https://www.cibio.up.pt en Um novo estudo internacional, com participação do CIBIO-BIOPOLIS - Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos (Universidade do Porto), revela que tubarões e atuns com capacidade de aquecer o próprio corpo enfrentam um risco crescente de sobreaquecimento à medida que os oceanos aquecem. Publicado na prestigiada revista Science, o trabalho mostra que estes predadores consomem muito mais energia do que outras espécies, tornando-os particularmente vulneráveis às alterações climáticas.
Algumas espécies de tubarões, entre as quais se inclui o famoso tubarão-branco, e atuns são mesotérmicas, ou seja, conseguem manter partes do corpo mais quentes do que a água envolvente. Esta adaptação permite-lhes nadar mais rápido e percorrer grandes distâncias. No entanto, esta vantagem tem um custo: segundo o estudo, estes peixes utilizam cerca de 3,8 vezes mais energia do que espécies de "sangue frio” de tamanho semelhante.
"Isto [...]]]> Um novo estudo, publicado hoje na prestigiada revista Nature Reviews Biodiversity, apresenta uma estratégia para transformar a observação da vida selvagem no continente por meio de tecnologias digitais, análise de ADN e governação integrada.
Apesar da rápida transformação que a biodiversidade enfrenta à escala global, os governos ainda carecem de dados robustos e consistentes para orientar políticas de conservação eficazes. Para responder a este desafio, uma equipa internacional, composta por investigadores do Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos (BIOPOLIS-CIBIO) da Universidade do Porto, propõe a criação de uma Rede de Observação da Biodiversidade (BON) para a Europa. Este sistema pretende unificar a monitorização de espécies e ecossistemas — desde o código genético até à saúde de florestas e oceanos.
O roteiro identifica 84 Variáveis Essenciais de Biodiversidade (EBVs) que constituem a base deste sistema [...]]]> Numa carta a publicar amanhã na prestigiada revista Science, uma equipa internacional de cientistas liderada por investigadores do BIOPOLIS-CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos da Universidade do Porto, alerta que a Global Gateway, a principal estratégia de investimento global da União Europeia, avaliada em 300 mil milhões de euros, pode representar uma ameaça para a biodiversidade mundial se não forem implementadas salvaguardas ambientais urgentes e robustas.
Lançada em 2021 para mobilizar investimentos em energia, transportes, saúde e setores digitais em todo o mundo, a iniciativa Global Gateway visa promover o desenvolvimento sustentável. No entanto, os autores da carta sublinham que, sem uma integração clara da proteção da biodiversidade, o projeto poderá ter o efeito contrário, acelerando a destruição de ecossistemas vitais em alguns dos locais com mais biodiversidade do planeta, como a África Subsariana e o Sudeste [...]]]> Um novo estudo internacional, publicado na prestigiada revista Science Advances e com a participação do CIBIO-BIOPOLIS, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos da Universidade do Porto, revela que a diferença de longevidade entre os sexos está profundamente enraizada na nossa história evolutiva, sendo improvável que desapareça no futuro. A investigação, que constitui a análise mais abrangente sobre o tema até à data, conclui que a seleção sexual e a genética são os principais fatores que moldam as diferenças de esperança de vida entre machos e fêmeas em mamíferos e aves.
Em quase todas as culturas e em quase todos os períodos históricos, as mulheres vivem, em média, mais tempo do que os homens. Embora os avanços na medicina e a melhoria das condições de vida tenham reduzido esta diferença em alguns países, este novo estudo demonstra que as suas causas estão demasiado enraizadas na evolução para serem completamente [...]]]> Investigadores do CIBIO-BIOPOLIS analisam o DNA da população de São Tomé e revelam um complexo legado genético das migrações forçadas durante o tráfico de escravos transatlântico.
Uma equipa internacional de investigadores, liderada por cientistas do Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos (CIBIO-BIOPOLIS) da Universidade do Porto e do Museu Nacional de História Natural (MNHN/CNRS/Université Paris Cité, França), analisou o DNA de 100 habitantes da ilha de São Tomé para reconstruir a sua história genética. O estudo revela o impacto das migrações forçadas e das dinâmicas sociais associadas à economia das plantações, que moldaram a diversidade genética da população atual.

O Passado Escondido no DNAA ilha de São Tomé, localizada no Golfo da Guiné, foi um dos primeiros territórios onde os portugueses estabeleceram uma sociedade baseada na escravatura e na economia das [...]]]> In June 2025, BIOPOLIS-CIBIO organized three stakeholder workshops as part of the wildE – Climate Smart Rewilding project, focusing on the two Portuguese case studies: Baixo Sabor and Antarr.
wildE is a Horizon Europe-funded project that brings together 22 organizations from across Europe, integrating cutting-edge scientific research with practical implementation. The initiative aims to develop an innovative approach to ecological restoration that delivers benefits for both climate and biodiversity, while also addressing the needs of local communities. The project focuses on climate-smart rewilding as a response to the dual crises of climate change and biodiversity loss. It collaborates closely with policymakers, local communities, and businesses to generate new knowledge, methodologies, and tools tailored to this approach. A key component involves establishing effective, two-way dialogue with stakeholders involved in rewilding processes. This includes engaging local actors in eight case studies [...]]]> Uma falha crítica no mercado de sementes ameaça a biodiversidade urbana, enquanto o seu potencial como ferramenta de conservação permanece subaproveitado.
Uma equipa de investigadores do Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos (BIOPOLIS-CIBIO) da Universidade do Porto publicou um estudo que destaca a urgência de repensar as misturas de sementes atualmente disponíveis no mercado para a promoção de polinizadores em espaços verdes urbanos. O estudo, que avaliou sistematicamente as misturas de sementes comercializadas em Portugal, revela uma oportunidade significativa para otimizar estas ferramentas de conservação e maximizar o seu impacto na biodiversidade urbana.
A polinização, um serviço dos ecossistemas vital, tem recebido uma atenção crescente devido ao reconhecimento do declínio das populações de polinizadores, maioritariamente insetos. Os espaços verdes urbanos, como parques e jardins, são cruciais para a conservação destes insetos, mas [...]]]> Projeto Europeu RISE-IN foi financiado em 9 milhões de euros para reforçar a resiliência urbana face às cheias. Póvoa de Varzim entre as três cidades-piloto a testar soluções sustentáveis com impacto europeu.
O projeto europeu RISE-IN acaba de ser lançado com um financiamento de 9 milhões de euros para promover soluções inovadoras na gestão do risco de cheias e facilitar o acesso a financiamento sustentável para adaptação climática. Financiado pelo programa Horizonte Europa, o projeto reúne 26 parceiros de 13 países e será implementado ao longo de 5 anos (2025–2030).
Portugal marca presença com três entidades: BIOPOLIS/CIBIO (Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos da Universidade do Porto), Câmara Municipal da Póvoa de Varzim e a associação Póvoa em Transição – Centro do Clima, sendo a cidade da Póvoa de Varzim um dos três locais-piloto do projeto, a par de Cesena (Itália) e Christchurch (Nova Zelândia).
Cidades e [...]]]> Iniciativa internacional liderada por CIBIO-BIOPOLIS, compila dados globais sobre a mortalidade de fauna em estradas e mostra que mais de 100 espécies ameaçadas estão diretamente expostas ao risco de atropelamento.O aumento da rede rodoviária a nível global tem um impacto profundo na biodiversidade, mas a real dimensão dos atropelamentos de animais permanece pouco quantificada. Um novo estudo, publicado na prestigiada revista Scientific Data fornece o mais abrangente conjunto de dados sobre atropelamentos de fauna selvagem a nível mundial.

O Impacto Oculto das Estradas na fauna selvagemAs estradas para além de fragmentar habitats naturais representam uma ameaça direta para inúmeras espécies através mortalidade por colisão com os veículos. O estudo agora publicado compilou mais de 200.000 registos de atropelamentos de fauna terrestre, abrangendo diversas regiões do globo e identificando mais de 2000 espécies de animais expostos à mortalidade por [...]]]> BIOPOLIS officially inaugurated its new headquarters today, consolidating its position as a center of excellence in biodiversity, environmental biology, and sustainability research. Led by CIBIO – the Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources at the University of Porto – the BIOPOLIS project is recognized as a national and international benchmark for science that connects nature, knowledge, and society.The inauguration ceremony was attended by the Prime Minister, Dr. Luís Montenegro, the Minister of Education, Science and Innovation, Prof. Fernando Alexandre, and the Minister of Environment and Energy, Prof. Maria da Graça Carvalho. Their presence highlighted the strategic importance of BIOPOLIS to Portugal’s vision for a sustainable, science-driven future.The program included the unveiling of the commemorative plaque, a guided tour of the new facilities, the screening of an institutional video and speeches by the Rector of the University of Porto, António Sousa Pereira, the [...]]]> The LAFERIA project, a Horizon Europe project, was officially launched with a successful kick-off meeting held from February 25 and 26 in Portugal at BIOPOLIS-CIBIO headquarters. This meeting brought together all 13 project partners, setting the foundation for successful collaboration and laying the groundwork for the ambitious objectives of the LAFERIA project. Coordinated  by BIOPOLIS-CIBIO, the project includes as partners HELMHOLTZ-ZENTRUM FUR UMWELTFORSCHUNG GMBH - UFZ (UFZ), EIGEN VERMOGEN VAN HET INSTITUUT VOOR LANDBOUW- EN VISSERIJONDERZOEK (EV-ILVO), EUROPEAN ENVIRONMENTAL BUREAU (EEB), FINNISH ENVIRONMENT INSTITUTE (SYKE), HELSINGIN YLIOPISTO (UH), HOGSKOLAN I HALMSTAD (HU), INSTITUTE FOR EUROPEAN ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY (IEEP), PENSOFT PUBLISHERS (PENSOFT), SOCIETY FOR TERRITORIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROSPERITY (STEP), STICHTING WAGENINGEN RESEARCH (WR), UNIVERSITAET ROSTOCK (UROS), EDIA-EMPRESA DE DESENVOLVIMIENTO E INTRA-ESTRUTURAS DO ALQUEVA S.A. (EDIA).

LAFERIA aims to [...]]]> Um consórcio internacional, que inclui vários investigadores do Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos (BIOPOLIS-CIBIO) da Universidade do Porto, conseguiu sequenciar os cromossomas sexuais gigantes da planta Silene latifolia, conhecida como Assobios. Este trabalho, publicado recentemente na prestigiada revista Science, permitiu identificar genes candidatos envolvidos na determinação do sexo da planta e compreender como estes cromossomas se tornaram tão grandes. Representa um avanço significativo no estudo e compreensão da determinação do sexo em plantas, incluindo espécies cultivadas.
A existência de cromossomas sexuais nas plantas foi descoberta em 1923 por Kathleen Blackburn em S. latifolia, uns anos depois da sua identificação nos animais por Nettie Stevens. O primeiro gene mestre responsável pela determinação do sexo em plantas foi identificado em 2014, nos dióspiros. Os cromossomas sexuais são caracterizados por regiões não [...]]]> Um estudo publicado na prestigiada revista Genome Research, liderado pelas investigadoras do Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos (BIOPOLIS-CIBIO) da Universidade do Porto, Raquel Godinho e Diana Lobo, e com a colaboração de investigadores de várias instituições na Europa, revela que a adaptação do lobo ibérico a paisagens altamente humanizadas pode estar associada a um evento antigo de hibridação entre cães e lobos ibéricos que data de há pelo menos 3000 anos. 
Ao contrário de outras populações de lobo na Europa que se extinguiram após décadas de alterações drásticas da paisagem e de intensa perseguição pelo homem, na Península Ibérica o lobo persistiu continuamente, apesar da população ter sofrido um grande declínio que atingiu o seu máximo na década de 1970. Há vários anos que uma equipa liderada por investigadores do BIOPOLIS-CIBIO questiona se esta resiliência única do lobo ibérico [...]]]> Um estudo pioneiro publicado recentemente na prestigiada revista Nature revela um preocupante declínio da diversidade genética em espécies de todo o mundo. No entanto, os investigadores também destacam exemplos promissores em que esforços de conservação estão a fazer a diferença.
Este estudo representa a análise mais abrangente da diversidade genética já realizada, cobrindo mais de três décadas de dados (1985-2019) e 628 espécies de animais, plantas e fungos em ecossistemas terrestres e marinhos. 
Os resultados mostram que dois terços das populações analisadas estão a perder diversidade genética, um fator crucial para a resiliência das espécies face às mudanças ambientais. Contudo, ações como restauro de habitat, programas de reprodução em cativeiro e transferência de indivíduos entre populações têm demonstrado efeitos positivos, ajudando a manter e até aumentar a diversidade genética de [...]]]> Researchers from the InvasionS group at BIOPOLIS-CIBIO attended the kick-off meeting at the Joint Research Centre in Ispra, Italy, from January 20-23. OneSTOP aims to enhance European biosecurity by promoting holistic approaches, breaking down silos, and engaging with communities to tackle invasive alien species.
Last January, two ambitious multi-stakeholder projects - OneSTOP and GuardIAS - were launched in a joint kick-off meeting to tackle the growing threat of invasive alien species. Focusing on terrestrial and aquatic environments, respectively, these projects will work in tandem to mitigate the adverse impacts of invasive alien species on endangered species, natural sites, and human health, providing comprehensive coverage of Europe’s ecosystems.
OneSTOP and GuardIAS will integrate advanced scientific methodologies, cutting-edge technologies, and [...]]]> Weare proud to announce that BIOPOLIS has been awarded the Human ResourcesStrategy for Researchers (HRS4R) distinction by the European Union. Thisprestigious recognition highlights our commitment to fostering a stimulating,fair, and supportive working environment for researchers, reinforcing ourdedication to excellence in scientific research.TheHRS4R award reflects BIOPOLIS’ alignment with the European Charter forResearchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers. Byimplementing best practices in recruitment, career development, and workingconditions, we are building an inclusive and transparent research ecosystemthat promotes professional growth and international collaboration.Thisachievement marks an important milestone for BIOPOLIS, enhancing our reputationas a research institution that values talent, integrity, and ethical standards.It strengthens our ability to attract top researchers and secure competitivefunding opportunities at both [...]]]> On December 5th, BIOPOLIS Association in partnership with the Porto Business School, organizes the event Nature-Based Solutions: Scaling Sustainable Impact through Science and Business Innovation, an initiative of the Innovation X Hub.

This event will explore how Nature-based Solutions (NbS) address pressing global challenges such as climate change and food security, while unlocking opportunities for sustainable growth and innovative business strategies.

Discover the role of the BIOPOLIS-CIBIO association in promoting NbS, the sustainability initiatives of Porto Business School, and a new support service to transform R&D into market-ready solutions.

Schedule:
17:30-18:00 | Check-in18:00-18:20 | Welcome & Sustainability Path PBS | Patrícia Teixeira Lopes, Vice-Dean18:20-18:40 | Leveraging Nature to Tackle Societal Challenges | Pedro Beja18:40-18:50 | Presentation "Unveiling Tomorrow's Sustainability - A Global Exploration 2024” | Rodrigo Alvarenga [...]]]> InvasionS is excited to announce the launch of ECO-InvasionS, a pioneering project marking the first collaboration between CIBIO and CEE-M (Centre for Environmental Economics – Montpellier). 
This initiative, funded by BIOPOLIS in the context of their "Education, Research & Outreach"  Call, is a collaboration between CIBIO’s InvasionS group (Joana R. Vicente and Eva Malta-Pinto) and researchers from CEE-M (Nicolas Quérou and Pierre Courtois) and represents a significant step towards integrating ecological and economic perspectives on biological invasions, with the goal of finding common ground and identifying both conflicts and opportunities in this critical area of research.
A Strategic move for CIBIO's MissionFor CIBIO, this collaboration is a key contributor to its strategic line of [...]]]> Num novo estudo publicado na prestigiada revista Science, uma equipa internacional liderada por cientistas do Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos (BIOPOLIS-CIBIO) da Universidade do Porto e da Universidade de Coimbra revela pela primeira vez como um único gene permite aos papagaios controlarem a sua grande diversidade de cores.
Os papagaios são criados como animais de companhia em milhões de lares pelo mundo inteiro, apreciados pela sua cor e inteligência. Mas apesar desta visibilidade, os cientistas desconheciam ainda como esta grande palete de cores era criada. "Isto é um grande mistério tanto para cientistas como para amantes de aves e isto é importante para uma questão central na biologia, nomeadamente, como é que a diversidade surge na natureza?” refere Miguel Carneiro, investigador do BIOPOLIS-CIBIO e coordenador do estudo.
Para responder a esta questão fundamental, os cientistas demonstraram primeiro que, em [...]]]> No passado houve reduções na biodiversidade de diatomáceas, mas ocorriam em lagos específicos que recuperavam rapidamente; agora, a perda de espécies ocorre em toda a ilhaEm 1982, quando a temperatura no hemisfério norte ultrapassou o aumento de 0,35 ºC em relação à média do século XX, a biodiversidade diminuiu e os ecossistemas simplificaram-se
O aumento da temperatura causado pelas alterações climáticas está a colocar em perigo os ecossistemas lacustres do arquipélago dos Açores. Estes lagos, que são importantes para a população porque são reservas de água, contribuem para a regulação hídrica, para as atividades turísticas e de lazer, e são essenciais para preservar a biodiversidade das ilhas, estão a perder parte da sua biodiversidade e da sua capacidade para prestar esses serviços ecossistémicos. É o que confirma um estudo desenvolvido na ilha de São Miguel, onde se comprovou que a quantidade de espécies de [...]]]> Snails on a tiny rocky islet evolved before scientists’ eyes. The marine snails were reintroduced after a toxic algal bloom wiped them out from the skerry. While the researchers intentionally brought in a distinct population of the same snail species, these evolved to strikingly resemble the population lost over 30 years prior. The study, led by researchers from the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) and Nord University, Norway, with the participation of researchers from other European countries including Portugal (BIOPOLIS-CIBIO/InBIO) was just published in Science Advances.
In 1988, the Koster archipelago, a group of islands off the Swedish west coast near the border to Norway, was hit by a particularly dense bloom of toxic algae, wiping out marine snail populations. It turns out that this event would open up the opportunity to predict and see evolution unfolding before our eyes.
Before this event, the islands and their small intertidal skerries—rocky islets—were home [...]]]> The Diary of a Scientist project brought together Biopolis researchers and Público journalists to share their research in new and creative ways. This collaboration spanned several platforms - online, print and podcast - enriched with illustrations by André Carrilho.  During August, the articles garnered over 200,000 reads on Público. Additionally, the Diary of a Scientist podcast was a resounding success, ranking number one science podcast in Portugal on Apple Podcasts for most of the month.

The success of this initiative is a testament not only to the exceptional work and dedication of the 26 participants but also to the diversity and quality of research at Biopolis. As part of this project, Público readers were invited to vote for their favourite articles. Voting took place from September 5th to 15th with [...]]]> Entre 30 de setembro e 4 de outubro o BIOPOLIS/CIBIO (Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos), em conjunto com a Universidade do Porto, acolhe a 31ª reunião do Governing Board do Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), uma rede internacional e infraestrutura de investigação financiada por governos de todo o mundo, com o objetivo de fornecer acesso aberto a dados sobre todas as formas de vida na Terra, disponíveis a qualquer pessoa, em qualquer lugar.
No Campus do BIOPOLIS, em Vairão, Vila do Conde, decorrerá a reunião do Conselho de Administração (Governing Board), o principal órgão de tomada de decisão do GBIF, composto por representantes dos governos dos 63 países membros e 43 organizações internacionais. No âmbito da reunião, realiza-se também um simpósio, organizado pelo BIOPOLIS, e que será aberto ao público.
Durante este evento serão apresentados os progressos realizados pelos vários comités e pelo [...]]]> From 30 September to 4 October, BIOPOLIS/CIBIO (Biodiversity and Genetic Resources Research Centre), together with the University of Porto, will host the 31st meeting of the Governing Board of the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), an international network and research infrastructure funded by governments around the world to provide open access to data on all forms of life on Earth, available to anyone, anywhere.

During this event, the progress of the various committees and the GBIF International Secretariat will be presented and future strategies and developments of the organisation will be discussed. GBIF's prestigious annual awards will also be presented, including the 2024 GBIF Young Researcher Award and the Ebbe Nielsen Challenge.

The Young Researcher Award recognises innovative use of GBIF in biodiversity informatics by Masters or PhD students, while the Ebbe Nielsen Challenge rewards contributions from scientists, data modellers, software developers and other [...]]]> Projeto pioneiro à escala continental dá origem ao Biogenoma Portugal, consórcio dedicado à investigação que promete contribuir para a salvaguarda das espécies do país
O esforço coletivo de cientistas de 33 países, entre os quais Portugal, é celebrado esta semana: juntos, ao abrigo do projeto-piloto do Atlas Europeu de Genomas de Referência (ERGA), estão a desvendar o património genómico de 98 espécies, contribuindo para o seu conhecimento e conservação. Os primeiros resultados, a nível global e para Portugal, foram divulgados em dois artigos independentes, mas associados, na revista internacional npj biodiversity. Um destes artigos assinala a primeira apresentação do consórcio em formação Biogenoma Portugal. A representação portuguesa no conselho do ERGA é coordenada pelos investigadores Vítor C. Sousa, do CE3C – Centro de Ecologia, Evolução e Alterações Ambientais da Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, e José [...]]]> Um novo estudo liderado por investigadores do Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos (BIOPOLIS-CIBIO) da Universidade do Porto, e em colaboração com a Palombar e com o Concelho Superior de Investigações Científicas (CSIC) de Espanha, evidencia a ligação entre o rápido declínio da águia-caçadeira (Circus pygargus) e as transformações a grande escala da paisagem agrícola portuguesa dos últimos 30 anos. A revelação foi esta semana feita num artigo publicado na revista científica Conservation Science and Practice.
A águia-caçadeira, ou tartaranhão-caçador, é uma espécie diferente da maioria das águias, uma vez que nidifica no solo. Na Europa, está fortemente associada a habitats agrícolas, onde grande parte da população depende agora de culturas de cereal para fazer o ninho. Em Portugal, o censo mais recente da espécie, realizado em 2022-2023, aponta para um declínio de quase 80% em 20 anos (ver Num recente estudo publicado na revista iScience, uma colaboração internacional liderada por investigadores do Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos (BIOPOLIS-CIBIO) da Universidade do Porto, desvendou o mistério por detrás da origem das raças de cão de gado. O estudo centra-se na complexa história evolutiva de raças caninas como o Serra da Estrela, o Mastim Tibetano, entre outras, e revela que as raças da Europa e da Ásia Ocidental têm uma origem comum, enquanto as raças da Ásia Oriental são bastante distintas.
A utilização de cães para proteger os rebanhos dos predadores, como o lobo ou o urso, remonta ao período histórico que se segue à domesticação do gado, com fosseis de ovelhas e cães encontrados juntos datados de cerca de 3700 a.C. O uso tradicional deste tipo de cães estende-se por todo o "Velho Mundo", desde as cadeias montanhosas dos Himalaias até às planícies alentejanas em Portugal, e está bem documentado em [...]]]> BIOPOLIS partnered with PÚBLICO newspaper to launch The Diary of a Scientist - a groundbreaking initiative that unites Scientists and Journalists to create a novel approach to science communication.
Over the past four months, 26 scientists from BIOPOLIS-CIBIO worked together with journalists from PÚBLICO to talk about  their research in the first person. The result is 26 articles, 18 podcast episodes and daily quizzes, all of which will be unveiled throughout August, both online and in print, by PÚBLICO. The project is wrapped with stunning illustrations by André Carrilho. 
The Diary of a Scientist is not only a way of bringing our advanced research to a wider audience, but a journey through the scientific process, from the origin of ideas to the development of scientific projects. More than a series of news articles about science, The Diary of a Scientist is a timeless [...]]]> The Director of BIOPOLIS-CIBIO, Nuno Ferrand, was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit by the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, this Thursday, July 11th, for his contribution to the development of science in Portugal.
The Order of Merit is a Portuguese honorary order that rewards meritorious acts or services performed in the exercise of any function, public or private, that show selflessness for the benefit of the community.
Nuno Ferrand is a Full Professor at the University of Porto, Founder and Director of CIBIO - Center for Research on Biodiversity and Genetic Resources and the associated laboratory InBIO - Research Network in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology.
He currently directs the European BIOPOLIS project, which involves the largest funding ever granted to a research center in Portugal. It is a joint project with France, through the University of Montpellier, and also with the Porto Business School of the University of Porto.
He created and [...]]]> A recent study published in Nature Ecology and Evolution unveils how domesticated rabbits transition into invasive species.  
An international team led by BIOPOLIS-CIBIO and Uppsala University (Sweden) sequenced the genomes of nearly 300 rabbits across three continents to explore the factors that lead to the successful reintroduction of domestic rabbits into the wild. The researchers found that feral rabbit populations exhibit a blend of domestic and wild genetic origins. Domestication-related traits are often eliminated in the wild due to natural selection, as they increase rabbits’ vulnerability to predation – as evidenced by the varying coat colours between domestic and feral rabbits.  
This research provides crucial insights into how domestic animals re-adapt to the wild, with implications for managing invasive populations globally. The study contributes to understanding the evolutionary processes behind domestication and feralization, aiding in future risk [...]]]> Como é que os coelhos passam de animais de estimação dóceis para terríveis invasores? Os coelhos colonizaram territórios em todo o mundo, muitas vezes com um impacto económico e ecológico avassaladores. Num novo estudo publicado na revista Nature Ecology and Evolution, um consórcio internacional liderado por cientistas do BIOPOLIS-CIBIO (Portugal) e da Universidade de Uppsala (Suécia) sequenciou os genomas de quase 300 coelhos em três continentes descobriram que este sucesso depende da existência de uma componente genética selvagem.
A domesticação dos animais tem uma longa história. Qualquer animal de estimação - gatinho felpudo, cão leal ou peixe colorido - é apenas parte da incrível variedade de formas domésticas. "Alguns animais domésticos mudaram tanto desde os seus antepassados selvagens, que é difícil adivinhar um parentesco, como os chihuahuas que descendem de lobos”, explica Pedro Andrade, investigador do BIOPOLIS-CIBIO. [...]]]> Uma equipa internacional liderada por cientistas do Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos (BIOPOLIS-CIBIO) da Universidade do Porto descobriu uma nova espécie de serpente, bastante diferente e discreta, na região de Hejaz, na Arábia Saudita. A revelação foi feita recentemente num artigo publicado na revista científica Zoosystematics and Evolution.
A nova espécie para a ciência, batizada com o nome Rhynchocalamus hejazicus, é uma pequena serpente que apresenta um colar preto e uma coloração avermelhada, o que a distingue dos seus parentes mais próximos. Foi também descoberto um "morfotipo melanístico” da espécie, de cor negra uniforme.
A nova espécie é amplamente distribuída e preenche grande parte da lacuna existente na distribuição do género Rhynchocalamus entre o Levante e as regiões costeiras do Iémen e Omã.
A serpente habita solos arenosos e pedregosos com cobertura [...]]]> BIOPOLIS researcher Diogo Ferreira is the winner of the U.Porto 3MT® (Three Minute Thesis), a competition which, over the last few months, has tested the ability of U.Porto's doctoral students to communicate.

The jury, made up of Sónia Valente Rodrigues (Pro-Rector of U.Porto), Patrícia Teixeira Lopes (Vice Dean of Porto Business School), Teresa Firmino (journalist for Público newspaper), Alexandre Quintanilha (retired Full Professor at ICBAS) and Luís Filipe Reis (CEO of Universo by Sonae) awarded first place to the presentation "Chocolate bats: Promoting sustainable cacao through bat ecosystem services”, the title of Diogo Ferreira's PhD project.

The 3MT® Competition challenges participants to explain the concept and significance of their research. In just three minutes and using "no more than a single slide," future doctors must explain the significance of their work in the most engaging way possible.

News about the award available Last May 17th, BIOPOLIS-CIBIO researcher and ENVARCH team member Luís Seabra received the Eduardo da Cunha Serrão Prize from the Association of Portuguese Archaeologists for the best PhD thesis in Archaeology. The thesis, titled "Agricultural and storage choices, environmental conditions and human dynamics from the Iron Age to the Early Medieval period in Northern Portugal"  was developed within the scope of the Doctoral program Biodiversity, Genetics and Evolution at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto (Department of Biology).
This work was carried out between 2018 and 2023, under the supervision of João Tereso (BIOPOLIS-CIBIO), María Martín-Seijo (Universidad de Cantabria, Incipit-CSIC), and Rubim Almeida (FCUP, BIOPOLIS-CIBIO).
Prize link here

Supported by: European Social Fund (ESF), through the Norte [...]]]> Num artigo publicado hoje na revista Biodiversity Data Journal, 119 espécies (cerca de 77%) de Portugal foram estudadas, incluindo os primeiros exemplares observados no país de um gafanhoto pertencente à espécie Stenobothrus lineatus. O estudo incluiu a publicação dos códigos de barras de ADN de 420 exemplares de gafanhotos, grilos e saltões capturados em Portugal continental entre 2005 e 2021.
Apesar de não ser dos grupos mais numerosos de insetos ainda existe um desconhecimento muito grande quanto às espécies presentes em Portugal. Sílvia Pina entomóloga no Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos (BIOPOLIS-CIBIO) da Universidade do Porto refere "Os saltões, grilos e gafanhotos ainda apresentam grandes desafios taxonómicos que só serão possíveis de resolver integrando várias abordagens onde os estudos moleculares têm um papel fundamental”. 

Além de ainda não existir uma checklist coerente das as [...]]]> Professor Brian J. Huntley, a distinguished conservationist with over five decades of expertise in research and practice across Africa, was recently awarded the prestigious honorary doctorate (honoris causa) by the University of Cape Town. This recognition stands as a testament to his unparalleled contributions to conservation efforts in southern Africa, where he has been pivotal in the development of scientific institutions and research capacity. 
Professor Huntley has been active in numerous African countries, with a particular passion for Lusophone Africa. Beginning his professional journey in Angola in 1971, he has since pioneered major interdisciplinary research collaborations and contributed to the successful implementation of projects aimed at safeguarding biodiversity and fostering sustainable development. As the former CEO of South Africa’s National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) he played a [...]]]> A biodiversidade global diminuiu entre 2% e 11% durante o século XX devido apenas às alterações registadas na utilização dos solos, de acordo com um abrangente estudo publicado hoje na revista Science. As projeções resultantes de vários modelos, mostram que as alterações climáticas poderão tornar-se o principal fator de declínio da biodiversidade até meados do século XXI.

A análise foi liderada por Henrique Miguel Pereira do Centro Alemão de Investigação Integrativa da Biodiversidade (iDiv) da Universidade Martin Luther de Halle-Wittenberg e do Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos (BIOPOLIS-CIBIO) da Universidade do Porto. É o estudo mais compreensivo de alterações da biodiversidade até à data. Os investigadores compararam treze modelos para avaliar o impacto das alterações do uso do solo e das alterações climáticas em quatro métricas de biodiversidade distintas, bem como em nove serviços [...]]]> A variação natural intrínseca das espécies encontra-se, por vezes, restrita a um só sexo, criando um enigma para o qual os cientistas há muito procuram resposta. Num novo estudo publicado na revista científica Science Advances, um consórcio internacional coliderado por investigadores do Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos (BIOPOLIS-CIBIO) da Universidade do Porto, aplicou ferramentas genómicas de nova geração para estudar um mistério natural com mais de 200 anos - a fêmea "hepática” do cuco. O estudo revela como uma mutação com um milhão de anos explica a presença de cores muito distintas entre fêmeas de diferentes espécies de cucos.
Em 1788, o naturalista sueco Anders Sparrman, discípulo do famoso Lineu, descreveu uma variedade de cucos arruivados à qual chamou "cuco hepático”, e considerou-a tão distinta dos habituais cucos cinzentos que a catalogou como uma nova espécie de ave. Ao longo dos séculos [...]]]> The Advanced Plant Genomics Methods Training was held in February 2024 at AGAP (Montpellier) in the context of the BIOPOLIS project. It was a capacity building event allowing to establish scientific and technical collaborations and getting to know the functioning and organization of several different technical platforms, from phenotyping to molecular studies, in Montpellier. Throughout the week, participants from CIBIO were able to discover and discuss various scientific important questions in plant biology and crop studies but also technical ways to deal with them, having access to protocols and discovering automated platforms. 
The program comprised expert lectures covering the latest advancements in plant genomics and epigenomics research and guided tours of laboratories and technical platforms. The participants had the opportunity to meet several potential collaborators in Montpellier: starting with the AGAP Institute director, they met researchers, engineers, platform’s coordinators [...]]]> "The diary of a scientist" is a joint project between Biopolis and PÚBLICO newspaper which aims to celebrate the curiosity that drives the scientific process, while promoting science communication and bringing scientists and journalists closer together.

Working together, scientists and journalists will transform 26 scientific ideas related to Biology into engaging narratives for the general public. These pieces, authored by Biopolis researchers and crafted with the support of experienced journalists, will be published in PÚBLICO throughout August 2024, in print and digital format, with specially designed layouts and infographics.

Scientists from Biopolis who are eligible according to the terms and conditions (linked below) can apply by filling out this form until April 28th at 23:59. An evaluation panel composed of journalists from PÚBLICO will assess [...]]]> Equipa internacional de investigadores desvenda códigos de barras de ADN das abelhas ibéricas, essenciais à monitorização correta destas espécies.
Em tempos de crise de biodiversidade é urgente conhecer as espécies existentes e disponibilizar ferramentas que permitam a monitorização das suas populações, assim como perceber as relações entre espécies e identificar os fatores de ameaça à sua conservação. Os códigos de barras de ADN são sequências curtas de material genético (os nucleótidos do ADN) que permitem distinguir as espécies, tal como os códigos de barras permitem distinguir os produtos nos supermercados.

