MARE - Capítulos de livros
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Browsing MARE - Capítulos de livros by Field of Science and Technology (FOS) "Ciências Naturais::Ciências da Terra e do Ambiente"
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- Commentary: Macrofaunal key species as useful tools in management and assessment practices on sandy beachesPublication . Gonçalves, Sílvia; João C. MarquesSandy beaches are the most abundant coastal systems worldwide, representing approximately 3/4 of the worlds' coastlines. In the last decades, these sensitive and dynamic ecosystems have been a target of an increasing human pressure, associated with an unbridled urbanization of coastal areas, caused by the high human population growth, but also associated with recreational activities and tourism. Together with global climatic changes and coastal erosion, these processes lead to detrimental impacts and an environmental quality decline of sandy beach ecosystems, imposing an increasing need for adequate assessment and management practices. In the majority of sandy beaches, the macrofauna is a key element in ecosystem functioning, occupying a central position in the food webs. Some species exhibit abundant populations, representing the bulk of the macrofaunal communities and functioning as key species in these conditions. In this commentary we discuss the relevance and utility of macrofaunal key species as tools in beaches integrity assessment, planning of management practices and restoration projects. We start by exposing the reasons behind the selection and use of these organisms as potential tools in assessment and management practices of beaches. Several and alternative methodologies, at the population and at the community ecological levels of organization, are afterwards discussed and their advantages and drawbacks evaluated. Finally, the most relevant key species in worldwide sandy beaches, known in the literature, and with potential as assessment and management tools, are identified. Since several manmade disturbances (e.g., intense human and mechanical trampling, beach grooming with heavy mechanical equipment), and even natural disturbances (e.g., abnormal temperature regimes, frequency and intensity of storms) may cause variations in key species bioecology, with negative impacts perpetuated to the higher ecological levels, monitoring, assessment and management actions focused on this indicator species hold large potential in the fast changing scenario of nowadays, and should be encouraged.
- The marine origin of drugsPublication . Horta, André; Alves, Celso; Pinteus, Susete; Pedrosa, RuiOutstanding research work has been done in the last 50 years, resulting in the increase of knowledge related to marine organisms as producers of high value-added biomolecules. This chapter highlights some of the main topics related with marine drug origin, with a particular emphasis on the unique marine chemical ecology environmental as critical conditions for marine drug production. Additionally, some of the most relevant marine drug success stories associated to their therapeutic use, or as research pharmacology tools, is also described, including marine toxin drugs (e.g. tetradotoxin, okadaic acid, Cytarabine, Eribulin mesylate and Ziconotide). The marine drug origin of the FDA-approved drugs, as well all the marine compounds under clinical trials evaluations (phases III, II and I), are the main targets of this chapter.