Escola Superior de Turismo e Tecnologia do Mar
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Browsing Escola Superior de Turismo e Tecnologia do Mar by Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) "15:Proteger a Vida Terrestre"
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- Herbivory drives kelp recruits into ‘hiding’ in a warm ocean climatePublication . Franco, João N.; Wernberg, Thomas; Bertocci, Iacopo; Duarte, Pedro; Jacinto, David; Tuya, Fernando; Vasco Rodrigues, NunoAssessing effects of herbivory across broad gradients of varying ocean climate conditions and over small spatial scales is crucial for understanding its influence on primary producers. Effects of herbivory on the distribution and abundance of kelp recruits were examined experimentally at two regions under contrasting ocean climate. Specifically, the abundance and survivorship of kelp recruits and the abundance of macro-herbivores were compared between a 'cool' and a 'warm' region in northern and central Portugal, respectively. In each region, the abundance of kelp recruits and the intensity of grazing were compared between habitats of different topography within reefs (open reef vs. crevices). Compared to the 'warm' region, the abundance of kelp recruits was 3.9 times greater in the 'cool' region, where 85% of recruits were found in open reef habitats. In contrast, 87% of recruits in the 'warm' region were restricted to crevices. The 'warm' region had 140 times greater abundances of sea urchins, 45 times more herbi vorous fish and 4.1 times more grazing marks on kelp recruits than the 'cool' region. Grazing assays showed ca. 50 times higher rates of kelp biomass consumption, mainly by fishes, and zero survivorship of kelp recruits in the 'warm' relative to the 'cool' region. This study suggests both temperature and herbivores affect abundances of kelp recruits across latitudes, and demonstrates how herbivores affect their distribution at local scales, driving kelp recruits into 'hiding' in crevices under intense herbivory. Consequently, where net recruitment success is compromised by herbivory, the persistence of kelps will be contingent on availability of topographical refuges.
- 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.
- Phytoremediation of cadmium by the facultative halophyte plant Bolboschoenus maritimus (L.) Palla, at different salinitiesPublication . Santos, Márcia S. S.; Pedro, Carmen; Gonçalves, Sílvia; Ferreira, SusanaThe cadmium phytoremediation capacity of the halophyte plant Bolboschoenus maritimus (L.) Palla and the influence of water salinity were assessed in a greenhouse experiment, in order to better understand the bioremediation capacity of this plant. Three concentrations of cadmium (0, 50 and 100 μg l−1) and four salinity conditions (0, 5, 10 and 20) were chosen to evaluate the cadmium accumulation, in order to test these plants as a potential phytoremediation tool in brackish environments. The cadmium content in water and plants (underground organs, stems and leaves) was analysed with graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. All the plants submitted to salinity 20 and in the three cadmium treatments died. The plants’ survival was highest in the lowest salinities, where highest growth and biomasses were also obtained. The plants presented more cadmium content in the rhizomes, followed by stems and even less in leaves. The salt stress of the plants interfered with their cadmium accumulation capacity. The highest cadmium accumulation in the rhizomes occurred at salinity 0, while the salinities 0 and 5 were the most adequate for stems and leaves. The experiment pointed out that B. maritimus represents a good possible intervenient for cadmium bioremediation in freshwater and low salinity brackish water environments, but its use is limited in the habitats of higher salinity. © 2015, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.
- Ridolfia segetum (L.) Moris (Apiaceae) from Portugal: A source of safe antioxidant and anti-inflammatory essential oilPublication . Cabral, C.; Poças Almeida, Juliana; Gonçalves, M.J.; Cavaleiro, C.; Cruz, M.T.; Salgueiro, L.Ridolfia segetum (L.) Moris essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation and analysed by GC and GC-MS. The antioxidant properties were evaluated through the TBARS assay, and the in vitro anti-inflammatory activity was assessed through inhibition of NO production triggered by the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) agonist, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), in mouse macrophages. Assessment of cell viability was made through a colorimetric assay using MTT on macrophages, keratinocytes, and hepatocytes. The main compounds are α-phellandrene (53.0-63.3%), terpinolene (11.9-8.6%), ß-phellandrene (5.5-6.0%), and dillapiol (1.9-8.0%). The oil demonstrated high antioxidant capacity in the concentrations tested (0.05-0.20. μL/mL) and significantly inhibited NO production without cytotoxicity in concentrations up to 1.25. μL/mL. The plants showed a high essential oil yield, which confers an industrial potential interest. Also, the high content of α-phellandrene (53.0-63.3%) makes it an important natural source of this compound. These results provide evidence of the therapeutic effects of this oil, and suggest that the anti-inflammatory activity in doses without cytotoxicity on mammalian cells, combined with its antioxidant potential and pleasant smell, could be of great value in the development of new phytopharmaceuticals.