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Prof. Dr. Maria Teresa Ferreira
Forest Research Centre, School of Agriculture, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal

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Research Keywords & Expertise

0 River Restoration
0 Riparian ecology
0 Ecosystem quality assessment
0 Freshwater ecology and management
0 Fish ecology and fisheries

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Journal article
Published: 18 July 2021 in Biology
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Freshwater ecosystems are disproportionally important for biodiversity conservation, as they support more than 9% of known animal species while representing less than 1% of the Earth’s surface. However, the vast majority of the threats (99%, or 826 out of 837) identified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species known to affect the 434 known freshwater-dependent fish and lampreys of Europe are not supported by validated published scientific knowledge. This general lack of information about freshwater-dependent fish and lamprey species may have deleterious effects on species conservation, and additional funding is required to fill baseline knowledge gaps.

ACS Style

Paulo Branco; Pedro Segurado; Maria Costa; Afonso Teixeira; José Santos; Maria Ferreira; Gonçalo Duarte. Knowledge Gaps in the Definition of Threats for the Red List Assessment of European Freshwater-Dependent Fish Species. Biology 2021, 10, 680 .

AMA Style

Paulo Branco, Pedro Segurado, Maria Costa, Afonso Teixeira, José Santos, Maria Ferreira, Gonçalo Duarte. Knowledge Gaps in the Definition of Threats for the Red List Assessment of European Freshwater-Dependent Fish Species. Biology. 2021; 10 (7):680.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Paulo Branco; Pedro Segurado; Maria Costa; Afonso Teixeira; José Santos; Maria Ferreira; Gonçalo Duarte. 2021. "Knowledge Gaps in the Definition of Threats for the Red List Assessment of European Freshwater-Dependent Fish Species." Biology 10, no. 7: 680.

Journal article
Published: 25 May 2021 in Forests
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The connectivity of riparian forests can be used as a proxy for the capacity of riparian zones to provide ecological functions, goods and services. In this study, we aim to test the potential of the freely available Copernicus “Riparian Zones” dataset to characterize the connectivity of riparian forests located in two European bioclimatic regions—the Mediterranean and the Central Baltic hydroregions—when subject to a gradient of human disturbance characterized by land-use/land-cover and hydromorphological pressures. We extracted riparian patches using the Copernicus “Actual Riparian Zone” (ARZ) layer and calculated connectivity using the Integral Index of Connectivity (IIC). We then compared the results with a “Manual Riparian Zone” (MRZ) layer, produced by manually digitizing riparian vegetation patches over a very high-resolution World Imagery layer. Our research evidenced reduced forest connectivity in both hydroregions, with the exception of Least Disturbed sites in the Central Baltic hydroregion. The ARZ layer exhibited overall suitability to assess the connectivity of riparian forests in the Central Baltic hydroregion, while the Mediterranean hydroregion displayed a consistent pattern of connectivity overestimation in all levels of human disturbance. To address this, we recommend some improvements in the spatial resolution and thematic accuracy of the Copernicus ARZ layer.

ACS Style

André Fonseca; Jean-Philippe Ugille; Adrien Michez; Patricia Rodríguez-González; Gonçalo Duarte; Maria Ferreira; Maria Fernandes. Assessing the Connectivity of Riparian Forests across a Gradient of Human Disturbance: The Potential of Copernicus “Riparian Zones” in Two Hydroregions. Forests 2021, 12, 674 .

AMA Style

André Fonseca, Jean-Philippe Ugille, Adrien Michez, Patricia Rodríguez-González, Gonçalo Duarte, Maria Ferreira, Maria Fernandes. Assessing the Connectivity of Riparian Forests across a Gradient of Human Disturbance: The Potential of Copernicus “Riparian Zones” in Two Hydroregions. Forests. 2021; 12 (6):674.

Chicago/Turabian Style

André Fonseca; Jean-Philippe Ugille; Adrien Michez; Patricia Rodríguez-González; Gonçalo Duarte; Maria Ferreira; Maria Fernandes. 2021. "Assessing the Connectivity of Riparian Forests across a Gradient of Human Disturbance: The Potential of Copernicus “Riparian Zones” in Two Hydroregions." Forests 12, no. 6: 674.

Journal article
Published: 14 May 2021 in Forests
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In this study, we assess the potential of ants as bioindicators of riparian ecological health in two river types (upland and lowland type) located in the Catalonian region. We proposed to understand to what extent do metrics based on ant responses provide useful information that cannot be presented by traditional biophysical assessments while attempting an approach to creating an ant-based multimetric index (ant-based MMI) of the riparian ecological health. A total of 22 ant species were identified, and 42 metrics related to ant foraging activity, species richness, and functional traits were evaluated as potential core metrics of the index. Riparian features and proximal land use land cover (LULC) were used to distinguish disturbed from less disturbed sites. We found that ant communities strongly responded to human disturbance. When compared with an exclusively physical-based index for the assessment of the riparian health, the ant-based MMI was more sensitive to human disturbance, by also reacting to the effects of the surrounding LULC pressure. This study provides a preliminary approach for an ant-based assessment tool to evaluate the health of riparian corridors although additional research is required to include other river types and a wider stressor gradient before a wider application.

ACS Style

Vera Zina; Marc Ordeix; José Franco; Maria Ferreira; Maria Fernandes. Ants as Bioindicators of Riparian Ecological Health in Catalonian Rivers. Forests 2021, 12, 625 .