O conjunto de dados agora publicado contém 514 espécies e 1.059 exemplares. As espécies incluídas representam cerca de 47% da diversidade de espécies de abelhas ibéricas e 21% da diversidade de espécies endémicas, complementando os dados pré-existentes. Se [...]]]> O financiamento de estações de campo de investigação em biologia da conservação foi drasticamente reduzido em todo o mundo desde o início da pandemia da COVID-19, o que desperta preocupação a mais de 170 investigadores da área temática, representando 157 estações de campo de investigação em 56 países, num novo artigo publicado na prestigiada revista científica Conservation Letters. 
Os autores afirmam que as estações de campo de investigação têm um elevado retorno sobre o investimento e são ferramentas essenciais e altamente eficazes para a conservação da biodiversidade.
Foram mobilizados biliões de dólares americanos na recuperação económica após a pandemia, mas os autores mencionam que os recursos para fazer face à perda de biodiversidade e às crises climáticas tenham sido limitados quando são mais urgentemente necessários. A pandemia fez com que cerca de metade das estações de campo inquiridas no estudo cessassem parcialmente as suas atividades, e [...]]]> Num estudo recentemente publicado pela revista científica Science of the Total Environment, uma equipa internacional de investigadores revela que existe um número superior ao esperado de populações que podem estar em risco devido ao aumento da temperatura no planeta.
À medida que os valores de temperatura sobem no planeta, muitas espécies estão a recuar nos locais mais quentes de sua distribuição geográfica, especialmente quando as temperaturas excedem sua tolerância ao calor. Ainda que existam numerosas formas de medir esta tolerância em diferentes grupos animais, pouco se sabia como estas medidas podiam ajudar a avaliar a distribuição de espécies em locais com temperaturas mais elevadas.
No estudo agora publicado, uma equipa multinacional liderada por Agustín Camacho da Universidade Autónoma de Madrid e na qual participa Miguel Carretero, investigador do Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos (BIOPOLIS-CIBIO) e Professor da [...]]]> BIOPOLIS researcher Ana Paula Portela is the winner of the XV Limnology Research Award granted by the Iberian Association of Limnology to the best doctoral thesis defended in 2023.
The thesis "Linking biodiversity, ecosystem services, and ecological stability for river ecosystem sustainability” was developed in the Doctoral Programme in Biodiversity, Genetics & Evolution (BIODIV) and supervised by João Honrado (Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto, BIOPOLIS), Cristiana Vieira (Museu de História Natural e da Ciência da Universidade do Porto) and Isabelle Durance (Cardiff University Water Research Institute).
The award is granted annually to the authors of the best thesis in Limnology developed by Portuguese or Spanish authors or authors of other nationality that obtained the degree in a Portuguese or Spanish University.

To access to the award announcement please click  This month at BIOPOLIS-CIBIOwe had the first edition of the advanced course in Plant Functional Biology,which combined lectures with practical work, introducing strategies to study genefunction in plants. Indeed, the special focus of this course resided on genes,their function and how they can provide answers to central questions in modern plantbiology. Carefully selected topics included the plant response to environmentalstress caused by climate change, plant defense mechanisms against infectiousagents, the improvement of nutritional quality, and the development of specifictraits in plants. The course featured updated strategies in molecular biology, plantbiotechnology, genetic engineering and various omics, which can diversify andallow the study of basic processes in model plants and the improvement of cropswith economic interest.This course’s first editionwas an initiative of the PlantBio group at [...]]]> A diversidade genética é crucial para que as espécies se adaptem às alterações climáticas. Um estudo internacional no qual participou Paulo Célio Alves, investigador do Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos (BIOPOLIS-CIBIO) e Professor da Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto, mostra que os atuais esforços de monitorização da diversidade genética na Europa são incompletos e insuficientes. Os investigadores têm-se centrado particularmente nas regiões que serão especialmente relevantes para a adaptação ao aumento do calor e da seca.
Cada ser vivo do nosso planeta distingue-se dos seus semelhantes por pequenas diferenças no seu material hereditário. Assim, quando o ambiente muda e se torna desfavorável para as populações de organismos, esta variabilidade genética pode permitir-lhes adaptarem-se às novas condições, em vez de se extinguirem ou terem de migrar para outros habitats. Em termos [...]]]> Investigadores do Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos (BIOPOLIS-CIBIO) da Universidade do Porto, publicam carta na prestigiada revista Science, alertando para o preocupante declínio das aves agrícolas em Portugal e apelam para a reformulação de medidas agroambientais.
Há vários anos que cientistas e ONGAs têm alertado para o declínio acentuado de espécies de aves associadas a meios agrícolas no território Nacional. A abetarda (Otis tarda), o sisão (Tetrax tetrax) e o tartaranhão-caçador (Circus pygargus), três espécies classificadas como prioritárias para a conservação pela Diretiva Aves da União Europeia, declinaram entre 50 a 80% nos últimos 10 anos e cerca de um terço de aves agrícolas comuns também estão em declínio.
"Nos últimos 8 anos estivemos envolvidos na coordenação de censos nacionais de espécies prioritárias e verificámos declínios maiores do que estimado anteriormente!” – refere João [...]]]> Investigadores do Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos (BIOPOLIS-CIBIO) da Universidade do Porto publicam o primeiro livro dedicado ao conhecimento existente sobre o canário, uma das aves mais populares e amadas no mundo inteiro, e que há muito é um modelo de estudo importante em diferentes áreas da ciência.
A domesticação do canário, a partir das ilhas Canárias, deu origem a uma diversidade de raças domésticas, com canto, forma e cor diversificados, que hoje existem por todo o mundo. Como resultado desta domesticação, o canário também se tornou um animal modelo no estudo da fisiologia da reprodução, da genética da coloração, e do desenvolvimento e neurobiologia do canto, contribuindo assim para desvendar até aspetos do desenvolvimento da linguagem humana. Menos conhecidas que o canário doméstico são as suas formas selvagens, outras espécies de canários ou aparentadas com estes, os ambientes em [...]]]> A iniciativa conta com a participação de investigadores de 13 instituições pertencentes a cinco países diferentes, pretende proteger a biodiversidade marinha e promover a sustentabilidade da frota de alto-mar europeia no Atlântico Este-central.
Todos os anos, cerca de 70.000 tartarugas e 200.000 aves marinhas morrem devido às capturas acessórias das frotas pesqueiras da UE. Estes exemplos, que poderiam ser alargados a outras espécies marinhas (como por exemplo, espécies protegidas de tubarões pelágicos), revelam a real dimensão do impacto ambiental pela interação entre a frota pesqueira e a megafauna marinha. A captura acidental de espécies ameaçadas representa também um problema para a indústria pesqueira, com graves consequências económicas e jurídicas.
O principal objetivo do projeto REDUCE é promover uma gestão pesqueira mais sustentável e reduzir as capturas acessórias de algumas das espécies marinhas mais ameaçadas no [...]]]> Recorrendo a uma amostra sem precedentes de 117 grupos etnolinguísticos de vários pontos do continente africano, uma equipa internacional de que fazem parte dois investigadores do Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos (BIOPOLIS-CIBIO) da Universidade do Porto, realizou o estudo mais completo até agora publicado sobre a história e a diversidade genómica das populações de línguas Bantu.
Para designar o plural de pessoa no norte de Angola usa-se a palavra wantu, no sul de Moçambique vanhu, em Nairobi, no Quénia, watu e na Cidade do Cabo, na África do Sul, batho.
A causa destas semelhanças foi a rápida dispersão pela África subequatorial de populações oriundas da fronteira entre a Nigéria e os Camarões, com idiomas muito semelhantes que deram origem às línguas actualmente agrupadas na família Bantu. Com início há cerca de cinco mil anos, a expansão dos povos Bantu foi facilitada pelo domínio da agricultura tropical e da [...]]]> Num estudo recentemente publicado na versão online da revista Landscape and Urban Planning, são apresentadas a uma escala fina as áreas de vegetação mais estáveis e menos perturbadas da cidade do Porto ao longo das últimas sete décadas, as quais deverão ser prioritárias para a conservação da biodiversidade.
A gestão da biodiversidade fica frequentemente limitada por informações espacialmente pouco precisas e sem perspetiva histórica. No caso da biodiversidade urbana, aquela mais próxima dos cidadãos, esta falta de dados a uma escala (temporal e espacial) adequada, assim como num formato espacialmente explícito, impede uma boa integração em políticas e planos de ordenamento e gestão territorial a nível local.
A equipa multidisciplinar da Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto, formada pela estudante de doutoramento Filipa Guilherme sob orientação do professor Paulo Farinha Marques e de Miguel Carretero, ambos investigadores do Centro de Investigação [...]]]> Resultados do primeiro censo nacional da águia-caçadeira (Circus pygargus), uma ave prioritária em termos de conservação, evidenciam um declínio de até 80% em apenas 10 anos, uma espécie que outrora era comum nas paisagens agrícolas portuguesas.
O censo nacional da águia-caçadeira (também conhecida como tartaranhão-caçador)  é da iniciativa do projeto Searas com Biodiversidade: Salvemos a Águia-caçadeira, uma parceria alargada entre o Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos (BIOPOLIS-CIBIO) da Universidade do Porto, a Palombar – Conservação da Natureza e do Património Rural, o Clube de Produtores Continente e a Associação Nacional de Produtores de Cereais (ANPOC), que pretende apostar na valorização das searas em Portugal. O censo tem como objetivo gerar conhecimento de base para um projeto nacional de conservação da espécie, identificando os locais onde persiste e quantificando a sua abundância. Esta [...]]]> CONFERÊNCIA INTERNACIONAL TIBE - INVASÕES BIOLÓGICAS NO HORIZONTE! DOS GENES AOS ECOSSISTEMAS E À SOCIEDADE - EM VILA DO CONDE

Entre 28 a 30 de novembro o BIOPOLIS/CIBIO (Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos), em conjunto com a Universidade de Montpellier (França), organiza a conferência internacional "Invaders on the Horizon! Advancing Invasion Science from Genes to Ecosystems and Society". As conferências TiBE (Trends in Biodiversity and Evolution) são um evento anual organizado pelo BIOPOLIS/CIBIO com o objetivo de reunir investigadores e estudantes graduados e pós-graduados na área das ciências biológicas, favorecendo a formação avançada e o estabelecimento de colaborações científicas.
A edição deste ano do evento, a decorrer no Auditório Municipal de Vila do Conde, centra-se na Ciência das Invasões desde os genes, passando pelos ecossistemas e a ligação à sociedade. A importância desta temática é globalmente [...]]]> The SeaThings project, co-led by CIBIO Açores in the  person of Prof. Ana Costa and in which CIBIO researchers Andrea Botelho and Manuela Parente also participated,  was awarded  the Atlantic Project Award in the category of blue skills development and ocean literacy. 

This project funded by PO-Açores 2019-2023 includes  the Re-Mar repository  as an integral part, and its main objective is to be used by teachers, trainers and educators to introduce the theme of the sea in their teaching activities. 

The award ceremony took place during the 10th conference of the Dados de mais de 300 transmissores de satélite colocados em grandes predadores marinhos, juntamente com sonares de bordo, apontam para a importância ecológica da zona crepuscular (twilight) do oceano.
Um novo estudo, que será hoje publicado na revista Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, mostra que grandes peixes predadores como tubarões, atuns e espadartes fazem um número surpreendente de mergulhos ao oceano profundo – particularmente à zona mesopelágica, que se encontra entre 200 e os 1000 metros abaixo da superfície. Esta zona, também denominada de zona crepuscular do oceano, tem, de acordo com o estudo, sido negligenciada como habitat crítico para grandes peixes pelágicos. 
Liderado por Camrin Braun, cientista do Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), o estudo incorporou uma quantidade surpreendente de dados de vários parceiros científicos, entre os quais investigadores do BIOPOLIS-CIBIO (Nuno Queiroz, Gonzalo Mucientes e Miguel Furtado). [...]]]> Um estudo publicado na prestigiada revista Molecular Ecology, liderado pelas investigadoras do Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos (BIOPOLIS-CIBIO) da Universidade do Porto, Raquel Godinho e Diana Lobo, e com a colaboração do investigador José Vicente López-Bao da Universidade de Oviedo em Espanha, revela que o declínio da população de lobo ibérico em meados do século XX levou a uma redução significativa da sua diversidade genética.
Após décadas de intensa perseguição pelo homem, as populações de lobo ibérico registaram um grande declínio na década de 1970, reduzindo consideravelmente a sua área de distribuição e levando à extinção desta espécie em grande parte da região centro e sul da Península Ibérica. Este declínio populacional poderá ter afetado a diversidade genética do lobo ibérico através de diferentes processos, nomeadamente a deriva [...]]]> Num estudo publicado ontem na revista científica "Biodiversity Data Journal”, liderado por investigadores do Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos (BIOPOLIS-CIBIO) da Universidade do Porto, é apresentado o primeiro grande conjunto de códigos de barras de ADN publicado para aves do continente africano.
A diversidade e o carácter único da avifauna do Golfo da Guiné são extraordinárias. "Com pelo menos 29 espécies de aves endémicas numa área de pouco mais de 1.000 km2, estas três ilhas oceânicas têm a maior concentração de aves endémicas do mundo — isto é de espécies que não ocorrem em mais lado nenhum do mundo” indica Martim Melo biólogo que estuda a evolução das aves do Golfo da Guiné na Associação BIOPOLIS. Muitas das espécies que ocorrem nestas ilhas encontram-se ameaçadas de extinção segundo o Livro Vermelho da União Internacional para a Conservação da Natureza, tornando [...]]]> Um estudo publicado hoje na revista ZooKeys, liderado por investigadores do Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos (BIOPOLIS-CIBIO) da Universidade do Porto, revela a descoberta de uma nova espécie de osga no planalto centro-sul de Madagáscar.
A nova espécie pertence ao género Paroedura e foi encontrada em zonas rochosas rodeadas por pequenas áreas florestais da Reserva de Anja e de Tsaranoro, no planalto centro-sul de Madagáscar. Esta zona é também muito conhecida dos escaladores pelas suas enormes cúpulas graníticas.
Devido à sua preferência por zonas rochosas, foi batizada com o nome científico Paroedura manongavato, resultante das palavras Malagasy "manonga" (trepar) e "vato" (rocha), sendo uma espécie especialista em deslocar-se neste tipo de habitat.
"A descrição desta espécie representa mais um passo no crux (na gíria da escalada, a secção mais difícil de uma via) da resolução [...]]]> BIOPOLIS-CIBIO PhD student André Vicente Liz, of the research group BIODESERTS,  has been named one of the two winners of the 2023 GBIF Graduate Researchers Award, an initiative that promotes and encourages innovation in biodiversity-related research using data shared through the GBIF network.
The research now recognised and carried out as part of the BIODIV Doctoral Programme will provide integrated, up-to-date knowledge of the fauna of the Sahara-Sahel, taking into account its ecological diversity (species responses to habitat changes) and evolutionary diversity (genetic variability within species). Its value goes beyond the purely academic, as it has become fundamental knowledge for designing biodiversity conservation strategies in the deserts of North Africa that are adapted to [...]]]> On the 29th of September 2023, representatives from theUniversity of Porto Social Action Services (SASUP) were present at BIOPOLIS tosign the agreement that formalizes the transfer of the canteen operation andassets from the SASUP to BIOPOLIS.With the signing of this agreement, the conditions are inplace to, in the near future, re-open canteen activity, serving meals to thestudents, researchers, teachers and guests of the University of Porto. ]]> Utilizando técnicas de decomposição da ancestralidade genética, uma equipa internacional de investigadores do Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos (BIOPOLIS-CIBIO) da Universidade do Porto, da Universidade de Berna, e do Instituto Max Planck de Antropologia Evolutiva, revelou que populações miscigenadas do deserto angolano do Namibe têm no seu genoma vestígios de uma linhagem ancestral profundamente divergente das outras linhagens conhecidas na nossa espécie. Este património genético único aproxima os investigadores de uma melhor compreensão da história da variação genética na África Austral, antes da disseminação da pastorícia e da agricultura naquela região.
A África é o berço da humanidade e o continente com o nível mais elevado de diversidade genética. Embora os estudos sobre DNA antigo revelem aspetos desconhecidos da estrutura genética de África antes da difusão da pastorícia e da [...]]]> Mais de 100 anos de observações na natureza revelaram um padrão universal de abundância de espécies: A maioria das espécies é rara, mas não muito rara, e apenas algumas espécies são muito comuns. Estas distribuições globais de abundância de espécies tornaram-se totalmente evidentes para alguns grupos de espécies bem monitorizados, como as aves. No entanto, para outros grupos de espécies, como os insetos, esta informação permanece parcialmente por desvendar. Estas são as conclusões de um estudo publicado hoje na revista Nature Ecology and Evolution, e conduzido por uma equipa internacional de investigadores pertencentes ao Centro Alemão de Investigação Integrativa da Biodiversidade (iDiv) da Universidade Martin Luther de Halle-Wittenberg (MLU), ao Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos (BIOPOLIS-CIBIO) da Universidade do Porto e à Universidade da Flórida (UF).
"Quem pode explicar porque é que [...]]]> Launch of the book ‘Women in Herpetology: 50 Stories from Around the World’ celebrates the grit and passion of women in amphibian and reptile science, including BIOPOLIS/CIBIO-InBIO researchers
‘Women in Herpetology: 50 Stories from Around the World’ unveils the inspiring journeys of 50 women from 50 countries and regions who have dedicated their lives to the study of amphibians and reptiles working in diverse fields such as conservation, biodiversity, ecotoxicology, and education. This groundbreaking book showcases with stunning illustrations by seventeen talented artists from around the world the determination, passion, and love for these creatures that drive these women while aiming to inspire future generations of women in herpetology, and highlights their unique challenges, including limited resources and mentorship opportunities, as well as the joys and rewards they have found through their work.
This book features Um estudo recentemente publicado na prestigiada revista Biological Conservation revela o perigo crítico em que se encontram os mexilhões de água-doce em Portugal, um grupo animal altamente ameaçado globalmente. O estudo foi liderado pelo investigador Manuel Lopes Lima do Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos (BIOPOLIS-CIBIO) da Universidade do Porto, e da Estação Biológica de Mértola em colaboração com membros de outros cinco prestigiados centros de investigação CBMA, CIMO, CIIMAR, CITAB e MARE, representando seis instituições académicas distintas em Portugal - U. Porto, I.P. Bragança, U. Minho, U. Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, U. Lisboa e U. Évora.
Os mexilhões de água-doce são um grupo de bivalves com mais de 900 espécies que podem ser encontradas em rios e lagos de todos os continentes, onde eram, historicamente, extremamente abundantes. Estes animais desempenham um papel importante nos ecossistemas, melhorando a [...]]]> On July 20th, 2023, the meeting Melhoria das ações preventivas contra LAGovírus emergentes na bacia do MEDiterrâneo: desenvolvimento e otimização de metodologias para deteção e controlo de agentes patogénicos, organized by IMED researchers Joana Abrantes and Ana M. Lopes, was held at BIOPOLIS-CIBIO-InBIO Auditorium in Vairão, with more than thirty participants from various countries and with different backgrounds, including researchers, professors, veterinarians, rabbit producers, animal welfare companies and students. 
The meeting focused on lagoviruses and reinforced the importance of studying these viruses, since leporids, in particular the European rabbit, are a poorly studied, neglected species, despite their ecological and economic importance. The lagovirus rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) causes a highly contagious disease, which leads to high mortality and morbidity rates in the European rabbit and, since 2010, in other leporids. In addition, the virus has a [...]]]> Um estudo liderado pelo grupo de investigação em Arqueogenética do Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos (BIOPOLIS-CIBIO) da Universidade do Porto e realizado em colaboração com o Centro e Paleogenética da Universidade de Estocolmo, permitiu sequenciar os primeiros genomas de quatro bovinos Africanos da Idade do Ferro (>2500 anos) e revelar que o ancestral selvagem – o auroque Africano – contribuiu para os genomas de bovinos domésticos do Magreb, na Tunísia.
A questão da eventual existência de um processo de domesticação de bovinos no Norte de África é amplamente debatida pela comunidade científica, entre arqueólogos e geneticistas. Os bovinos que hoje existem na região do Noroeste Africano – de cornos longos - pertencem ao grupo taurino, mas são distintos dos seus congéneres Europeus. E, ao contrário da maioria dos bovinos que se encontram distribuídos pela quase totalidade do continente Africano, não [...]]]> TheBIOPOLIS Association, together with the Municipality of Póvoa de Varzim and theParish of Rates sign today, 17 July 2023, a partnership agreement to create the"Centro de Clima da Póvoa de Varzim” and support the movement "Póvoa emTransição".The "Centrode Clima” will be a collaborative centre for experimentation in climate actionand community resilience that will develop strategic projects related to therecovery of biodiversity, water resources, forest and soil. It will also act inthe use of renewable energies, in an effective mobility and in the reduction ofconsumption."Póvoaem Transição" is a movement of people and organizations, leveraged by theClimate Center and which aims to involve people and organizations such asfarmers, companies, media, young people and educational and researchinstitutions and non-governmental organisations.TheBIOPOLIS Association will contribute to the Climate Centre through theprovision of specialized human resources to [...]]]> O Diretor do Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos (BIOPOLIS-CIBIO) e Professor Catedrático na Universidade do Porto, Nuno Ferrand será condecorado hoje, sexta-feira, 30 de junho, com a insígnia de "Cavaleiro da Legião de Honra”, pela embaixadora francesa em Portugal, Hélène Farnaud-Defromont, como reconhecimento da excelência do seu percurso académico e da colaboração científica intensa com a Universidade de Montpellier nos campos da biodiversidade e biologia evolutiva.
A colaboração com a Universidade de Montpellier teve início em 2003 com a criação do CIBIO, uma unidade de I&D que desenvolve investigação básica e aplicada no domínio das ciências biológicas e, mais especificamente, nas principais componentes da biodiversidade: genes, espécies e ecossistemas.
Em 2014 é criado o Laboratório Internacional Associado (LIA) "Biodiversidade e Evolução”, formalizando a cooperação entre o CIBIO e duas [...]]]> NaturaConnect Webinar

Exploring Nature Futures Scenarios for a resilient Trans-European Nature Network (TEN-N)

4th of July 2023 – 14:00 to 16:00 CEST


Join NaturaConnect‘s webinar to explore different Nature Future Scenarios that will help to shape the design of a coherent and resilient Trans-European Nature Network (TEN-N). We will discover how the Nature Future Scenarios can be translated into land use scenarios, how they can be used for identifying connectivity and conservation priorities and finally, how these could inform the design of the TEN-N.
The nature future scenarios are underpinned by the Nature Futures Framework, which was developed by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) that informs the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The framework includes three different value perspectives of nature, namely: nature for nature, nature for culture and nature for society. All three value [...]]]> O comportamento humano mudou drasticamente durante os confinamentos nos primeiros meses da pandemia global de COVID-19, o que resultou em alterações comportamentais dos mamíferos terrestres. É o que revela um estudo publicado hoje na prestigiada revista Science por uma equipa internacional e na qual participou João Paulo Silva, investigador do Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos (BIOPOLIS-CIBIO) da Universidade do Porto. Os mamíferos selvagens percorreram distâncias mais longas e estiveram mais próximos das estradas durante os confinamentos impostos pela pandemia.
Durante os primeiros confinamentos surgiram muitos relatos nos meios de comunicação social de que a natureza estava a recuperar e que, por exemplo, os pumas estavam a vaguear pelas ruas de Santiago do Chile. Perante isto, os cientistas questionaram se existiam algumas provas destas alterações comportamentais ou o que estava a acontecer se devia ao facto de as pessoas estarem [...]]]> 126 researchers from the University of Porto are highlighted in the latest edition of the Research.com rankings, which annually ranks the best and most influential scientists in the world in their respective areas. This list includes 11 BIOPOLIS researchers in four areas: Animal Science and Veterinary, Biology and Biochemistry, Ecology and Evolution and Environmental Sciences (see below).
Research.com is an academic platform that compiles rankings for top conferences, journals, universities and scientists by subjects based on data from the open bibliometric databases, such as Microsoft Academic Graph and Google Scholar. For the ranking of top scientists, the inclusion criteria for scholars to be considered into the ranking are based on their Discipline H-index (D-index), proportion of their contributions made within a given discipline as well as the awards and achievements of a scientist in specific areas.
Animal Science and Veterinary
Num estudo publicado na prestigiada revista PLoS ONE uma equipa internacional liderada por investigadores portugueses dá a conhecer o centeio (Secale cereale) mais antigo da Península Ibérica e discute a cronologia e o contexto histórico em que esta espécie foi introduzida e começou a ser cultivada nesta região.
Os grãos e restos de espigas de centeio mais antigas da Península Ibérica datam da Idade do Ferro, nomeadamente de um período entre o século III a.C. e a primeira metade do século I a.C., e foram recolhidos nos sítios arqueológicos do Freixo/Tongobriga (Marco de Canaveses), Crastoeiro (Mondim de Basto) e Castro de São Domingos (Lousada) no Norte de Portugal, bem como no Castelo Pequeno de Santigoso (A Mezquita) na Galiza.
A cronologia foi confirmada através de uma série de datações de radiocarbono e da aplicação de análises estatísticas, numa investigação que decorreu no BIOPOLIS/CIBIO-InBIO (Centro de Investigação [...]]]> From 13 to 15 March 2023, the consortium of the LIFE SafeLines4Birds project met in Paris to kick off this 6-year project, which aims to reduce non-natural mortality of 13 representative bird species around power lines. The success of this project relies on the extensive collaboration of 15 consortium partners and relevant stakeholders, which include Transmission System Operators (TSO), Distribution System Operators (DSO), NGOs and scientific experts from France, Belgium, Portugal, Germany and the United States. The project is co-financed by the European Union’s LIFE Programme, has a budget of nearly €14,2 million and will run until 31 December 2028.
Collision with power lines, electrocution while perching and disturbance during their breeding season are major threats for some birds, causing the death of millions of individuals world-wide each year, and in some cases posing a real threat to population viability. Thus, SafeLines4Birds targets 13 species, most impacted by power lines in [...]]]> Um novo estudo publicado na revista Science por uma equipa internacional liderada por investigadores portugueses do BIOPOLIS-CIBIO e Universidade do Porto, juntamente com investigadores da Universidade de Montana e do Museu de Denver de Natureza & Ciência, focou-se na evolução da camuflagem de inverno da lebre-de-cauda-branca, identificando os genes que controlam esta característica vital para a sobrevivência da espécie. Este conhecimento permitiu aos investigadores prever como é que esta espécie poderá conseguir adaptar-se a futuros declínios na cobertura de neve causados pelas alterações climáticas. Este estudo destaca a importância de preservar a diversidade genética para que as espécies se possam adaptar aos seus habitats naturais face às alterações climáticas em curso.
A beleza das paisagens cobertas de neve esconde desafios formidáveis à sobrevivência das espécies. "Um animal de cor escura destaca-se numa paisagem coberta de [...]]]> Nas últimas três décadas, desde a Conferência das Nações Unidas sobre o Ambiente e o Desenvolvimento, muitos milhares de milhões de dólares foram investidos em projetos de curto prazo destinados a resolver problemas de conservação e a responder às necessidades de bem-estar humano em África. No entanto, em muitos países, as ameaças à biodiversidade e ao desenvolvimento humano aumentaram em vez de diminuírem. Ainda assim, a existência de projetos com grande sucesso, que podem servir de modelos replicáveis, levam a acreditar que ainda é possível o sucesso da conservação da natureza em África.

No âmbito do seu trabalho como investigador do BIOPOLIS-CIBIO, o Professor Brian J. Huntley publicou um novo livro de grande interesse para a ciência e a conservação da biodiversidade, Strategic Opportunism: What Works in Africa, Twelve Fundamentals for Conservation Success, onde analisa um conjunto de projetos implementados durante o último meio século em dez [...]]]> No âmbito do projeto NaturaConnect realizou-se em Bruxelas no dia 28 de fevereiro um evento que juntou mais de 70 líderes políticos, responsáveis governamentais da EU e organizações internacionais de conservação para lançar as bases de uma nova visão para a proteção da natureza na Europa. O Projeto NaturaConnect, aprovado no âmbito do programa Horizonte Europa, apresenta o ambicioso objetivo de criar uma Rede Transeuropeia da Natureza (Trans-European Nature Network - TEN-N) de áreas protegidas interligadas e que visa travar e inverter a perda de biodiversidade na UE.

O evento, organizado pela Federação EUROPARC, proporcionou aos participantes a oportunidade de iniciar conversações entre atores de múltiplos sectores, provenientes da ciência, administrações públicas e organizações não governamentais, criando uma verdadeira oportunidade de construção de um diálogo efetivo destinado a determinar como implementar a Estratégia de Biodiversidade da UE para 2030, [...]]]> Num artigo publicado hoje na revista Biodiversity Data Journal, são descritas duas espécies de vespas-cuco novas para a ciência: Chrysis crossi sp. nov. registada no sul de Portugal (Algarve) e Hedychridium calcarium sp. nov. encontrada na Espanha oriental. Adicionalmente nove outras espécies de vespas-cuco são registadas pela primeira vez em Portugal.

O número total de espécies de vespas-cuco no mundo é de aproximadamente 2.800 e destas, cerca de 480 foram registradas na Europa. Em Portugal são conhecidas 130 espécies e quatro subespécies, números que estarão provavelmente ainda longe do total existente, considerando o muito maior número de espécies conhecido em Espanha.

Para além da descoberta das novas espécies, este trabalho, inserido na iniciativa IBI: InBIO Barcoding Initiative, permite adicionar 52 espécies, de 11 géneros diferentes à base de dados "Barcode of Life Data System (BOLD)”, [...]]]> From 3rd to 5th February 2023, in Cabeza del Buey (Extremadura, Spain), a group of about 30 Portuguese and Spanish researchers met to form a specialist group in steppe birds: bird species associated with open habitats dominated by grasses or small scrublands, strongly linked to historical low-intensity agricultural practices in the Iberian Peninsula. These birds, such as the Great bustard, the Little bustard, the Black-bellied sandgrouse, the Dupont’s lark or the Lesser Kestrel, have suffered a sharp decline in recent decades as a result of changes in European agricultural policies, and are among the most endangered group of birds in the world.

The main objective of the meeting was the formation of a stable group of scientists that will try to fill the existing gaps in the knowledge about ecology and conservation of these species. As well, this group aims to become a reference voice to advising management measures for agricultural practices that guarantee the viability of the high [...]]]> Climate change is reducing the amount of dissolved oxygen in the ocean. This process called ocean deoxygenation is caused by a decreased in the oxygen solubility in surface waters as the ocean temperature increases. Over the last 50 years ocean have lost 2% of dissolved oxygen and disturbing forecasts show that oxygen loss in the ocean could reach as much as 20% by 2100. As warming increases the ocean keeps losing oxygen, imposing some threats to marine life and bringing also some impacts to human life that rely on ocean services (e.g., fisheries). The impacts may be particularly profound for large, fast swimming predators, such as pelagic sharks, that sit in the top of the food chain and need to burn lots of oxygen while moving and foraging through large expanses of the ocean. 
Research carried out by a team of scientists from David Sims lab of Marine Biological Association (MBA) and MOVE group of BIOPOLIS-CIBIO (University of Porto) on the impact of ocean deoxygenation on pelagic sharks is [...]]]> In the scope of the REN Chair in Biodiversity, coordinated by BIOPOLIS-CIBIO, a workshop was organized with the aim of supporting the company REN developing a corporate strategy in the area of protection and management of Biodiversity.

The purpose of this event was also to collaboratively involve different stakeholders in the process of defining this strategy. This session was attended by more than 30 participants from various REN partner companies, NGOs and State entities.

The session also had the participation of RGI - Renewables Grid Initiative. RGI outlined the European panorama in the area of energy production and transport and links to biodiversity, sharing some examples of good practices of energy European Operators in biodiversity management.

Click here to watch the workshop video report.

]]> On the 20th of January 2023 BIOPOLIS CoE hosted representatives from the European Commission and BIOPOLIS project partners for the second periodic review meeting. The goal was to assess project’s implementation during the last 21 months, from the 1st of January of 2021 to the 30th of September of 2022. The visit included the project officer, Soraya Impens, and two external evaluators, Don Dingwell and Christine Bunthof.

The meeting took place on BIOPOLIS-CIBIO facilities, at Campus de Vairão, where the Board of Directors welcomed the EC representatives and partners and presented the Teaming project’s implementation, ongoing activities, main impacts and performance indicators, and future perspectives. The group also visited the rehabilitation works at Quinta do [...]]]> The Birds@Farmland (B@F) Initiative of the European Commission was launched in 2020 with the aim to support 10 Member States  (Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Germany, Spain, Finland, France, Hungary, Italy and Portugal)  in conserving wild birds living in agricultural landscapes.
Farmland birds are in major decline across Europe. Their conservation in good numbers is a requirement of the Birds Directive, while the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030 sets ambitious targets to restore farmland bird populations.
The Birds@Farmland initiative resulted in 22 farmland bird conservation schemes (CSs) developed with the participation of stakeholders and interested experts in the 10 Member States. The schemes were recommended for inclusion into the national Strategic Plans (SPs) under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Using the available tools under the new CAP the schemes [...]]]> - Cientistas de 50 organizações internacionais avaliam o estado atual da biodiversidade em Madagáscar, permitindo ter uma visão do passado e futuro da ilha- Os dois estudos, publicados na prestigiada revista Science, destacam a necessidade urgente da adoção de medidas de conservação, tendo em consideração as necessidades das comunidades locais
Em dois estudos publicados hoje na revista Science, uma equipa internacional, que inclui os investigadores Angelica Crottini e Francesco Belluardo da Associação BIOPOLIS/CIBIO-InBIO (Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado da Universidade do Porto) e do Departamento de Biologia da Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto, é apresentada uma importante revisão da extraordinária biodiversidade de Madagáscar e são apontadas as oportunidades no campo da conservação do património natural único existente na ilha.
A ilha de Madagáscar é um dos principais [...]]]> The Ciência Viva 2022 Grand Prix distinguishes Nuno Ferrand for his remarkable work in the promotion of scientific culture as a teacher, researcher and disseminator in the field of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology.

The award also recognised his work in the creation and direction of the Natural History and Science Museum of the University of Porto, which, in partnership with the Ciência Viva - National Agency for Scientific and Technological Culture, inaugurated the Biodiversity Gallery - Ciência Viva Centre.

The Ciência Viva Awards are awarded to personalities and institutions of exceptional merit in the promotion of scientific culture in Portugal, according to the selection of representatives of scientific institutions associated with the Ciência Viva Agency.

The prizes for the 2022 edition will be handed out, as usual, on November 24, National Scientific Culture Day, at Pavilhão do Conhecimento, in Lisbon.

