Browsing by Author "Pereira, Paulo Alexandre Portela"
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- Curricular Internship at SeaweedlandPublication . Pereira, Paulo Alexandre Portela; Baptista , Teresa Maria CoelhoThis internship focused on the cultivation, monitoring, and experimental optimization of macroalgae species, namely Ulva spp., Palmaria palmata, and Gracilaria spp., in land based aquaculture systems in the Netherlands. Activities were centered on raceways and large-capacity tanks, where both production and research tasks were conducted. The internship has included several trials to test variables such as temperature, light regimes, biomass densities, and nutrient formulations. Based on these results, cultivation protocols were scaled up from laboratory to production systems. Weekly biomass sampling, macroscopic quality assessments, and growth rate analyses (DGR%) were performed, with efforts made to maintain ideal cultivation densities and harvest the surplus biomass for drying and commercialization. Key contributions during the internship included the development and application of customized nutrient solutions; the management of environmental challenges such as seasonal variations in light and temperature, which triggered events like Ulva sporulation or growth decline in Palmaria palmata. These challenges were addressed through strategies like artificial lighting, temperature regulation, and customized fertilization schedules. Contamination control protocols were implemented, involving the selection and cleaning of Gracilaria spp., removal of epiphytes, and incubation under controlled conditions. Additional activities included participation in innovative seeding techniques such as direct seeding of Saccharina latissima, as well as tagging trials for monitoring the growth of Palmaria palmata individuals. The technical infrastructure was also a focus, with the installation and maintenance of filtration systems, aeration equipment, light setups, and environmental sensors for monitoring pH, salinity, turbidity, and temperature. To conclude, this internship was fundamental to deep my understanding of phycology and in developing practical skills related to the design, management, and optimization of land based cultivation systems specifically adapted for macroalgae production.