AMA Style

Vera Zina, Marc Ordeix, José Franco, Maria Ferreira, Maria Fernandes. Ants as Bioindicators of Riparian Ecological Health in Catalonian Rivers. Forests. 2021; 12 (5):625.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Vera Zina; Marc Ordeix; José Franco; Maria Ferreira; Maria Fernandes. 2021. "Ants as Bioindicators of Riparian Ecological Health in Catalonian Rivers." Forests 12, no. 5: 625.

Europe
Published: 16 April 2021 in Biodiversity Data Journal
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The sharp increase in tourist visitation of the Azores Archipelago from 2015 onwards raised concerns about the impacts of recreational tourism on native habitats. In response, a project was financed by the Azorean Government to investigate the drivers of biodiversity erosion associated with recreational tourism. Here, we present the data on spider biodiversity found on trails located within the native Azorean forests as they are home to several endemic species of great conservation value. We applied an optimised and standardised sampling protocol (COBRA) in twenty-three plots located in five trails on Terceira and São Miguel Islands and assessed diversity and abundance of spider species at different distances from the trail head and the trail itself. Of the 45 species (12435 specimens) collected, 13 were endemic to the Azores (9690 specimens), 10 native non-endemic (2047 specimens) and 22 introduced (698 specimens). This database will be the baseline of a long-term monitoring project for the assessment of touristic impacts on native forest trails. This methodology can also be used on other habitats and biogeograhical regions.

ACS Style

Rui Carvalho; Pedro Cardoso; Artur Gil; Maria Teresa Ferreira; Cândida Ramos; Lucas Lamelas-Lopez; Fernando Pereira; Jagoba Malumbres-Olarte; Alejandra Ros-Prieto; Mário Boieiro; Paulo Borges. Standardised inventories of spiders (Arachnida, Araneae) on touristic trails of the native forests of the Azores (Portugal). Biodiversity Data Journal 2021, 9, e62886 .

AMA Style

Rui Carvalho, Pedro Cardoso, Artur Gil, Maria Teresa Ferreira, Cândida Ramos, Lucas Lamelas-Lopez, Fernando Pereira, Jagoba Malumbres-Olarte, Alejandra Ros-Prieto, Mário Boieiro, Paulo Borges. Standardised inventories of spiders (Arachnida, Araneae) on touristic trails of the native forests of the Azores (Portugal). Biodiversity Data Journal. 2021; 9 ():e62886.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Rui Carvalho; Pedro Cardoso; Artur Gil; Maria Teresa Ferreira; Cândida Ramos; Lucas Lamelas-Lopez; Fernando Pereira; Jagoba Malumbres-Olarte; Alejandra Ros-Prieto; Mário Boieiro; Paulo Borges. 2021. "Standardised inventories of spiders (Arachnida, Araneae) on touristic trails of the native forests of the Azores (Portugal)." Biodiversity Data Journal 9, no. : e62886.

Journal article
Published: 11 March 2021 in Water
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Requalification of low-head ramped weirs through the addition of substrates (retrofitting) has attracted attention in recent years. However, few studies are available on how this measure affects the negotiation of ramped weirs by fish. This study aimed to assess the performance of an experimental ramped weir (3.00 m long with 10% slope; 0.30 m head-drop) to enhance the passage of a potamodromous cyprinid species, the Iberian barbel (Luciobarbus bocagei). Attention was given to testing the effects of the addition of a substrate, in this case cobbles, to the ramp (Nature) vs. a smooth bottom (Control), and discharge (Q; 55 L·s−1 and 110 L·s−1 (or specific discharge per unit width, q = 92 L·s−1·m−1 and 183 L·s−1·m−1)) on fish passage performance. Fish physiological responses to stress and fatigue, measured by glucose and lactate concentrations in blood samples, were also analysed. Results showed that the Nature design generally increased fish movements and successful upstream passages, and enhanced fish passage performance by enabling faster negotiations. Fish movements were also affected by increasing discharge, registering reductions with 110 L·s−1. Results of the physiological parameters indicate that both glucose and lactate concentrations were also influenced by discharge. The outcomes from this study present important information about fish passage performance across low-head ramped weirs and could provide data needed to help biologists and engineers to develop more effective structures to alleviate small instream obstacles.

ACS Style

Susana Amaral; Paulo Branco; Filipe Romão; Maria Ferreira; António Pinheiro; José Santos. Evaluation of Low-Head Ramped Weirs for a Potamodromous Cyprinid: Effects of Substrate Addition and Discharge on Fish Passage Performance, Stress and Fatigue. Water 2021, 13, 765 .

AMA Style

Susana Amaral, Paulo Branco, Filipe Romão, Maria Ferreira, António Pinheiro, José Santos. Evaluation of Low-Head Ramped Weirs for a Potamodromous Cyprinid: Effects of Substrate Addition and Discharge on Fish Passage Performance, Stress and Fatigue. Water. 2021; 13 (6):765.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Susana Amaral; Paulo Branco; Filipe Romão; Maria Ferreira; António Pinheiro; José Santos. 2021. "Evaluation of Low-Head Ramped Weirs for a Potamodromous Cyprinid: Effects of Substrate Addition and Discharge on Fish Passage Performance, Stress and Fatigue." Water 13, no. 6: 765.