To access to the award announcement [...]]]> A Europa precisa de ecossistemas saudáveis que preservem a biodiversidade, beneficiem as pessoas e que sejam resilientes às alterações climáticas. O Projeto NaturaConnect, aprovado no âmbito do programa Horizonte Europa, apoiará os governos da União Europeia e outras instituições públicas e privadas na conceção de uma rede natural transeuropeia coerente, resiliente e bem interligada.
Em outubro de 2020, os Estados-Membros da União Europeia comprometeram-se a proteger de forma legal pelo menos 30% da área terrestre e marítima da União Europeia e a assegurar a proteção estrita de pelo menos um terço dessas áreas protegidas. Espera-se com isto contribuir para o objetivo do Pacto Ecológico Europeu de preservar e restaurar o capital natural da Europa e assumir um papel de liderança no quadro da Convenção para a Diversidade Biológica (CDB) Pós-2020.
Uma das linhas fundamentais desta estratégia é desenvolver uma Rede Transeuropeia de Natureza coerente (TEN-N) [...]]]> A new species of owl has just been described from Príncipe Island, Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe. This relevant finding was featured in national and international media.
The new owl species was described in the open-access journal ZooKeys based on multiple lines of evidence such as morphology, plumage colour and pattern, vocalisations, and genetics. Data was gathered and processed by an international team led by Martim Melo (CIBIO-BIOPOLIS and Natural History and Science Museum of the University of Porto), Bárbara Freitas (CIBIO-BIOPOLIS and the Spanish National Museum of Natural Sciences) and Angelica Crottini (CIBIO-BIOPOLIS).

The results of extensive field surveys, published in Bird Conservation International, led researchers to recommend that this newly described species be listed as ‘Critically Endangered’ under the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 

Monitoring the population will now be essential to get more precise estimates of its [...]]]> • Foi descrita uma nova espécie de mocho para a ciência encontrada na Ilha do Príncipe, República Democrática de São Tomé e Príncipe. • Batizada com o nome científico de Otus bikegila, é a oitava espécie de ave endémica da ilha. • Trata-se de um animal com um canto único que vive numa área muito restrita dentro do Parque Natural do Obô. • A descrição da espécie acaba de ser publicada pela revista de acesso livre ZooKeys. • A revista Bird Conservation International acaba também de publicar os resultados do trabalho intensivo realizado em torno da ecologia e conservação da espécie, que resultaram na classificação da mesma como "Criticamente Ameaçada” na Lista Vermelha de Espécies Ameaçadas da União Internacional para a Conservação da Natureza (UICN).• O seu nome homenageia Ceciliano do Bom Jesus (vulgo ‘Bikegila’), natural do Príncipe, cujo conhecimento e esforços permitiram esta [...]]]> Uma equipa de investigadores do CIBIO-InBIO/BIOPOLIS (Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado da Universidade do Porto) publicou hoje, na prestigiada revista Proceedings of the Royal Society B, um estudo que revela, pela primeira vez, que o investimento a nível fisiológico que as fêmeas de aves realizam durante a reprodução pode ser responsável pela sua menor exuberância.

Desde Darwin, a teoria da seleção sexual tem-se preocupado em explicar como e porquê os machos têm colorações exuberantes e outros ornamentos tão conspícuos, enquanto as fêmeas não os têm ou têm-nos menos elaborados. Tradicionalmente as explicações focam-se na função desses ornamentos nos próprios machos. No entanto, as fêmeas de muitas espécies podem ser tão coloridas como os seus congéneres masculinos, e os mecanismos subjacentes à elaboração da cor em machos podem não ser os mesmos para as fêmeas.

O projeto "Biodiversity Genomics Europe (BGE)” reúne cientistas de 33 entidades parceiras, provenientes de 20 países europeus, num esforço sem precedentes para aplicar a genómica na investigação da biodiversidade que irá mudar as políticas e a ciência da conservação na Europa. Aprovado no âmbito do programa Horizonte Europa com um orçamento de 17 milhões de euros, o projeto é oficialmente lançado hoje, tendo como parceiro português a Associação BIOPOLIS/CIBIO-InBIO (Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado da Universidade do Porto).

O tempo está a esgotar-se. Uma em cada quatro espécies do planeta está atualmente ameaçada de extinção, colocando em risco os meios de subsistência, o abastecimento alimentar, e os ciclos essenciais de água e nutrientes. O conhecimento do funcionamento da vida na Terra e como esta reponde às pressões ambientais é essencial na luta para reverter a perda [...]]]> On September 23 took place the ceremony that signaled the beginning of the rehabilitation of the building that will host the Biological Station of Mértola (EBM).

This event was attended by Elisa Ferreira, European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms; Ana Abrunhosa, Minister for Territorial Cohesion and Isabel Ferreira, Secretary of State for the Development of Inland Regions.
The EBM is a unique scientific project that integrates scientific research, residences for scientists, a Biodiversity Museum, knowledge transfer to the local economy, and solutions for the inland and climate change challenges.

Elisa Ferreira highlighted the relevance of the project for the region: "this is a visionary project, a great example of an intelligent strategy for territorial cohesion, combining business attraction, knowledge transmission, job creation, heritage preservation and the involvement of everyone and society in general”.


To know more about the project [...]]]> Uma equipa internacional liderada por investigadores do CIBIO-InBIO/BIOPOLIS (Universidade do Porto), da Universidade de Tulsa e da Escola de Medicina da Universidade de Washington publicou hoje, na prestigiada revista Current Biology, um estudo que identifica pela primeira vez um processo enzimático que produz a coloração vermelha em vertebrados.
Os cetocarotenóides são pigmentos responsáveis pelas cores vermelhas em muitos animais vertebrados, e são tipicamente convertidos por um processo enzimático a partir de outros carotenóides adquiridos pela dieta. Este é um processo biológico comum na natureza, mas cujos detalhes iludem cientistas há décadas. Em 2016 a mesma equipa tinha já publicado na mesma revista científica a descoberta da primeira enzima implicada neste processo, uma cetolase designada CYP2J19.
"No entanto, posteriormente constatámos que a ação desta enzima não era suficiente para sintetizar os cetocarotenóides, por isso continuamos à procura de [...]]]> Uma equipa de investigação internacional liderada por investigadores do CIBIO-InBIO/BIOPOLIS (Universidade do Porto) e das Universidades de Cambridge e Oxford publicou hoje, na prestigiada revista americana PNAS, um estudo que revela porque foram necessários mais de 70 anos para se verificar a invasão do coelho-europeu no continente australiano.
A colonização da Austrália pelo coelho-europeu é uma das invasões biológicas mais famosas da história. Levado para o continente pela primeira vez em 1788, só na segunda metade do século XIX é que o coelho se tornou uma peste. A expansão, que cobriu uma área 13 vezes maior que a Península Ibérica, mudou irreversivelmente a paisagem Australiana e deixou um rastro de destruição nos ecossistemas e propriedades agrícolas.

Através da combinação de dados de ADN com documentos históricos, os investigadores demonstraram que a invasão foi desencadeada pela ação de uma única pessoa: Thomas Austin, [...]]]> Um novo estudo liderado pela Zoological Society of London (ZSL) e pela Universidade de Stanford, e com a participação de cientistas do CIBIO-INBIO/BIOPOLIS (Universidade do Porto), mapeou os movimentos verticais de tubarões e raias na tentativa de proteger as espécies mais ameaçadas.

A primeira análise global de como os tubarões e raias usam a dimensão vertical do oceano foi hoje publicado na revista Science Advances e os investigadores esperam que essas novas informações ajudem a melhorar as medidas de gestão e conservação, anteriormente prejudicadas pela falta de dados para determinadas espécies.

Utilizando dados de 989 transmissores de satélite – que permitem estudar remotamente os animais marcados – uma equipa global de 171 investigadores de 135 instituições analisou o comportamento de 38 espécies de tubarões e raias, desde o Pacífico Norte ao Oceano Índico, e do Ártico ao Caribe.

Um total de 13 espécies [...]]]> A Associação BIOPOLIS e a Câmara Municipal dos Arcos de Valdevez apresentam no dia 29 de julho de 2022, pelas 15h, o projeto da Branda Científica de São Bento do Cando. Em pleno coração do Parque Nacional da Peneda-Gerês, irá ser construída uma estação internacional de investigação para apoiar os trabalhos dos cientistas na região. 
Respondendo aos desafios da Estratégia Europeia para a Biodiversidade 2030, e do European Green Deal, a Branda Científica de São Bento do Canto apoiará investigação interdisciplinar de suporte no âmbito do restauro da biodiversidade e ecossistemas na Europa e da gestão sustentável dos recursos naturais, nomeadamente no domínio das montanhas, que são verdadeiras sentinelas das alterações climáticas. Irá também apoiar investigação sobre os recursos culturais, que formam parte integral da paisagem no espírito da Convenção Europeia da Paisagem.
As Brandas são um tipo de povoamento na Serra da Peneda que significa [...]]]> Num estudo publicado recentemente na revista científica Plant Physiology, uma equipa coordenada por investigadores do BIOPOLIS/CIBIO-InBIO (Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado da Universidade do Porto), ajuda a compreender um mecanismo que permite às plantas responderem ao stress ambiental.

As alterações climáticas têm um impacto enorme na economia, bem-estar e nutrição humana, nomeadamente ao afetar a produção e qualidade dos alimentos. As plantas são as que mais sofrem com estas alterações, uma vez que são organismos "imóveis” e daí constantemente expostos aos fatores ambientais, necessitando de responder com estratégias eficientes que permitam, por exemplo, a captura de mais água em momentos de seca, ou a produção de compostos isoladores para proteger as folhas do calor.

Este estudo revela que uma molécula, chamada "SUMO” e que funciona como um interruptor celular ligando e [...]]]> Num estudo publicado na revista PLoS ONE, uma equipa internacional de investigadores utiliza técnicas de ADN e microscopia para revelar a dieta e as causas de extinção do lagarto-gigante de Cabo Verde.
Investigadores do CIBIO-InBIO/BIOPOLIS (Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado da Universidade do Porto), em associação com colaboradores do Museu Oceanográfico do Mónaco e de História Natural de Paris e da Universidade de Valência, publicaram hoje um estudo na revista PLoS ONE onde revelam as causas de extinção e a dieta do lagarto-gigante de Cabo Verde.

O estudo de espécimes de museu é frequentemente a única maneira de desvendar informações sobre espécies que se extinguiram recentemente. Estes exemplares podem revelar conhecimento sobre ameaças e características da espécie relacionadas com o desaparecimento da mesma e a desenhar medidas de conservação para as espécies [...]]]> CIBIO-BIOPOLIS, leading institution of LifeWatch Portugal, hosted on 21 and 22 June 2022 the 14th General Assembly of LifeWatch ERIC.

The General Assembly was chaired by Inmaculada Figueroa and was attended by delegates from the eight Member States composing LifeWatch ERIC.

The meeting focused mainly on the final approval of the New Strategic Work Plan, which builds upon the work achieved in the last five years and will set the direction for further development of the infrastructure and how LifeWatch ERIC can shape greater innovation in Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research from 2022 – 2026. The "2021 consolidated financial statements" were also approved at this General Assembly.
]]> Num trabalho publicado na revista Science, investigadores colocam em causa as teorias da inevitabilidade do envelhecimento.
Um estudo liderado pela investigadora Rita Silva, publicado hoje na prestigiada revista científica Science, revela que tartarugas em zoos são capazes de evitar efeitos associados ao envelhecimento.

Todos os organismos vivos envelhecem e morrem – não há forma de escapar à morte. A este processo, que leva ao enfraquecimento e perda de capacidades com o avançar da idade chamamos senescência – e, em teoria, admitimos que todos os organismos vivos senescem. Na maioria dos organismos, este processo é inevitável, mas em espécies que crescem durante toda a sua vida, como as tartarugas, acredita-se que tenham o potencial de investirem em reparação celular mesmo após a idade reprodutiva e, por isso, escapar aos efeitos negativos do passar dos anos.

Através deste estudo foi possível descobrir que as tartarugas, em particular em [...]]]> A study published in the prestigious journal Science, and led by Rita Silva, a new researcher at CIBIO-InBIO/BIOPOLIS, defies widespread theories of senescence. In this study, the authors obtained demographic information of populations of 52 species of turtles and tortoises kept in zoos and aquariums and analyzed their life expectancy and aging rates (a measure of the speed at which the risk of mortality increases with age). Some evolutionary theories of aging predict that senescence occurs after sexual maturity, when species allocate more energy to reproduction that to repairing damages in its cells and tissues. This leads to a gradual deterioration of bodily functions with age – believed to be inevitable in all living organisms. In this study, however, the researchers found that 75% of the 52 studied species show extremely slow senescence and 80% have slower senescence than humans. These species might reduce or even escape the effects of senescence in response to improved conditions in [...]]]> CIBIO-InBIO researcher Joana Bernardino is the winner of the 2022 edition of the PhD Award in Ecology - Fundação Amadeu Dias, an initiative of the Portuguese Society of Ecology (SPECO) that rewards the writer of the best PhD thesis in any area of Ecology, defended in Portuguese Universities, regardless of the nationality of the candidates.

The award-winning research was conducted as part of the BIODIV Doctoral Programme and aimed to significantly advance the understanding of bird collisions with power lines and to further develop the methods used to quantify and mitigate this impact. Joana Bernardino highlights that her work "can help electric power companies to improve their current practices, so that the much-needed electricity grid development is done in a sustainable way and ensuring biodiversity conservation”.

This work was conducted within the scope of the A new study in which an international team, including BIOPOLIS/CIBIO-InBIO researchers, indicate that industrialised shipping may be leading to a large number of whale shark deaths across the world has featured widely in national and international media.
The article, published by the prestigious journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), shows that lethal collisions of whale sharks with large ships are vastly underestimated, and could be the reason why populations are falling.

The team mapped shark 'hotspots' which overlapped with global fleets of cargo, tanker, passenger, and fishing vessels – the types of large ships capable of striking and killing a whale shark – to reveal that over 90 per cent of whale shark movements fell under the footprint of shipping activity.

The scientists say that this species faces an uncertain future if action is not taken soon. At present there are no international regulations to protect whale sharks against ship [...]]]> De acordo com um novo estudo, o transporte marítimo industrializado pode estar a causar um número significativo de mortes de tubarões-baleia em todo o mundo.
Cientistas da Marine Biological Association (MBA) e da Universidade de Southampton, em conjunto com investigadores do CIBIO-InBIO/BIOPOLIS (Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado da Universidade do Porto), publicaram hoje na revista científica PNAS um estudo novo que indica que as colisões mortais entre tubarões-baleia e navios são em grande parte subestimadas, podendo mesmo ser a razão principal pela qual as populações desta espécie estão em declínio.

O número de tubarões-baleia tem vindo a diminuir nos últimos anos globalmente, não sendo totalmente claro o porquê dessa diminuição. 

Uma vez que esta espécie passa muito tempo à superfície e geralmente forma agregações costeiras, pensa-se que as colisões com navios [...]]]> Num estudo publicado na prestigiada revista científica Scientific Reports, uma equipa de investigadores portugueses avaliou alguns dos serviços ecossistémicos atualmente associados às áreas florestais dos Açores e sugerem medidas para, futuramente, valorizar e utilizar os recursos florestais, de forma sustentável.

O trabalho recentemente publicado foi conduzido por uma equipa de investigadores do BIOPOLIS/CIBIO-InBIO (Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos - Açores) e da Universidade dos Açores, e destaca a relevância do aumento da área de distribuição das florestas dos Açores para a preservação da diversidade vegetal e mitigação dos efeitos das alterações climáticas.

Atualmente, a floresta dos Açores é dominada pelas espécies exóticas incenso (Pittosporum undulatum) e criptoméria (Criptomeria japonica). A floresta açoriana tem um papel importante na produção de madeira, proteção do solo, dos [...]]]> The 1st Summer School at the Biological Station of Mértola took place between March 28 and April 8, 2022 and was organised in a close collaboration between BIOPOLIS-CIBIO and the University of Montpellier, involving 35 students and 4 professors from University of Montpellier. 

Participants were based in Mértola and developed field work each day to carry out their studies, whose themes and methodologies had been previously developed. The research themes were mainly focused on environment and biodiversity, involving for example various methods and sampling techniques in study areas such as the Guadiana River, Ribeira de Carreiras River, Guadiana Nature Park, and Mértola village.

Click here to watch a set of videos created by students from the University of Montpelier
]]> There is a growing awareness of the increasing vulnerability of global food systems due to natural and anthropogenic causes, from the COVID-19 pandemic to the current war in Ukraine. Adding to this, the food system is the single largest driver of global environmental change and transgression of planetary boundaries, among which are climate change and water use.
Recent studies on City Region Food Systems Environmental Sustainability were carried out within the scope of the BIOPOLIS Programme of the Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, by the postdoctoral researcher Andreia Saavedra Cardoso. Results for the Lisbon city region point to a food self-sufficiency capacity of more than 70%, variable according to the selected diet. The proposed agrarian land use changes also suggest that the relocation of the regional foodshed could be done so that 68% of its productive area would be located in Green Infrastructure area. These results suggest that the Green Infrastructure besides bringing [...]]]> The confirmation of the occurence of an Iberian wolf specimen in the Region of Extremadura (Spain) has been recently highlighted in the Spanish media.
The identification of a female in that region, where the Iberian wolf was extirpated, was possible using genetic non-invasive sampling, using DNA from feces. This analysis was carried out by BIOPOLIS/CIBIO-InBIO researchers (Raquel Godinho, João Queirós and Paulo Célio Alves), under a collaboration with the Interreg Project BIOTRANS and Junta de Extremadura.
The results also suggest that the sample corresponds to an individual from the centre/north population in Spain, genetically distinct from the Portuguese populations. 
To see some examples of the news please click on the links below:
"Extremadura confirma la presencia de un ejemplar de lobo en el nordeste de [...]]]> Num estudo publicado agora na prestigiada revista Science Advances, uma equipa de investigadores portugueses utilizou a sequenciação de genomas de videira para ajudar a clarificar importantes aspetos sobre a história da domesticação desta espécie. O estudo aponta para a existência de hibridação pós-domesticação entre videiras domesticadas da Europa Ocidental e videiras silvestres locais, e sugere que este evento tenha tido impacto ao nível da adaptação ambiental. 

A conjugação de investigação histórica com estudos genéticos tem vindo a suportar a hipótese do centro de domesticação da videira se situar na região do Transcáucaso, região que inclui países como a Geórgia e a Arménia. A partir desta região, a utilização doméstica da videira ter-se-á expandido ao longo do Mediterrâneo. No entanto, vários estudos moleculares têm apontado fortemente no sentido de castas modernas da Europa Ocidental, e em particular da Península [...]]]> CIBIO-InBIO researcher Vanessa Mata is the winner of the 2021 edition of the PhD Prize in Ecology - Fundação Amadeu Dias, an initiative of the Portuguese Society of Ecology (SPECO) that rewards the writer of the best PhD thesis in any area of Ecology, defended in Portuguese Universities, regardless of the nationality of the candidates. The award-winning research was conducted as part of the BIODIV Doctoral Programme and involved the development of a metabarcoding tool which can be used to study interactions between species. The technique enables the detection of subtle intra- and inter-specific variations in the diet of bats, allowing a better understanding of the network of predator-prey interactions between bats and agroforestry pests. Vanessa Mata highlights the importance of this award as "recognition of my work and that of my supervisors, that will hopefully help my career as a young researcher".

]]> Um estudo internacional, com a participação de investigadores do CIBIO-Açores, reconstrói as condições em que os Açores foram habitados pela primeira vez e o impacto da presença humana nos ecossistemas.
As primeiras evidências de presença humana nas ilhas açorianas foram detetadas 700 anos antes da chegada dos primeiros portugueses, que, segundo a cronologia oficial, ocorreu no século XV. Esta é uma das principais conclusões de um novo estudo desenvolvido por uma equipa internacional e multidisciplinar de investigadores Europeus e Norte-Americanos e que contou com a participação de investigadores do CIBIO-Açores (Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos - Açores). O artigo publicado agora na conceituada revista PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences), reconstrói quando, como e em que condições climáticas os Açores foram habitados pela primeira vez e o impacto que estes primeiros povoamentos tiveram nos ecossistemas com [...]]]> The intensification of olive farming and its potential effects on biodiversity is a polemic topic that has recently attracted a lot of public interest due to reports of bird killings during night harvest in Southern Portugal’s super-intensive systems. However, and surprisingly, there is still very few information on the occurrence and abundance patterns of birds in these new systems along the annual agricultural cycle. In one first study addressing these issues, that was released last year, BIOPOLIS/CIBIO-InBIO researchers found that the intensification process and particularly the shift towards super-intensive systems was associated to a reshaping and significant simplification of the local  breeding bird community, which tended to be dominated by generalist granivores. But the effects of these systems on the important bird communities that use Mediterranean olive orchards during the [...]]]> Estudos recentemente publicados revelam que foram registadas em Portugal mais 33 espécies de moscas-grua, insetos também conhecidos por pernilongos gigantes ou melgas.

Um projeto de investigação que reúne uma equipa internacional liderada por investigadores do BIOPOLIS/CIBIO-InBIO (Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado da Universidade do Porto), gerou dados de distribuição de 102 espécies de moscas-grua em Portugal, agora disponibilizados publicamente no portal GBIF. Os resultados obtidos contam com a adição de 33 espécies à fauna nacional do grupo, aumentando para 149 o número de espécies de moscas-grua conhecido em Portugal. Adicionalmente foram ainda disponibilizados códigos de barras de ADN para a identificação de 83 espécies. Estes códigos de barras de ADN complementam as bases de dados públicas, possibilitando a realização de estudos visando uma melhor compreensão [...]]]> Investigadores portugueses mostram que um importante mecanismo de defesa para matar células infetadas por vírus ter-se-á perdido em alguns grupos de mamíferos.
Num artigo publicado recentemente pela prestigiada revista "Frontiers in Immunology”, uma equipa multidisciplinar luso-americana liderada por investigadores do CIBIO-InBIO (Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado da Universidade do Porto), em colaboração com investigadores do CIIMAR (Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental, também da Universidade do Porto), e com investigadores da Universidade do Arizona, USA, mostrou, que a necroptose, uma importante via para eliminar vírus e outros agentes patogénicos ter-se-á perdido em vários grupos de mamíferos em diferentes alturas.

Quando uma célula humana ou animal é invadida por um vírus ou outro agente patogénico, os organismos hospedeiros possuem [...]]]> Uma equipa internacional liderada por investigadores do CIBIO-InBIO (Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado da Universidade do Porto) publicou um estudo na revista Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution que eleva ao estatuto de espécie a lagartixa-lusitânica (Podarcis lusitanicus), anteriormente descrita apenas como uma subespécie da lagartixa-do-noroeste (Podarcis guadarramae). Eleva-se assim para cinco o número de espécies de lagartixas do género Podarcis naturalmente existentes em Portugal.

"As duas espécies (P. lusitanicus e P. guadarramae) não se distinguem morfologicamente. São aquilo a que chamamos espécies crípticas”, revela Guilherme Caeiro-Dias, o primeiro autor do estudo, antigo aluno de doutoramento no CIBIO-InBIO, agora a trabalhar na Universidade do Novo México, nos Estados Unidos. "Já se sabia que as duas formas eram algo diferenciadas a nível genético, [...]]]> On 18th June, the Mértola Biological Station Association (EBM) was founded, a non-profit entity that will be responsible for the future management of the Mértola Biological Station.The founding partners of the association are the BIOPOLIS Association, Mértola City Council, the University of Porto and EDIA, S.A.

The Mértola Biological Station is a project designed to promote applied scientific research and the transfer of knowledge and technology. Its goal is to support territorial strategies for biodiversity conservation, the valorisation of wild resources, regeneration of ecosystems and agro-ecological transition in a region with a semi-arid Mediterranean climate that is highly vulnerable to climate change and desertification.

The Station will also carry out advanced training and will be involved in the dissemination of knowledge and the provision of services at regional, national and international levels.
]]> CIBIO-InBIO researcher Luis P. da Silva is one of the co-authors of the study "Limited potential for bird migration to disperse plants to cooler latitudes" published in the journal Nature.

The new study, with the participation of 18 researchers from 13 European institutions, has concluded that the majority of plant species in Europe that are dispersed by migratory birds do so mainly when they migrate towards warmer latitudes in the south, which is counterproductive to adapt to current climate change scenarios.
The research has been based on 13 plant-bird interaction networks, that is, 13 bird communities that consume fruits and disperse the seeds of these plant communities. Researchers have incorporated into these networks information on the plant fruiting period and the timming of bird migratory patterns, to characterize the potential for long-distance seed dispersal towards cooler or warmer latitudes. The results show that 86% of the studied plant species can be dispersed South but [...]]]> Num estudo recentemente publicado na revista Molecular Biology and Evolution, investigadores do CIBIO-InBIO (Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado da Universidade do Porto) identificam o gene responsável pelas diferentes cores na pelagem de inverno da doninha-anã, e mostram como esta variação genética poderá ser importante para a adaptação da espécie às alterações climáticas.

Várias espécies de mamíferos têm variações na cor da pelagem ao longo do ano: branca no inverno e castanha no verão. Esta característica permite que se mantenham camuflados em habitats com neve apenas no inverno, mantendo-se escondidos dos predadores ou das presas. No entanto, muitas destas espécies habitam também regiões com muito menor cobertura de neve no inverno. Nestas regiões, os indivíduos estão adaptados às condições locais, permanecendo castanhos todo o ano. Como as alterações climáticas [...]]]> Uma equipa de investigação internacional, da qual fazem parte os investigadores do CIBIO-InBIO (Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado da Universidade do Porto) Catarina Pinho, Antigoni Kaliontzopoulou e D. James Harris, pode ter encontrado o motivo pelo qual as lagartixas se tornaram o réptil mais bem-sucedido da região mediterrânica.
As lagartixas do género Podarcis (também conhecidas como sardaniscas) são um dos répteis mais abundantes e emblemáticos da região do Mediterrâneo, sendo bem conhecidas dos seres humanos por conviverem com eles frequentemente nos muros e nas paredes das habitações.
O estudo, agora publicado na prestigiada revista Nature Communications vem mostrar como a hibridação e mudanças drásticas nos níveis do mar e no clima afetaram a formação de uma grande diversidade de espécies de lagartixas na região.Apesar de se ter verificado que a história deste [...]]]> On May 07, Manuel Heitor, Portuguese Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education, visited CIBIO-InBIO to know the future facilities of the BIOPOLIS Association.
During this event, CIBIO-InBIO´s director and BIOPOLIS coordinator, Nuno Ferrand, presented the most emblematic research projects developed at the center and outlined the strategic objectives established to accomplish the vision and mission of BIOPOLIS.
The visit culminated in a meeting between the minister and representatives of students and researchers, where they had the opportunity to present and discuss the challenges of their research careers. ]]> A study published in the prestigious journal Nature Plants reveals the discovery of a mechanism to control plant zinc status.
Micronutrient deficiencies are a growing problem affecting developing countries but also EU society. The risk of zinc (Zn) deficiency alone can lead to different degrees of growth retardation, immune dysfunction, and cognitive impairment. It is therefore important to consider the nutritional value of micronutrients in plant-based foods along with undertaking sustainable farming practices.
A new study carried out by an international team, led by Ana Assunção (CIBIO-InBIO and University of Copenhagen) and including CIBIO-InBIO researchers, finds the first molecular Zn sensor identified in plants, and the first known plant micronutrient sensor that functions upstream of a transcriptional regulatory network. This finding may help the development of crops that are better adapted to Zn-deficient soils and that produce seeds with improved zinc nutritional value.

A Grande Muralha Verde representa um ambicioso projeto com o objetivo de combater a degradação dos solos, as alterações climáticas, a pobreza e a fome em África. Apesar da importância que esta iniciativa representa à escala global, até agora os possíveis efeitos negativos nunca tinham sido descritos.

Uma equipa pertencente ao grupo de investigação BIODESERTS do CIBIO-InBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado da Universidade do Porto vem alertar que estas alterações na paisagem à escala continental ameaçam a diversidade biológica adaptada às condições áridas do Sahel.

O estudo agora publicado na prestigiada revista "Conservation Biology” revela que, embora os múltiplos estudos tenham salientado os potenciais benefícios da Muralha Verde e o projeto tenha sido revisto de forma a evitar transformar-se numa monocultura de árvores, o impacto da implementação nas espécies adaptadas [...]]]> CIBIO-InBIO researchers Joana Rocha, Raquel Godinho and José Carlos Brito, together with Rasmus Nielsen from UC Berkeley, published a review of the literature regarding the genes potentially involved in mammalian adaptation to desert environments, and the methods used to detect signals of this adaptation.
The authors highlight that selection in desert-adapted organisms appears to have targeted genes in multiple functional classes and pathways, associated especially with processes involved in the resistance to water and food scarcity and extreme temperatures, consistent with the complexity and variety of phenotypes associated with desert adaptation.

This work emphasizes the lack of studies in several classes of desert mammals. Furthermore, it also calls attention to the lack of studies using functional analyses, which limits the possibility of establishing direct relationships between genotypes, phenotypes and environmental variables. 
To access the full article please [...]]]> The description of a new species of moth from Portugal by CIBIO-InBIO researchers has featured widely in the media. Ypsolopha milfontensis is the name of the new species described from the coast of south-west Portugal where its host plant is Ephedra fragilis Desf. This new species of Lepidoptera is closely related to Ypsolopha instabilella (Mann, 1866), but with some differences externally, in male and female genitalia and a significant difference in DNA barcode.
With the present work the number of Portuguese Ypsolopha species is raised to seven. Currently, the distribution known of this species is limited to a single site at Vila Nova de Milfontes, Beja, Portugal, in contrast with Y. instabilella which has a wide distribution from southern Spain, into central Asia. 
This new species may already be threatened by the disappearance of its host plant, which has suffered a major reduction in population in recent years and is classified as "Vulnerable" in the Red List of Vascular Plants [...]]]> Investigadores do CIBIO-InBIO (Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado da Universidade do Porto) acabam de descrever uma nova espécie de borboleta noturna da costa sudoeste alentejana. Trata-se de uma espécie com ocorrência muito localizada e potencialmente sob elevado risco de extinção.

A descoberta decorreu durante trabalhos de campo realizados ao longo da costa do sudoeste alentejano, entre Vila Nova de Milfontes e Cabo Sardão, e que tinha como objetivo encontrar borboletas do género Ypsolopha, que em Espanha se alimentam de plantas género Ephedra.

A pesquisa direcionada principalmente para locais com presença Ephedra fragilis subsp. fragilis Desf., a única espécie portuguesa do género, permitiu encontrar quatro adultos e diversas lagartas pequenas e castanhas que posteriormente foram identificadas como sendo uma nova espécie para a fauna portuguesa, sendo chamada [...]]]> An image of a lamb is used as the central cover photo of the latest issue of the journal Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment and highlights the study developed by CIBIO-InBIO researchers Francisco Moreira and Angela Lomba on a farming systems approach to enhance biodiversity.
In the article entitled "A farming systems approach to linking agricultural policies with biodiversity and ecosystem services”, the researchers propose the application of a farming systems approach as a cost-effective tool for linking policy design and expected biodiversity and ecosystem services outcomes, using the European Agricultural Policy as an example.
This approach will collect information that can help to support applied ecological research and relevant policy, and call for these data to be made available across Europe and elsewhere.

To access the original article, please click Num artigo publicado hoje na revista Journal of Experimental Biology é revelado de que as cobras, ao contrário do que se pensava, não aperfeiçoaram o veneno para se defenderem dos animais que as atacam. A descoberta foi feita por uma equipa internacional liderada por investigadores do CIBIO-InBIO (Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado da Universidade do Porto).

Muitas cobras injetam um veneno letal dentro das suas presas através de dentes especializados. No entanto, algumas podem usar o veneno como forma de defesa ao cuspi-lo para os olhos dos seus atacantes, atingindo, por vezes, distâncias superiores a 3 metros. Acreditava-se que este comportamento único tenha levado estas espécies a desenvolver um veneno que seria mais adequado para ser cuspido.

Para compreender o fluxo de veneno através dos dentes, os investigadores compararam as propriedades de fluxo (viscosidade) do veneno de 13 [...]]]> A new study co-led by Miguel Carneiro, which demonstrates that a functional RORB gene is necessary for rabbits to perform their characteristic jumping gait, has featured widely in the websites of prestigious scientific journals and international media.

In an article published by the prestigious journal PLOS Genetics, an international team that includes CIBIO-InBIO researchers Miguel Carneiro, Pedro Andrade, Sandra Afonso, Jose Antonio Blanco-Aguiar, Nuno Santos, Pedro Esteves and Nuno Ferrand, shows that rabbits require a functional RORB gene to move around by jumping.
The team investigated jumping-related genes using an unusual breed of domesticated rabbit called the sauteur d’Alfort. It has been found that the strange gait of these rabbits is due to a specific mutation in the RAR related orphan receptor B (RORB) gene.
The new study demonstrates that a functional RORB gene is necessary for rabbits and probably other hopping animals to perform their characteristic jumping [...]]]> A study led by researchers from the EVOLGEN group provides the first description of a gene involved with eye pigmentation in birds and presents evidence for a developmental link between the iris of birds and the skin of ectothermic vertebrates.

Birds are among the most colorful of vertebrates, and their ornamental diversity has fascinated scientists and public alike for generations. A significant, but often overlooked, component of this diversity is eye coloration. Well known examples of this include the bright yellow eyes of glossy starlings, the dark ones of nocturnal raptors such as the barn owl, or even the striking (and aptly-named) red-eyed vireo. A fascinating aspect of eye coloration in birds is that the specialized cells in the iris that impart these hues seem to share many characteristics, not with the epidermal cells that generate colorful feathers, but rather with specialized pigment cells that are found in the skin of fish, amphibians and reptiles. This similarity has provoked [...]]]> Num artigo publicado ontem na prestigiada revista Nature Plants é revelada a descoberta do mecanismo através do qual as plantas "sentem” o nível de zinco no seu organismo para depois adaptarem a sua nutrição, da absorção pelas raízes à distribuição pelas células e sementes. A descoberta foi feita por uma equipa internacional que inclui investigadores do CIBIO-InBIO (Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado da Universidade do Porto), da Universidade de Wageningen (Países Baixos) e da Universidade de Copenhaga (Dinamarca), liderada por Ana Assunção, investigadora do CIBIO-InBIO e Professora Associada na Universidade de Copenhaga.

