CONCLUDED PROJECTS

 

Functional Ecology

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 EVALUATION OF AIR QUALITY IN THE SURROUNDING AREA OF NEVES CORVO MINES THROUGH THE USE OF LICHEN DIVERSITY
ASSESSING KEY HABITAT LOSS DUE TO EUTROPHICATION IN THE MONDEGO AND MIRA ESTUARIES
ATMOSPHERIC HEAVY METAL DEPOSITION USING BIOMONITORS IN PORTUGAL 2000
PHOTOSYNTHESIS AND PRODUCTIVITY OF MEDITERRANEAN VEGETATION. STUDIES OF STABLE ISOTOPE COMPOSITION, WATER RELATIONS AND CARBON BUDGET
COMPETITION ABILITY AND RESOURCE DYNAMICS IN COASTAL DUNE ECOSYSTEMS: INVASIVE VS. NATIVE PLANT SPECIES
GLOBAL VS LOCAL FORCING FACTORS AND PALEOENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES OF ESTUARIES AND LAGOONS OF SW PORTUGAL SINCE THE LATE GLACIAL
LATE QUATERNARY ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES FROM ESTUARINE AND CONTINENTAL SHELF SEDIMENTARY RECORD
NETWORK FOR ECOPHYSIOLOGY IN CLOSING TERRESTRIAL CARBON BUDGET - NETCARB
AIR POLLUTION AND THE MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION OF FOREST ECOSYSTEMS IN THE SETÚBAL PENINSULA
MONITORING PROGRAM OF THE TERRESTRIAL AND ESTUARINE ECOSYSTEMS IN THE SURROUNDINGS OF THE CTRSU IN S. JOÃO DA TALHA
POPULATION STRUCTURE, SPATIAL PATTERNS, SEX DISTRIBUTION AND ECOPHYSIOLOGY OF A DIOICEOUS SPECIES (COREMA ALBUM)
STABLE ISOTOPES AND GAS EXCHANGE DURING PHOTOSYNTHESIS: THE IMPORTANCE FOR PRODUCTIVITY AND CARBON BUDGET OF MEDITERRANEAN VEGETATION
OPTIMISATION OF CAROB TREE PRODUCTION AND PROPAGATION
BASES FOR THE RECOVERY OF CORK-OAK STANDS IN ALENTEJO
BIOLOGY AND ECOPHYSIOLOGY OF THE MYCORRHIZIC FUNGUS CENOCOCCUM GEOPHILUM: EVALUATION OF ITS IMPORTANCE IN PLANTS PROTECTION UNDER WATER STRESS AND HEAVY METALS CONDITIONS
SELECTION AND SETTLEMENT OF PLANT SPECIES IN DESERTIFIED OR DEGRADED SOILS. STUDIES FOR LANDSCAPE AND ECOSYSTEM RECOVERY
REGULATION OF AMMONIUM UPTAKE AND ASSIMILATION IN QUERCUS SUBER AND CERATONIA SILIQUA
MONITORING OF HEAVY METAL DEPOSITION IN PORTUGAL BASED ON BRYOPHYTE SPECIES. CALIBRATION AND MODELLING
LICHENS AS BIOMONITORS OF NITROGEN DEPOSITION
BIOMONITORIZATION OF COPPER ATMOSPHERIC DEPOSITION IN THE MINING COMPLEX OF NEVES CORVO
EVALUATION ON THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE INCREASE OF CO2 CONCENTRATIONS IN THE AIR ON THE EPIPHYTIC COMMUNITIES (LICHENS) THROUGH ANATOMICAL AND ECOPHYSIOLOGICAL TECHNIQUES
INFLUENCE OF RISING SEA LEVEL ON ECOSYSTEM DYNAMICS OF SALT MARSHES
RESTORATION OF DEGRADED ECOSYSTEMS IN MEDITERRANEAN REGIONS

The main objective is to monitorise the lichen flora, in the sequence of a previous vegetation survey (1993), in order to increase the understanding on the dynamics of lichen communities and to evaluate the impact of the mining activities. This objective will be attained through: i) survey of the lichen species; ii) mapping of lichen biodiversity, and detection of areas of potential risk; and iii) comparison with the 1993 study.

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Objectives:

The three major objectives of this work are:

  1. to assess the changes in habitat area throughout the past century;
  2. to assess the effect of eutrophication on species composition, biomass, and nitrogen content of salt marsh and seagrass meadow;
  3. to use nitrogen isotope signatures to establish links between land-derived nitrogen and estuarine producers






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Methodology (for the Flora survey):

The vascular flora of representative communities and the total epiphytic flora (lichens and bryophytes) of Olea europaea will be studied at 40-45 representative sites around the industrial area of the CTRSU from Valorsul. The Index of Atmospheric Purity (IAP) based on floristic richness will be calculated at each site. The actual data will be annually compared in the same area in order to detect any alteration in flora composition, caused by a general degradation of the air quality, which will be assessed by IAP zonation.