Journal article
Published: 21 January 2021 in Ecological Indicators
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This study aims to complement existing fish-based assessment approaches by classifying European lampreys and fish species according to their probability of occurrence in six different longitudinal river regions and five types of floodplain water bodies under unimpaired conditions. The main objective was to provide for the first time harmonized occurrence traits for European lampreys and fishes in both longitudinal and lateral dimensions of floodplain river systems in a Fish Region Index (FRI) and Floodplain Fish Index (FFI), respectively. Altogether 163 lamprey and fish species established in European rivers have been scored according to their longitudinal and lateral occurrence probabilities. The species-specific Fish Region and Floodplain Fish indices and their variances inform about species’ occurrence probabilities, dispersal traits and potential species inventories of different river regions and floodplain waters. The final scores allow identifying characteristic fish assemblages, i.e. a set of type-specific species for the different longitudinal river regions and lateral floodplain water bodies. The species-specific index values and variances serve to calculate summary metrics for the total fish assemblage (FRItotal and FFItotal) as macro-scale indicators for the deviation of the total fish assemblage from a reference state. The resulting index values indicate degradation as well as rehabilitation success at the level of fish assemblages, i.e. at an ecologically relevant macro-scale. Both species-specific and total assemblage indices are directly comparable among all biogeographic regions of Europe independent of the local species pool. As such, the indices serve as assemblage indicators for the fish-based assessment of the ecological status of water body types and river regions in floodplain river systems, which are required in particular for the assessment of large floodplain rivers.

ACS Style

Christian Wolter; Jost Borcherding; Teresa Ferreira; Jörg Freyhof; Jörn Gessner; Konrad Górski; Aurel Nastase; Christian Schomaker; Tibor Erős. Characterization of European lampreys and fishes by their longitudinal and lateral distribution traits. Ecological Indicators 2021, 123, 107350 .

AMA Style

Christian Wolter, Jost Borcherding, Teresa Ferreira, Jörg Freyhof, Jörn Gessner, Konrad Górski, Aurel Nastase, Christian Schomaker, Tibor Erős. Characterization of European lampreys and fishes by their longitudinal and lateral distribution traits. Ecological Indicators. 2021; 123 ():107350.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Christian Wolter; Jost Borcherding; Teresa Ferreira; Jörg Freyhof; Jörn Gessner; Konrad Górski; Aurel Nastase; Christian Schomaker; Tibor Erős. 2021. "Characterization of European lampreys and fishes by their longitudinal and lateral distribution traits." Ecological Indicators 123, no. : 107350.

Editorial
Published: 05 June 2020 in Water
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Freshwater ecosystems have been severely damaged worldwide by a multitude of human pressures, such as pollution, nutrient enrichment, damming or overexploitation, and this has been more intense over the past five decades. It is therefore important that the impacts of such stressors can be effectively detected, monitored and assessed in order to provide adequate legislative tools and to protect and restore freshwater ecosystems. The use of aquatic biota to detect, measure and track changes in the environment is often known as freshwater biomonitoring and is based on the premise that the presence or absence of biotic assemblages at a given site reflects its degree of environmental quality. For over a century, since the early pollution-oriented indicators, freshwater monitoring has been developing and testing progressively more complex indicator systems, and increasing the plethora of pressures addressed, using different biological groups, such as benthic macroinvertebrates, macrophytes, fish, phytoplankton and phytobenthos. There is an increasing demand for precision and accuracy in bioassessment. In this Special Issue, five high-quality papers were selected and are briefly presented herein, that cover a wide range of issues and spatial contexts relevant to freshwater biomonitoring.

ACS Style

José Maria Santos; Maria Teresa Ferreira. Use of Aquatic Biota to Detect Ecological Changes in Freshwater: Current Status and Future Directions. Water 2020, 12, 1611 .

AMA Style

José Maria Santos, Maria Teresa Ferreira. Use of Aquatic Biota to Detect Ecological Changes in Freshwater: Current Status and Future Directions. Water. 2020; 12 (6):1611.

Chicago/Turabian Style

José Maria Santos; Maria Teresa Ferreira. 2020. "Use of Aquatic Biota to Detect Ecological Changes in Freshwater: Current Status and Future Directions." Water 12, no. 6: 1611.

Journal article
Published: 24 April 2020 in Water
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Multimetric indices are considered a low-cost and rapid means of assessing ecological integrity in streams. This study aimed to develop a fish-based Index of Biotic Integrity (N3S-IBI) in an agricultural region within the domains of the Atlantic rainforest in Brazil. We sampled 23 first-order streams and used large-scale land use and a local physical condition index to choose reference sites and to classify sites according to the disturbance level. N3S-IBI resulted in six metrics (Simpson’s dominance; the numbers of Characiformes and non-native individuals (Poecilia reticulata); and the percentages of Characidae species, intolerant insectivorous individuals, and tolerant species), contemplating tolerance, composition, abundance, richness, trophic habits, and origin. The low number of metrics contributes to a quick and easy biomonitoring process. N3S-IBI showed an excellent performance to separate least and most disturbed sites in our study area and can provide additional knowledge about anthropogenic effects within this impacted region. In fact, this tool could be utilized by managers to direct restoration actions for the most disturbed sites and to strengthen the preservation of the least disturbed sites.

ACS Style

Gabriel Gonino; Evanilde Benedito; Vivian De Mello Cionek; Maria Teresa Ferreira; João Manuel Oliveira. A Fish-Based Index of Biotic Integrity for Neotropical Rainforest Sandy Soil Streams—Southern Brazil. Water 2020, 12, 1215 .