Todos os organismos, de plantas a humanos, necessitam do micronutriente zinco, que é essencial para o funcionamento de muitas proteínas. Uma alimentação deficiente em zinco afeta o crescimento saudável e os sistemas imunitário e cognitivo em humanos. Sabe-se que [...]]]> Num estudo publicado na prestigiada revista Current Biology, uma equipa internacional de investigadores, da qual fazem parte vários investigadores do CIBIO-InBIO (Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado da Universidade do Porto), descobre que os morcegos conseguem percorrer longas distâncias e ascender a grandes altitudes durante o período noturno através de um processo semelhante ao utilizado pelas aves.
Os morcegos são os únicos mamíferos com voo ativo, e podem deslocar-se centenas de quilómetros numa única noite, ou ascender a muitos metros de altitude, mas a forma como o conseguem permanecia ainda um mistério.
 O estudo agora publicado foi desenvolvido em Portugal e permitiu descobrir que os morcegos utilizam a deslocação vertical de massas de ar, que ocorrem quando o vento cruza obstáculos, como montanhas e outras elevações, para ascenderem a altitudes próximas dos 2000m e alcançarem [...]]]> The REN Biodiversity Chair has developed a manual establishing appropriate practices to monitor the impacts of power lines on bird life and assess the measures used to minimise them.

This document is the result of five years of work by researchers from CIBIO - Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos da Universidade do Porto, in partnership with the Instituto de Conservação da Natureza e Florestas (ICNF). It was funded by REN and Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT).
This manual integrates the most recent scientific information compiled and developed by the REN Biodiversity Chair, along with other scientific knowledge (available) in this field. The content has been validated by ICNF and REN.
The document defines the guidelines for correctly assessing the impacts of very high voltage power lines on avifauna, in the post-evaluation phase, as well as the effectiveness of the respective mitigation measures, the most [...]]]> Num estudo publicado na revista eLife, uma equipa maioritariamente composta por investigadores do CIBIO-InBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado da Universidade do Porto descobriu que a desoxigenação da água causada pelas alterações climáticas leva o tubarão azul a utilizar águas mais superficiais, tornando-o mais vulnerável à pesca.
As alterações climáticas estão a causar uma redução do oxigénio dissolvido na água, um processo conhecido como desoxigenação dos oceanos. Este processo tem provocado a expansão tanto horizontal como vertical de zonas mais profundas que permanecem com baixa concentração de oxigénio, conhecidas por zonas de oxigénio mínimo (ZOM), podendo alterar a distribuição e colocar mesmo em perigo espécies de grande porte que necessitam de elevadas concentrações de oxigénio.

Através deste estudo, foi possível demonstrar que a expansão [...]]]> The BIOPOLIS project is featured in an article published in the newsletter of the University of Montpellier
In an article published in the newsletter of the University of Montpellier, Pierre Boursot, researcher at the Institut des Sciences de l’Evolution de Montpellier (ISEM) and Paula Dias, researcher at Centre d’Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive (CEFE), highlighted some of the strategic objectives established to accomplish the vision and mission of the BIOPOLIS project and emphasized the importance of collaboration between the institutions.
To read the newsletter article please follow the link (article only available in French) ]]> Miguel Carneiro is one of few Portuguese researchers to have won the prestigious ERC Consolidator Grant, designed to support excellent researchers to pursue frontier research.

Two million euros of funding will be used to develop the project "EYESPOT - The Genetic, Cellular, and Photonic Mechanisms of Avian Structural Colouration”, which aims to decipher the genetic and cellular basis of the structural colours present in bird species.
Structural colouration is widespread in nature and generates some stunning visual effects. The eye spots in a peacock's tail are a good example of this type of colouration. "Understanding the biological and molecular mechanisms that allow the evolution and maintenance of this type of visual ornament is a fundamental question in evolutionary biology” Miguel Carneiro explained.
Miguel Carneiro highlights the importance of this grant as "it provides the funds and the time needed for us to implement more comprehensive and multidisciplinary approaches, [...]]]> Num estudo publicado na prestigiada revista Science, uma equipa internacional de investigadores, que inclui o investigador Adrián Regos do CIBIO-InBIO (Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado da Universidade do Porto), são identificadas ações e estratégias emergentes que podem revolucionar a forma como a sociedade lida com o fogo.
Há milhões de anos que o fogo "natural” tem sido uma fonte de biodiversidade, mas as alterações climáticas, as mudanças no uso do solo e a introdução de espécies invasoras estão a modificar os regimes de fogo à escala global e os seus impactos na biodiversidade. O aumento da frequência de incêndios de alta intensidade está a afetar mais de 4.400 espécies altamente dependentes dos padrões temporais e espaciais dos seus habitats. 
O estudo examinou como a mudança nos regimes de fogo à escala global ameaça extinguir algumas espécies e transformar [...]]]> Num estudo publicado na prestigiada revista ZOOTAXA liderado por Raquel Vasconcelos, do CIBIO-InBIO (Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado da Universidade do Porto), uma equipa internacional de investigadores descreve uma nova espécie de osga única da ilha de São Nicolau, arquipélago de Cabo Verde.Todas as espécies de répteis nativas das ilhas de Cabo Verde representam endemismos, ou seja, só ocorrem exclusivamente nesta região geográfica. Além disso, algumas espécies são únicas de algumas ilhas e dada a sua raridade ainda pouco se sabe sobre elas, revelando-se urgente desenvolver estudos que possibilitem um melhor conhecimento sobre a biodiversidade destes locais e adequar medidas para a conservação deste valioso património genético.Neste estudo, uma nova espécie de osga do género Hemidactylus da ilha de São Nicolau, arquipélago de Cabo Verde, é [...]]]> Uma equipa internacional, que inclui o investigador do CIBIO-InBIO (Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado da Universidade do Porto) Henrique Miguel Pereira, tentou dar resposta a esta questão num estudo publicado na revista Science, advogando a necessidade urgente de estabelecer várias metas ambiciosas, coordenadas e integradas.
A Convenção sobre Diversidade Biológica (CDB) anunciou recentemente que nenhuma das 20 metas de Aichi para a biodiversidade que estabeleceu em 2010 foi alcançada e que apenas seis foram parcialmente alcançadas. Os políticos e cientistas estão agora a preparar a próxima geração de metas para a biodiversidade para 2030 e 2050 a serem consagradas pela 15ª Convenção das Partes em 2021. Uma grande equipa internacional, que inclui o investigador do CIBIO-InBIO Henrique Miguel Pereira, traçou a base científica para redesenhar o novo conjunto de metas para a biodiversidade num estudo publicado na [...]]]> O CIBIO-InBIO (Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado da Universidade do Porto), em parceria com o Parque Natural Regional do Vale do Tua (PNRVT), está a desenvolver um projeto que visa conhecer o património natural desta área classificada e promover ativamente a sua conservação.

O projeto, liderado pela investigadora Sónia Ferreira, do CIBIO-InBIO, envolve uma equipa de especialistas multidisciplinar e envolverá a realização de trabalhos de campo para aumentar o conhecimento da biodiversidade da região e a elaboração de materiais de apoio e ações de formação de forma a consciencializar a população residente e visitantes sobre a importância de conservar o rico património desta área, recentemente classificada.

Através de sessões de informação e da formação de agentes chave, nomeadamente professores, e produtores agrícolas e florestais, pescadores e caçadores da região, o CIBIO-InBIO [...]]]> Num estudo publicado na prestigiada revista Bioscience, os investigadores do CIBIO-InBIO (Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado da Universidade do Porto) José Carlos Brito e Marisa Naia alertam para a necessidade de adoção de medidas imediatas para combater os efeitos da subida do nível do mar nas Áreas Protegidas Africanas.Uma das consequências negativas das alterações climáticas é a subida do nível do mar, resultante do degelo das calotes polares e da expansão térmica oceânica. A subida do nível do mar provocará inundações e desaparecimento de porções de terra adjacentes ao mar. Diversos estudos têm abordado os potencias impactos da subida do nível do mar sobre zonas urbanas, mas até ao momento não existia uma quantificação dos possíveis efeitos sobre as Áreas Protegidas costeiras, menos ainda sobre as africanas.Este estudo demonstra que as 278 Áreas Protegidas costeiras analisadas [...]]]> On July 31st 2020 and as a result of the approval of BIOPOLIS project, the BIOPOLIS Association was established as an independent, non-profit, scientific association.The constitution of BIOPOLIS Association results from the approval, by European Commission, of the project BIOPOLIS – Teaming to Upgrade to Excellence in Environmental Biology, Ecosystem Research and AgroBiodiversity, under the scope of Horizon 2020 Widening programme, which aims the upgrade of CIBIO to a Center of Excellence for Basic and Environmental Biology, Ecosystem Monitoring and AgroBiodiversity.This private association was created, having as founding members the University of Porto, ICETA - Instituto de Ciências, Tecnologias e Agroambiente da Universidade do Porto, Association Porto Business School (PBS) and the University of Montpellier.The object of the Association is to carry on scientific and technological activity in research and development in the areas of biodiversity, ecosystems, ecology, genomics, computational [...]]]> Um artigo publicado na revista Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology por uma equipa internacional, que inclui investigadores do CIBIO-InBIO (Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado da Universidade do Porto), revela que espécie invasora de lagartixa presente em Portugal não utiliza a agressividade para competir com as espécies nativas.As espécies invasoras constituem uma grande preocupação a nível global devido ao elevado impacto ecológico e económico que podem provocar. Estas espécies competem pelos mesmos recursos das espécies nativas, podendo mesmo excluir estas últimas dos seus habitats. Durante a competição, os animais poderão utilizar a agressividade para afastar os seus rivais, impedindo que estes tenham acesso a recursos vitais. Neste caso estamos perante uma competição de interferência. Noutras situações, as espécies não interagem entre si diretamente, mas o consumo de mais [...]]]> Estudo demonstra que a proteção e o aumento das áreas agrícolas, combinadas com estratégias firesmart poderá contribuir para a mitigação de incêndios florestais e garantir simultaneamente a conservação da biodiversidade e o fornecimento de serviços de sequestro de carbono.Um estudo recentemente publicado na revista Ecosystem Services, e liderado por investigadores do CIBIOInBIO (Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado da Universidade do Porto) e da Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (USC), demonstra como a integração de uma gestão do território destinada a proteger e a promover o aumento das áreas agrícolas com estratégias de "gestão inteligente do fogo” poderão contribuir para a mitigação de incêndios florestais e garantir simultaneamente a conservação da biodiversidade e o fornecimento de serviços de sequestro de carbono.As tendências crescentes dos incêndios florestais e seus impactos nas [...]]]> Discovery of a new species of bat for Portugal by CIBIO-InBIO researchers is featured in a variety of media.In an article recently published by Biodiversity Data Journal, CIBIO-InBIO researchers present the InBIO Barcoding Initiative Database: Portuguese Bats (Chiroptera) and unveil the first record of Myotis alcathoe for Portugal.The presence of this bat species was genetically confirmed through the sequencing of a tissue sample collected in 2005 in the Peneda Gerês National Park, a protected area located in north-western Portugal. This individual had been identified in the field as M. mystacinus, a cryptic species of M. alcathoe, thus demonstrating the difficulty in distinguishing these species, based on external morphological characters alone.This study was conducted within the scope of the EnvMetaGen CIBIO-InBIO project as part of the InBIO Barcode Initiative and provides a clear example of how the DNA barcoding of collections may unveil unexpected results and reveal hidden diversity.
An article in which an international team, including CIBIO-InBIO researchers, present a method capable of identifying individual birds has featured greatly in national and international media.In animal behaviour studies, individually identifying animals is one of the most expensive and time-consuming factors, which limits the scope of behaviours and the size of the populations that researchers can study. The ability to distinguish individual animals from each other is also important for the long-term monitoring of populations and the protection of species from pressures such as climate change.In this study, the authors demonstrate that artificial intelligence can be used to identify individual birds. They show that computers, when trained, can consistently recognise dozens of individual birds, even though we cannot, as humans, tell these individuals apart.This finding is a great step forward for the development of methods for automatic, non-invasive identification of animals which are completely [...]]]> A identidade da nova espécie de morcego em Portugal foi confirmada geneticamente num estudo que sequenciou o código de barras de 26 espécies com presença no país.O registo da nova espécie de morcego acaba de ser descrito num artigo publicado na revista ‘Biodiversity Data Journal’. A equipa de investigadores do Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos (CIBIO-InBIO), da Universidade do Porto, descobriu a nova espécie ao sequenciar o DNA de um indivíduo capturado em 2005, inicialmente identificado como um morcego-de-bigodes (Myotis mystacinus) pelo investigador Hugo Rebelo, mas que se confirmou agora tratar-se de um morcego-de-bigodes de Alcathoe (Myotis alcathoe), muito semelhante ao anterior, e cuja presença em território nacional era, até à data, desconhecida.Esta espécie junta-se assim ao também recentemente confirmado morcego-de-franja-críptico (Myotis [...]]]> Um artigo publicado na revista Methods in Ecology and Evolution por uma equipa internacional, que inclui os investigadores do CIBIO-InBIO (Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado da Universidade do Porto) André Ferreira (primeiro autor do estudo), Liliana Silva e Rita Covas, demonstra, pela primeira vez, que a inteligência artificial pode ser utilizada no treino de computadores para reconhecer individualmente as aves, permitindo ultrapassar assim uma das maiores limitações no estudo deste grupo de animais.Os estudos a longo prazo das populações animais são fundamentais para responder a questões cruciais nas áreas da ecologia, biologia evolutiva e conservação, tais como a de como conservar as espécies face às alterações climáticas. Contudo, a monitorização de indivíduos ao longo da sua vida e através de gerações revela-se ser um grande desafio porque exige que os investigadores sejam capazes de [...]]]> "The Muge Dog – a prehistoric friend”, a scientific short film is awarded 1st Prize ex-aequo in Ciencia en Acción 2020, an international contest with the main objective of presenting science in an attractive and motivating way.Ana Elisabete Pires and Catarina Ginja are two of the authors of this film, which is a winner in the category of Science Teaching Materials, Scientific Dissemination and Short Science Films."The Muge Dog – a prehistoric friend” is a digital animation that tells the story of a dog who is around 7,600 years old. Its skeleton was found by archaeologists at the end of the 19th century in Muge, Portugal, and has recently been the subject of a detailed study using the most advanced technologies available: radiocarbon dating, isotope analysis, genomics and imagiology, which allowed the interpretation of the dog’s life and death.This short film has been endorsed by UNESCO- CUISC (Clube UNESCO Som e Criatividade integrado no Departamento de Cinema da ECATI-Escola de [...]]]> CIBIO-InBIO joins the initiative to enhance the laboratory capacity in the city of Lubango, Angola, and sends equipment for Covid-19 testing.On June 26, 2020 a symbolic ceremony was held at the Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine to commemorate the official handover to the Angolan Embassy laboratory equipment for Lubango.This donation is the result of a joint action involving CIBIO-InBIO, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical da Universidade Nova de Lisboa (IHMT-UNL), through the Centro Ciência LP, and Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT), with the support of the Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior e do Ministério dos Negócios Estrangeiros, through Camões, Instituto da Cooperação e da Língua.The equipment now being donated to the laboratory of the Mandume Ya Ndemufayo University, an institution that is part of the CIBIO TwinLab in Angola, will reinforce its technical-scientific capacity and allow the University to support the health units of [...]]]> CIBIO-InBIO researcher Ricardo Rocha is the winner of the 2020 edition of the European Early Career Conservation Award, which recognizes young scientists for their work in the field of nature conservation.This prize has been awarded biannually since 2016 by the European section of the Society for Conservation Biology (SCB) . It is designed to highlight the work of young researchers who have contributed significantly to the conservation of the natural heritage, whether through research, field intervention or political and educational action. At the same time, it aims to inspire a new generation of researchers dedicated to protecting biodiversity and minimizing the impacts of global change.According to the SCB, Ricardo Rocha has made a significant contribution to conservation science and practice while helping to make conservation a better and more inclusive place for everyone."Receiving this award undoubtedly creates added value for my professional future, but it also reflects the fact that science [...]]]> Nota de Pesar Ricardo Thompson (PT)Foi com grande pesar e profunda consternação que recebemos a notícia do falecimento do Professor Ricardo Thompson, Diretor e Investigador Principal do Centro de Investigação e Formação em Saúde de Chókwè - Instituto Nacional de Saúde de Moçambique, Presidente Interino do Grupo de Avaliação do Programa Regional WHO para África, e Coordenador do TwinLab do CIBIO em Moçambique.Nesta hora difícil, em que todas as palavras seriam poucas para expressar a sua importância no sistema científico moçambicano e em toda a África Austral, a comunidade do CIBIO endereça à família enlutada e aos amigos mais próximos as mais sentidas condolências. O seu legado permanecerá para sempre [...]]]> For the first time a study led by CIBIO-InBIO researchers is on the cover of Science magazine and has featured greatly in the media.In an article published by the prestigious journal, Science, a team led by CIBIO-InBIO researchers Miguel Carneiro, Ricardo Lopes, Pedro Araújo, Małgorzata Gazda, Pedro Andrade, Sandra Trigo, Cristiana Marques, Paulo Pereira and Sandra Afonso reveals how changes in the expression of a single gene can generate dramatic differences in coloration between male and female birds.In [...]]]> Num artigo publicado na prestigiada revista Science por uma equipa internacional liderada e composta, na sua maioria, por investigadores do CIBIO-InBIO, é revelado, pela primeira vez, que mudanças na expressão de um só gene podem originar diferenças dramáticas na coloração entre machos e fêmeas em aves.As mulheres são de Vénus e os homens de Marte? Na verdade, no mundo animal as diferenças morfológicas entre machos e fêmeas não são exclusivas dos seres humanos. Muitas espécies de aves evidenciam grandes diferenças na coloração das suas fêmeas e machos, um fenómeno geralmente denominado por Dicromatismo Sexual. Na maioria das espécies com dicromatismo sexual, os machos apresentam penas com cores mais exuberantes enquanto que as fêmeas apresentam cores menos vivas. Foi proposto pela comunidade científica que estas diferenças na forma e tamanho entre mulheres e homens, bem como as diferenças na coloração das aves fêmeas e machos têm a mesma [...]]]> CIBIO-InBIO Researchers find gene responsible for creating sexual dichromatism in birds and the paper is on the cover of the prestigious Science Magazine

This discovery was made by an international team including CIBIO-InBIO researchers Miguel Carneiro, Ricardo Lopes, Pedro Araújo, Małgorzata Gazda, Pedro Andrade, Sandra Trigo, Cristiana Marques, Paulo Pereira and Sandra Afonso.The researchers proved that with many years of selective breeding, the DNA of mosaic canary would be of canary origin [...]]]> Ricardo Rocha, investigador do CIBIO-InBIO, Universidade do Porto, foi distinguido com a atribuição do prestigiado European Early Career Conservation Award, atribuído pela Society for Conservation Biology. Este reconhecimento resulta do relevante contributo do seu trabalho para a conservação na natureza, bem como do seu incentivo a uma comunidade científica mais diversa.Este prémio reconhece o trabalho de cientistas em início de carreira na área da conservação da natureza e visa inspirar uma nova geração de investigadores dedicados à salvaguarda da biodiversidade e à minimização dos impactos das alterações globais. Destina-se a enaltecer o trabalho de jovens investigadores com contributos significativos para a conservação do património natural, quer seja através da investigação, da intervenção no terreno ou a nível da atuação política e educativa.A Society for Conservation Biology é uma organização internacional sem fins lucrativos que reúne [...]]]> Study led by CIBIO-InBIO researchers identifies an adenovirus that may be lethal for squirrels in Portugal.In an article published by the journal Transboundary and Emerging Diseases, a multidisciplinary team led by CIBIO-InBIO researchers, report for the first time the detection of adenovirus in a red squirrel trapped in central Portugal.This study showed that this strain of the virus is very different from that detected in other European countries but is practically identical to that detected in South Korean squirrel populations.These findings indicate the emergence of a new strain circulating in Europe, showing that it is very important to conduct more studies in order to better understand the virus that is circulating in nature.
To see some examples of this news please click on the links below:"Identificado vírus que está a afectar [...]]]> O novo género de borboletas noturnas descrito por investigadores do CIBIO-InBIO inclui uma nova espécie para a ciência de Portugal e uma outra espécie já conhecida em vários países do Mediterrâneo.
A nova espécie de borboleta noturna acaba de ser descrita num artigo publicado na revista Nota Lepidopterologica. A equipa de investigadores, que inclui Martin Corley e Sónia Ferreira do CIBIO-InBIO e Jorge Rosete, descobriu a nova borboleta ao identificar diferenças na sua anatomia e no seu código de barras de ADN que a tornam distinta das espécies já conhecidas.Das longas antenas e asas esbeltas à descrição de um novo género
Observou-se que a nova espécie e uma outra espécie muito próxima possuem características morfológicas distintas, particularmente as antenas longas e as asas posteriores incomumente esbeltas. Após [...]]]> CIBIO-InBIO researcher Rui Seabra won the 1st edition for FLAD's Science Award Atlantic with the project CCTBON – North Atlantic Coupled Coastal Temperature and Biodiversity Observation Network.The researcher will receive 300,000 Euros of funding in 3 years to implement the largest temperature and biodiversity monitoring network in the entire North Atlantic. The project involves the installation of more than 2000 sensors on 85 rocky beaches along the Atlantic Coast thus creating a data collection network, which will be the largest of its kind in the world.These sensors will measure the temperature of the water along the North Atlantic coast with a degree of accuracy that satellite technology currently does not have, allowing researchers to understand the impact of climate change on marine biodiversity.To find out more about this topic, please see the links below:"Rui Seabra vence FLAD Science [...]]]> CIBIO-InBIO researcher Joana Abrantes shared her opinion on the arrival of the new genotype of rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus to North America in an article for the Latest News of Science magazine.A new genotype of rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus, commonly referred as RHDV2, emerged in France in 2010 and quickly spread in Europe, replacing former circulating strains. Compared to those strains, this new genotype has a broader host range, infecting also hares and cottontails, and is fatal to rabbits below 2 months of age that were typically resistant to the disease. Outbreaks of this new genotype caused important economic losses in rabbitries, as existing vaccines conferred only partial protection, and affected negatively the ecosystems’ biodiversity. The CIBIO-InBIO researcher has been following its evolution and epidemiology in the Iberian Peninsula since its detection in 2011, along with the impact in the Mediterranean ecossystem.In North America, the new genotype was first detected in 2018 in [...]]]> Num artigo publicado pela prestigiada revista Transboundary and Emerging Diseases, uma equipa multidisciplinar liderada por investigadores do CIBIO-InBIO, identificou, pela primeira vez, um adenovírus que poderá estar a afetar mortalmente esquilos em Portugal e que é diferente do existente na Europa.Em Portugal, julga-se que o esquilo-vermelho (Sciurus vulgaris) se extinguiu no século XVI devido, sobretudo, à destruição e fragmentação dos habitats florestais. Desde a década de 1980, esta espécie tem vindo a expandir novamente no nosso país, tanto por processos naturais como através de projetos de reintrodução. Esta é uma boa notícia para a saúde dos habitats florestais em Portugal, mas a população de esquilos pode ainda estar sob forte ameaça. Nos últimos anos, as populações de esquilo-vermelho de diversos países europeus, tais como Itália, Alemanha e Reino Unido, têm sofrido mortalidades significativas devido à presença de um adenovírus [...]]]> Rui Seabra, investigador do CIBIO-InBIO, Universidade do Porto, foi distinguido com a atribuição do FLAD Science Award Atlantic - 1ª edição. O prémio, no valor de 300.000 euros, permitirá desenvolver um projeto que visa implementar uma rede de recolha de dados de temperatura e biodiversidade para estudar os efeitos das alterações climáticas em zonas costeiras.As alterações climáticas representam, atualmente, uma das principais ameaças à biodiversidade, no entanto, os efeitos das variações de temperatura nos afloramentos rochosos das zonas costeiras de maré nem sempre são muito evidentes. As respostas dos organismos às alterações do meio ambiente são, por natureza, continuadas no tempo e refletem-se ao nível da competição pelo alimento e espaço. Em condições mais extremas de temperatura, as espécies gastam mais energia, necessitando mais alimento. Desta forma, têm que se deslocar mais, entrando em competição com outros organismos. Normalmente as [...]]]> CIBIO-InBIO researcher Rui Seabra won the 1st edition for FLAD's Science Award Atlantic with the project CCTBON – North Atlantic Coupled Coastal Temperature and Biodiversity Observation Network.

The researcher will receive 300,000 Euros of funding in 3 years to implement the largest temperature and biodiversity monitoring network in the entire North Atlantic. The project involves the installation of more than 2000 sensors on 85 rocky beaches along the Atlantic Coast thus creating a data collection network, which will be the largest of its kind in the world."In addition to recognizing the quality of the scientific activity from researcher Rui Seabra, the award will improve knowledge about the influence of climate change on the ecosystems of tidal coastal zones. And, not least important, the award will allow Portugal to lead the collaboration between a significant number of researchers who, in different Atlantic regions (continental and island), develop works in favor of ocean [...]]]> Projeto de ciência-cidadã lançado pelo CIBIO-InBIO e pelo Parque Biológico de Gaia junta cidadãos a cientistas no estudo dos polinizadores do nosso país. Iniciativa decorre de 16 a 24 de maio em Portugal continental, Madeira e Açores. Todos podem participar sem sair de casa, através do registo fotográfico dos exemplares que aparecem nos seus vasos, canteiros, varandas, jardins e quintas.Criado pelo Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos (CIBIO-InBIO) e pelo Parque Biológico de Gaia, o projeto Polinizadores de Portugal da plataforma de ciência-cidadã BioDiversity4All, conta já com cerca de meia centena de parceiros. Entre eles encontramos diversas instituições académicas, museus, centros de Ciência Viva, escolas, associações, ONGs, grupos locais de proteção da natureza, zoológicos, centros de recuperação animal, municípios, associações de municípios e instituições governamentais.O funcionamento do projeto é muito simples. [...]]]> The project aims to raise awareness on the diversity, importance and omnipresence of pollinators in our daily lives.
In May there are two international days of special biological importance, the World Bee Day (20) and the International Day for Biological Diversity (22). On the celebration of this dates CIBIO-INBIO and Parque Biológico de Gaia are launching a national citizen science project entitled "Portuguese Pollinators”. The project is based on the BioDiversity4All platform, the Portugal node of the iNaturalist Network.

Together with museums, academic institutes, NGOs, municipalities, schools and other partners Institution(s), we will promote the public (individual) participation in a campaign from 16 to 24 of May. The project is launch in May 2020 and will continue after the first campaign, that will take place between 16 and 24 May 2020. The recovered data will be an important contribution to the knowledge and study of the entomofauna of Portugal. It will also constitute a [...]]]> CIBIO-InBIO researchers Fernando Lima, Rui Seabra and Nuno Queiroz discussed their innovative projects in Biosphere, a TV programme dedicated to environmental issues.Climate change: what can we learn from scientists? This was the question CIBIO-InBIO researchers addressed when explaining the integration of smart environmental sensors and data loggers in their research. These instruments can be used to study the response of organisms to short- and long-term changes in the environment.
In a first project, focusing on the thermal stress and biogeography of coastal species, temperature loggers have been showing that thermal variability along the European coast is much higher than anticipated, influencing the physiological performance and promoting changes in the distribution of several key species. In a second project, researchers highlighted a new data logger capable of recording oxygen, temperature and spatial position of large oceanic fish. These loggers will soon be used to study the impact of [...]]]>  University of Porto contingency plan and more information available here ]]> CIBIO-InBIO researcher, Martim Melo, participated in the team that led the first empirical demonstration of the well-known Theory of Island Biogeography.In a study published in Nature, a new model was developed to prove the theory of island biogeography for birds. Using molecular data of hundreds of bird species from 41 archipelagos worldwide, it was possible to estimate not only colonization and extinction rates, but also speciation rates.For the first time, evolution has been included in the model. The formation of species in archipelagos depends at the same time on the area and isolation: the larger and more isolated an island is; the more species will form there.It is now also known that the vast majority of bird species on the islands constitute unique evolutionary branches as a result of independent colonisation of species from continents.These findings will help future studies that attempt to answer long-debated questions, such as why only certain animal and plant groups speciate [...]]]> This study provides the most complete picture to date of cancer-causing mutations in all parts of the genome, indicating new directions for developing diagnostics and treatments.

Involving more than 1,300 scientists and clinicians from 37 countries, the ICGC/TCGA Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes (known as PCAWG or the Pan-Cancer Project) analyzed more than 2,600 genomes of 38 different tumor types, creating a huge resource of primary cancer genomes. This was then the launch-point for 16 working groups studying multiple aspects of cancer’s development, causation, progression, and classification.One of the biggest discoveries from the project was a new method for "carbon dating” cancer—identifying cancer-causing mutations that occurred many years before the tumor itself emerged. This opens, theoretically, a window of opportunity for early cancer detection.On the other hand, it is now possible to accurately identify tumor types according to the patterns of genetic changes seen [...]]]> Num artigo publicado na prestigiada revista Nature por uma equipa internacional que inclui o investigador do CIBIO-InBIO, Nuno Fonseca, é apresentado o estudo mais completo sobre os genomas de cancro conhecidos até à data, melhorando significativamente a nossa compreensão sobre o cancro e identificando novos caminhos para o seu diagnóstico e tratamento.O projeto "Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes” (PCAWG), também conhecido como "Pan-Cancer Project”, resulta da colaboração de mais de 1300 cientistas e especialistas clínicos de 37 países. Através da análise de mais de 2600 genomas de 38 tipos diferentes de tumores, conseguiu-se obter um gigantesco banco de dados de genomas de tumores primários. A partir daqui, 16 grupos de trabalho estudaram múltiplos aspetos sobre o desenvolvimento, as causas, a progressão e a classificação dos cancros.

Estudos anteriores incidiram o seu foco em apenas 1% do genoma que codifica as proteínas. Neste projeto [...]]]> An interview with CIBIO-InBIO researchers that addresses the decline of European rabbit populations in Portugal.
The conservation status of the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) has moved to Endangered in the areas where it is native: Portugal, Spain and France. According to the IUCN this change is due to the high decline (up to 70%) and fragmentation of their populations.
During an interview (for the online magazine Wilder) CIBIO-InBIO researchers addressed the causes that may explain these changes. A new variant of the rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus is now also affecting smaller juveniles, making them weaker and preventing them from reaching adulthood.
Although immunity to this disease is increasing, researchers warn of the need to promote population resilience. This could be achieved by controlling predation and hunting activities, increasing food availability or managing their habitats, provided that site-specific threats are adequately investigated. However, regular [...]]]> The work developed by this scientist over the past two decades aims to understand the mechanisms that allow for the evolution and maintenance of cooperation within societies. As a case-study for this investigation, Rita studies the behaviour of sociable weavers - Philetairus socius, which are small birds from Kalahari.
“Cooperation is intriguing from an evolutionary perspective, since cooperating is beneficial for the group but can have a cost to the cooperating individual. However, cooperation is common in nature, from micro-organisms all the way to human societies. Understanding what allows for the evolution and maintenance of cooperation is, therefore, a fundamental part of evolutionary biology”, explained Rita Covas. This project aims to understand whether more cooperative individuals are preferred as sexual or social partners, which would provide an explanantion for why cooperation is maintained.
The awarding of this grant is, [...]]]>  A expansão da agricultura e a intensificação das práticas agrícolas estão entre as principais causas das alterações ambientais globais. Contudo, muitas paisagens agrícolas possuem valores relevantes de biodiversidade, incluindo espécies e habitats de elevado valor para conservação. Consequentemente, para além de contribuírem para a produção de alimento e fibras, estas paisagens, conhecidas na Europa como Áreas Agrícolas de Elevado Valor Natural, são responsáveis pela manutenção de elevados níveis de (agro)biodiversidade e prestam inúmeros serviços de ecossistemas (como por exemplo gestão do risco de inundação, prevenção da erosão dos solos, redução do risco de fogos selvagens, e manutenção de valor cultural) dos quais depende o bem-estar da [...]]]> On November 08, 2019 the study “A evolução da ciência em Portugal (1987-2016)”, published by Fundação Francisco Manuel dos Santos and coordinated by Nuno Ferrand, CIBIO-InBIO´s director, was launched during the Conference “A atitude científica: o que é ciência e o que não é?”. The study brings a detailed analysis of the evolution of science in Portugal covering the period between 1987 and 2016 with a special emphasis on the area of marine sciences. The study also compares the Science made in Portugal with other European countries and highlights the differences among the main national higher education institutions and distinct regions of Portugal.
The main results of the study, now highlighted by the media, indicates that although Portugal had a remarkable progress on the amount of financial resources and productivity in the last decades, it is still behind the European countries with solid [...]]]> From October to December 2019 several institutions around the world join the campaign designed by the UNESCO Office for the Gulf Countries Council & Yemen and Friends of Socotra to raise awareness on the rich and distinct natural and cultural heritage of Socotra.Major museums, botanical gardens, academic institutes and other organizations, will promote a series of events including natural history/photography exhibitions, public talks and lectures, workshops and film screenings. The purpose of the campaign is to connect the world to Socotra, and Socotra to the world on large issues such as climate change and extinction risks.As part of the campaign events, on November 29th, 2019 at 15h30, CIBIO-InBIO Movie Session will feature the film Socotra, La Isla de los Genios by Jordi Esteva.