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Objectives:

The main objective of this work is to find traits in the spatial heterogeneity and temporal dynamics of soil properties that can be considered as triggers on processes associated with different stages of the ecological succession in Mediterranean-type ecosystems. The work has several partial objectives:


(TRANSGAS/ICAT) - 2001 - 2003

Project leader: M.A. Martins-Loução (CEBV-FCUL, Portugal)

CEBV members involved: C. Máguas, R. Maia, G. Oliveira

Objectives:

  1. To characterize habitats and plant communities during intensification of water table extraction
  2. To monitor the water status of plant communities and water sources used by plant species under intensification of water table extraction

 

(Acções Integradas Luso-Britânicas nº B-6/01) - 2001 - 2002

Participants: M.A. Martins-Loução (FFCUL, Portugal), J. Green (SAC-Aberdeen, UK)

CEBV members involved: C. Cruz

Objectives:

This project aimed at understanding interactions between root dynamics, associated microorganisms, climatic and edaphic conditions. Establishment of suitable mycorrhizal symbioses in the nursery is recognized as being critical for the success of tree seedlings planted out to the field environment, especially in degraded soils where the natural mycorrhizal inoculation potential is often reduced. Differing effects of mycorrhizal symbiosis on root architecture have been reported in the literaturte and the effects for these species is not known. The role of container shape in determining root system architecture was also investigated. We will test conventional "root trainers" which encourage root pruning, long narrow containers which maintain the tap root, and large columns which allow relatively unrestricted growth.

 

(Acções Integradas Luso-Espanholas ) - 2002 - 2003

Participants: M.A. Martins-Loução (FFCUL, Portugal), P. Aparício-Tejo (Universidad de Pamplona, Spain)

CEBV members involved: C. Cruz

Objectives:

With this project we aim at identifying biochemical and physiological indicators which may accompany productivity and precocious senescence of ammonium-grown plants. The knowledge of these mechanisms will allow a better use of nitrification inhibitors to be applied togethger with nitrogen fertilizers. The idea is to use plant species known for their different tolerance towards ammonium and evaluate their tolerance and productivity under an exclusive ammonium fertilization.

 

(Sapiens 35618/99) - 2001 - 2004

Project leader: C. Sérgio (MJB/CEBV, Portugal)

CEBV members involved:

Other participants:
Centro de Valorização de Recursos Mineiros (CVRM)-IST
Centro das Zonas Costeiras e do Mar (CZCM)-UA

Objectives:

  1. To obtain qualitative and quantitative information on atmospheric deposition of 11 elements (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn, V) in Portugal, in 2000-2002, using mosses as biomonitors.
  2. To produce a new outcome in the survey series developed in Portugal since 1990 by the same research team (1991-1992, and 1996-1997) and identify changes in the deposition pattern of thse elements (about 130 sampling sites)
  3. Toi integrate biomonitoring data in the 2000/2002 European Program of Atmospheric Heavy Metal Deposition, lead by the Nordic Council of Ministers
  4. To integrate all spatial information and modelling results in a Geographic Information System (GIS) for quick access for management and planning activities
  5. To examine the dependency between metal biomonitoring, metal deposition and different industrial emissions, traffic impact or agricultural activities in a pilot area
  6. To obtain information on additional elements of heavy metals (As, Hg and V) which will be quantified in Portugal for the first time, using mosses as biomonitors

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(PRAXIS/PCNA/C/BIA/180/96) - 1997 - 1999

Project leader: O. Correia (FCUL, Portugal)
CEBV members involved: C. Branquinho, A. Clemente, P. Correia, R. Maia, C. Máguas, M.A. Martins-Loução

Other participants:
IMAR - Pólo de Coimbra
SECIL (Outão, Portugal)

Previous studies indicated that for eight heavy metals measured in mosses, only five of them show relation to the geological properties of the sampling sites. Also high erosion rates in some areas of Portugal may have great importance as element sources for mosses.

The main objective was the qualification and quantification of the actual deposition of heavy metals in Portugal, and the determination of its regional background pattern for the 1995-1997 period.

Other objectives were:

  1. to interpret the cartography of areas with identical metal pollutant levels, with the regional distribution of the main industrial, urban, and mining activities;
  2. to integrate the results from metal deposition in mosses with international studies using the same methodology, in particular the "Survey of heavy-metal in Europe using bryophytes as bioindicators-1995" program.


Methodology:

Sample collection took place from June 1996 to December 1997. Samples of Hypnum cupressiforme Hedw. or, whenever unavailable, Scleropodium touretii (Brid.) L. Kock were collected in a total of 132 sites covering the whole country. H. cupressiforme is a subcosmopolite and ubiquitous moss, relatively common in the region, usually found in pine forests, and S. touretii is a sub-mediterranean species. The concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn were determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy (graphite furnace for Cd, Cr, Ni and flame for the other). For each heavy metal its general distribution is provided, as well as the real concentration in each moss sample, in the soil under the moss and in free soil in the same local. A multivariate analysis was performed, confirming the relation between the influence of several environmental variables and the metal distribution.

Results:

In general we can conclude that the highest Pb, Cu and Zn concentrations are found in Estremadura, Douro Litoral and Ribatejo provinces, maybe related with the high car traffic and intense industrial activities. For Cd, the highest values were observed in Estremadura. Cr, Fe and Mn were the elements more directly connected with the local geochemistry. For these elements, the highest concentrations were observed in areas with drier climate, where the soil cover is reduced and the erosion action is increased. Nevertheless, the geology, climate and ecological conditions of each studied site are the main factors, controlling/influencing the mosses contamination by soil particles. The deposition index shows the localisation of the areas with higher concentrations values around the urban regions of Lisboa and Oporto, where the population density is higher and consequently the human activities are more intense. In Baixo Alentejo and Algarve provinces, these values are probably correlated with soil contamination. Compared with northern European countries, Portugal shows high concentrations of Cd, Cr and Fe. These elements are closely related with an intensive erosion, which is characteristic of Mediterranean areas. Metals such as Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn, show values similar to other European countries. In conclusion, we can admit that the areas from Portugal with higher heavy metal concentrations, are close to urban or industrial regions from the north, centre and south, with intense car traffic.

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