AMA Style

Gabriel Gonino, Evanilde Benedito, Vivian De Mello Cionek, Maria Teresa Ferreira, João Manuel Oliveira. A Fish-Based Index of Biotic Integrity for Neotropical Rainforest Sandy Soil Streams—Southern Brazil. Water. 2020; 12 (4):1215.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Gabriel Gonino; Evanilde Benedito; Vivian De Mello Cionek; Maria Teresa Ferreira; João Manuel Oliveira. 2020. "A Fish-Based Index of Biotic Integrity for Neotropical Rainforest Sandy Soil Streams—Southern Brazil." Water 12, no. 4: 1215.

Journal article
Published: 27 March 2020 in Forests
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This study aims to estimate the total biomass aboveground and soil carbon stocks in a Mediterranean riparian forest and identify the contribution of the different species and ecosystem compartments to the overall riparian carbon reservoir. We used a combined field and object-based image analysis (OBIA) approach, based on unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) multispectral imagery, to assess C stock of three dominant riparian species. A linear discriminator was designed, based on a set of spectral variables previously selected in an optimal way, permitting the classification of the species corresponding to every object in the study area. This made it possible to estimate the area occupied by each species and its contribution to the tree aboveground biomass (AGB). Three uncertainty levels were considered, related to the trade-off between the number of unclassified and misclassified objects, leading to an error control associated with the estimated tree AGB. We found that riparian woodlands dominated by Acacia dealbata Link showed the highest average carbon stock per unit area (251 ± 90 tC ha−1) followed by Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertner (162 ± 12 tC ha−1) and by Salix salviifolia Brot. (73 ± 17 tC ha−1), which are mainly related to the stem density, vegetation development and successional stage of the different stands. The woody tree compartment showed the highest inputs (79%), followed by the understory vegetation (12%) and lastly by the soil mineral layer (9%). Spectral vegetation indices developed to suppress saturation effects were consistently selected as important variables for species classification. The total tree AGB in the study area varies from 734 to 1053 tC according to the distinct levels of uncertainty. This study provided the foundations for the assessment of the riparian carbon sequestration and the economic value of the carbon stocks provided by similar Mediterranean riparian forests, a highly relevant ecosystem service for the regulation of climate change effects.

ACS Style

Maria Rosário Fernandes; Francisca C. Aguiar; Maria João Martins; Nuno Rico; Maria Teresa Ferreira; Alexandra C. Correia. Carbon Stock Estimations in a Mediterranean Riparian Forest: A Case Study Combining Field Data and UAV Imagery. Forests 2020, 11, 376 .

AMA Style

Maria Rosário Fernandes, Francisca C. Aguiar, Maria João Martins, Nuno Rico, Maria Teresa Ferreira, Alexandra C. Correia. Carbon Stock Estimations in a Mediterranean Riparian Forest: A Case Study Combining Field Data and UAV Imagery. Forests. 2020; 11 (4):376.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Maria Rosário Fernandes; Francisca C. Aguiar; Maria João Martins; Nuno Rico; Maria Teresa Ferreira; Alexandra C. Correia. 2020. "Carbon Stock Estimations in a Mediterranean Riparian Forest: A Case Study Combining Field Data and UAV Imagery." Forests 11, no. 4: 376.

Review article
Published: 24 January 2020 in CATENA
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Large rivers on the Iberian Peninsula reflect a long-history of human interventions and natural disturbances in the fluvial corridors and on the surrounding valleys. In this study we aim to characterize the river morphology in pre-regulation times and understand the morphological changes of the large river Tagus (Central Portugal), across space and time. For this, we used comparable military thematic maps from three dates (1855, 1940 and 2000) and evaluated the river landforms, including sinuosity, aquatic, geomorphic and riparian aspects, in three geomorphological zones (Upland, Middle, and Lowland) using a Geographic Information System (GIS). We related the landform variations to the hydrological alterations and to Land-use Land-Cover (hereinafter LULC) changes at valley level. Hydrological data were achieved by simulating river flow regime using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model. LULC data was obtained by on-screen digitizing of the military thematic maps complemented with ancillary bibliographic information. Metrics for channel form, aquatic and riparian features were quantified in 51 sampling units of 2500 m-long river sections for each period to describe the river morphology. Shannon-Wiener Index (H’) was applied as a descriptor of the morphological diversity. Data analysis revealed a narrowing of the main channel, an overall reduction of the sinuosity, a smaller number of instream geomorphic units and abandoned lateral channels on the most recent period. Morphological alterations were driven primarily by the reduction of floods and sediment inputs, caused by streamflow regulation, while the agricultural intensification, the augment of forest plantations and the reduction of the Mediterranean scrublands induced changes in sediment dynamics and altered the riparian connectivity. The Upland zone showed the highest morphological alterations switching from a historical high-energy section to a low-dynamic zone. We also observed a high morphological variability in the Middle course exhibiting multifaceted gradients of change, while the Lowland zone reflected continuous but less pronounced modifications. River management planning should express the insights of how past and present human alterations affect morphological processes in river-floodplain systems, particularly taking into account river zones’ specificities and how they may react or constrain potential restoration processes.

ACS Style

Maria Rosário Fernandes; Francisca C. Aguiar; Maria João Martins; Rui Rivaes; Maria Teresa Ferreira. Long-term human-generated alterations of Tagus River: Effects of hydrological regulation and land-use changes in distinct river zones. CATENA 2020, 188, 104466 .