To know more about the Connect 2 Socotra campaign and its associated events, please click On 24-26 September the Directorate General for Research and Innovation organized the Research and Innovation days at Kanaal centre in Brussels, an event fully dedicated to R&I. During this event a special attention was given to the newly selected Teaming 2 projects. In the morning of the September 24, project´s coordinators had the chance to meet with Mr Jean-Eric Paquet, Director General of DG RTD, where a symbolic ceremony for projects signature took place. CIBIO-InBIO´s director and BIOPOLIS coordinator Nuno Ferrand, and Pierre Boursot from University of Montpellier, partner of BIOPOLIS project, were present for the certificate signature. During the afternoon, in the conference session 'Bridging, Widening, Sharing: let's Advance Europe together' all the Teaming 2 projects representatives were called on stage and greeted by Commissioner Carlos Moedas, who presented the Teaming projects to the audience.  Como identificar as prioridades de investigação para a conservação da biodiversidade num bioma tão extenso e complexo como o Mediterrânico? Ao que tudo indica, utilizar uma abordagem simples e unificada não será a melhor solução. Esta foi a conclusão do artigo agora publicado por uma equipa internacional, liderada pelo CIBIO-InBIO e composta por investigadores de 11 países. O bioma Mediterrânico estende-se por cinco regiões do planeta que partilham características bastante semelhantes de um ponto de vista climático e inclui, para além dos diferentes países da bacia do Mediterrâneo, os Estados Unidos, o Chile, a Austrália e a África do Sul. Tais regiões são muito distintas relativamente ao contexto histórico, cultural, social e político e também ao tipo e intensidade das ameaças à [...]]]> Os lagartos são animais de sangue frio e dependem da radiação do sol para regular a temperatura do corpo. Ainda assim, estes animais não estão restritos às zonas mais quentes e podem ser encontrados nos mais diversos ambientes. Muitas populações de lagartos estão a decrescer como consequência do aumento da temperatura global associado às alterações nos regimes de chuva, perda de habitat e fragmentação. Mas como prever o efeito das alterações climáticas, nomeadamente da temperatura, na sobrevivência dos lagartos nos diferentes ambientes? Foi para responder a esta pergunta que uma equipa de 45 investigadores de 17 países uniu a análise genómica ao estudo da fisiologia de um grupo de lagartos amplamente distribuído pela Europa, Ásia e África, conhecidos como Lacertídeos. Conforme revela O gado bovino não existia nas Américas até o final do século XV quando os primeiros animais foram introduzidos, ao que tudo indica seguindo a colonização Europeia. Contudo, as suas origens ainda não são claras e os estudos conduzidos até o momento não permitiram um consenso quanto ao contributo de raças de outros continentes.O artigo agora publicado revela que o gado crioulo das Américas não só tem múltiplas origens, como apresenta uma identidade única que difere tanto das raças Europeias quanto das Africanas. Os resultados desta análise genética indicam, também, que tanto o nível de diversidade, quanto o contributo das raças de outros continentes variam bastante entre populações de gado crioulo das diferentes regiões. Catarina Ginja, primeira autora do artigo e investigadora do CIBIO-InBIO explica que os “nossos [...]]]> O artigo agora publicado apresenta uma análise da proposta feita pela Comissão Europeia para as acções da Política Agrícola Comum após 2020, nomeadamente nos pontos que abordam a proteção do ambiente, e conclui que a proposta de reforma representa um retrocesso relativamente à política actual. A equipa de autores, composta por investigadores do CIBIO-InBIO e de mais vinte instituições internacionais, salienta ainda que o actual processo de reforma ainda vai a tempo de utilizar as evidências científicas e o desejo dos cidadãos europeus e, assim, potenciar a proteção do ambiente bem como os objetivos de desenvolvimento sustentável. A Política Agrícola Comum (PAC) tem como objetivo garantir as condições de vida de milhões de agricultores e um suprimento de alimentos estável, variado e seguro a toda a população [...]]]> Conflitos armados causam um grande impacto à biodiversidade, levando espécies à extinção, seja através da caça ilegal, seja através da destruição dos habitats. “Com esta carta quisemos chamar a atenção das autoridades para situações como a que vemos no Médio Oriente e África. Nestas regiões, os conflitos causam pressões adicionais sobre a biodiversidade já ameaçada e somente uma ação conjunta envolvendo diferentes países poderá evitar a eminente extinção da fauna icónica do deserto”, explica José Carlos Brito, investigador do CIBIO-InBIO e autor da publicação. A carta publicada convoca legisladores internacionais a reconhecer o dano causado ao ambiente e à biodiversidade como crimes de guerra. A carta apoia a orientação da Comissão Legislativa [...]]]> On July 25, 2018 the Court of Justice of the European Union (ECJ) ruled that organisms obtained by precise genome edition technologies such as CRISPR are not exempt from the EU GMO legislation. Following this regulation, the scientific community called for an urgent review and amendment of the European legislation on new breeding technologies using genome edition. The position paper state that organisms that have undergone simple and targeted genome edits through modern technologies follow the same principles that classical breeding techniques, but with even higher efficiency and precision. Therefore, genome edited organisms should not be subject to the provisions of the GMO Directive, but instead should fall under the regulatory regime that applies to classically bred varieties. The document, signed by CIBIO-InBIO members and scientists from more than 100 European scientific institutions, concludes that subjecting crops obtained through modern genome editing to GMO regulations will [...]]]> O tubarão-azul, anequim e tubarão-branco, são alguns exemplos icónicos de tubarões que vivem em mar aberto, também conhecidos como pelágicos. A grande maioria destes poderosos predadores passa a vida a migrar por extensas áreas dos oceanos, as quais incluem zonas de atividade piscatória comercial. Muitas populações de tubarões pelágicos estão a decrescer, sendo que quase metade das espécies se encontra ameaçada de extinção. Para avaliar com mais detalhes o impacto da pesca industrial sobre os tubarões pelágicos, uma equipa internacional que para além do CIBIO-InBIO incluiu investigadores de mais de 100 instituições, entre elas o Marine Biological Association Laboratory (Plymouth, Reino Unido), estimou o quanto as zonas de pesca industrial sobrepõem-se aos habitats destes tubarões. O artigo então publicado traz um [...]]]> The high biological diversity currently found in the Amazon is intimately related to past climate oscillations, which affected differently each Amazon region. This is the conclusion of a study that, for the first time, gathered data from dozens of Amazonian bird species, with more than six thousand records and genetic data from approximately 1000 individuals. The results from this study, which are now highlighted by the media, show that older bird lineages originated in more humid western and northern regions. These lineages seem to have originated the younger avian fauna found in the drier southern and south-eastern Amazon. The authors of the study highlight south-eastern Amazon region, historically more vulnerable to climate oscillations, as the most threatened by currently ongoing deforestation. Considering the current impacts of climate changes, is very likely that the historical changes in the distribution of the forest cover in this region will occur again, followed by the loss [...]]]> A imensa diversidade biológica encontrada hoje na Amazónia estará intimamente relacionada às oscilações do clima no passado que ocorreram de maneira distinta em cada região. Esta é a conclusão de um estudo que reuniu, pela primeira vez, dados de dezenas de espécies de aves Amazónicas, com mais de 6 mil registos e dados genéticos recolhidos de aproximadamente 1000 indivíduos.O artigo tem como autores investigadores do CIBIO-InBIO e de mais 9 instituições internacionais, entre as quais o Luomus Finnish Museum of Natural History e a University of Helsinki (Finlândia). Os resultados deste estudo demonstram que as linhagens mais antigas de aves surgiram nas regiões mais húmidas do oeste e norte da Amazónia, e que estas teriam originado as linhagens mais jovens nas regiões a sul e sudeste, relativamente mais secas. A imensa biodiversidade [...]]]> Myxomatosis was thought to affect only the European rabbit. It was true until last year when several reports of abnormal mortalities in Iberian hares were described in Spain. The affected animals presented symptoms consistent with classic rabbit myxomatosis. In the recently published paper, the researchers analysed the complete genome of virus samples found in Iberian hares with symptoms of myxomatosis. The results show that the disease was caused by a new strain of Myxoma virus. This new virus present unique mutations which could be responsible to more effectively counteract the defences in hares and make the virus pathogenic to this new host.  To know more about this topic, please follow the links below: “Cientistas identificam vírus que está a infetar as lebres na Península [...]]]> On May 21, 2019, CIBIO-InBIO, in collaboration with the Government of Angola and the Kissama Foundation, co-organized the launching session of the book Biodiversidade de Angola.The book, now available for free download, contains 20 chapters which covers the state of art and highlights future needs on the study of the huge biodiversity found in Angola. This is an important output of the UNESCO Chair Life on Land, coordinated by CIBIO-InBIO, and marks another step in the scientific collaboration between Angola and Portugal.Biodiversidade de Angola has as editors Brian Huntley and Nuno Ferrand, CIBIO-InBIO, Vladimir Russo, Kissama Foundation, and Fernanda Lages, ISCED-Huila. The book has also a preface signed by the President of Angola, João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, and the contribution of more than 40 authors from 10 countries.To download the book Biodiversidade de Angola please click here.  ]]> Após as enormes perdas nas populações de coelho-bravo, a mixomatose atinge agora as lebres da Península Ibérica. No artigo agora publicado a equipa composta por investigadores do CIBIO-InBIO, e de mais duas instituições internacionais, analisou o genoma completo de amostras do vírus encontrado em lebres Ibéricas que apresentavam sintomas de mixomatose. Os investigadores confirmaram tratar-se de uma nova linhagem do vírus da mixomatose. Esta nova linhagem apresenta alterações genéticas únicas e que poderão conferir ao vírus a capacidade de “quebrar” a resistência das lebres à doença.  O avanço da mixomatose nas lebresA mixomatose é uma doença provocada pelo Mixoma, um vírus pertencente ao grupo dos poxvírus e cujo genoma é composto de ADN. No seu hospedeiro natural, o coelho americano [...]]]> On May 21, 2019, an International Conference on Biodiversity was held in Luanda, where CIBIO-InBIO consolidated its partnership with Angola in research and conservation of biodiversity. During the event CIBIO-InBIO and the National Institute of Biodiversity and Conservation Areas of Angola signed the Cooperation Agreement on Biodiversity Research. This agreement aims to establish academic cooperation. In this context, CIBIO-InBIO, in collaboration with the Government of Angola and the Kissama Foundation, co-organized the launching session of the Biodiversity Book of Angola - Science and Conservation: A Modern Synthesis. Under the scope of the UNESCO Chair Life on Land, coordinated by CIBIO-InBIO, those initiatives mark another important step in the scientific collaboration between the two countries and called media attention.  To know more about this topic, please follow the links below: “ On May 27, University of Porto and Huila Government signed a collaboration agreement to foster research and advanced training on biodiversity and environment protection. The agreement resulted from a partnership between CIBIO-InBIO and Huila Government stablished in 2018 to build the Lubango Museum, Science and Technological Centre. This new collaboration agreement integrates the UNESCO Chair Life on Land working plan and is crucial for the development of CIBIO-InBIO Twinlab Initiative in Angola.  To know more about this topic, please follow the links bellow: “Universidade do Porto apoia criação de Museu e Centro de Ciência e Tecnologia em Angola” | TV Europa | May 31, 2019 (Information available in Portuguese)“ The new moth species occurs in northern Portugal and south-east France and was described based on genetic and anatomical characteristics. However, the first clues about this species came from droppings of horseshoe bats. CIBIO-InBIO researchers discovered the new moth species during fieldwork in Northern Portugal, where they were studying the diet of bats through the analysis of DNA from feces. This study was conducted under the scope of the EnvMetaGen CIBIO-InBIO project, within the InBIO Barcode Initiative. The genetic evidence of the new species was observed in droppings of Rhinolophus bats, so the researchers named the new moth Ypsolopha rhinolophi. The resultant article, where Y. rhinolophi was described, has been called media attention.  To know more about this topic, please follow the links below: “Investigadores do CIBIO-InBIO [...]]]> Sim, leu bem. A nova espécie de borboleta nocturna acaba de ser descrita num artigo publicado hoje na prestigiada revista Zootaxa. A equipa de investigadores do CIBIO-InBIO Martin Corley, Sónia Ferreira e Vanessa Mata descobriu a nova borboleta ao verificar diferenças marcantes na sua anatomia. Contudo, as primeiras pistas sobre esta nova borboleta vieram das fezes de dois morcegos de ferradura, mais precisamente de fragmentos de DNA aí encontrados. As “pistas” deixadas pelo morcego
Tal como tantos outros exemplos de descobertas científicas, a descrição desta nova espécie não era o objectivo inicial dos autores do artigo enquanto conduziam seus estudos. Conforme explica Vanessa Mata, investigadora do CIBIO-InBIO e co-autora do artigo “descobrimos esta nova espécie ao realizar um estudo [...]]]> O estado da arte e as oportunidades de colaboração para a conservação da Biodiversidade em Angola foram o ponto central da Conferência sobre Biodiversidade, que teve lugar no Memorial Dr. Agostinho Neto, em Luanda. Para reforçar as acções de colaboração, durante o evento foi assinado o Acordo de Cooperação no Domínio da Investigação em Biodiversidade, entre o CIBIO-InBIO e o Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidade e Áreas de Conservação de Angola, o qual visa o estabelecimento de cooperação académica e científica sob a chancela do Ministério do Ambiente de Angola. Neste contexto, o CIBIO-InBIO, em colaboração com o Governo de Angola e a Fundação Kissana, co-organizou a sessão de lançamento do Livro Biodiversidade de Angola – Ciência e Conservação: Uma Síntese [...]]]> From May 02 to May 04, 2019 CIBIO-InBIO hosted the 2019 edition of the BIODIV Annual Meeting. BIODIV PhD students gathered at CIBIO-InBIO Campus de Vairão to discuss their work and establish scientific, academic and social connections. The meeting, co-hosted by the Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, counted with the participation of 61 BIODIV PhD students representing 9 different nationalities. The programme included two outstanding plenary talks from invited researchers Sara Magalhães (cE3c) and Rita Covas (CIBIO-InBIO), 16 oral communications, 10 flash talks and 40 posters presented by Biodiv students. Apart from the intense day of communications and scientific discussion, the students had the opportunity to meet and socialize during the reception, held at Centro de Memória, Vila do Conde, on May 02, and while visiting the coastal area of Vila do Conde and the Hall of Biodiversity on May 04.  The UNESCO CHAIR Life on Land encompasses an exceptional set of training, academic and professional development, research and promotion of scientific culture, in areas of extreme relevance such as the conservation of biodiversity and the management and conservation of resources and of natural heritage. Representives from UNESCO, governmental institutions, academia and private sector from seven countries joined the UNESCO Chair launch, where CIBIO-InBIO TwinLabs network and the advanced training programmes where presented to the public, along with the partner institutions from South Africa, Angola, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe.
The positive repercussion among participants, partners and public was highlighted by the media.  To know more about this topic, please follow the links below:
“U.Porto lança Cátedra UNESCO dedicada [...]]]> On April 02, 2019 the European Commission granted CIBIO with two projects, BIOPOLIS and the ERA-CHAIR in Tropical Biodiversity and Ecosystems, representing the largest funding ever allocated to a research center in Portugal. The Widening programme was stablished by the European Commission to foster capacity building, strength competitiveness and reduce research asymmetries among European regions. BIOPOLIS project joins CIBIO to the University of Montpellier and Porto Business School, plus several actors from public and private institutions (policy makers, universities, research centers, companies and the civil society) for the development of a research center of excellence in environmental biology, ecosystems and agrobiodiversity. The ERA-CHAIR project promotes innovation in research on tropical biodiversity in Portuguese-speaking African countries. The approval of these two applications results in the mobilization of a global funding estimated between EUR 130 and 150 million. The funding will [...]]]> O projecto BIOPOLIS, destinado ao desenvolvimento de um centro de investigação de excelência em biologia ambiental, ecossistemas e agrobiodiversidade, coordenado pelo consórcio que junta o CIBIO – Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos da Universidade do Porto à Universidade de Montpellier e à Porto Business School, foi aprovado ontem pela Comissão Europeia, mobilizando o maior financiamento já atribuído a um centro de investigação existente em Portugal. Este projecto envolve um conjunto diversificado de agentes do sector publico e privado nacional e internacional, incluindo os decisores políticos, as universidades e centros de investigação, as empresas e a sociedade civil.
Por sua vez, também a criação de uma nova ERA-CHAIR em biodiversidade tropical e ecossistemas, atribuída ontem ao CIBIO, permitirá promover a [...]]]> On March 20, 2019 CIBIO-InBIO received a visit from the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology of Angola, Professor Maria do Rosário Sambo, and the State Secretary, Professor Domingos Neto, under the scope of the Angola-Portugal Science Week.

The Angola-Portugal Science Week aimed at reinforcing the research collaborative network between these countries and included a series of visits from the Angola´s committe to research centers in Lisbon, Porto and Bragança.The visit to CIBIO-InBIO, hosted by it´s Scientific Director Nuno Ferrand, counted with the presence of the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology of Angola, Professor Maria do Rosário Sambo, the State Secretary, Professor Domingos Neto, senior members of the Ministry and representatives of universities, research unities and science and technology centers. The committee, encompassing around 30 members, explored CIBIO-InBIO headquarters, at "Campus de Vairão”, its research facilities and ecology and [...]]]> The international team led by CIBIO-InBIO and the Uppsala University studied a large number of Wall lizard´s genomes and combined biochemical and microscopic analysis to understand how the great diversity of color patterns can be found even in only one population. The results show that mutations that arose million years ago, restricted to only two genes, are responsible for the great variation in color patterns and that natural selection and hybridization play an important role in the evolution of bright colors in reptiles. The article was published in the journal PNAS and attracted national and international media attention.  To know more about this topic, please follow the links below: "Identificados os genes que controlam cores brilhantes da lagartixa-dos-muros" | Público | March 01, 2019 (Information [...]]]> We are looking for a highly motivated graduate student, who is interested in pursuing a PhD degree in the field of Archaeogenetics, Biology, Animal Science, Bioinformatics or related fields to join the team of the ARCHAEOGENETICS Research Group at CIBIO-InBIO. The PhD student will investigate the genomic diversity of past and extant Iberian cattle populations to unveil their origins, evolutionary trajectories and modes of improvement. It will employ whole-genome re-sequencing data generated within the ARCHAIC and OPTIBOV projects to carry out a comprehensive Population Genomics study of Iberian cattle to investigate demographic processes and post-domestication changes in inheritable traits. The invited student will interact with an international team of scientists at CIBIO-InBIO, Campus of Vairão, Portugal, at LARC-National Laboratory of Archaeosciences in Lisbon, Portugal, and at foreign participating institutions namely the The Center for Palaeogenetics of Stockholm [...]]]> Os répteis estão entre os animais mais coloridos e a lagartixa-dos-muros, Podarcis muralis, é um excelente exemplo disto. Numa mesma população é possível encontrar animais cuja cor da garganta e ventre varia entre as cores branca, laranja/vermelha brilhante ou amarela brilhante. Sabe-se também que animais de diferentes cores diferem noutras características, como no tamanho, capacidade de combate e estratégias reprodutivas.
Mas, como é que estes répteis conseguem gerar o seu grande conjunto de cores brilhantes? Como é que é possível encontrar tanta diversidade dentro de uma única população de uma mesma espécie? Foi para responder a estas perguntas que uma equipa internacional, liderada por investigadores do CIBIO-InBIO e da Uppsala University (Suécia), recorreu à sequenciação de um grande número de genomas de lagartixas [...]]]> A new and unprecedented study of rabbit DNA led by CIBIO-InBIO and the University of Cambridge has revealed the genetic basis for the animal's resistance to the deadly myxoma virus. The study establishes that modern rabbits in Australia, the UK and France have acquired resistance to myxomatosis through the same genetic changes. Using the latest technology the team, which includes CIBIO-InBIO researchers Joel Alves, Miguel Carneiro, Sandra Afonso, Pedro Esteves and Nuno Ferrand, analysed the genomes of nearly 200 rabbits dating from 1865-2013, including one owned by Charles Darwin. The scientists then sequenced nearly 20,000 genes to pinpoint mutations that have emerged since the myxomatosis pandemics of the 1950s.
The article, published in the journal Science in the same week of Darwin´s birthday celebration, reveals how the species has evolved genetic resistance to the disease through natural selection and has been highlighted by the media. 
To know more about this topic, [...]]]> The biodiversity of Serralves can now be discovered in details through the book, The Park Species – Pocket Guide, a new publication under the scope of Serralves 360⁰ project. SERRALVES 360⁰ is a science communication project, partially sponsored by FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, which results from a collaboration between CIBIO-InBIO and Fundação de Serralves. Raquel Ribeiro and Teresa Fernandes, the CIBIO-InBIO team at SERRALVES 360⁰, integrates the concept and coordination of the the book, which was in the spotlight of the newspaper “Público”. The book also counted with the contribution of CIBIO-InBIO researchers Helena Hespanhol and Yuri Simone.  To know more about this topic, please follow the link below: " Há quase 70 anos o vírus causador da mixomatose, uma doença mortal encontrada numa espécie de coelho americana, foi utilizado para controlar a população de coelhos europeus introduzidos na Austrália. Na altura, os coelhos já constituíam uma população de centenas de milhares e causavam impactos devastadores na agricultura e biodiversidade local. A doença dizimou grande parte dos coelhos na Austrália e após ter sido introduzida ilegalmente em França, espalhou-se rapidamente pela Europa, causando a morte de milhares de coelhos. Após pouco tempo da introdução do vírus, os índices de mortalidade decresceram, os genomas do vírus e do coelho alteraram-se. Através da seleção natural os animais tornaram-se mais resistentes ao vírus, o qual também se tornou menos agressivo para os coelhos. No artigo agora publicado, fruto de [...]]]> We are looking for highly motivated graduate students, who are interested in pursuing a PhD degree in the field of Virology, Evolution and Functional Biology under the scope of tree ongoing project collaborations between CIBIO-InBIO and the University of Munich (Germany), the Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Germany) and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (USA), respectively. To know more about the tree calls and how to apply pelase click on the respective links PhD candidate call 1 - lentiviruses, viral restriction factors and rabbit immunology  PhD candidate call 2 - lentivirus biology and latency, viral restriction factors and species-specific aspects of lentiviral infection/CHIKV infection PhD candidate call 3 - A new website launched under the scope of the World Wetlands Day (February 02) celebration made public the data collected during 26 years of waterbird census at the Mondego estuary. Since 1994, on January, all aquatic birds wintering in the Mondego estuary are recorded. The data, now made available, is the longest non-interrupted time series about the abundance of waterbirds in a Portuguese estuary.

