Heatwaves are an extreme meteorological event in which affected populations may also be exposed to deteriorated air quality conditions due to the increase in air pollutant concentrations, such as PM₁₀ (particulate matter < 10 µg/m³). In order to identify heatwaves (1973–2019) in the region of Faro (Algarve) during the hot season (April–September), the Excess Heat Factor (EHF) index was applied. The Mann–Kendall test revealed an upward trend in three heatwave metrics in Faro, and the trend of accumulated heat load (EHF load) was also positive as would be expected, but its signal was not statistically significant. An inventory of North African dust events (2006–2019) was made, and their simultaneous occurrence with heatwaves was assessed, pointing to only 20% of dust events of the Sahara occurring simultaneously with heatwave days. A cluster analysis was conducted on daily geopotential height fields at 850 hPa level over the 2006–2019 period, and four distinct patterns were identified as the most prominent synoptic circulations promoting both heatwave conditions and North African dust over the Algarve.

Understanding the distribution and diversity of invasive alien species is increasingly crucial to meet legal requirements and guide effective management. Portugal currently hosts a large number of invasive alien plant species, with significant environmental and socio-economic impacts. However, the distribution of most of these species across the territory and the factors driving their spread and diversity remain largely unexplored. To address this, we present the first atlas of invasive alien plants in mainland Portugal. A total of 96 terrestrial and aquatic invasive alien plants are presented, encompassing all species listed under Portuguese national legislation and the European Union’s list of invasive species of concern. Occurrence data were collected from a broad array of sources, including national and international biodiversity observation databases, citizen science data, literature, and data collections owned by managers and researchers—totaling approximately 85,000 records, with a mean of 879 records per species (range: 1–9,190). Each species was characterized based on multiple distributional parameters, and a k-means analysis was used to group species with similar distribution patterns. The richness of invasive plants was mapped at the municipality level. The drivers of their spatial variation were investigated using a comprehensive set of 30 variables representing multiple environmental and human factors. Results show that invasive plants are present in all mainland Portuguese municipalities but with high variability. Four main patterns of distribution were identified: species primarily located along the coast (e.g., Acacia saligna ) and a gradient of species with narrow (e.g., Reynoutria japonica ), moderate (e.g., Ipomoea indica ), and wide distribution ranges (e.g., Cortaderia selloana ). Invasive species richness was significantly higher in coastal and larger municipalities, particularly those closer to major urban centers and with a higher density of power lines. Our results provide the first comprehensive assessment of the distribution of invasive alien plants in mainland Portugal, establishing a much-needed baseline for future invasion prevention and management efforts.

Recent efforts have compiled distribution data on peatlands in the Iberian Peninsula. However, the criteria used to define these ecosystems have often been derived from regions where climates are wetter and peatlands are more widespread. As a result, in this region, many peat-accumulating wetlands were overlooked. Identifying and improving the mapping of peatland distribution is crucial for their conservation and management, as they provide important ecosystem services. Therefore, we developed an updated geographical dataset of peatlands and swobs (wetlands with the potential to form peat) of the Iberian Peninsula. Records of peatlands and swob areas in Portugal and Spain were compiled through an extensive literature review. Additionally, field surveys performed between 2011-2015, 2018-2021, and 2023-2024 provided additional records. A total of 445 records were included in our dataset, representing the up-to-date knowledge on the distribution of these ecosystems in the Iberian Peninsula. The dataset allows the identification of occurrence hotspots, highlights underrepresented regions, and provides a baseline for future research and conservation planning.

Ecosystems with a naturally accumulated peat layer at the surface and wetlands with or without a peat layer dominated by a vegetation that may produce peat (hereafter 'peatlands' for simplicity) are critical assets in global change due to their large carbon content storage capacity and essential ecosystem services. A Global Peatland Assessment was initiated during the UNFCCC COP22; however, many countries still lack accurate peatland maps. This is particularly concerning in the Western Mediterranean, where these ecosystems are frequently overlooked or misclassified. To help address this issue, we developed predictive distribution models for vascular plant and bryophyte species typical of peatland-type systems in the Western Mediterranean. We identified 28 'indicator' mire-typical plant taxa and created a database using filtered data from six different data sources, including our own field surveys. Thirteen high-resolution spatial predictor variables, covering topographic, soil, and hydroclimatic factors, were selected to reflect potential relationships with species presence. For each species, a potential distribution model was built using MaxEnt software. The resulting potential-distribution maps were cross-validated, and models with an AUC score of ≥0.75 were classified into suitable or unsuitable areas. The species richness map aligned well with areas known to support peatlands. The indicator species-based mapping also suggests a broad potential for yet unrecorded peatlands in the Western Mediterranean, including small areas, particularly along the western and southwestern sandy coastlines and in the southern mountains.

Understanding the distribution and diversity of invasive alien species is increasingly vital to meet legal requirements and guide effective management. Portugal currently hosts a large number of invasive alien plant species, with significant environmental and socio-economic impacts. However, the distribution of most of these species in the territory and the factors driving their spread and diversity remain largely unexplored. To address this, we present the first atlas of invasive plants in mainland Portugal. A total of 96 terrestrial and aquatic invasive plants are represented, encompassing all species listed under Portuguese national legislation and the European Union’s list of invasive species of concern. Occurrence data were collected from a broad array of sources, including national and international biodiversity observation databases, citizen science data, literature, and data collections owned by managers and researchers, totaling approximately 85,000 records (mean = 879 ± 1,757 per species). Each species was characterized based on multiple distributional parameters, and a k-means analysis was used to group species with similar distribution patterns. The richness of invasive plants was mapped at the municipality level, and the drivers of their spatial variation were investigated using a comprehensive set of 30 variables representing multiple environmental and human factors. Results show that invasive plants occur in all mainland Portuguese municipalities, but with high variability. Four main patterns of distribution were identified: species that are primarily located along the coast (e.g., Acacia saligna ), and a gradient of species with narrow (e.g., Reynoutria japonica ), moderate (e.g., Ipomoea indica ), and wide distribution ranges (e.g., Cortaderia selloana ). Species richness was significantly higher in coastal and larger municipalities, particularly those closer to major urban centers and with a higher density of power lines. Our results provide the first comprehensive assessment of the distribution of invasive alien plants in mainland Portugal, establishing a much-needed baseline for future invasion prevention and management efforts.