AMA Style

Maria Rosário Fernandes, Francisca C. Aguiar, Maria João Martins, Rui Rivaes, Maria Teresa Ferreira. Long-term human-generated alterations of Tagus River: Effects of hydrological regulation and land-use changes in distinct river zones. CATENA. 2020; 188 ():104466.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Maria Rosário Fernandes; Francisca C. Aguiar; Maria João Martins; Rui Rivaes; Maria Teresa Ferreira. 2020. "Long-term human-generated alterations of Tagus River: Effects of hydrological regulation and land-use changes in distinct river zones." CATENA 188, no. : 104466.

Journal article
Published: 24 December 2019 in Sustainability
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River fragmentation by large hydropower plants (LHP) has been recognized as a major threat for potamodromous fish. Fishways have thus been built to partially restore connectivity, with fish lifts representing the most cost-effective type at high head obstacles. This study assessed the effectiveness with which a fish lift in a LHP on the River Lima (Touvedo, Portugal), allows potamodromous fish—Iberian barbel (Luciobarbus bocagei), Northern straight-mouth nase (Pseudochondrostoma duriense) and brown trout (Salmo trutta fario)- to migrate upstream. Most fish (79.5%) used the lift between summer and early-fall. Water temperature was the most significant predictor of both cyprinids’ movements, whereas mean daily flow was more important for trout. Movements differed according to peak-flow magnitude: nase (67.8%) made broader use of the lift in the absence of turbined flow, whereas a relevant proportion of barbel (44.8%) and trout (44.2%) passed when the powerhouse was operating at half (50 m3s−1) and full-load (100 m3s−1), respectively. Size-selectivity found for barbel and trout could reflect electrofishing bias towards smaller sizes. The comparison of daily abundance patterns in the river with fish lift records allowed the assessment of the lift’s efficacy, although biological requirements of target species must be considered. Results are discussed in the context of management strategies, with recommendations for future studies.

ACS Style

Daniel Mameri; Rui Rivaes; João M. Oliveira; João Pádua; Maria T. Ferreira; José M. Santos. Passability of Potamodromous Species through a Fish Lift at a Large Hydropower Plant (Touvedo, Portugal). Sustainability 2019, 12, 172 .

AMA Style

Daniel Mameri, Rui Rivaes, João M. Oliveira, João Pádua, Maria T. Ferreira, José M. Santos. Passability of Potamodromous Species through a Fish Lift at a Large Hydropower Plant (Touvedo, Portugal). Sustainability. 2019; 12 (1):172.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Daniel Mameri; Rui Rivaes; João M. Oliveira; João Pádua; Maria T. Ferreira; José M. Santos. 2019. "Passability of Potamodromous Species through a Fish Lift at a Large Hydropower Plant (Touvedo, Portugal)." Sustainability 12, no. 1: 172.

Journal article
Published: 21 November 2019 in Water
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The addition of substrates to small instream obstacles, like low-head ramped weirs, has been considered a useful management solution to retrofit those structures and enhance fish passage. Substrate dimensions and spatial arrangement, together with discharge, and consequently water depths, appear as important factors for the creation of hydrodynamic conditions that may facilitate the successful passage of fish, though related studies are scarce to support decision-making. This study assessed the influence of discharge (Q) and different retrofitting designs (RD) on the upstream passage performance of a potamodromous cyprinid, the Iberian barbel (Luciobarbus bocagei). Different substrates (small boulders, large boulders, cobbles) and spatial arrangements (aligned, offset) were tested. Numerical modelling was performed to characterize the hydrodynamics. Results indicate that Q and RD influenced the upstream negotiation of ramped weirs. Cobbles randomly distributed along the ramp (Nature design) was the most successful configuration, recording the highest number of upstream passages. Low velocities along the ramp, and low turbulence downstream, were registered in this configuration, indicating that the use of natural substrate may help to increase the permeability of ramped weirs to fish movements. The outcomes from this work can help engineers and biologists to design more appropriate passage structures for low-head instream obstacles.

ACS Style

Susana D. Amaral; Ana L. Quaresma; Paulo Branco; Filipe Romão; Christos Katopodis; Maria T. Ferreira; António N. Pinheiro; José M. Santos. Assessment of Retrofitted Ramped Weirs to Improve Passage of Potamodromous Fish. Water 2019, 11, 2441 .

AMA Style

Susana D. Amaral, Ana L. Quaresma, Paulo Branco, Filipe Romão, Christos Katopodis, Maria T. Ferreira, António N. Pinheiro, José M. Santos. Assessment of Retrofitted Ramped Weirs to Improve Passage of Potamodromous Fish. Water. 2019; 11 (12):2441.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Susana D. Amaral; Ana L. Quaresma; Paulo Branco; Filipe Romão; Christos Katopodis; Maria T. Ferreira; António N. Pinheiro; José M. Santos. 2019. "Assessment of Retrofitted Ramped Weirs to Improve Passage of Potamodromous Fish." Water 11, no. 12: 2441.