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"Investigadores do Porto lançam 'site' sobre aves aquáticas no Estuário do Mondego" | O Jogo | February 05, 2019 (Information available in Portuguese)" Todos os anos, durante o inverno, milhares de aves aquáticas migram para zonas mais temperadas em busca de climas mais amenos. Esta é a melhor altura para se fazer um recenseamento detalhado das populações de aves aquáticas, incluindo muitas espécies que nidificam nas zonas árticas. Estes censos ocorrem à escala global, envolvem centenas de investigadores e voluntários de diversas instituições, e permitem estimar o tamanho das populações de aves e como evoluem ao longo do tempo. O programa de monitorização de aves aquáticas no estuário do Mondego realiza este recenseamento há 26 anos e, no contexto das comemorações do dia Mundial das Zonas Húmidas (dia 2 de Fevereiro), acaba de lançar um website onde estão disponíveis ao público os dados recolhidos. Conhecer a biodiversidade ao longo do tempoDesde 1994, no [...]]]> We are looking for a highly motivated graduate student, who is interested in pursuing a PhD degree in the field of Genomics, Evolutionary Ecology, Bioinformatics or related fields studying adaptive introgression, mito-nuclear incompatibilities and the evolution of reproductive isolation in Podarcis wall lizards. The project involves sampling expeditions within the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa, laboratory and computational work. The student will interact with an international team of scientists at CIBIO-InBIO in the Vairão Campus, Portugal, and the CEFE-CNRS, in Montpellier, France, under the supervision of Catarina Pinho (CIBIO-InBIO) and Pierre-André Crochet (CEFE-CNRS). The application should include the following information:Motivation letter with [...]]]> The Doctoral Programme in Biodiversity, Genetics and Evolution (BIODIV) is organized by the two largest Portuguese universities, the University of Porto and the University of Lisbon, and is funded by FCT – Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology. BIODIV aims to create a new generation of researchers in the areas of biodiversity, evolutionary biology and genetics, providing excellent teaching and research and a multicultural learning environment. It is a 4years programme structured upon a highly flexible system that enables students to design their own curricular profile, by choosing from a diversity of seminars and advanced courses. Please see the BIODIV website for more information on how to apply.]]> “Universidade do Porto assina parceria de excelência com [...]]]> “90 segundos de Ciência” is a daily series which gives voice to Portuguese researchers on various scientific fields and topics. A series of eight episodes highlights the new projects developed by CIBIO-InBIO researchers. From small organisms, such as viruses and bacteria, to entire ecosystems those projects aim to understand the diversity of life through the use of genomic and ecological tools. These studies will bring important contributions for the conservation of biodiversity and the ecosystems services it supports, the basis for all life forms, livelihoods and well-being of people everywhere. Every interview highlights one project, explained by its principal researcher. The subjects encompass the development of plants with higher nutritional value, species responses to climate change in different environments, genetic basis of bird voalizations, monitoring and predicting pathogen outbreaks, diagnostic and therapeutic tools, and the importance of biodiversity in [...]]]> In an article published by the prestigious journal Biological Reviews, an international team led by CIBIO-InBIO researchers, Sérgio Ávila, Carlos Melo, Ricardo Cordeiro e Lara Baptista presents a new predictive model to study marine island biogeography. The model explains that the impact of past climatic changes, and the resulting sea level fluctuations, on the evolution of marine and terrestrial species might have been different. The paper, now highlighted by the media, is an important contribution to better understand the evolution of marine life on volcanic oceanic islands. It integrates, for the first time, historical and ecological biogeography of marine ecosystems with patterns of past glacial–interglacial cycles. It also can help to better predict the impact of current climatic change on marine biodiversity. To know more about this topic, please follow the links below: In an article published by the journal PLOS ONE, a team led by CIBIO-InBIO researchers João Queirós and Paulo Célio Alves reveals that red deer populations in Iberia results from a divergent evolutionary history, when compared to other European populations.
The article, which has been attracting media attention, suggests that around 27-19 thousand years ago, when the extreme climate conditions associated with glaciations took place, red deer populations persisted not only at south of the Pyrenees, in the Iberian Peninsula, but also at north of the Pyrenees in cryptic refugia. After LGM those populations became isolated and expanded into different directions, being the red deer from the north of Pyrenees the most probable origin of the current Central and Northern European populations. Individuals from the south of Pyrenees became restricted to the Iberia and today constitute a genetically [...]]]> O veado, Cervus elaphus, é o maior herbívoro selvagem dos ecossistemas ibéricos e habita toda a Eurásia. Contudo, no passado a espécie sofreu grandes oscilações na sua distribuição geográfica e há cerca de 27-19 mil anos, num período de condições climáticas extremas conhecido como último máximo glaciar do Plistoceno, somente algumas populações sobreviveram em zonas denominadas refúgios - regiões onde as condições do clima eram favoráveis à sobrevivência das espécies de clima temperado. A Península Ibérica é reconhecida como um destes refúgios.
O estudo agora publicado evidencia que, ao contrário do que se pensava, as populações atuais de veados encontradas no centro e norte da Europa, não tiveram origem na Península Ibérica, mas sim noutro [...]]]> As ilhas oceânicas, em especial as ilhas vulcânicas, reúnem uma série de características que as tornam verdadeiros laboratórios naturais para o estudo da Evolução: são corpos de terra isolados pelo mar, onde as alterações geológicas intensas constituem um ambiente altamente dinâmico e propício a rápidas mudanças ecológicas e evolutivas. Foi exatamente nestes locais que os autores do artigo, agora publicado, foram recolher os dados para a construção de um modelo inovador no estudo da Biogeografia marinha e da Evolução.
Segundo Sérgio Ávila, primeiro autor do artigo, “o modelo proposto é novo, pois reúne os aspectos históricos e ecológicos que influenciam a distribuição geográfica de espécies nos ecossistemas litorais marinhos. Integramos [...]]]> José Carlos Brito gave an interview about the fieldwork experience, in the scope of his research on West African crocodile (Crocodylus suchus). From 2008 to 2015 the CIBIO-InBIO researcher led 8 scientific expeditions to Mauritania, in order to study the West African crocodile populations.
José Carlos Brito's work brought new data on this species' genetic structure and dispersal abilities. He has described 96 subpopulations, organized into 6 genetic groups, which tend to follow the distribution of the major river basins of the country. 
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“Crocodilos do grande deserto africano” | Parques e Vida Selvagem | Outono 2018 (Information available in Portuguese)]]> O evento organizado pelo CIBIO-InBIO, no âmbito da Cátedra ERA em Metagenómica Ambiental (EnvMetaGen), em conjunto com a Cátedra EDP Biodiversidade e a rede europeia DNAqua-Net, contou com a presença de cerca de 150 participantes, entre investigadores nacionais e internacionais, empresas e entidades governamentais. No centro do debate estiveram as oportunidades e os desafios da utilização de métodos moleculares – que fazem uso do ADN recolhido no ambiente, o Environmental DNA (eDNA) – em programas nacionais de monitorização ambiental de ecossistemas aquáticos e biodiversidade.
Segundo explica o vice-director do CIBIO-InBIO e detentor da Cátedra EDP Biodiversidade, Pedro Beja, este encontro serviu, em primeiro lugar, para “dar a conhecer às entidades governamentais e às empresas como podem estas tecnologias ser [...]]]> EDP and the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) will co-finance a set of scientific research dedicated to managing environmental impacts and conserving biodiversity. The Biodiversity Chair focuses on the application of new genomic tools and Environmental DNA - eDNA techniques. The initiative had a first phase between 2012 and 2016 and has contributed to promote scientific innovation, technology and environmental management that can be shared with the entire scientific community, government agencies, the business world and the general public.
The renewal of the EDP Biodiversity Chair for the 2018/20 period is now formalized and will be conducted within the framework of the CIBIO-InBIO research group APPLECOL, led by Pedro Beja, who is also the chairholder. 
To know more about this topic, please follow the links below: Num texto publicado hoje pela prestigiada revista Science, uma equipa internacional liderada pelos investigadores do CIBIO-InBIO Leili Khalatbari, José Carlos Brito e Gholam Hosein Yusefi, alerta para a situação preocupante da chita asiática (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus). Este mamífero é actualmente representado por menos de 50 indivíduos na natureza e, por isso, está em perigo crítico de extinção. Leili Khalatbari, primeira autora do artigo agora publicado, explica que “os conservacionistas enfrentam inúmeros desafios para proteger a biodiversidade e as sanções económicas agravam o problema. Para além de restringir a transferência de competências e de conhecimento, o embargo dificulta o apoio [...]]]> CIBIO-InBIO researchers Mónica Moura and Luís Silva are part of an experts’ team from the Azores, Cape Verde, the Canaries and Madeira which integrates the International Union for Conservation of Nature’ specialists group in endemic plants of these four archipelagos.
The creation of the Macaronesian Island Plant group provides for key conservation actions by updating information for the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, providing counseling on various priority topics for conservation and disseminate and raising awareness of the importance of protecting island floras.
The islands of Macaronesia are one of the 36 regions classified as a biodiversity hotspot because of its enormous diversity of endemic plants. It is also considered priority for conservation actions due to the loss of at least 70% of its original biodiversity.  To know more [...]]]> The series, will be available to the public in a set of DVDs which will come with the November 24th's edition of “Publico”. Nuno Ferrand explains that distributing the documentary series free to the public, on the National day of Scientific Culture, is a nice way to complete the first series of the Documentary project. To know more about this topic, please follow the link below:“Um bonito ponto final” para As Novas Viagens Philosophicas To know more about documentary series “AS NOVAS VIAGENS PHILOSOPHICAS”, please click here.]]> Between 2011 and 2015, CIBIO-InBIO has been involved in the production of “AS NOVAS VIAGENS PHILOSOPHICAS”, a documentary series on biodiversity research which will come with the November 24th's issue of “Público” newspaper. This project, the first of its kind ever made in Portugal, is composed by 13 episodes encompassing some of the most exquisite examples of biodiversity research projects carried out by CIBIO-InBIO researchers, around the world. The documentary series was first broadcasted by RTP in 2016, and again in 2018. This remarkable documentary series stems from a partnership between RTP, CIBIO-InBIO and the University of Porto, and was made possible with the support of the National Agency for Scientific and Technological Culture - Ciência Viva. CIBIO-InBIO documentary series is also a tribute to Paulo Alexandrino, whose legacy will forever continue to inspire us, sparking our curiosity and enthusiasm about biodiversity and [...]]]> The meeting “Mais Ciência Melhor Sociedade” (More Science, Better Society) was organized to stimulate discussion on the scientific and technological activity of the new researchers contracted under the Scientific Employment Stimulus (CEEC) initiative.
During this event’s session in Porto, Miguel A. Carretero presented his proposal “Functional responses of ectotherms to global change” with which he recently won a position for Principal Researcher in the CEEC 2018 and a project in the Call for Scientific Research and Technological Development (SAICT 2017).
The CIBIO-InBIO researcher explained the work plan based on the use of physiological shifts of species in space to uncover their potential vulnerability to climate change. He already showed the first results and forecasted the scientific and professional perspectives of the CIBIO-InBIO’s group Functional Biodiversity, in the framework of the [...]]]> In an article published by the prestigious journal Evolution, CIBIO-InBIO researchers Ana Cristina Gomes and Gonçalo Cardoso showed that the best strategy for mating may not be to look for the best partner, but to avoid the worst.
The research, which has been highlighted by the media, used a more flexible approach than previous theoretical works and resorted to tools that simulate the evolution of female sexual preferences.
The article brings an important contribution to the field of Evolution by demonstrating that the strategy of avoiding the worst mates may be a distinct form of sexual selection which leads to the evolution of different sexual signals. 
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"Fêmeas [...]]]> The XIV National Meeting for Evolutionary Biology (ENBE), which was held at the Museu Nacional de História Natural e da Ciência in Lisbon, gathered Evolutionary Biologists working in Portugal and abroad in order to foster new ideas and collaborations, promoting scientific excellence. Inês Miranda won the “Best Oral Presentation” award, with the talk "Understanding the genetic basis of seasonal coat colour variation in the least weasel (Mustela nivalis) from museum genomics”, carried out in the scope of the master thesis which she is developing at CIBIO-InBIO. ENBE "Best Oral Presentation" award, awarded by the Portuguese Association of Evolutionary Biology (APBE), is the registration for the next meeting of the European Society for Evolutionary Biology, which will take place in August 2019.  To know more about this topic, please follow the link below:
Darwin chamou a atenção para um tipo particular de selecção natural a que chamou selecção sexual. A selecção sexual acontece, por exemplo, quando a escolha de parceiros tem em conta aspectos da sua qualidade, como saúde, alto potencial reprodutor ou bons cuidados parentais. Os biólogos têm trabalhado para perceber como os animais identificam parceiros de elevada qualidade, e como os seus sinais — danças de corte, cores garridas, cantos elaborados — mostram essa qualidade. O estudo do CIBIO-InBIO, cujos resultados são agora tornados públicos, mostra que nem sempre a selecção sexual promove a escolha de parceiros de elevada qualidade. “Em muitos casos as preferências das fêmeas não evoluem para escolher os melhores parceiros, mas para evitar os piores”, revela a investigadora Ana Cristina [...]]]> In the workshop titled “Review of the JRC/EEA EU-level HNV Farmland methodology” CIBIO-InBIO researcher Ângela Lomba contributed to review specific methodological approaches to improve the Joint Research Centre (JRC)/ European Environment Agency (EEA) approach for estimating the distribution of High Nature Value (HNV) farmland at European Union (EU) level.
This workshop is expected to result in an improved updated map of High Nature Value farmland in the EU, and on a refinement of the existing methodological approach, to be published as an EEA report.
The utilization of national level data and case studies, comparable to the EU approach, for improving selection rules per environmental zone or individual countries; the potential of EU level data sets on agricultural land use intensity for refining rules for targeting EU HNV farmland; opportunities to enhance HNV farmland assessments with satellite data; and the [...]]]> The 15th Congress of the Sociedade Portuguesa de Etologia which was held on October 19-20, at the Department of Life Sciences of the University of Coimbra, gathered animal behaviour researchers and students.
CIBIO-InBIO researchers Soraia Guerra, Gonçalo Cardoso and Ana Cristina Gomes won the “Best Oral Presentation” award, with the talk “The Seasonal changes in behaviour suggest a role of personality differences in breeding”.
The poster “Stress and cooperation: a role for the serotonin and dopamine systems?”, co-authored by CIBIO-InBIO researchers Cristiana Marques, Sónia Cardoso and Marta Soares, was highlighted as the "Best Poster".
Marta Soares was also a invited speaker at the congress. She presented the talk [...]]]> An article by CIBIO-InBIO researchers, showing that “naturalized plants decrease diet similarity between an invasive bird and its most similar native species”, made the cover of the Journal of Avian Biology’s October issue. Gonçalo Cardoso, Gonçalo Rodrigues, Paulo Alves, Joana Vicente and João Honrado  found that waxbills, which are native from Africa and invasive in Iberia, have a distinct diet from their most similar European native bird partly due to feeding on non-native plants. Exotic-exotic relationships like this may modulated the impact of invasive species on native biodiversity.  To access the full article, please click here.]]> This Roadmap identifies new Research Infrastructures (RI) of pan-European priority and Integrated European Long-Term Ecosystem, Critical Zone & Socio-Ecological Research Infrastructure (eLTER RI) is now among them.
According to the coordinator of eLTER RI, Michael Mirtl, “when fully operational, eLTER RI will be a permanently funded and managed, distributed infrastructure of field sites covering European environmental zones”. These field sites will be designed to support excellent science on the functioning of our life supporting systems.
One of these sites located in Portugal, Baixo Sabor Long-Term Ecological Research, is coordinated by CIBIO-InBIO researcher Pedro Beja. The Baixo Sabor LTER site is located in the region of Trás-os-Montes, within the watershed of the Sabor river.
Research at this sites focuses on improving [...]]]> The Angolan city of Lubango received in early October the visit of experts from CIBIO-InBIO and the University of Porto, who evaluated the physical structure of the old city’s train station, to be adapted to host a Science and Technology Museum / Center.
The future museum will comprise the scientific collections (botany and zoology) of the ISCED (Higher Institute of Educational Sciences), preserved by the Lubango Herbarium, as well as the technological heritage and collection of the Moçâmedes Railway. The UNESCO Chair Life on Land, coordinated by CIBIO-InBIO, is the strategic partner in this process, with regard to the biodiversity component.
The main objective of the Chair is to stimulate the TwinLabs Network - Twinned Laboratories - of CIBIO-InBIO in Africa. In addition to Angola, Cape Verde, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mozambique are also part of this collaborative network 
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In his PhD, Luís Silva studied ecological interactions between birds and other taxonomic groups, underexplored in ecology. He identified, for the first time in a continent, the presence of a guild of birds as active pollinators, which exploit the pollen like food resource, constituting a real trophic niche of the ecosystem.
He also showed in his thesis titled “A community-level approach to forest biodiversity and avian dispersal services“, that birds carry spores between flowers and specifically to places suitable for their development, an ecological interaction practically unknown at ecosystem level, which is relevant to the understanding of the transmission of diseases that affect different cultivars. This knowledge was considered by SPECO “crucial to the development of management measures and conservation strategies”.
Currently, Luís Silva is doing a Post-doc at the CIBIO-InBIO research group [...]]]> The drive for genetic selection means cattle are increasingly vulnerable. Research has shown that between 2000 and 2014, nearly 100 native livestock breeds worldwide became extinct, as farmers attempted to boost falling profit margins by either cross-breeding or replacing them altogether with a small handful of industrial breeds.
In “How profit-driven inbreeding could bring the world dairy herd to its knees”, joint with Michael Bruford from Cardiff University and Stéphane Joost by from École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Catarina Ginja gave her opinion on this issue.
According to CIBIO-InBIO researcher, “if we don’t do anything to change this, it could spell long-term disaster for the farming industry particularly in the context of climate change”. “The industrial breeds may not be capable of resisting new disease epidemics, which could arise as the climate warms over [...]]]> Terrestrial ectothermic organisms represent by far the largest part of global biodiversity. An international team, including CIBIO-InBIO researchers Anamarija Žagar and Miguel A. Carretero, studied how their metabolic responses to temperature vary as a function of adaptation to different elevations. They analyzed the metabolic traits of sympatric species pairs from three ectotherm groups: reptiles, amphibians and beetles, living at similar elevations but with diverging altitudinal and range-size distributions. The results were published by the scientific journal Ecography, and now featured in the October journal’s cover. The study indicates novel descriptors for species’ potential use of area and resources. As such, they could be used to improve the power of predictive models in estimating future extinction risk of species, under expected climate change [...]]]> In the session “Participatory Projects and Community Engagement” Raquel Ribeiro addressed the collaboration protocol between CIBIO-InBIO, the Serralves Foundation and the FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, that results in the science communication project SERRALVES 360⁰, which includes BioBlitz. The CIBIO-InBIO communication officer referred to the particularities of this "flash biological survey of species” made with public participation, whose focus is, according to her, "on the pedagogical component and awareness of biodiversity". "Mediation of Knowledge and Scientific Culture" meeting counted on the participation of several science communicators and representatives of educational services from different knowledge areas, in a "stimulating sharing of experiences and good practices", Raquel Ribeiro said.  To know more about this event, please follow the link [...]]]> The work, which was published by the California Academy of Sciences, joins scientific information on almost 400 species - 117 amphibians and 278 reptiles - with their taxonomic descriptions, geographic distribution and ecological and climatic context.
This atlas of Angola's amphibians and reptiles updates the work published at the end of the 19th century by the naturalist José Vicente Barbosa du Bocage. It was developed by an international team, which counts on the participation of researchers from the University of Villanova (United States of America) and the National Museum of Natural History and Science (University of Lisbon), joint to CIBIO-InBIO researcher Mariana Marques.
The "Diversity and Distribution of the Amphibians and Terrestrial Reptiles of Angola" will be available online for free consultation, and will be presented in Luanda this month. 
To know more about this topic, please follow the link [...]]]> The science-policy briefing event “Science for Post 2020 Environmental Targets – Insights from Earth Observation of Protected Areas” highlighted the most relevant findings of the ECOPOTENTIAL project, which supports the use of Earth Observation in Protected Areas across Europe and beyond. These key findings included the Parque Nacional da Peneda-Gerês (PNPG) storyline developed by CIBIO-InBIO group ECOCHANGE, in particular how satellite products can be good predictors of habitat suitability for iconic plant species in the PNPG, such as Iris boissieri and Taxus baccata. The post-2020 environmental strategies, based on the perspectives on future biodiversity frameworks and targets, were also presented. According to the project leaders, ECOPOTENTIAL is a key project in the EuroGEOSS strategy (Europe's part of the Global Earth Observation System of Systems), and its methodology can be expanded to [...]]]> Together with João Aguiar Castro, a PhD researcher from INESC TEC, Ângela Lomba organized the Workshop “Multi-domain Research Data Management: from metadata collection to data deposit”, under the scope of TPDL 2018 Conference, held in Faculty of Engineering - University of Porto.
According to Ângela, “this workshop aimed to encourage researchers to share their data management experience with experts, to deal with practical issues in research data management and to provide a hands-on experience with recently developed tools to organize and describe research data and their metadata”.
In this context, CIBIO-InBIO researcher Rui Figueira presented the session “One billion biodiversity occurrence records published through GBIF: path and challenges on data sharing”, in which he addressed the Global Biodiversity Information Facility [...]]]> In an article published by the prestigious journal Scientific Reports, an international team which includes CIBIO-InBIO researchers Pedro Silva, Francisco Álvares, Susana Lopes, Helena Rio-Maior, Nuno Ferrand e Raquel Godinho, shows that the wolf population in the Iberian Peninsula is fragmented into multiple subpopulations with moderate to high genetic differentiation between them.
The research, which has been highlighted by the media, combined DNA analysis and wolves’ tracking over two decades. The results suggest that Iberian wolves seem to be less adventurous than would be expected, and very few individuals leave the region where they were born. 
To know more about this topic, please follow the links [...]]]>  THREE SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE BIODIV PhD PROGRAMME The Doctoral Programme in Biodiversity, Genetics and Evolution (BIODIV), invites applications for 03 scholarships for the 2018-19 academic year, funded by FSE, NORTE2020 (NORTE-08-5369-FSE-000057) and Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), in accordance with NORTE 69-2015-15 call and respective clarifications from the Directive Commission. BIODIV is organized by the two largest Portuguese universities - University of Porto and the University of Lisbon - in partnership with CIBIO-InBIO (Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources/ Associate [...]]]> Dispersar e deixar descendência em territórios distantes é uma característica comum a muitos mamíferos carnívoros. Mas os lobos da Península Ibérica parecem ser pouco aventureiros e muito poucos são os indivíduos que abandonam a região onde nasceram. O resultado é um conjunto de pequenas populações mais isoladas e heterogéneas do que o esperado. Um grupo de investigadores do CIBIO-InBIO e da Universidad de Oviedo (Espanha) chegou a esta conclusão através de um estudo que combinou análises ao ADN – estruturação das populações e os padrões de transferência de genes entre elas – e dados de seguimento de lobos através de dispositivos de localização, ao longo de duas décadas. “Dada a história recente de fragmentação e declínio do lobo na Península [...]]]> According to Catarina Ginja, this project has as a "primary reference event" the agricultural revolution of the Neolithic ten thousand years ago, when Man began to control his own food and animals. The main goals are “to understand the demographic processes that gave rise to this region's autochthonous breeds” and “describe the variation related to phenotypic traits such as genes responsible for coat color and meat characteristics".
This research also counts with the participation of other researchers from CIBIO-InBIO, the Center of Archeology of the University of Lisbon (UNIARQ), and the Archaeosciences Laboratory of Direção-Geral do Património Cultural.
To know more about this topic, please follow the links below:
“Investigadores do [...]]]> National Geographic Portugal accompanied an expedition and witnessed the amount and diversity of amphibians found in Mindelo Ornithologic Reserve. The in-depth reporting that resulted from this reveals the research carried out there by CIBIO-InBIO researchers.
Angelica Crottini is supervising PhD student Bárbara Santos in a project aiming at characterizing the bacterial communities present on the skin and in the digestive tract of amphibians.
Guillermo Velo-Antón has been studying the Fire Salamander population in Mindelo. Together with Bastian Egeter, he also supervises Master student Sara Peixoto focused on amphibian detection using environmental DNA from waters samples.
This article is illustrated with photos by Javier [...]]]> “Tracing the origins and evolutionary paths of the Iberian and the Maghreb Dog (WOOF)” is one of the new CIBIO-InBIO research projects and aims to understand the evolutionary trajectories of past populations of dogs and wolves in Iberia and North Africa. According to Ana Elisabete Pires, the research team intends “to study the origin of these populations [dogs and wolves] to find out, for example, if there is any sign that the first dogs that inhabited the Iberian Peninsula originated here or were brought from other places in the Mesolithic period”.
The project also counts on the participation of CIBIO-InBIO researchers Catarina Ginja and Simon Jonathan Morton Davis, and other researchers from the University of Lisbon as Cleia Detry (UNIARQ), and Archaeosciences Laboratory of Direção-Geral do [...]]]> Maria Joana Ferreira da Silva takes part of an international multidisciplinary research team looking for fossil remains that could help reveal secrets about the humanity’s origin, in an area never before explored.
Paleo primate Project intends to cross several levels of information about past and present evolution of primates in complex environments. In the context of this project, the CIBIO-InBIO researcher (primatology expert) is studying the potential hybridization between two species of baboons in Mozambique. 
To know more about this topic, please follow the links below:
“Antropóloga portuguesa lidera investigação no Parque da Gorongosa” | [...]]]> In an article published by the prestigious journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, an international team led by CIBIO-InBIO researchers Nuno Monteiro and Mário Cunha discovered, in a seahorse’s close relative (Syngnathus abaster) whose males get pregnant, an amazing reproductive strategy. During pregnancy, males invest less in gestation when they find a more attractive female.
Alluding to Gene Wilder's film, "The Woman in Red", in which a quiet man suddenly becomes obsessed with a beautiful woman and eventually forgets his wife and daughters, CIBIO-InBIO researchers baptized a similar behaviour, now observed in fish, as the "Woman in Red" effect. 
To know more about this topic, please follow the links below: Conhecia-se, apenas num reduzido número de espécies de mamíferos, a capacidade das fêmeas terminarem gravidezes quando o macho dominante era substituído. No entanto, nada similar havia sido observado noutros grupos de animais. Numa alusão ao filme de Gene Wilder, “A mulher de vermelho”, em que um homem pacato fica repentinamente obcecado por uma bela modelo e acaba por esquecer a sua mulher e filhas, os investigadores do CIBIO-InBIO baptizaram um comportamento semelhante, agora observado em peixes, como efeito da “Mulher de Vermelho”.
Os pequenos peixes da espécie Syngnathus abaster, vulgarmente conhecidos como marinhas, pertencem à mesma família dos cavalos-marinhos e possuem uma forma de reprodução única no mundo animal: a gravidez masculina. Durante o acasalamento, a fêmea transfere os ovos para a bolsa incubadora do macho, similar a uma placenta, onde os embriões se [...]]]> In the context of the great fire that destroyed part of Serra de Monchique this summer, online magazine Wilder carried out an article about this region's natural heritage.
Carlos Vila-Viçosa, geobotanist who had worked in Monchique between 2006 and 2012, provided details on this sierra’s flora and vegetation. It is, according to him, "a priceless natural heritage". 
To know more about this topic, please follow the link:
“Nove factos sobre o valor botânico incalculável da Serra de Monchique” | Wilder | August 10, 2018 (Information available in Portuguese)]]> In an article published by the prestigious journal Genome Biology, an international team led by CIBIO-InBIO researchers Fernando Seixas and José Melo-Ferreira, shows that most of the genetic exchanges that occurred in the past between the Iberian and the Mountain hare occurred by chance, due to the demographic dynamics of these species, but for some nuclear genes it was promoted by natural selection. In this study, which has been highlighted by the media, the authors analysed the complete genomes of individuals from the two species and concluded that, in spite of the several incompatibilities restricting the free exchange of genes, some portions of the Mountain hare nuclear genome invaded the Iberian hare genome. While most foreign nuclear genes are rare and occur throughout the distribution of the Iberian hare, some reach high frequencies and thus may have been advantageous, for instance by improving the [...]]]> A lebre Ibérica (Lepus granatensis) distribui-se actualmente por quase toda a Península Ibérica e é a única lebre presente em Portugal. Mas nem sempre foi assim… Há 20 mil anos, quando parte da Europa estava coberta de gelo, esta espécie vivia apenas na metade Sul da Península Ibérica, enquanto que a metade Norte era habitada pela lebre variável (L. timidus). Por essa altura, a lebre Ibérica começou a invadir o território da lebre variável e, pelo caminho, apropriou-se de partes do genoma dessa espécie. No estudo agora revelado os investigadores analisaram os genomas completos de indivíduos das duas espécies para explicar por que razão o genoma da lebre Ibérica guarda a memória deste “fantasma” do passado. Conhecer a história para perceber a evolução: invasões e trocas de genes
As [...]]]> At FILDA 2018, which took place between July 10 and 14 in Bengo (Luanda), CIBIO-InBIO presented itself through a promotional stand with the main information about the research center and, particularly, about its collaborations with Africa. According to Carlos Almeida Pereira, "useful contacts have been established, especially at the governmental level”. The stand was visited by the Portuguese political delegation, led by the Secretary of State for Internationalization, Eurico Brilhante Dias, and by the Angolan political delegation headed by the Minister of Economy, Pedro Luís da Fonseca, accompanied, among others, by the Secretary of State for Science, Technology and Innovation and the Secretary of State for the Environment. The XXVIII AULP Meeting, which took place in Lubango, from July 18 to 20, counted on the political [...]]]> Until next October, 36 projects will begin in different knowledge topics, focusing on the three CIBIO-InBIO research lines: Biodiversity, Ecology and Conservation; Sustainability, Ecosystems and the Environment; and Evolution, Genetics and Genomics.
Through this call (02/SAICT/2017), FCT will support innovative ideas that are relevant and make significant contributions to the advancement of scientific knowledge. Each approved proposal shall receive funding up to €240.000, for a maximum period of 36 months.
1618 applications were approved by 33 evaluation panels. Among the projects submitted by CIBIO-InBIO, 47% will be financed.
Call for Scientific Research and Technological Development Project Grants was a joint initiative of FCT and European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF), through Portugal 2020 operational programs. 
To know more about CIBIO-InBIO research [...]]]> ISDRS rewarded the article “Integrating ecosystem services and disservices: insights from plant invasions”, published in the scientific journal Ecosystem Services and developed by an international team that includes CIBIO-InBIO researchers Ana Sofia Vaz, Joana Vicente e João Honrado. The award was attributed during the 2018 ISDRS Conference, which took place in Italy from the 13th to 15th of June.
In this article, the researchers propose a social-ecological framework that considers both ecosystem services (benefits) and disservices (nuisances) to human well-being, providing a management hierarchy that promotes sustainability through decision-making.
Their approach is applied to plant invasions, as a complex social-ecological phenomenon in the Anthropocene.  Original article: Vaz AS, Kueffer C, Kull CA, Richardson DM, Vicente [...]]]> In an article published by the prestigious journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), an international team that includes CIBIO-InBIO researchers Miguel Carneiro, Sandra Afonso, José António Blanco-Aguiar and Nuno Ferrand, shows that there are striking differences in brain morphology between wild and domestic rabbits.
By using high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) the study, which now has been highlighted by the media, concluded that particular regions of the brain, involved in fear processing and emotional controlling, have changed.  To know more about this topic, please follow the links below:" Em “A Origem das Espécies” Charles Darwin já afirmava que “nenhum animal é tão difícil de domar quanto os juvenis do coelho selvagem”, enquanto “poucos animais são tão mansos quanto os juvenis do coelho doméstico”. O comportamento manso e a falta de medo de humanos são características comuns a todos os animais domésticos. Mas, o que explica diferenças comportamentais tão acentuadas?
Num estudo anterior, a equipa de investigadores já tinha demonstrado que “há diferenças genéticas entre coelhos domésticos e selvagens, principalmente nos genes relacionados com o desenvolvimento do cérebro”, explica Nuno Ferrand. “No presente estudo, foi usada a ressonância magnética de alta resolução para aferir se essas alterações [...]]]> In a paper recently published by the scientific journal Science, an international team that includes CIBIO-InBIO researchers José Melo-Ferreira and Paulo Célio Alves shows that the regulation of a single pigmentation gene is responsible for variation in winter coat color in snowshoe hares. In some snowshoe hares populations, the incorporation of genetic variants of another hare species cause the development of brown winter coats instead of white, in an adaptation to habitats with less snow.
The research, which has been highlighted by the media, suggests that this genetic information may have implications for the species’ ability to survive climate change.  To know more about this topic, please follow the links below:
“How snowshoe hares evolved to stay [...]]]> In an article published by the prestigious journal Animal Conservation, CIBIO-InBIO researchers Lorenzo Quaglietta, Joana Paupério, Filipa Martins, Paulo Célio Alves and Pedro Beja show that Pyrenean desman (Galemys pyrenaicus) is in marked decline in Northeast Portugal, and suggests a reassessment of the species' conservation status, defined as "vulnerable" in 2008.
The article, which now has been highlighted by the media, also emphasize the importance of river conservation, especially of headwater streams in mountainous zones, which seem to function as natural refugia for the species.  To know more about this topic, please follow the links below:
" The news about the symposium quotes Francisco Moreira, CIBIO-InBIO researcher and Chair's holder, who explained how REN Biodiversity Chair research has contributed to improving the knowledge on animal interaction with power lines, during the last three years.
Coordinated by CIBIO-InBIO, REN Biodiversity Chair is a collaborative project of the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), the company Redes Energéticas Nacionais (REN) and the University of Porto (U.Porto), and seeks to promote activities related to teaching, research and scientific dissemination on environmental impacts associated with the energy networks. 
To know more about this topic, please follow the link:
O estudo demonstra que a incorporação de variantes genéticos de outra espécie de lebre leva a que alguns indivíduos não mudem de cor, o que poderá ter implicações na capacidade da lebre-americana sobreviver às alterações climáticas.
A evolução da camuflagem sazonal na lebre-americana
São conhecidas pelo menos vinte e uma espécies que mudam a cor da sua pelagem ou plumagem de castanha no Verão para branca no Inverno. Esta aptidão permite aos indivíduos camuflarem-se na neve, diminuindo a probabilidade de serem predados. A lebre-americana (Lepus americanus) é uma dessas espécies, mas as populações da região costeira do Noroeste Pacífico do continente Norte Americano permanecem castanhas todo o ano. Esta observação levou uma equipa de investigadores a interrogar-se: o que explica que algumas [...]]]> Coordinated by CIBIO-InBIO, REN Biodiversity Chair, a collaborative project of the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), the company Redes Energéticas Nacionais (REN) and the University of Porto (U.Porto), seeks to promote top-quality research, advanced training and knowledge transfer on topics of interest pertaining to the monitoring, mitigation and compensation of environmental impacts associated with the energy networks, based on population ecology studies and leading to the preservation of biodiversity.
The first interventions of the symposium were in charge of Francisco Moreira (CIBIO-InBIO researcher and Chair's holder) and Francisco Parada (Head of Quality, Environment and Safety Department at REN) and were focused on the developed work so far in the context of this project, which was resulting in relevant scientific activities and impact on REN's decision-making.
There followed a roundtable on [...]]]> Under the theme planetary wellbeing, ECCB 2018 provided a forum to discuss and develop solutions for some of the greatest challenges faced by humanity by bringing together natural and social scientists, practitioners, industry members and government decision-makers.
In this context, CIBIO-InBIO researchers organized two symposiums and contributed with poster and oral presentations.
Key conservation issues in Mediterranean-type regions
The session “Key conservation issues in Mediterranean-type regions of the world: a focus on Europe and North Africa” was led by Francisco Moreira and counted on eight oral presentations, four of which presented by CIBIO-InBIO researchers.
Francisco Moreira revealed the “Overall (first) results of the “100 questions for biodiversity conservation in Mediterranean-type regions of the world [...]]]> Num artigo publicado hoje pela revista científica Animal Conservation, investigadores do CIBIOInBIO demonstraram que este mamífero está em acentuado declínio. Realçam também a importância da conservação de riachos e ribeiros, em especial nas áreas de nascentes em zonas montanhosas, que parecem funcionar como refúgios naturais para a espécie. Os ecossistemas de água doce estão entre os mais ameaçados do mundo, sendo afectados por múltiplos factores de pressão antropogénicos, como a desflorestação de encostas e margens dos rios, a poluição ou a construção de barragens. É neste contexto que vive a toupeira-de-água (Galemys pyrenaicus), um mamífero insectívoro com estatuto de conservação vulnerável (segundo a Lista Vermelha do IUCN) que pode ser encontrado, para além do norte de [...]]]> Smithsonian.com carried out a report about bats that live in Portuguese centenary libraries. In that context, they highlighted Hugo Rebelo’s research about the bat colonies resident at the Library of National Palace of Mafra and at Joanina Library of Coimbra.
CIBIO-InBIO researcher has spent time researching these colonies, comprised largely of grey long-eared bats as well as some serotine bats, to understand bats’ role in the suppression of book pests. 
To know more about this topic, please follow the link:
“These Portuguese Libraries Are Infested With Bats—and They Like It That Way” | Smithsonian.com | June 7, 2018  ]]> In an article published by the prestigious journal Mammalian Biology, CIBIO-InBIO researchers, Helena Rio-Maior, Pedro Beja, Mónia Nakamura and Francisco Álvares concluded that breeding Iberian wolves (Canis lupus signatus) may be particularly susceptible to human activities occurring within 2 km of homesites.
The article, which has now attracted media attention, suggests that the most stringent restrictions used in Portugal to prevent negative impacts of human presence on wolf reproduction do cover the most sensitive period. However, they fall short of the area most heavily used by breeding females and, therefore, the most vulnerable area for wolves. It also reinforces that further research is needed to assess the ultimate effect of such disturbance on reproductive [...]]]> TV reporters followed a CIBIO-InBIO expedition to Portugal's Douro region, in which the National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore documented local threatened species.
In this context, CIBIO-InBIO researcher, Ricardo Jorge Lopes, provided details about the black wheatear (Oenanthe leucura) also known as port wine bird. The last major population of this species in Portugal is restricted to Douro region.
National Geographic Photo Ark aims to document every species currently in the world’s zoos and wildlife sanctuaries, to engage people towards wildlife conservation. 
To know more about this topic, please follow the links below:
“Joel Sartore fotografou o conhecido "pássaro do vinho do Porto", o chasco-preto” | RTP | 19 May, 2018]]> Douro Vivo Network will work with communities to promote integrated water resources management, map biodiversity and assess the impact of human activities on Douro hydrological basin in Portugal and Spain.
The project will last five years and its goals are to consider alternatives to the new dams’ construction, to analyze and understand which dams are still useful and to promote the removal of useless ones. It will also try to propose solutions for Douro protection.
This initiative is led by GEOTA (Environmental and Land Use Planning Study Group) and involves 10 more institutions, associations and research centers.  To know more about this topic, please follow the links below:
“Rede Douro Vivo vai avaliar o impacto das barragens na bacia do rio” | Público | 20 May, 2018 (Information [...]]]> The Pint of Science festival is an annual event that occurs in hundreds of cities across the world, at the same time. It aims to deliver interesting and relevant talks on science and to provide a platform which allows people to discuss research with the people who carry it out and no prior knowledge of the subject is required.
On May 15, at Cervejaria do Carmo, Evolution was discussed with the participation of two CIBIO-InBIO PhD students. Malgorzata Gazda talked about artificial selection and the genes involved in the colour of canary birds, more specifically the recent findings on the genetics of red coloring. In the end, she showed some more interesting examples of genes and traits and some studies on humans.
Mafalda Sousa Ferreira presented a talk entitled presented a talk entitled “Era uma vez uma lebre branca e um Inverno cada vez mais curto: Uma história [...]]]> In an article published by the prestigious journal Nature Sustainability, an international team led by CIBIO-InBIO researchers, Fernando Ascensão and Henrique Pereira, argues that environmental protection should be a priority for the Chinese initiative to promote global trade BRI.
BRI promises to greatly influence the future of global trade and promote the economic development around the world. However, the authors point that it may also promote permanent environmental degradation, due to BRI's economic development corridors coincide with high environmental value areas and can, therefore, have significant impacts on biodiversity.
The article, which now has been highlighted by the media, concluded that the Belt and Road Initiative could be also an opportunity for China to take a leading role in moving global development towards sustainability by requiring its overseas [...]]]> According to Francisco Moreira, Chair's holder and CIBIO-InBIO researcher, "the vehicle will be used for field studies on the ecology of some bird species whose populations will be most affected by power lines, like little bustard and white stork".
REN Chair in Biodiversity was created in partnership by REN, Foundation for Science and Technology and University of Porto to promote activities related to teaching, research and scientific dissemination in biodiversity. 
To know more about this topic, please follow the links below:“CIBIO-InBIO da Universidade do Porto recebe veículo da REN para apoio científico à cátedra em biodiversidade” | Ambiente Magazine | 14 May, 2018 (Information available in Portuguese)
In the article recently published by the scientific journal Quaternary International (special issue on African Archaeozoology), an international team, coordinated by CIBIO-InBIO researchers Ana Elisabete Pires and Catarina Ginja, presents a study of Iberian and Maghreb Roman dogs.
Through morphological, archaeological and paleontological data, researchers concluded that, in the past, the extent of dog’s morphological variation is most evident in Roman times, with the presence of different genetic lineages. That period is believed to mark the beginning of the morphological differentiation seen in extant dog breeds of Western Mediterranean.
National Geographic special edition “Dogs and Cats” referred to this study in a text about the history of dog and cat ancestors’ domestication and their expression in the archaeological record and in the history of [...]]]> Num artigo publicado hoje pela prestigiada revista Nature Sustainability, uma equipa internacional liderada pelos investigadores do CIBIO-InBIO, Fernando Ascensão e Henrique M. Pereira, defende que a protecção do ambiente deve ser uma prioridade para a iniciativa chinesa de fomento do comércio internacional “Belt and Road” (BRI), representando uma oportunidade na liderança do desenvolvimento sustentável. A China está a criar uma rede de infra-estruturas e serviços para ligar o país por terra e mar a vários pontos da Ásia, África e Europa. Segundo o governo chinês, esta nova “Rota da Seda” deverá contar com a participação de pelo menos 65 países, envolver cerca de dois terços da população mundial e dinamizar um terço da economia global. A [...]]]> A new Capacity Center was created by the Government to develop "intervention strategies and priority actions directed to game species" in partnership with different Portuguese institutions, Hunting Federations and research centers.
According to Portuguese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development "this Center aggregates the main agents that are active in the sector". It will have among its objectives the generation of knowledge on game species biology and support scientific studies for species management and conservation.  To know more about this topic, please follow the links below:
“Governo cria centro para gestão e sustentabilidade da biodiversidade” | Sábado | 6 May, 2018 (Information available in Portuguese)
The auditorium of Junta de Freguesia do Bonfim has crowded for the discussion of Environmental reports about Oporto. Paulo Farinha Marques presented the results of the study on the Ecological Structure and Biodiversity of the city carried out by a CIBIO-InBIO team.
The researcher started with observing that Oporto has a "special location" because in its territory converge river and sea. According to him, this characteristic, together with other factors characteristic of its geography, makes it "a true hotspot of people, culture and biodiversity".
As part of the characterization conducted by CIBIO-InBIO researchers, an exhaustive mapping of existing natural spaces (without human intervention) and existing green spaces (areas where vegetation cover is equal to greater than 50%) was done.
Paulo Farinha Marques emphasized that the “specific fauna and habitat richness, and green areas potential to create urban continuity, are [...]]]> The expedition to the Portugal’s Douro region, where the photo was taken, integrates the work of a CIBIO-InBIO research team which aims to better understand this species and its habitat. Research on Pyrenean desman is especially important now because the population of this species has fallen by about 60 percent over the past 20 years.
The National Geographic Photo Ark aims to document every species currently living in the world’s zoos and wildlife sanctuaries helping, this way, wildlife conservation efforts. To know more about this topic, please follow the links below:
"8,000th Species Joins the National Geographic Photo Ark" | National Geographic Society’s blog | 4 May, 2018]]> The Guinea Bissau Institute for Biodiversity and Protected Areas transferred two chimpanzees, to the Sweetwaters sanctuary in Kenya. These animals were seized from poachers by Guinea Bissau authorities in 2014 and 2016 but reintroduction to the natural habitat failed and the animals were being kept in poor conditions. The operational workflow to transfer chimpanzees to sanctuaries was not established before. Apprehension of non-human primates being kept as pets by law enforcers is hindered by the fact that there are no rescuing centers (sanctuaries) in the country. To assure this transfer it has been necessary to meet a number of requirements, including collecting and analyzing blood and fecal samples in an European lab for virus and other pathogens, applying chip identification, applying for export and import CITES and veterinarian authorizations and building transportation cages suitable for airplane travel. The Guinean authorities were supported throughout the process, by several entities, [...]]]> “90 segundos de Ciência” is a daily series which give voice to Portuguese researchers on various scientific fields and topics. This episode highlighted Bioinvent project, developed with CIBIO-InBIO researcher’s team collaboration. This European project is analyzing the biodiversity and the ecosystems of permanent pasture land. It aims to develop sustainable practices of land maintenance and use. Luis Silva leads the team that is studying Azorean pastures.  To know more about this topic, please follow the link:
“O que faz um bom terreno para pastagens? O segredo pode estar nos microorganismos do solo” | Antena 1 "90 segundos de Ciênca" | April 25, 2018 (Information available in Portuguese) ]]> n a paper recently published by the prestigious scientific journal Nature Communications, a team, which includes CIBIO-InBIO researchers Jessica King and Gabriela Gomes, has obtained results that challenge previous procedures by pointing out that populations of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes infected by Wolbachia have a greater potential to transmit dengue but the effects of the bacteria on mosquitoes are highly variable and in some conditions reduced transmission can be predicted.
The article, which now has been highlighted by the media, shows that, in this kind of analysis, only considering the mean values compromises the predictive capacity, and that the alignment of the predictions should vary according to the environment.  To know more about this topic, please follow the links below:
In a paper recently published by the scientific journal Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, a research team made up by current and past CIBIO-InBIO researchers, Caterina Funghi, Sandra Trigo, Ana Cristina Gomes, Marta Soares and Gonçalo Cardoso, found that, in waxbills, sex differences in bill color are influenced by changes in environmental conditions. Female bill color can change in response to variation in night temperature, reaching the same average color as males. The article was highlighted in Science’s “Editors' Choice”, and shows that sex differences in bill colour disappear when ecological conditions are favorable to females. Results show that, rather than being genetically fixed, sex differences in animal social signals can be plastic, similarly to many sex [...]]]> BioBlitz invites the participants – common citizens, schools and families – to take part in a flash biological survey of the species encountered in Serralves Park. During the week, schools have the chance to participate in the activities and on the weekend the event is open to the general public. This annual event is organized in the scope of Serralves 360⁰, a science communication project which results from a collaboration between CIBIO-InBIO and Fundação de Serralves.  To know more about this topic, please follow the link:
"Serralves organiza em 2018 a 5ª edição do Bioblitz" | Portal do Jardim | April 13, 2018 (Information available in Portuguese)
"5ª edição do Bioblitz" | Revista [...]]]> “90 segundos de Ciência” is a daily series which give voice to Portuguese researchers on various scientific fields and topics. This episode highlighted the “Paleoparque Santa Maria”, developed with CIBIO-InBIO researcher Sérgio Ávila’s collaboration. "PaleoParque Santa Maria" was created to recognize and preserve the important palaeontological heritage on the island of Santa Maria. Sérgio Ávila's scientific research provided the Regional Government of the Azores with the necessary elements for this initiative. To know more about this topic, please follow the link:
“Sérgio Ávila – A ciência encontrou um caminho: está aberto o Paleoparque de Santa Maria” | Antena 1 "90 segundos de Ciênca" | April 12, 2018 (Information available in Portuguese)  ]]> Esta é a conclusão a que chega uma equipa internacional, liderada pela investigadora do CIBIO-InBIO Gabriela Gomes, num estudo publicado hoje pela prestigiada revista Nature Communications. Mosquitos: vectores de doenças que afectam humanos
Os mosquitos do género Aedes, originário das regiões tropicais e subtropicais, são transmissores de diferentes doenças ao ser humano, entre elas a dengue. Esta é uma doença infecciosa cujos sintomas incluem febre, dores e erupções cutâneas características. Numa pequena proporção de casos, a doença pode evoluir para um quadro de febre hemorrágica, com risco de morte. Desenvolver mecanismos que permitam melhor avaliar e prever a dinâmica entre o mosquito, os seus agentes infecciosos e a transmissão das doenças é essencial na prevenção de novas epidemias.
No artigo agora publicado, a [...]]]> In a paper recently published by the prestigious scientific journal Conservation Letters, an international team led by CIBIO-InBIO researcher José Carlos Brito compared the conflicts occurrence data and other threat factors, such as natural resources exploitation, with the distribution of large species in the Sahara-Sahel desert.
The research team, which also includes CIBIO-InBIO researchers Duarte Gonçalves, Maria Joana Silva, Fernando Martínez-Freiría, João Campos, Teresa Silva, Cândida Vale, Zbyszek Boratyński, Esta é a conclusão a que chega uma equipa internacional, liderada pelo investigador do CIBIO-InBIO José Carlos Brito, num estudo publicado hoje pela prestigiada revista Conservation Letters.
“O recente aumento dos conflitos armados enfatiza a necessidade de identificar áreas em que a vida selvagem está em declínio, e de desenvolver políticas efectivas para reduzir os impactos destes conflitos na biodiversidade”, realça José Carlos Brito, investigador do CIBIO-InBIO e primeiro autor do artigo.
No artigo agora publicado, a equipa de investigação, da qual também fazem parte os investigadores do CIBIO-InBIO Duarte Gonçalves, Maria Joana Silva, Fernando Martínez-Freiría,  The weekly magazine, which covers various environmentally related topics, has highlighted the mosquitoes' dispersal and their impact on human health. In the episode broadcasted on March 17, 2018, CIBIO-InBIO researcher César Capinha explains how invasive species, specifically mosquitoes, are moving between different areas due to human action. He also refers to the fundamental role of climate in the definition of this distribution, and revels what we may expect for the mosquito species’ future distribution in Portugal. In addition, the researcher calls attention to the fact that some alien species can become invasive and create serious risks to other species, including humans, such as the mosquito Aedes aegypti, that is an important disease vector.  To know more about this topic, please follow the link below:
“Mosquito” | RTP [...]]]> “90 segundos de Ciência” is a daily series which give voice to Portuguese researchers on various scientific fields and topics. This episode highlighted a European project in which CIBIO-InBIO researcher Marta Vergílio is participating. Marta Vergílio is working in the analysis of the Eastern Atlantic sea Basin and the Portuguese case studies in order to analyze how European seas are currently being used and what could be the real multi-uses opportunities.  To know more about this topic, please follow the link:
“Projeto MUSES desenvolve novas estratégias para uso e ordenamento do espaço marítimo” | Antena 1 "90 segundos de Ciênca" | March 22, 2018 (Information available in Portuguese)]]> “90 segundos de Ciência” is a daily series which give voice to Portuguese researchers on various scientific fields and topics. This episode highlighted the app eAZFlora, developed by CIBIO-InBIO researcher Mónica Moura. Through image recognition and artificial intelligence algorithms, eAZFlora is able to identify flora based on photos of a plant, or part of a plant. The aim is to allow any citizen to feed an indigenous flora database of Azores archipelago, using this application in a smartphone. 
To know more about this topic, please follow the link:
“EasyFlora: Identificar as plantas endémicas dos açores através da análise de imagem” | Antena 1 "90 segundos de Ciênca" | February 23, 2018 (Information available in Portuguese) To know more about [...]]]> The Born Free Foundation is an international charity which takes action worldwide to protect species in the wild. In this scope, it is supporting a project to preserve the critically endangered western chimpanzee and other primates in Guinea-Bissau, leading by CIBIO-InBIO researcher Maria Joana Ferreira da Silva.
This project intends to develop a country-scale conservation management strategy, to protect primate species from illegal logging and bushmeat hunting in Guinea-Bissau. 
To know more about this topic, please follow the links below:
“Project Update: Protecting the Critically Endangered western chimpanzee in Guinea-Bissau” | Born Free | 5 March, 2018 
To know more about the project click here.]]> We are looking for a highly motivated graduate student, who is interested in pursuing a PhD degree in the field of Archaeogenetics, Biology, Animal Science, Bioinformatics or related fields to join the team of a research project entitled “ARCHAIC – The archaeogenetics of Iberian cattle: investigating their origins, evolution and improvement” (PTDC/CVT­LIV/2827/2014; POCI-01-0145-FEDER-016647). The invited student will interact with an international team of scientists at CIBIO/InBIO-University of Porto in the Campus of Vairão, Portugal, at LARC-National Laboratory of Archaeosciences in Lisbon, Portugal, and at foreign participating institutions namely the Archaeological Research Laboratory of Stockholm University, under the supervision of Catarina Ginja (CIBIO-InBIO). The application should include the following information:Motivation letter with a short biography and research [...]]]> “Ponto de Partida” is a weekly series which highlights Portuguese research on various scientific fields and topics and their connection to everyday life. In an episode titled “Seres em Movimento” three researchers were invited to give their expert view about the movement of living beings and how human activities impact them. João Paulo Silva gave his point of view about how human-modified landscapes reduce the movements of terrestrial mammals; talked about his investigation into the ecology of the little bustard population; and explained how he is using innovative tracking devices to monitoring bird’s behavior, in the scope of Movetech Telemetry project.  To know more about this topic, please follow the link:
“ The book is the final product of a project from the “Sociedade Caboverdiana de Zoologia – SCVZ” funded by the Global Environmental Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF-SGP) in 2011, whose printing in 2015 was funded by the government of Cabo Verde through the National Directorate for the Environment (DNA) “Ministério do Ambiente, Habitação e Ordenamento do Território (MAHOT)” with the support of University of Cabo Verde and CIBIO-InBIO. The money gathered from the sales, has been applied to create a fund for research fellowships to be granted by the SCVZ for students and researchers from Cabo Verde and from Europe, to study the remote Desertas Islands in the field of Zoology and other related disciplines. An evaluating committee, formed by members from CIBIO-InBIO, from the University of Cabo Verde, from Santa Luzia and Ilhéus Reserved Area and from ONG Biosfera I, will evaluate the applications received until 2nd April [...]]]> EnvMetaGen CIBIO-InBIO team is the first by a Portuguese institution that participates in the Global Malaise Program. The project aims to study the immense diversity of terrestrial arthropods distributed across the world, using an innovative technique of identification through DNA. In the scope of this program animals are collected using Malaise traps, and then DNA sequencing technique is used to produce DNA Barcodes that will allow to identify species. It is hoped that CIBIO-InBIO’s participation in this initiative will contribute to a giant advance for arthropod knowledge in Portugal.  To know more about this topic, please follow the links below:
Portugueses estão a ajudar a fazer catálogo mundial dos artrópodes | Wilder | February 21, 2018 (Information available in Portuguese)
O projecto pretende estudar a imensa diversidade de artrópodes terrestres distribuída por todo o planeta, recorrendo a uma técnica inovadora de identificação através do DNA. Abelhas, besouros, borboletas, libelinhas, aranhas e escorpiões são apenas alguns exemplos entre os artrópodes – grupo que concentra cerca de 80% de todas as espécies de animais conhecidas pelo Homem. Têm grande importância ecológica, sendo elementos fundamentais das cadeias alimentares, e também económica, por exemplo nos casos das abelhas ou de insectos que são pragas agrícolas. É precisamente para estudar estes animais em Portugal que o CIBIO-InBIO acaba de integrar um projecto mundial que representa um passo crucial para o, até agora limitado, conhecimento sobre este grupo.
O  In a paper recently published by the scientific journal Science, an international team which included CIBIO-InBIO researchers Paulo Célio Alves and José Melo-Ferreira identified areas where different species, which change color during the winter, have a greater potential to adapt under climate change conditions. The research concluded that in the so-called "polymorphic zones", where some individuals maintain their brown color in winter and coexist with those that change to white, there is greater probability of evolution save species, through a process called evolutionary rescue.  To know more about this topic, please follow the links below:Para sobreviverem, há animais que terão de mudar a cor do casaco [...]]]> Num artigo publicado hoje pela prestigiada revista Science, uma equipa internacional, que inclui os investigadores do CIBIO-InBIO e Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto, Paulo Célio Alves e José Melo-Ferreira, identificou áreas onde diferentes espécies, que mudam de cor durante o inverno, apresentam um maior potencial de se adaptarem às alterações do ambiente decorrentes das mudanças climáticas. Por que algumas espécies mudam de cor no inverno? Diferentes espécies de mamíferos e aves contam com a capacidade para mudar a cor da sua pelagem ou plumagem ao longo das estações do ano. Ao todo, são conhecidas pelo menos vinte e uma espécies que variam da cor castanha no verão para branco no inverno. Esta aptidão permite às [...]]]> Esses Ossos” is a science outreach publication about domestic animals and their ancestor species. The book was produced under Catarina Ginja’s scientific coordination, within the scope of the ARCHAIC project. The book was mentioned in the book section of the February’s print edition of Time Out Porto; in the blog “De Rerum Natura”, in a book review of Carlos Fiolhais; in a book review of José Eduardo Reis; and received an excellent critic in the newspaper "Expresso" in the cultural chronicle "Tabela periódica" by Jorge Calado. "Esses Ossos" is referred in those critics as “an artistic object which merges science and art” and also as "a masterpiece of good taste and very high level of quality", respectively. To know more about this topic, please follow the link below: In a paper recently published by the scientific journal Science, an international team which included CIBIO-InBIO researcher João Paulo Silva showed that in human-modified areas mammals move distances that are only half to one third of what they cover in more natural areas.
