeferencing small-sized untethered landers. Their underwater trajectories are modelled with fundamental physics, dead reckoning, lander geometry, and numerical simulations. Using free fall, upthrust, and ocean current dynamics, the proposed approach estimates their underwater trajectories, including landing (at the seabed) and pop (at the sea surface) points. The method relies on the lander's physical characteristics, including its vertical and horizontal cross-sectional areas, to calculate the drag force coefficients used to determine its trajectories during descent and ascent through the water column. Ocean currents' magnitudes are modelled using Ekman’s exponential decay down to 90 m of the water column, while the depths until 900 m are modelled from prior ADCP surveys by varying ocean current headings with depth between -20 and 20 degrees. Surface ocean and wind current headings are modelled with open datasets from satellite telemetry. Lander's velocity, displacement, and dive time to the landing and pop points, including the total radial excursion and uncertainty in heading, are analytically derived, numerically calculated, and empirically assessed a-posteriori until 90 m, yielding a ∼38 m radial excursion (40% error) against the obtained GNSS coordinates in field deployment, and 33 degrees in heading uncertainty during a 138-second excursion. Additional random walk simulations are shown for full ocean depth obtaining radial excursion of 1,038 m with 278 min total dive time. This approach is generalizable to any subsurface aquatic monitoring systems targeting deployments with diverse payloads from smaller sea vessels, not requiring cranes, radio, GNSS, or acoustic telemetry. Since it accounts for key nature factors, our method provides special benefits in planning and optimizing deployments. Additional discussion focuses on the method's practicality for full ocean depth deployments.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{INIGUEZ2026119204,

title = {Development and preliminary validation of an analytical methodology for the determination of organic UV filters in zooplankton samples},

author = {Eva Íñiguez and Margaux Gouazé and Ana Dinis and Zoraida Sosa-Ferrera and Nereida Cordeiro and Manfred Kaufmann and Sarah Montesdeoca-Esponda},

url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X25016807},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.119204},

issn = {0025-326X},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-01-15},

urldate = {2026-01-01},

journal = {Marine Pollution Bulletin},

volume = {225},

pages = {119204},

abstract = {The release of chemicals into marine environments from coastal human activities has raised growing concern about pollution. Among these chemicals, organic ultraviolet filters (oUVFs), widely used in personal care products and industrial applications, have recently been identified as pollutants of emerging concern. Their extensive use and persistence highlight the need to assess their occurrence and potential impacts on aquatic ecosystems. This study aimed to optimize and apply an analytical methodology for the determination of eleven oUVFs in zooplankton matrices. Microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) was employed for sample preparation, while ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) enabled the identification and quantification of the target compounds. Extraction parameters, including solvent, temperature, and time, were systematically optimized to enhance recovery and ensure accuracy and precision in complex biological samples. The method achieved limits of detection (MLOD) between 1.47 and 5.98 ng g−1 dry weight (d.w.) and method limits of quantification (MLOQ) between 4.900 and 19.92 ng g−1 d.w. Recovery efficiencies were low, ranging from 28 to 63 %, reflecting the diverse physicochemical properties of oUVFs and the strong matrix effects associated with zooplankton heterogeneity. Application of the validated method to zooplankton collected around Madeira Island (Portugal) revealed the presence of six oUVFs. Homosalate was the most frequently detected compound (53 % of samples), while octocrylene exhibited the highest concentrations, ranging from 24.01 to 1029 ng g−1 d.w. These findings demonstrate the relevance of zooplankton as bioindicators of oUVF contamination and support the need for regulatory monitoring and ecological risk assessments in coastal ecosystems.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.72718,

title = {Haul-Out Site Use and Connectivity of Harbour Seals Between Management Units in Southern Scandinavia},

author = {Javed Riaz and Kjell T. Nilssen and Martin Biuw and etc and Carla Freitas},

url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ece3.72718},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.72718},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-01-13},