Journal article
Published: 14 November 2019 in Water
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Dammed rivers have unnatural stream flows, disrupted sediment dynamics, and rearranged geomorphologic settings. Consequently, fluvial biota experiences disturbed functioning in the novel ecosystems. The case study is the large irrigation reservoir Alqueva in Guadiana River, Southern Iberia. The study area was divided into three zones: upstream and downstream of the dam and reservoir. For each zone, species composition and land use and land cover (LULC) were compared before and after the Alqueva Dam implementation. Data consist of aquatic and riparian flora composition obtained from 46 surveys and the area (%) of 12 classes of LULC obtained in 90 riverine sampling units through the analysis of historical and contemporary imagery. There was an overall decrease of several endemic species and on the riparian shrublands and aquatic stands, although differences in the proportion of functional groups were not significant. Nevertheless, compositional diversity shows a significant decline in the upstream zone while landscape diversity shows an accentuated reduction in the reservoir area and downstream of the dam, which is likely related to the loss of the rocky habitats of the ‘old’ Guadiana River and the homogenization of the riverscape due to the irrigation intensification. The mitigation of these critical changes should be site-specific and should rely on the knowledge of the interactions between surrounding lands, ecological, biogeomorphologic, and hydrological components of the fluvial ecosystems.

ACS Style

Francisca C. Aguiar; Maria Rosário Fernandes; Maria João Martins; Maria Teresa Ferreira. Effects of a Large Irrigation Reservoir on Aquatic and Riparian Plants: A History of Survival and Loss. Water 2019, 11, 2379 .

AMA Style

Francisca C. Aguiar, Maria Rosário Fernandes, Maria João Martins, Maria Teresa Ferreira. Effects of a Large Irrigation Reservoir on Aquatic and Riparian Plants: A History of Survival and Loss. Water. 2019; 11 (11):2379.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Francisca C. Aguiar; Maria Rosário Fernandes; Maria João Martins; Maria Teresa Ferreira. 2019. "Effects of a Large Irrigation Reservoir on Aquatic and Riparian Plants: A History of Survival and Loss." Water 11, no. 11: 2379.

Research article
Published: 13 June 2019 in PLOS ONE
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Climate change is causing shifts in species distributions worldwide. Understanding how species distributions will change with future climate change is thus critical for conservation planning. Impacts on oceanic islands are potentially major given the disproportionate number of endemic species and the consequent risk that local extinctions might become global ones. In this study, we use species climate envelope models to evaluate the current and future potential distributions of Azorean endemic species of bryophytes, vascular plants, and arthropods on the Islands of Terceira and São Miguel in the Azores archipelago (Macaronesia). We examined projections of climate change effects on the future distributions of species with particular focus on the current protected areas. We then used spatial planning optimization software (PRION) to evaluate the effectiveness of protected areas at preserving species both in the present and future. We found that contractions of species distributions in protected areas are more likely in the largest and most populated island of São Miguel, moving from the coastal areas towards inland where the current protected areas are insufficient and inadequate to tackle species distribution shifts. There will be the need for a revision of the current protected areas in São Miguel to allow the sustainable conservation of most species, while in Terceira Island the current protected areas appear to be sufficient. Our study demonstrates the importance of these tools for informing long-term climate change adaptation planning for small islands.

ACS Style

Maria Teresa Ferreira; Pedro Cardoso; Paulo A. V. Borges; Rosalina Gabriel; Eduardo Brito de Azevedo; Rui Bento Elias. Implications of climate change to the design of protected areas: The case study of small islands (Azores). PLOS ONE 2019, 14, e0218168 .

AMA Style

Maria Teresa Ferreira, Pedro Cardoso, Paulo A. V. Borges, Rosalina Gabriel, Eduardo Brito de Azevedo, Rui Bento Elias. Implications of climate change to the design of protected areas: The case study of small islands (Azores). PLOS ONE. 2019; 14 (6):e0218168.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Maria Teresa Ferreira; Pedro Cardoso; Paulo A. V. Borges; Rosalina Gabriel; Eduardo Brito de Azevedo; Rui Bento Elias. 2019. "Implications of climate change to the design of protected areas: The case study of small islands (Azores)." PLOS ONE 14, no. 6: e0218168.

Journal article
Published: 31 May 2019 in River Research and Applications
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ACS Style

Konstantin Ochs; Gregory Egger; Ianina Kopecki; Teresa Ferreira. Model‐based reconstruction of the succession dynamics of a large river floodplain. River Research and Applications 2019, 35, 944 -954.

AMA Style

Konstantin Ochs, Gregory Egger, Ianina Kopecki, Teresa Ferreira. Model‐based reconstruction of the succession dynamics of a large river floodplain. River Research and Applications. 2019; 35 (7):944-954.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Konstantin Ochs; Gregory Egger; Ianina Kopecki; Teresa Ferreira. 2019. "Model‐based reconstruction of the succession dynamics of a large river floodplain." River Research and Applications 35, no. 7: 944-954.

Journal article
Published: 01 May 2019 in Scientific Reports
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Quantifying the genetic diversity of riparian trees is essential to understand their chances to survive hydroclimatic alterations and to maintain their role as foundation species modulating fluvial ecosystem processes. However, the application of suitable models that account for the specific dendritic structure of hydrographic networks is still incipient in the literature. We investigate the roles of ecological and spatial factors in driving the genetic diversity of Salix salviifolia, an Iberian endemic riparian tree, across the species latitudinal range. We applied spatial stream-network models that aptly integrate dendritic features (topology, directionality) to quantify the impacts of multiple scale factors in determining genetic diversity. Based on the drift hypothesis, we expect that genetic diversity accumulates downstream in riparian ecosystems, but life history traits (e.g. dispersal patterns) and abiotic or anthropogenic factors (e.g. drought events or hydrological alteration) might alter expected patterns. Hydrological factors explained the downstream accumulation of genetic diversity at the intermediate scale that was likely mediated by hydrochory. The models also suggested upstream gene flow within basins that likely occurred through anemophilous and entomophilous pollen and seed dispersal. Higher thermicity and summer drought were related to higher population inbreeding and individual homozygosity, respectively, suggesting that increased aridity might disrupt the connectivity and mating patterns among and within riparian populations.