The authors highlight that these results may have far reaching consequences for ecosystems and in turn, for humans. It is the first time this topic has been examined at a global scale and for many different species at once. The team, which included researchers from 99 different institutions, analyzed the movements of more than 800 animals, representing 57 species, around of the world. This work has made the front cover of the scientific journal Science – 26 January 2018, edition.  To know more about this topic, please follow the links below: João Paulo Silva, Ricardo Martins, Marcello D’Amico and Francisco Moreira showed that the population of little bustard has declined 49% over the last decade, in Portugal.
The team of researchers sought to measure the effectiveness of the European Union network of protected areas in the protection of little bustard. For that, they compared the trends of the population in the period from 2003 to 2006 with those of 2016, in 51 areas - 21 of which within Special Protection Areas (SPA).
The study developed within the scope of the REN Chair in Biodiversity CIBIO-InBIO concluded that the mere designation of SPA in farmland is not enough to secure [...]]]> Esta é a conclusão de um estudo desenvolvido à escala global por uma equipa internacional da qual faz parte o investigador do CIBIO-InBIO João Paulo Silva. De acordo com os resultados, publicados hoje pela prestigiada revista científica Science, esta mudança de comportamento pode ter amplas consequências para os ecossistemas. Mover-se nos tempos do Antropoceno
As deslocações fazem parte do dia-a-dia da maioria dos animais, seja em busca de comida, de abrigo ou de um parceiro para acasalar. Diferentes espécies têm padrões distintos de movimentos, consoante o seu comportamento, tamanho e hábitos. Nestas deslocações, os animais desempenham funções essenciais para os ecossistemas, pois são intermediários de processos fundamentais que envolvem, por exemplo, a dispersão de sementes e a [...]]]> Movetech Telemetry is a collaborative project between CIBIO-InBIO, University of Porto (U.Porto), Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon (FCUL), University of East Anglia (UEA) and the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO). CIBIO-InBIO researcher João Paulo Silva leads the scientific component of the project and coordinates the software development.
This new technology was designed to enable researchers to remotely collect valuable biological information about different species without recapturing the animals, since these devices transmit data remotely via mobile phone networks. The small size and advanced solar battery management of the devices can now track smaller animals in less sunny locations.   To know more about this topic, please follow the link:
“Movetech Telemetry” | Geração Digital| [...]]]> João Paulo Silva, Ricardo Martins, Marcello D’Amico e Francisco Moreira demonstrou que a rede de áreas protegidas estabelecida pela União Europeia não está a ser eficaz na conservação de uma das suas “espécies alvo” em Portugal: o sisão. População nacional de sisão desceu 49% As Zonas de Proteção Especial (ZPE’s), parte integrante da Rede Natura 2000, foram criadas para a conservação de aves e abrangem as regiões do país com as populações mais importantes de sisão (Tetrax tetrax). Em [...]]]> Six photos taken in Portugal were included in National Geographic's Photo Ark exhibit at the Hall of Biodiversity – Ciência Viva Center. One of these photos is an Iberian hare and was taken at CIBIO-InBIO, in Vairão. 
To know more about this topic, please follow the links:
“Já há animais de Portugal na “maior arca fotográfica do mundo” | P3 | January 18, 2018 (Information available in Portuguese)
“Joel Sartore fotografou em Portugal 12 animais para a Photo Ark” | Wilder | January 18, 2018 (Information available in Portuguese)
The photo exhibition Spaced: Using Earth Observations To Protect Natural Landscapes took place at the European Parliament on January 8-12 2018, under the scope of ECOPOTENTIAL project. CIBIO-InBIO’s research group PRECOL is a partner of ECOPOTENTIAL and focus on the evalua-tion of ecosystem services and on the conservation of the only National Park in Portugal, Peneda-Gerês. This study is featured on the photo exposition, among 25 other panels which presents some of the most beautiful protected areas in the world, along with the research activities carried out by the project partners. To know more about this topic, please follow the link:
SPACED: Using Earth Observations To Protect Natural Landscapes To know more about the project, please click here. To assess the [...]]]> In the context of an application submitted by CIBIO-InBIO to the UNESCO Chair program, U.Porto has now been awarded its first chair called Life on Land. Through this UNESCO Chair an exceptional set of training, academic and professional development, research and promotion of scientific culture will be put into practice, in areas of extreme relevance such as the conservation of biodiversity and the maintenance, management and preservation of resources and of natural heritage. The Chair Life on Land integrates the CIBIO-InBIO TwinLabs network and institutions from South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe. One of its purposes is to promote the linkage between science and society through initiatives to raise awareness of the urgent importance of preserving biodiversity and natural heritage and to mobilize the ordinary citizen to carry out concrete and practical actions at this level. The UNESCO Chair Life on Land will be the seventh granted to an institution in Portugal and the first to the U.Porto. In a paper recently published by the scientific journal Scientific Reports, an international team which included CIBIO-InBIO researcher Arie van der Meijden, discussed the evolution-ary hypotheses that explain the differences in shape of Galápagos giant tortoises.The team estimated the center of mass for domed and saddleback tortoises and created 3D images of their shells based on photographs of 89 individuals from five different species.This infor-mation was then used in computer models to simulate tortoises that had fallen on their back. The results indicated that saddleback tortoises need more energy than domed ones to roll back onto their feet. According to Arie “based only on the present study we cannot con-clude whether it was the longer neck or the shell shape which evolved first. Yet, our study is important because it brings new insights to understand the evolution of shell shape in the Galapagos giant tortoises”. To know more [...]]]> Num estudo publicado hoje pela prestigiada revista científica Scientific Reports, uma equipa internacional, que inclui o investigador do CIBIO-InBIO Arie van der Meijden, descreveu as diferenças na capacidade das tartarugas se porem de pé após caírem de costas, com o intuito de perceber a evolução do formato das carapaças. Evolução e a carapaça das tartarugas gigantes  Algumas das maiores tartarugas conhecidas podem ser encontradas nas Ilhas Galápagos, onde múltiplas espécies de tartarugas gigantes ocorrem. Duas formas de carapaça distintas podem ser observadas entre as espécies de tartarugas gigantes: a "abobadada" e a em formato de "sela". As tartarugas abobadadas têm carapaças muito redondas e vivem nas regiões montanhosas das ilhas. As tartarugas de sela têm carapaças mais [...]]]> In a paper recently published by the scientific journal Science Advances, an international team which included CIBIO-InBIO researchers Luís Reino, Rui Figueira, Pedro Beja, Miguel Araújo e César Capinha, investigated the international trade of wild birds before and after the EU´s ban in 2005. The team analysed the data on the records of wild bird trade from CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) and observed that before 2005, Europe was the main importer of wild birds. After this period, not only the global trade had remarkable decrease, but trade routes have shifted away from Western Europe. The According to Luís Reino “the documented shift in wild bird trade towards areas with a high biodiversity is a matter of concern. The extent of captured birds can lead to depletion of natural populations”. The researchers also highlighted that interna-tional bird trade is a main cause of exotic birds spreading around [...]]]> The study was developed at the Faculty of Marine Science and Engineering of the University of Cabo Verde in collaboration with CIBIO-InBIO, under the scope of the TwinLab CIBIO Uni-CV. It aimed at understanding the population status and ecology of the ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) in the island of São Nicolau, Cabo Verde. The recent results of this TwinLab CIBIO Uni-CV project were presented at the International Workshop on Marine & Atmospheric Sciences in West Africa. During the event, the work authored by Rosiane Fortes won the prize of best poster. The awarded presentation constitutes the Biology BSc thesis of Rosiane, which was supervised by CIBIO-InBIO researcher Luís Palma and coordinated by the Marine Biologist Rui Freitas from UniCV. To know more about this project, please click Num artigo publicado hoje pela prestigiada revista científica Science Advances, uma equipa internacional que inclui os investigadores do CIBIO-InBIO Luís Reino, Rui Figueira, Pedro Beja, Miguel Araújo e César Capinha, demonstra que após a interdição o número de aves comercializadas anualmente decresceu de 1.3 milhões para 130.000. O impacto do comércio de aves silvestres na biodiversidade As aves silvestres estão entre os animais mais comercializados em todo o mundo, tendo a Europa vindo a destacar-se como um dos principais importadores deste grupo de animais. Antes da interdição do comércio na UE em 2005, a Bélgica, Itália, Holanda, Portugal e Espanha eram responsáveis pela [...]]]> The mission occurred in October, 2017 under the scope of the project ARCHAIC, leaded by CIBIO-InBIO researcher Catarina Ginja, which explores the origins, evolution and domestication of Iberian cattle by merging Zooarchaeology and Genetics. During the visit Catarina met with the project team member and director of the Archeological Research Laboratory, University of Stockholm, Anders Götherström, to work on ancient DNA and analyse the genomic dataset of domesticated cattle. This visit marks the beginning of a new phase of the project and followed the studies on Archaeogenetics conducted by CIBIO-InBIO´s researcher and ARCHAIC team member, Irene Ureña. To know more about this topic, please follow the link: Ancient DNA Research To know more about this project, [...]]]> On October 18, 2017, CIBIO-InBIO researcher Nadia Moraes-Barros participate on the “The Show About Science” podcast. The show is hosted by six years-old Nate Butkus and is considered one of the most appealing science podcasts. In each episode, Nate interviews scientists about a particular topic. Along the way, he is inspiring kids of all ages to share in his love of science. In this episode Nadia talked to Nate about the interesting characteristics of sloths and the need to preserve them. To know more about this topic, please follow the link:“Sloths with Nadia Moraes-Barros” | The Show About Science | October 18, 2017]]> The Monaco Explorations is a scientific expedition conducted by the Oceanographic Institute of the Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco which aims at supporting the work of researchers around the world and to build a new vision for the ocean. During the Cabo Verde mission, Monaco Explorations campaign had the presence of Monseigneur the Prince Albert II of Monaco and the participation of the CIBIO-InBIO researcher Raquel Vasconcelos, leading the study of the giant skink Chioninia coctei and the giant wall gecko Tarentola gigas, which attracted the attention of the “Jornal da Economia do Mar”. The giant skink was endemic to the Cabo Verde Islands, and recorded from the islets Branco and Raso. Unfortunately, this lizard is now extinct and several surveys have failed to rediscover on Cabo Verde. The giant wall gecko is also endemic to Cabo Verde and classified as Endangered by the IUCN. During the mission, the herpetological research team, which [...]]]> The giant skink Chioninia coctei was endemic to the Cabo Verde Islands, and recorded from the islets Branco and Raso. Unfortunately, this lizard is now extinct and several surveys have failed to rediscover it at the Cabo Verdean islets.
CIBIO-InBIO researcher Raquel Vasconcelos and Aurélien Miralles, from the National Museum of Natural History of Paris, visited the Oceanographic Institute of Monaco in order to study the five conserved specimens of this lizard and choose which one would be offered to Cabo Verde, attracting the attention of the Monaco Channel.
This visit was also the moment to formalize the scientific expedition “Expeditions of Monaco”, which aims to study the reptiles of Branco Islet and hopefully try to rediscover the giant skink. This trip will also explore a poorly studied species, the giant wall gecko Tarentola gigas, also present at the islet.
To know more about this topic, please follow the link:“ On June 10, 2017, Day of Portugal, António Frias Martins, Emeritus Professor at the University of Azores, was distinguished by the Portuguese Republic in a ceremony at Solar da Madre de Deus in recognition of his exquisite curriculum devoted to science. Just a few days before this recognition, Professor António Frias Martins gave a master class at CIBIO-InBIO, on April 28, 2017 illustrating his outstanding path.Besides this distinction, on June 15, 2017 Professor António Frias Martins additionally received a medal of honour and was nominated as an Honorary citizen of Vila Franca do Campo - Azores Municipality. For the whole CIBIO-InBIO community, as well as for the whole Portuguese scientific community, we celebrate those distinctions as they were ours, and say: Congratulations, Professor Frias [...]]]> The São Tomé Grosbeak Neospiza concolor is one of the least observed birds in the world and thanks to its strange phenotype was placed in its own monotypic genus. This critically endangered species is endemic to the island of São Tomé (Gulf of Guinea).
CIBIO-InBIO researcher Martim Melo dedicated his research work to understand the evolution of this bird species and identified this elusive bird as being a canary [Genus Crithagra]. this makes it the largest canary in the world, something that called the attention of the media outlet Público. According to Martim, “The strange look of the bird has puzzled taxonomists who believed it represented an old lineage with no close relatives. This study showed that the São Tomé Grosbeak is instead a very recent canary species but whose morphology evolved extremely fast” Even though other questions about the world’s [...]]]> The expedition under the scope of the project PaleoModes was sponsored by the Spanish Government with the support of the Regional Government of Azores and the municipalities of Flores and Corvo. The research work aimed to characterize the spatial and temporal evolution of the climate patterns of the Iberian Peninsula and the Azores Archipelago, by using a multiproxy approach applied to six lacustrine sediment records for the last 2,000 years.From 5 to 28 of June, 2017, an international research team which includes CIBIO-InBIO/Açores researchers will collect several samples from different Azorean lakes and reveal some important information on ancestral climate and environmental features. This information will hopefully open new avenues for the proposal of innovative models that can be used on climate change and lacustrine ecosystem functioning at Azores and throughout Europe. To know more about this project, please click The daily TV programme, included on June 11 a special issue on forest fires “Fireproof”, highlighting the beginning of the critical season of fires and the urgent need of preserving and managing the national forests.This special report brought attention to some projects that aimed to preserve and manage the forests not only to prevent fires, but to capacitate these green areas to restore themselves more efficiently.
In this context, CIBIO-InBIO researcher, Francisco Moreira talked about the urgent necessity of shifting the current management politics and paradigm regarding forest fires. According to Francisco “It is urgent to restructure the politics of management of the territory, in order to prevent catastrophic consequences for nature and human life. The key factor is not the area that burns, but the impact of the fire within several scenarios.”
To know more about this topic, please [...]]]> The weekly magazine devoted the entire episode, broadcasted last Saturday, June 10, to the annual event hosted once again by Serralves. The event organized in the scope of Serralves 360o, a science communication project which results from a collaboration between CIBIO-InBIO and Fundação de Serralves, invited the participants – common citizens, schools and families – to take part in a flash biological survey of the species encountered in Serralves Park.
During the week, schools had the chance to participate in the activities and on the weekend the event was open to the general public.
The episode of BIOSFERA covered several initiatives included in the Bioblitz programme, conducted by CIBIO-InBIO researchers. Namely, Joana Paupério was responsible for the survey on small mammals, Raquel Ribeiro invited [...]]]> Nesta reunião serão discutidos os avanços científicos resultantes da parceria entre o CIBIO-InBIO e dois institutos de investigação de Montpellier, assim como os passos futuros da colaboração com a Universidade de Montpellier no âmbito de um projecto inovador, o BIOPOLIS. Investigadores de Portugal e França a trabalhar em conjunto para o desenvolvimento científico e formação avançada nos domínios da Biodiversidade e Evolução. Este é o objectivo principal do LIA “Biodiversidade e Evolução”. Esta iniciativa é apoiada pelo Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS, França), pela Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT), tendo sido criada em 2014 para formalizar e fomentar a cooperação entre o In a paper recently published by the scientific journal Evolution, an international team which included CIBIO-InBIO researchers Miguel Carretero and Guillem Pérez i Lanuza, investigated the intensity of sexual selection, estimated from population sex ratio, and diversity in color of Podarcis muralis, a lizard in which both males and females present different phenotypes encompassing white, yellow, orange, white-orange, and yellow-orange colors. The team analysed a sample of 116 Pyrenean populations and 5421 lizards and the obtained results, which now have been highlighted by the national media, suggested a relationship between the intensity of male competition and male color diversity.According to Miguel Carretero “when the number of males is higher than the females, more variety of colors will show up, since this variety is dependent on direct competition”. The researcher [...]]]> Within the scope of a collaboration agreement signed in 2015, between CIBIO-InBIO and the Parc National de Diawling (Mauritania), the BIODESERTS group has been providing scientific support to the park for the management of the local crocodile population and other reptiles.
One of the identified threat factors to the crocodile population was the run-over by vehicles circulating along the international dam (bordering with Senegal). The park responded to the researchers’ concerns and installed warning signs to alert drivers for the presence of endangered crocodiles.
The team was very happy that the signs mention the collaboration with CIBIO-InBIO | BIODESERTS group and expects to keep on providing support to the management of biodiversity in the park. To know more about this topic, please follow the link:
Parc National de Diawling (Mauritania) (Information [...]]]> Num artigo publicado pela prestigiada revista científica Evolution, uma equipa de investigação internacional que inclui Guillem Pérez i de Lanuza e Miguel Carretero, investigadores do CIBIO-InBIO, Universidade do Porto sugere que existe uma relação entre a intensidade da competição intrasexual e a diversidade morfológica em machos de lagartixas-dos-muros. O puzzle da evoluçãoAs variações hereditárias são a força motriz da evolução adaptativa e os processos inerentes a esta evolução têm sido foco de interesse desde dos primórdios da biologia evolutiva moderna.
A selecção sexual é dos principais processos responsáveis pela existência e manutenção de uma destas variações hereditárias presente [...]]]> Many vertebrate species have vanished over the past 5 decades or have become critically endangered and the rate of extinction is accelerating. If habitat conversion continues unabated, key ecosystems could collapse, disrupting the biosphere upon which we all—humans and wildlife—depend.In a paper recently published by the scientific journal BioScience, an international research team which includes CIBIO-InBIO researcher José Carlos Brito with the cooperation of CIBIO-InBIO group BIODESERTS examined a bold new approach to halting the world’s extinction crisis through a strategy to protect 50% of the Earth’s land mass.The groundbreaking study used a new map of the world’s 846 ecoregions, improving on a 2001 version and analysis that remains one of the most widely cited papers in the field of conservation biology. The new study highlighted 98 ecoregions (12%) that already have [...]]]> Num artigo publicado online pela prestigiada revista científica PNAS – Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences – uma equipa de investigação internacional que inclui Miguel Carneiro, Ricardo Jorge Lopes, Pedro Miguel Araújo, Malgorzata Gazda, Sandra Afonso e Paulo Gama Mota, investigadores do CIBIO-InBIO, Universidade do Porto, demonstra que uma proteína responsável pela assimilação celular de lípidos é essencial para que muitas espécies de aves apresentem uma plumagem amarela, laranja ou vermelha.Esta descoberta, que surge no contexto da colaboração dos investigadores portugueses com duas equipas internacionais lideradas por Geoffrey Hill, da Auburn [...]]]> Imagine que a partir de um copo de água de um ribeiro que corre na Serra do Gerês conseguia saber quais as espécies que estão presentes nesse curso de água, incluindo espécies ameaçadas ou espécies exóticas invasoras. Imagine que a partir do sangue da última refeição de uma melga conseguia saber qual a espécie que esse insecto picou e se nesse sangue podem estar parasitas ou outros organismos patogénicos transmissíveis ao Homem. É difícil imaginar, mas é hoje possível graças a técnicas avançadas de genética molecular. A ideia é simples, mas a sua aplicação é complexa e exige equipamentos muito especializados que foram recentemente instalados nos laboratórios de genética do CIBIO-InBIO em Vairão (Vila do Conde). Em termos simplificados, a técnica envolve a deteção de fragmentos [...]]]> Scorpions are found on every continent except Antarctica and can assume very different sizes and shapes. Especially variable is their muscular 'tail' and stinger (or telson). In an article recently published by the scientific journal Functional Ecology, a research team including CIBIO-InBIO researchers Pedro Coelho, Antigoni Kaliontzopoulou and Arie van der Meijden provides the first images of the attack of the world´s most venomous scorpion species. To record scorpions striking in 3D, the researchers built a square stage surrounded by mirrors. After placing the scorpion into the arena, they filmed the scorpion's strike from above with a video camera at 500 frames per second.
To understand more about the evolutionary pressures driving this variation the researchers studied seven scorpion species from Africa with widely differing tails. The high-speed videos revealed lots of variation in the strike of each of the species filmed. According to Pedro Coelho “there are differences in the [...]]]> Num artigo publicado pela prestigiada revista científica Functional Ecology os investigadores do CIBIO-InBIO/UP, Pedro Coelho, Antigoni Kaliontzopoulou, Mykola Rasko e Arie van der Meijden, descreveram a trajectória do ferrão do escorpião durante o ataque, recorrendo a imagens de vídeo e mapas 3D, com o intuito de perceber como evoluíram as técnicas de defesa deste animal. VÍDEOS 3D NO ESTUDO DOS ESCORPIÕES
Os escorpiões podem ser encontrados em todos os continentes, excepto na Antártida, e podem assumir diversas formas e tamanhos. Estas variações são observadas especialmente no tamanho e forma das suas “caudas” musculares, que na verdade não são verdadeiramente caudas, mas sim a continuação do abdómen do escorpião, bem como [...]]]> Rita Covas, who has dedicated her research to understanding the benefits of sociality amongst sociable weavers, a small bird from the Kalahari, for the last two decades.
Trying to understand the dynamics and benefits of this cooperative relationship between the different elements of this bird community is one of the main objectives of the work, which called the attention of National Geographic Portugal Magazine. According to Rita, “cooperation does not imply absence of competition. Understanding which are the advantages and how this cooperation actually works is our main goal. Sociable weavers do not help each other just for being nice, they have evolutionary benefits”.
This work has [...]]]> The book is the final product of a project from the “Sociedade Caboverdiana de Zoologia – SCVZ” funded by the Global Environmental Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF-SGP) in 2011, whose printing in 2015 was funded by the government of Cabo Verde through the National Directorate for the Environment (DNA) “Ministério do Ambiente, Habitação e Ordenamento do Território (MAHOT)” with the support of University of Cabo Verde and CIBIO-InBIO.The money gathered from the sales, has been applied to create a fund for research fellowships to be granted by the SCVZ for students and researchers from Cabo Verde and from Europe, to study the remote Desertas Islands in the field of Zoology and other related disciplines.An evaluating committee, formed by members from the aforementioned Universities, from DNA, from ONG Biosfera I and SCVZ, together with an external senior researcher will evaluate the applications received until 30th April 2017. The [...]]]> The study on stinger diversity, carried out by an international team which includes CIBIO-InBIO researcher Arie van der Meijden has made the cover of the April issue of Journal of Anatomy.The work developed by the researchers aimed to explore the diversity of telson shapes, which is used as a stinger for venom injection in scorpions, through the analysis of morphological features, such as curvature and tip angle, as well as by testing stingers under load using finite element analysis (FEA).The researchers have found that species that are more venomous have long aculei (stinger barbs), with a larger radius of curvature and that telsons with shorter and thicker aculeus shapes tend to show stress concentrations only at the tip.
Overall this study shows that scorpion stingers may be biomechanically optimized, indicating different usage of the stinger in different species widening the knowledge on these fascinating creatures. To access [...]]]> In an article published by the scientific journal Zootaxa, a Colombian research team described a new scorpion species from Colombia in the genus Troglotayosicus Lourenço, 1981. The team named the brand new scorpion which inhabits the forest leaf litter at Eastern Andes, as Troglotayosicus meijdeni sp. nov. after CIBIO-InBIO researcher Arie van der Meijden. Even though it was still not possible to observe the male specimen, this species could be distinguished from other species in the genus by the female (and juvenile) morphology. This finding is another great improvement on the number of known species of Troglotayosicus that has now risen to four. This is not only a great step in the advancement of scientific knowledge, but one that also highlights and honors the exquisite research work developed by Arie van der Meijden on these fascinating creatures.
To access the article please click Bats, which have long been known for their bad reputation, are no longer the bad guys. Actually, these fascinating animals are now the new weapon against insect plagues at Tua’s Valley cultures.
The new project of the Regional Natural Park of Tua’s Valley has placed 100 bat-boxes at farms of five different municipalities, in order to contain the proliferation of crop-munching insects. Since bats are efficient predators of insects, the introduction of these animals may allow farmers to cut back on pesticides and produce more and better crops.Besides these practical features, this 3 year project, which has just been highlighted by various national media outlets, includes a scientific component encompassing CIBIO-InBIO researchers Pedro Beja, Hugo Rebelo (coordinators of this project) and Vanessa Mata. This scientific component aims to foment research and evaluate the [...]]]> Even though hurricanes are agents of coastal erosion through scouring of nearshore deposits, massive onshore transport of sediments by hurricanes appears to be a rare phenomenon (especially on volcanic oceanic islands with narrow platforms) and this requires exceptional conditions.In an article published by the scientific journal Marine Geology, an international team which includes CIBIO-InBIO researcher Sérgio Ávila, described and interpreted the genesis of a singular, 5-m sandstone bed within a 20-m sedimentary succession at Malbusca, a fossiliferous outcrop located on the southern cliffs of Santa Maria Island (Azores archipelago). This work, highlighted by the media outlet Açoriano Oriental, is the first to report the discovery of a major hurricane deposit that moved sand from an offshore bar in an onshore path. According to Sérgio Ávila, co-author of this study and leader of the [...]]]> These lightweight and long-lasting tracking devices were developed by Movetech Telemetry, a collaborative project between the University of East Anglia (UEA), the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), CIBIO-InBIO, University of Porto, Ce3C and the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon.This new technology, highlighted by various national media outlets, was designed to enable researchers to remotely collect valuable biological information about different species without recapturing the animals, since these devices transmit data remotely via mobile phone networks. The small size and advanced solar cell displays also allow the tracking of smaller animals in less sunny locations.
According to CIBIO-InBIO researcher João Paulo Silva, “these devices can be used to monitor small animals and access more accurate information, thus enabling more knowledge on the species’ behaviour [...]]]> Soraia Barbosa, Nádia Moraes-Barros and Teresa Silva. To know more about this topic, please follow the link:
“Working Group Roundup: Conservation Genetics” | Society for Conservation Biology | 2017 ]]> The event, organized by Palombar Association (Grupo Nordeste) with the collaboration of CIBIO-InBIO, aimed to foster the discussion about key topics around game management, highlighting the importance of nature conservation.This first edition, held on March 4, focused on the theme “The new haemorrhagic disease and its impact on the natural populations of the wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)”. The event counted with the presence of CIBIO-InBIO researchers Nuno Santos, Pedro Esteves and Pedro Monterroso, who presented an overview of different research lines developed under this topic and discussed the outcomes obtained during the work developed in 2016 in the context of the project “SOS Coelho”. This edition ended with the visit to a monitoring station, in which the participants had the chance to engage with the different methodologies implemented during this [...]]]> Estes sofisticados dispositivos de telemetria surgem no contexto de uma parceria entre a Universidade de East Anglia (UEA), a British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), o Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos (CIBIO-InBIO), Universidade do Porto (U.Porto), o Centro de Ecologia, Evolução e Alterações Ambientais (cE3C) e a Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa (Ciências ULisboa). TECNOLOGIA AVANÇADA EM DISPOSITIVOS AUTÓNOMOS
Estes dispositivos foram desenhados com vista a permitir aos investigadores e especialistas em conservação da natureza a recolha de informação detalhada acerca da posição e comportamento de várias espécies de animais. Os primeiros testes foram desenvolvidos utilizando aves e os resultados são surpreendentes.
Recorrendo a tecnologia GPS e outros sensores, a informação é transmitida [...]]]> Coordinated by CIBIO-InBIO, REN Biodiversity Chair, a collaborative project of the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), the company Redes Energéticas Nacionais (REN) and the University of Porto (U.Porto), seeks to promote top-quality research, advanced training and knowledge transfer on topics of interest pertaining to the monitoring, mitigation and compensation of environmental impacts associated with the energy networks, based on population ecology studies and leading to the preservation of biodiversity.
On February 23, 2017, REN and the REN Biodiversity Chair Team co-organized a symposium focusing on the work developed so far in the context of this project and outlining important perspectives for this kind of cooperation between scientific institutions and the private sector.
This event counted with the presence of representatives of the various institutions involved in the Chair and other invited speakers, namely Joseph Kiesecker, from The Nature Conservancy [...]]]> Oceanic islands, like the Azores archipelago have been considered as natural laboratories providing significant clues to ecological, biogeographic and evolutionary knowledge. Even though palaeoecological records are comparatively scarce, they can also provide significant information on these issues.In an article just published by the scientific journal Quaternary Science Reviews, an international team, which includes CIBIO-InBIO researchers Pedro Raposeiro and Vítor Gonçalves reported the palynological reconstruction of the vegetation and landscape dynamics of São Miguel Island before and after human settlement using the sediments of Lake Azul. The outcomes of this study, which have just been highlighted by the national newspaper Expresso, report several changes of landscape and vegetation, forests, cereal cultivation and alterations on the levels of Lake Azul due to a combination of climatic and anthropogenic drivers. The pollen records also gathered suggest that São [...]]]> It is widely recognized that roads cause direct mortality and limit animal movement, which can isolate populations and deeply affect their viability. In an article recently published by the scientific journal Global Ecology and Biogeography, a research team which includes CIBIO-InBIO researchers Ana Ceia Hasse, Luís Borda de Água and Henrique Pereira, in collaboration with the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, and the Centro Brasileiro de Estudos em Ecologia de Estradas, provides the first global assessment of the exposure of carnivores to roads. The team assessed vulnerability to these infrastructures by estimating critical road densities and critical patch sizes for population persistence, using a demographic model and species traits, and comparing those with the road density and the landscape [...]]]> We are looking for a highly motivated graduate student, who is interested in pursuing a PhD degree in the field of Archaeogenetics, Biology, Animal Science, Bioinformatics or related fields to join the team of a research project entitled “ARCHAIC – The archaeogenetics of Iberian cattle: investigating their origins, evolution and improvement” (PTDC/CVT­LIV/2827/2014; POCI-01-0145-FEDER-016647).
The student will be engaged to ARCHAIC, an innovative project merging zooarchaeology and genetics – which is critical to capture the temporal and geographical dimensions of the history that shaped the genetic composition of cattle.
This cross-disciplinary project represents a great opportunity to get intensive training in the methods of ancient and modern DNA analyses, including DNA isolation from a variety of sources, preparation of genomic libraries, next-generation sequencing, quality control of DNA templates while completing a graduate degree. There will be a strong [...]]]> Combinando pela primeira vez dados da biologia das espécies, biogeografia, uso do solo e modelos de dinâmica de populações, este novo estudo, publicado recentemente pela prestigiada revista científica Global Ecology and Biogeography, demonstra que os felinos e os ursos estão entre os animais mais afectados pelas redes rodoviárias.
Para além disso, a análise efectuada revela que quase um terço destas espécies não se encontram assinaladas como ameaçadas por estas infraestruturas e que o risco de extinção a elas associado é real mesmo em regiões de baixa densidade de estradas. AS ESTRADAS COMO AMEAÇAAs infraestuturas rodoviárias constituem uma causa de morte para várias espécies, actuando também como uma barreira a algumas migrações. As estradas podem subdividir populações de animais, reduzindo consequentemente [...]]]> The national delegation was led by the Vice Rector for Cooperation and Culture, Professor Fátima Marinho, and the Vice Rector of Research and Innovation, Professor Maria João Ramos. The delegation visited Nepal and Bhutan in order to explore the possibility of establishing educational and research partnerships, with the University of Kathmandu and the Centre of Molecular Dynamics (Nepal) and the Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Conservation and Environment (UWICE) and the Royal University of Bhutan (Bhutan). During their stay, the Portuguese delegates met with the Vice Chancellor of the University of Kathmandu and the Royal University of Bhutan, senior officials of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests from Bhutan and senior officials of the Centre of Molecular Dynamics-Nepal.
Paulo Célio Alves, who was the mentor of the collaboration with the UWICE in the field of biodiversity and conservation, also took the chance to take part in the 4th [...]]]> In a paper published by the prestigious scientific journal Global Change Biology, an international research team which includes CIBIO-InBIO researchers Nuno Monteiro and Mário Cunha discloses the connection between the variation of water temperature along the European coast and indicators of sexual selection, using a cold-water pipefish as a model. The research team found that the surveyed populations differ in terms of body size, length of the breeding season, fecundity, reproductive investment and sexual dimorphism across a wide latitudinal gradient. The results of this study suggest that the intensity of sexual selection increases towards both edges of the species distribution, and that temperature is likely to play a significant role.According to Nuno Monteiro, the coordinator of this study, "as latitude and water temperature are tightly coupled across the European coasts, the [...]]]> In a paper recently published by the scientific journal Nota Lepidopterologica, an international research team, which includes CIBIO-InBIO collaborator Martin Corley and researcher Sónia Ferreira within the project EnvMetaGen project was able to confirm that Borkhausenia crimnodes Meyrick, 1912 is now residing in Beira Litoral, Portugal, thus providing the first record of its presence in Europe. By analyzing the moth’s DNA, the team showed that the Portuguese specimen analysed has 100% similarity with specimens collected in South Africa.
The insect was spotted for the first time in 2012 in Portugal, and although the origin of the Portuguese moth remains a mystery, it is evident that the species is resident in central Portugal. Possible explanations for its accidental introduction may involve a connection with timber importation for the paper industry.
Despite the moth has [...]]]> Num artigo publicado ontem pela prestigiada revista “Global Change Biology”, são desvendados os resultados da interação entre dois dos fenómenos naturais mais impressionantes: as mediáticas alterações climáticas e aquela que é uma das mais poderosas forças evolutivas – a selecção sexual. Alguma vez pensou de que forma o aquecimento global e as alterações climáticas podem influenciar a distribuição geográfica dos organismos? A sua reprodução? E a sua sobrevivência? Fique a saber mais sobre este tema, com base na história de um pequeno peixe que brevemente poderá ficar extinto nas águas do nosso país. A DIMENSÃO MEDIÁTICA DAS ALTERAÇÕES CLIMÁTICAS
É, hoje, praticamente impossível passar um dia sem ver referido, nos jornais, televisão ou redes [...]]]> The TV programme, which first aired on January 9, 2017, includes 12 episodes of 10 minutes each, exploring the professional path and goals of 12 young researchers of the Azores Archipelago. Each new episode, featuring a different researcher, brings us closer to what drives and conditions these young experts’ practices who share their views in enticing interviews and talks. This series, coordinated by CIBIO-InBIO researcher Sérgio Ávila aims to disseminate the exquisite research work developed by the Azorean research community, shedding some light on the daily routine in the laboratory or in the field, and unveiling some of the most fascinating aspects of their work. The programme also highlights the role of science within society and hopefully contributes to engage the next generation of scientists to reflect and take action towards these relevant aspects. This project was made possible with the support of de Regional [...]]]> The Society for Conservation Biology – European Section, a global community of conservation professionals, has recently promoted an election process to name its Board Members for the upcoming three years.
The six new designated members from various European nationalities started their three year terms on January 1, 2017. CIBIO-InBIO researcher Francisco Moreira has been reelected to take on the role of director of this new panel, which is the youngest and most diverse board of SCB Europe since its constitution.
The European Section now looks forward for the outcomes of the work of this Board, congratulating the performance of both nominees and voters and calling for the involvement of all the participants on future activities developed by SCB. To know more about this topic, please follow the link: Uma equipa internacional coordenada por um investigador do CIBIO-InBIO – Universidade do Porto acaba de descrever o primeiro caso de acasalamento extremo em ambiente marinho em que grupos de deslumbrantes fêmeas se reúnem para se exibir perante machos, que escolhem então aquela de quem pretendem engravidar – sim, sim: leu bem. Na espécie Nerophis lumbriciformis, um pequeno peixe próximo dos cavalos marinhos, são os machos que engravidam.
De acordo com o estudo recentemente publicado pela prestigiada revista Molecular Ecology, este nem sequer é o aspecto mais surpreendente na forma como estes animais se reproduzem. Faz ideia do que é um lek? E um lek invertido? Saiba mais sobre este estudo e fique a conhecer uma impressionante história de selecção sexual. OS PAVÕES DÃO UMA AJUDA PARA PERCEBER UM POUCO MELHOR A SELECÇÃO SEXUALCharles Darwin confessou, um ano após [...]]]> In a paper recently published by the prestigious scientific journal Evolution, an international research team which includes CIBIO-InBIO researchers Ana Cristina Gomes , Gonçalo Cardoso and Michael Sorenson from Boston University, discloses the connection between changing ornamentation and speciation in bird species.
Although sexual ornamentation can cause reproductive isolation, for decades it was not clear if this feature actually promoted the origin of new species. To understand whether and how sexual selection and ornamentation are involved in speciation, the team used the finch family Estrildidae as a model. Even though several studies have already hypothesized if ornamentation was connected with speciation, this is one of the first to test if changes in ornamentation are directly involved in the process. The results showed that more ornamented lineages do not speciate more, but tend to have faster rates of [...]]]> In an open access paper recently published by the scientific journal Society & Animals, an international team coordinated by CIBIO-InBIO researcher Ricardo J. Lopes, shed a new light on the historical interaction between Man and the purple swamphen or gallinule (Porphyrio porphyrio). This research study was made possible through the close collaboration between Portuguese, Spanish and Italian biologists and historians.The knowledge on the historical use of animal species in captivity and human-induced changes in their distribution remains unclear in comparison to contemporary case studies. By gathering different records and iconographic evidence from a wide period, ranging from ancient Egypt to recent times, the team confirmed that the purple swamphen was a very popular waterbird species, which has been transported and commercialized during several historical periods, especially within the Mediterranean region.According to In a ceremony that took place on November 24, 2016, Miguel B. Araújo, who is currently Visiting Full Professor at CIBIO-InBIO/University of Évora and Coordinating Researcher at the Spanish Superior Council for Scientific Research, was distinguished for his outstanding research on the impact of climate change in biodiversity.Miguel has been involved in the elaboration of several reports on the impact of climate change in protected areas for the Portuguese and Spanish government and the European Council. His work has been highly recognized, leading him to be one of the few Portuguese researchers mentioned by Thomson Reuters as "Highly Cited".According to Miguel, “this recognition is also for my students and collaborators. It is a great support to carry on with the studies on the connection between climate and biodiversity, which can allow us to understand its implications on the future of [...]]]> Uma equipa internacional coordenada por um investigador do CIBIO-InBIO – Universidade do Porto desvendou a relação histórica entre uma ave selvagem – o Caimão ou Galinha Sultana – e o ser humano, desde a antiguidade até aos dias de hoje.
O estudo que esteve na origem desta descoberta, recentemente publicado pela prestigiada revista Society & Animals e de acesso livre, surge como o resultado da colaboração entre biólogos e historiadores portugueses, espanhóis e italianos.  UMA AVE POPULAR DESDE TEMPOS IMEMORIAISAtravés da compilação de evidências iconográficas e registos documentais, desde o antigo Egipto até à actualidade, a equipa de investigadores envolvida neste estudo verificou que o Caimão ou Galinha Sultana (Porphyrio porphyrio) foi uma ave ornamental muito popular em várias épocas, tendo sido comercializada [...]]]> The weekly TV programme, which covers various environmentally-related topics, has highlighted different species that were discovered and studied by Portuguese researchers. In recent years, Portugal has been the central stage of many discoveries of endemic species of vertebrates and invertebrates, both inland as well as on its islands. In an episode broadcasted on October 29, 2016, CIBIO-InBIO researcher, Sérgio Ávila talked about some endemic species of the Azores Archipelago, namely different species of gastropods that have been colonizing all the archipelago. In spite of their small dimensions, these species were able to colonize different islands that are about 250 km apart from each other. Sérgio also talked about the particular case of Santa Maria Island and its special geological conditions which support unique fossil records of cetaceans. These records play a key role in climate change studies that address the impact of [...]]]> In a paper recently published by the prestigious scientific journal Scientific Reports – Nature group, an international team coordinated by CIBIO-InBIO researcher Pedro Monterroso, and integrating CIBIO-InBIO researchers Ana Serronha, Joana Abrantes, Ana Margarida Lopes, Elisa Maio, Maria João Magalhães, Pedro Esteves and Paulo Célio Alves, unveiled that RHDV2 may affect the conservation of the populations of Iberian lynx and Spanish Imperial eagle. Since the virus is responsible for a drastic decline of natural populations of European rabbit, which is the major prey of the Iberian lynx and the Spanish Imperial eagle, it has also been causing severe damages on [...]]]> Uma equipa internacional coordenada por investigadores do CIBIO-InBIO demonstrou, num estudo publicado pela prestigiada revista científica Scientific Reports (grupo Nature), que a nova variante do vírus da Doença Hemorrágica Viral (DHV) do coelho pode comprometer a conservação das populações de lince-ibérico e águia-imperial na Península Ibérica. Este vírus revelou ser responsável pelo drástico decréscimo das populações naturais de coelho-bravo, principal alimento destas espécies, o que implicou como consequência uma diminuição do número de indivíduos reprodutores e de crias de lince-ibérico e águia-imperial, ameaçando a sua conservação. 
EVOLUÇÃO DAS POPULAÇÕES DE LINCE-IBÉRICO E A ÁGUIA-IMPERIAL-IBÉRICA O [...]]]> A ornamentação sexual contribui para o isolamento reprodutor entre diferentes espécies, mas até agora a comunidade científica não tinha a certeza se este fenómeno promovia o aparecimento de novas espécies. Num novo estudo, recentemente publicado pela revista científica internacional Evolution, uma equipa de investigadores do CIBIO-InBIO e da Universidade de Boston desvendam este mistério e demonstram que existe mesmo uma associação entre as alterações de coloração das espécies – neste caso, de aves – e o aparecimento de novas espécies. O COLORIDO MUNDO DA SELECÇÃO SEXUALA selecção sexual é responsável pela evolução de ornamentos, como as cores garridas das aves. Há décadas que se pensa que a selecção sexual deveria também promover a especiação, [...]]]> The Regional Center of Excellence of Porto (CRE Porto), in the scope of the Futuro project, and the group AliensWatch, which includes several CIBIO-InBIO researchers, will take along an array of initiatives aiming to avoid the spreading of the alien species Baccharis spicatta throughout Portugal and eventually Europe. This Southern American species was detected last year in two distinct populations at Porto’s metropolitan area by CIBIO-InBIO researchers.
The main objective is to prevent the possible environmental, social and economic impact caused by this plant’s dispersal. By engaging the municipalities, the two organizations aim to structure effective education and management actions.
To know more about this topic, please follow the links:
“Projeto Futuro e CIBIO juntos para erradicar espécie invasora” | Porto 24 | October 24, 2016 [...]]]> In an paper published by the prestigious scientific journal Scientific Reports, a research team which includes CIBIO-InBIO researchers Eliane Silva and Gertrude Thompson, (with the collaboration of Hugo Osório from i3S) showed that Hepatitis-C like genetic fragments are present in the DNA of rabbits and hares can originate genetic fragments-like the viruses found in humans, when replicated in-vitro in kidney bovine cells. This innovative model, which has been highlighted by the national newspaper Público, presents a major breakthrough, as it may clarify the origins of the Hepatitis C virus, its [...]]]> The weekly radio series, which highlights Portuguese research on different scientific areas and their applications in daily life, focused on several studies on bird species and conservation projects in an episode titled “Os Observadores de Aves”. The points of view of four different people were explored in light of the same connection point: the love for nature and birds. In this episode, which was on air on October 11, 2016, two CIBIO-InBIO researchers Martim Melo and Ricardo Jorge Lopes talked about their work and shared their expertise on birds, discussing different concepts on studies of these animals. Martim Melo dived into his childhood, remembering his father’s influence on his passion for nature and his first contact with bird ringing techniques. The researcher talked about his research interests on bird speciation, the mechanisms that originate new species, explaining several key [...]]]> On October 1, 2016, CIBIO-InBIO researcher Ricardo Jorge Lopes gave an expert view about two species of birds which are commonly found in Porto to Radio Nova, in the scope of “Ciência ao Ouvido”, a programme dedicated to technology, innovation and science present in daily life coordinated and promoted by the University of Porto.
Due to their versatility and to potentially suitable survival conditions found in different city spots, such as dumpsters, seagulls and pigeons can rather easily adapt to different habitats. This behaviour can originate some problems, like the degradation of buildings caused by the feces of the animals. According to Ricardo, “in general, these birds are harmless, since their diseases generally do not affect humans. Nevertheless, for example, their feces can carry some antibiotic resistant bacteria, as these animals feed in some spots that are known to contain these kinds [...]]]> Rita Covas investigated the potential thermoregulatory benefits in colonial groups of sociable weavers during the non-breeding season, by comparing the thermal environment during roosting in relation to group size and its stability between pre-breeding and breeding periods.
The work, which called attention of ScienceNews Magazine, highlights the need for a deeper knowledge of the dynamics of social groups outside and during the breeding season, in order to better understand the benefits of sociality and how group size and composition can influence breeding decisions.
To know more about this topic, [...]]]> Several studies have forecasted that in the long run the Mediterranean region will be the most vulnerable to global change. Nevertheless, there is still a scarce understanding of the responses of these forests to future conditions. In a paper recently published by the scientific journal Global Change Biology, a research team which includes CIBIO-InBIO researcher Francisco Moreira compared the long-term forest persistence and land coverage change between evergreen and deciduous oak forests, in order to evaluate the importance of anthropogenic and environmental drivers on changes registered in the Portuguese territory.
The results of this study, which has also been highlighted by the European Forest Institute, indicate that increasing human pressure and climate change may lead to further decline of evergreen oak forest and the replacement of deciduous oak forests by more xeric species. Overall, this work stresses out the need for a better understanding of [...]]]> Uma equipa de investigadores da Universidade do Porto (UP) demonstrou que pequenos fragmentos genéticos idênticos (homólogos) aos do Vírus da Hepatite C que estão presentes no ADN de coelhos (Oryctolagus cuniculus) e lebres (Lepus europaeus), têm a capacidade de dar origem a porções genéticas completas do vírus semelhante ao do homem, ao se multiplicarem em células de rim de bovino cultivadas em laboratório. Num artigo publicado recentemente pela prestigiada revista Scientific Reports Eliane Silva, Hugo Osório e Gertrude Thompson descrevem um modelo inovador do processo de infecção e multiplicação de elementos víricos que pode ter aplicação para o Vírus da Hepatite C, agente patogénico tão importante para a saúde humana.  O Vírus [...]]]> In an episode titled “Nativas e Invasoras: A Batalha da Biodiversidade”, the weekly series, which highlights Portuguese research on various scientific fields and topics and their connection to everyday life, invited three researchers to give their expert view on how globalization is affecting the distribution of species and the consequences of this phenomenon. In the episode broadcasted on September 20, 2016, two CIBIO-InBIO researchers,César Capinha and Paulo Farinha Marques, presented two different viewpoints on the range and impact of human mediated species’ dispersal. César Capinha, geographer, currently studying how alien species are geographically distributed, explains how these species have moved between different areas due to human action, sometimes intentionally, but not always, highlighting some examples of how this expansion has increased in speed and range [...]]]> The annual cycling event “Volta a Portugal” receives a lot of media attention, being widely broadcasted by RTP1, namely through the entertainment programme “Há Volta”. This year, for the first time, an online platform was developed to convey a selection of relevant data on the natural and cultural features of the locations included in the cycling route. The website “Volta ao Conhecimento” includes information about territory, patrimony, natural heritage or gastronomy, unveiling interesting snippets of scientific knowledge that stems throughout the many stages of the race.
The contents developed for this platform, presented in an appealing yet scientifically accurate fashion and combining scientific, geographic/land and societal dimensions, resulted from a collaborative process that included precious contributions from CIBIO-InBIO researchers, Francisco [...]]]> From July 11-15, 2016, California State University hosted the 5th World Lagomorph Conference, on the behalf the World Lagomorph Society, which gathered in Stanislaus, California, more than a 70 researchers working with rabbits, hares, and pikas, from twenty-three countries. This conference addresses the biology of wild lagomorphs, including their natural history, behavior, ecology, physiology, morphology, genetics, evolution, paleontology, disease, management, and conservation. In an interview to the KCRA 3 TV Channel and The Modesto Bee Newspaper, CIBIO-InBIO researcher Paulo Célio Alves, the president of the World Lagomorph Society, highlighted the current state of distribution of the European rabbit and its impact in other species, such as the Iberian lynx, highlighting the need to explore remote areas (e.g.: China, [...]]]> Sometimes animals make mistakes while communicating. In a paper recently published by the scientific journal The American Naturalist, an international research team which includes CIBIO-InBIO researchers Gonçalo Cardoso and André C. Ferreira, shows that these “mistakes” are informative and may be used by other animals to make important decisions, such as figuring out with whom to mate. An example of this “mistake maker” is the dark-eyed junco, a North American sparrow. In this study, the team of researchers found that singing with fewer “mistakes” is related to aspects of male quality, like age and experience. According to Gonçalo Cardoso, coordinator of the study, “males with fewer mistakes in their songs fertilize more eggs, which suggests that females pay attention to these details when it comes to decide with [...]]]> CIBIO-InBIO researchers Ricardo Jorge Lopes (TwinLab Executive Coordinator for CIBIO-InBIO), Fernando Sequeira, Helena Gonçalves, Raquel Vasconcelos and Rui Seabra engaged in under-graduated teaching, carried out research activities in the scope of ongoing projects and discussed future projects and capacity building actions. Additionally, they provided a series of talks to disseminate the cooperation protocol and some of the research lines that are already being developed by CIBIO-InBIO researchers in Cape Verde. The success of these missions opens a new phase on the TwinLab development, and further corroborates the commitment of both institutions in providing excellent opportunities for advanced training, research and dissemination of biological sciences in Cape Verde. To know more about [...]]]> Tal como neste título, os animais por vezes enganam-se ao comunicar. Um estudo publicado recentemente pela prestigiada revista The American Naturalist, com a participação dos investigadores do CIBIO-InBIO André C. Ferreira e Gonçalo C. Cardoso, mostra que esses “erros” são informativos, e podem ser usados por outros animais para decidir sobre, por exemplo, com quem acasalar. Cantar para seduzir Na primavera, estamos habituados a reparar numa multidão de passarinhos que começa a cantar. O quadro parece bucólico, mas deve-se ao facto de estas aves (geralmente os machos) estarem a convencer outras a acasalar. Como tal, o canto de muitas espécies é longo e elaborado, para mostrar habilidade e boa condição física. Mas há muitas espécies de pássaros que têm canções [...]]]> Starting on July 3, 2016, at 11h30, the national public channel RTP1 will broadcast the amazing documentary series “As Novas viagens philosophicas”, unveiling the work developed by CIBIO-InBIO researchers all over the world. The documentaries result from 5 years of missions to 12 countries in 4 continents from Mauritania to the Amazon. In interviews for the daily program “Bom Dia Portugal” and the online magazine "Wilder", the team responsible for the production of the series, which followed CIBIO-InBIO biologists around the globe disclosed a few of the incredible memories that endure following hundreds of days of video and image recording. Nuno Ferrand, CIBIO-InBIO Scientific Coordinator and the mentor of this project, also called attention to the impact of broadcasting these biodiversity-related topics on public TV platforms.
This project documents unexpected and unknown aspects of biodiversity and wildlife worldwide, showing the work developed by national [...]]]>  On July 3, 2016, at 11h30, our national public channel – RTP1 – will air the first episode of a series of 13 documentaries, titled As Novas viagens philosophicas, which depicts the work that CIBIO-InBIO researchers are carrying out all over the world with the goal of unveiling what is yet to be known about biodiversity.
This series comes about as the exquisite outcome of 5 years of missions to 12 countries in 4 continents, from Mauritania to the Amazon, which resulted in hundreds of days of video recording. Two image reporters, a soundman and a journalist traveled the world guided by biologists working at CIBIO-InBIO, documenting unexpected and utterly enticing aspects of biodiversity and wildlife while illustrating the work and projects developed by these national [...]]]> Five years since the beginning of the project carried out by CIBIO-InBIO with the financial support of EDP – Energias de Portugal, there is thrilling confirmation that the birds released in the scope of this initiative are now breeding successfully at Alqueva. The project, stemming from a partnership between CIBIO-InBIO and EDP, which has been recently renewed, is aimed at the re-establishment of the osprey population in its historical range along the Portuguese coastline, from where it disappeared as a breeder in the beginning of the 21st century. Following this overarching goal, from 2011 to 2015, 56 juvenile animals were transferred from Sweden and Finland to the Alqueva dam. After a period of adaptation, some of these animals have been nesting successfully, allowing for successful breeding events registered in Portugal since 1996.  The renewal of the collaboration protocol between CIBIO-InBIO and EDP for three additional years [...]]]> In an interview originally broadcasted on June 18, 2016, REN (Redes Energéticas Nacionais) Biodiversity Chair Coordinator Francisco Moreira explained that the main objective of this project is to learn more about the stork’s movement ecology, their migratory paths, which kind of nesting structures they prefer, and the occurrence of power lines along migratory routes. For this purpose, the team of researchers is involved in tracking juvenile storks with GPS locators and registering all their movements.
Another feature of this project is the attempt to understand what are the main mortality causes of this species, and comparing the breeding success of animals that prefer to do their nests on electrical poles compared to “conventional” spots like trees, chimneys or other higher vantage points.This project results from a collaboration between CIBIO-InBIO, the University of East Anglia (UK), and the British Trust for [...]]]>  Cinco anos passados desde o início do Projeto de Reintrodução da Águia-pesqueira em Portugal, desenvolvido pelo CIBIO-InBIO - Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos e financiado pela EDP - Energias de Portugal, surge a confirmação que aves libertadas no contexto desta relevante iniciativa de conservação estão a reproduzir-se com sucesso em Alqueva.  CINCO ANOS DE REINTRODUÇÃO DE ÁGUIA-PESQUEIRA Entre 2011 e 2015 o projeto de reintrodução transferiu 56 juvenis da Suécia e Finlândia para a albufeira de Alqueva, onde 47 dispersaram com êxito após o período de aclimatação. Os indivíduos foram marcados com anilhas de cor para permitir detetar o seu regresso como potenciais [...]]]> The wolf is a protected species by Portuguese Law since 1988. Nevertheless, an increasing number of animals are being found dead in illegal traps. Recently, two wolves were found dead, up in Northwest Portugal, at Paredes de Coura. This situation has attracted great national media attention. These traps, usually intended to capture and control other animals that may destroy crops, such as wild boars, end up catching wolves causing their death. This scenario seriously concerns all the responsible authorities, since it may have severe consequences for wolf packs’ conservation. In fact, a male wolf that was currently being monitored by a CIBIO-InBIO research team at Paredes de Coura was killed in an illegal trap, last April, after 18 scarce days of monitoring since capture. According to Helena Rio Maior, the presence of this male wolf, supposedly the breeding male of this pack, would generate some reproductive stability that was compromised [...]]]> Pamela Puppo and Manuel Curto on the genetic structure of Micromeria in Tenerife has made the cover of the June issue of the prestigious scientific journal Ecology and Evolution. The work developed by the researchers aimed to assess the genetic diversity and structure of this genus in the Canary Islands, by screening several microsatellite markers on ca. 290 samples including the eight species present in this region. The research team found that the species restricted to the older parts of Tenerife showed lower levels of genetic diversity and higher levels of genetic differentiation, which suggests that their distribution might have contracted over time. This study reports the deep influence of the geological history on insular flora of the Canary Islands, also suggesting that species boundaries might be conserved despite [...]]]> In a paper recently published by the prestigious scientific journal Current Biology, an international research team which includes CIBIO-InBIO researchers Miguel Carneiro, Ricardo Jorge Lopes and José Melo-Ferreira, disclosed the genetic mechanisms that allow us to understand why some birds are red. This research study, conducted in close collaboration with two international teams from the USA, was made possible due to the use of the most advanced genetic and genome analysis techniques. To produce red feathers, birds convert yellow pigments, known as carotenoids, which they intake in their diet, into red pigments that are then deposited in the feathers. These same red pigments are also accumulated in one of the cone photoreceptor types in [...]]]> Num artigo publicado hoje online pela prestigiada revista científica Current Biology, uma equipa de investigação internacional que inclui Miguel Carneiro, Ricardo Jorge Lopes e José Melo-Ferreira, investigadores do CIBIO-InBIO, Universidade do Porto, desvenda as bases genéticas que explicam porque é que algumas aves são vermelhas.
Esta descoberta, que surge no contexto da colaboração dos investigadores portugueses com duas equipas internacionais lideradas por Geoffrey Hill, da Auburn University, nos EUA, e Joseph Corbo, da Washington University School of Medicine, também nos EUA, foi possível graças à utilização das mais recentes ferramentas de análise genética e de genomas. Qual foi principal [...]]]>  TWELVE SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE BIODIV PhD PROGRAMME