urldate = {2026-01-13},

journal = {Ecology and Evolution},

volume = {16},

number = {1},

pages = {e72718},

abstract = {ABSTRACT Harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) have a broad distribution in coastal ecosystems across the northern hemisphere. In southern Scandinavia, a lack of spatially-resolved data on harbour seal populations poses a major challenge for developing ecologically informed management frameworks, particularly in Norway, where populations are regulated using county-level administrative boundaries. In this study, we use haul-out data from 26 harbour seals tagged with GPS phone tags during the post-moult period to provide the first assessment of connectivity and movement across management boundaries in the Skagerrak–Kattegat region of southern Scandinavia. Specifically, we examined the frequency and timing of haul-out events relative to management units and quantified spatial networks of connectivity across national and sub-national jurisdictions. We reveal a high degree of spatial connectivity in the region, with haul-outs occurring over a broad, integrated network along the Skagerrak–Kattegat coastline. Generally, harbour seals in the region had a high probability of performing cross-boundary haul-out events, with individuals repeatedly transitioning across distinct Norwegian management units, as well as transnationally between Norway, Sweden and Denmark. This study offers critical insights into harbour seal movement ecology in this data-limited region, whilst also addressing an important topic of applied management. We demonstrate that the current management units in the Norwegian Skagerrak may not adequately reflect the spatiotemporal scales of harbour seal movement. Importantly, these findings can complement forthcoming genetic data and support efforts to redefine management units in the area. More broadly, our study illustrates how telemetry-based assessments of spatial connectivity can provide a powerful tool to inform management frameworks for other wide-ranging marine species facing similar conservation challenges.},

note = {e72718 ECE-2025-10-02633.R1},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{nokey,

title = {Global framework for communication of biological invasion risks},

author = {Lorenzo Vilizzi and Vettath Raghavan Suresh and Daniela Giannetoo and etc and João G. Monteiro and etc and João Canning-Clode and etc and Marina Piria},

url = {https://www.reabic.net/journals/mbi/2026/1/MBI_2026_Vilizzi_etal.pdf},

doi = {10.3391/mbi.2026.17.1.01},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-01-01},

journal = {Management of Biological Invasions},

volume = {17},

issue = {1},

pages = {1-33},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{DOMINGUEZHERNANDEZ2026181064,

title = {Plastic occurrence in Macaronesia: Three years of monitoring on forty-six beaches across nineteen islands in an Atlantic region},

author = {Cristopher Domínguez-Hernández and Cristina Villanova-Solano and Soledad Álvarez and etc and João Canning-Clode and etc and Natacha Nogueira and etc and Patrício Ramalhosa and etc and Javier Hernández-Borges},

url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969725027044},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.181064},

issn = {0048-9697},

year  = {2026},

date = {2026-01-01},

urldate = {2026-01-01},

journal = {Science of The Total Environment},

volume = {1010},

pages = {181064},

abstract = {In recent decades, plastic pollution has reached alarming levels in all environmental compartments of the planet, with the oceans being one of the most affected. Despite being far from any major direct source of pollution, the Macaronesian region (North Atlantic Ocean) is highly exposed to marine litter, mostly plastics. In this study, a total of 46 beaches on 19 islands of 4 archipelagos in Macaronesia were seasonally monitored between 2020 and 2023 in a total of 430 field expeditions to study the presence and extent of micro-, meso-, and macroplastics pollution. Overall, a total of 271,203 plastic items were collected, weighted, and classified according to their size, shape, colour, and chemical composition. The results showed the presence of plastic marine litter on all the beaches studied, with an average concentration of 1760 items/m2 and 15.30 g/m2 for microplastics, 315 items/m2 and 15.58 g/m2 for mesoplastics, and 35 items/m2 and 11.81 g/m2 for macroplastics, with the Canary Islands being the archipelago with the highest concentrations. Fragments (83.3 %), with a predominance of white and colourless (62.9 %), and polyethylene and polypropylene as the main types of polymer, 81.2 % and 11.4 %, respectively, were the plastic particles mainly found. Monitoring of 28 previously unstudied beaches revealed the presence of 5 new hotspots of plastic arrival. Statistical analysis revealed that beaches with northwest to east orientations were receiving a higher concentration of plastic litter than the opposite orientations. However, in the central group of the Azores, a notable hotspot was found on a beach oriented toward the southwest. These spatial patterns clearly reflect the influence of prevailing ocean currents associated with the North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre, which plays a key role in transporting plastic debris throughout the region. These results may contribute to a better understanding of plastic transport phenomena in a vast oceanic region such as Macaronesia and provide a foundation for further studies in other areas.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}