ACS Style

Patricia María Rodríguez-González; Cristina García; Maria Teresa Albuquerque; Tiago Monteiro-Henriques; Carla Faria; Joana B. Guimarães; Diogo Mendonça; Fernanda Simões; Maria Teresa Ferreira; Ana Mendes; José Matos; Maria Helena Almeida. A spatial stream-network approach assists in managing the remnant genetic diversity of riparian forests. Scientific Reports 2019, 9, 6741 .

AMA Style

Patricia María Rodríguez-González, Cristina García, Maria Teresa Albuquerque, Tiago Monteiro-Henriques, Carla Faria, Joana B. Guimarães, Diogo Mendonça, Fernanda Simões, Maria Teresa Ferreira, Ana Mendes, José Matos, Maria Helena Almeida. A spatial stream-network approach assists in managing the remnant genetic diversity of riparian forests. Scientific Reports. 2019; 9 (1):6741.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Patricia María Rodríguez-González; Cristina García; Maria Teresa Albuquerque; Tiago Monteiro-Henriques; Carla Faria; Joana B. Guimarães; Diogo Mendonça; Fernanda Simões; Maria Teresa Ferreira; Ana Mendes; José Matos; Maria Helena Almeida. 2019. "A spatial stream-network approach assists in managing the remnant genetic diversity of riparian forests." Scientific Reports 9, no. 1: 6741.

Journal article
Published: 16 April 2019 in Biodiversity Data Journal
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The data presented here come from samples collected as part of two recent research projects (NETBIOME - ISLANDBIODIV and FCT - MACDIV) which aimed at understanding the drivers of community assembly in Macaronesian islands. We applied the sampling protocol COBRA (Conservation Oriented Biodiversity Rapid Assessment, Cardoso 2009) in sixteen 50 m x 50 m native forest plots in the Azorean Islands of Pico (6 plots) and Terceira (10 plots) to assess spider diversity. Through this publication, we contribute to the knowledge of the arachnofauna of the Azores and, more specifically, to that of the islands of Pico and Terceira. The collected samples yielded 8,789 specimens, of which 45% were adults (3,970) belonging to 13 families, 36 species and three morphospecies that have yet to be described. Species of the family Linyphiidae dominated the samples, with 17 species and two morphospecies that have yet to be described (48% of the taxa). Out of the identified (morpho)species, 16 were introduced, 13 Azorean endemic (three of which were undescribed) and seven native (five of them Macaronesian endemics). We report the first record of the introduced species Haplodrassus signifer and Agyneta decora in Pico Island.

ACS Style

Jagoba Malumbres-Olarte; Pedro Cardoso; Luís Carlos Fonseca Crespo; Rosalina Gabriel; Fernando Pereira; Rui Carvalho; Carla Rego; Rui Nunes; Maria Teresa Ferreira; Isabel R. Amorim; François Rigal; Paulo A. V. Borges. Standardised inventories of spiders (Arachnida, Araneae) of Macaronesia I: The native forests of the Azores (Pico and Terceira islands). Biodiversity Data Journal 2019, 7, e32625 .

AMA Style

Jagoba Malumbres-Olarte, Pedro Cardoso, Luís Carlos Fonseca Crespo, Rosalina Gabriel, Fernando Pereira, Rui Carvalho, Carla Rego, Rui Nunes, Maria Teresa Ferreira, Isabel R. Amorim, François Rigal, Paulo A. V. Borges. Standardised inventories of spiders (Arachnida, Araneae) of Macaronesia I: The native forests of the Azores (Pico and Terceira islands). Biodiversity Data Journal. 2019; 7 ():e32625.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Jagoba Malumbres-Olarte; Pedro Cardoso; Luís Carlos Fonseca Crespo; Rosalina Gabriel; Fernando Pereira; Rui Carvalho; Carla Rego; Rui Nunes; Maria Teresa Ferreira; Isabel R. Amorim; François Rigal; Paulo A. V. Borges. 2019. "Standardised inventories of spiders (Arachnida, Araneae) of Macaronesia I: The native forests of the Azores (Pico and Terceira islands)." Biodiversity Data Journal 7, no. : e32625.

Communication
Published: 27 March 2019 in Water
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Numerous anthropogenic stressors impact rivers worldwide. Hypoxia, resulting from organic waste releases and eutrophication, occurs very commonly in Mediterranean rivers. Nonetheless, little is known about the effects of deoxygenation on the behavior of Mediterranean freshwater fish. To fill this knowledge gap, we assessed the impact of three different dissolved oxygen levels (normoxia, 48.4%, 16.5% saturation) on kinematics indicators (swimming velocity, acceleration, distance traveled) and shoaling cohesion of adult Iberian barbel, Luciobarbus bocagei, a widespread cyprinid species inhabiting a broad range of lotic and lentic habitats. We conducted flume experiments and video-tracked individual swimming movements of shoals of five fish. Our results reveal significant differences between the treatments regarding kinematics. Swimming velocity, acceleration, and total distance traveled decreased stepwise from the control to each of the two oxygen depletion treatments, whereby the difference between the control and both depletion levels was significant, respectively, but not between the depletion levels themselves. Shoaling cohesion showed dissimilarities between the treatments regarding the maximum distance between fish, as the high depletion treatment differed from each of the other two, indicating that under severe oxygen depletion some individuals move away from the shoal. Overall, our results show how oxygen depletion changes fish behavior, which may entail ecological responses, highlighting the need to maintain an unfragmented river network to ensure movement dispersal among habitats, thus providing conditions for species escapement from hypoxia.

ACS Style

Daniel S. Hayes; Paulo Branco; José Maria Santos; Teresa Ferreira. Oxygen Depletion Affects Kinematics and Shoaling Cohesion of Cyprinid Fish. Water 2019, 11, 642 .

AMA Style

Daniel S. Hayes, Paulo Branco, José Maria Santos, Teresa Ferreira. Oxygen Depletion Affects Kinematics and Shoaling Cohesion of Cyprinid Fish. Water. 2019; 11 (4):642.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Daniel S. Hayes; Paulo Branco; José Maria Santos; Teresa Ferreira. 2019. "Oxygen Depletion Affects Kinematics and Shoaling Cohesion of Cyprinid Fish." Water 11, no. 4: 642.

Review
Published: 14 March 2019 in Sustainability
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Peak-operating hydropower plants are usually the energy grid’s backbone by providing flexible energy production. At the same time, hydropeaking operations are considered one of the most adverse impacts on rivers, whereby aquatic organisms and their life-history stages can be affected in many ways. Therefore, we propose specific seasonal regulations to protect ecologically sensitive life cycle stages. By reviewing hydropeaking literature, we establish a framework for hydrological mitigation based on life-history stages of salmonid fish and their relationship with key parameters of the hydrograph. During migration and spawning, flows should be kept relatively stable, and a flow cap should be implemented to prevent the dewatering of spawning grounds during intragravel life stages. While eggs may be comparably tolerant to dewatering, post-hatch stages are very vulnerable, which calls for minimizing or eliminating the duration of drawdown situations and providing adequate minimum flows. Especially emerging fry are extremely sensitive to flow fluctuations. As fish then grow in size, they become less vulnerable. Therefore, an ‘emergence window’, where stringent thresholds on ramping rates are enforced, is proposed. Furthermore, time of day, morphology, and temperature changes must be considered as they may interact with hydropeaking. We conclude that the presented mitigation framework can aid the environmental enhancement of hydropeaking rivers while maintaining flexible energy production.

ACS Style

Daniel Hayes; Miguel Moreira; Isabel Boavida; Melanie Haslauer; Günther Unfer; Bernhard Zeiringer; Franz Greimel; Stefan Auer; Teresa Ferreira; Stefan Schmutz. Life Stage-Specific Hydropeaking Flow Rules. Sustainability 2019, 11, 1547 .

AMA Style

Daniel Hayes, Miguel Moreira, Isabel Boavida, Melanie Haslauer, Günther Unfer, Bernhard Zeiringer, Franz Greimel, Stefan Auer, Teresa Ferreira, Stefan Schmutz. Life Stage-Specific Hydropeaking Flow Rules. Sustainability. 2019; 11 (6):1547.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Daniel Hayes; Miguel Moreira; Isabel Boavida; Melanie Haslauer; Günther Unfer; Bernhard Zeiringer; Franz Greimel; Stefan Auer; Teresa Ferreira; Stefan Schmutz. 2019. "Life Stage-Specific Hydropeaking Flow Rules." Sustainability 11, no. 6: 1547.

Journal article
Published: 09 March 2019 in Sustainability
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Low-head ramped weirs are a common instream obstacle to fish movements. Fish passability of these structures, where water passes over but does not generate a waterfall, is primarily related to ramp length and slope, but their relative contribution has seldom been considered. This study aims to assess the passage performance of a potamodromous cyprinid, the Iberian barbel (Luciobarbus bocagei), negotiating an experimental ramped weir with varying ramp length (L) and slope (S). Four configurations were tested, with a constant discharge of 110 L∙s−1. Results suggest that both factors influenced passage performance of fish. Attraction efficiency (AE) increased with increasing L and S, whereas the number of successes (N) and passage efficiency (PE) decreased upon increasing L. For S, it was found that both N and PE peaked at the intermediate level (20%). These results suggest that configurations with the lowest slopes may not necessarily be the best option because they may be less attractive for the fish and their demand for space is higher. Higher slopes (but not excessive) could be more attractive to fish, less space-demanding, and therefore, more cost-effective. Future studies should investigate how discharge and boulder placement influence fish passage across ramped weirs, to improve habitat connectivity.

ACS Style

Susana Amaral; Paulo Branco; Christos Katopodis; Maria Ferreira; António Pinheiro; José Santos. Passage Performance of Potamodromous Cyprinids over an Experimental Low-Head Ramped Weir: The Effect of Ramp Length and Slope. Sustainability 2019, 11, 1456 .

AMA Style

Susana Amaral, Paulo Branco, Christos Katopodis, Maria Ferreira, António Pinheiro, José Santos. Passage Performance of Potamodromous Cyprinids over an Experimental Low-Head Ramped Weir: The Effect of Ramp Length and Slope. Sustainability. 2019; 11 (5):1456.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Susana Amaral; Paulo Branco; Christos Katopodis; Maria Ferreira; António Pinheiro; José Santos. 2019. "Passage Performance of Potamodromous Cyprinids over an Experimental Low-Head Ramped Weir: The Effect of Ramp Length and Slope." Sustainability 11, no. 5: 1456.