The Doctoral Programme in Biodiversity, Genetics and Evolution (BIODIV), invites applications for 12 scholarships for the 2016-17 academic year. Funded by FCT – Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, BIODIV is organized by the two largest Portuguese universities - University of Porto and the University of Lisbon - in partnership with CIBIO-InBIO (Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources/ Associate Laboratory) and cE3c [...]]]> From May 3-6, 2016, CIBIO-InBIO hosted the Conference CONGENOMICS 2016, which gathered about 150 specialists from 27 countries around the world in Vairão to discuss the most recent developments in genomics and their applications to conservation. In an interview to the University of Porto’s TVU., CIBIO-InBIO researcher Paulo Célio Alves, the Coordinator of the Conservation Genetics and Wildlife Management (CONGEN) Group, who was involved in the organization of the event, highlighted several key aspects about this important conference. The program of this event included six invited plenary lectures, namely by Fred Allendorf, from the University of Montana, who also talked to TVU. about his work on conservation genetics and the applications of new technologies in this area of expertise. The [...]]]> From the 9th to the 14th of May, 2016, Serralves hosted once again its annual BioBlitz. The event, organized in the scope of the science communication project Serralves 360o, invites the participants – common citizens, schools and families – to take part in a flash biological survey of the species encountered in Serralves Park. This year, schools had the chance to participate in these activities throughout the week and on Saturday the event was open to the general public. Coupled with the surveying sessions, conducted by CIBIO-InBIO researchers, the participants had the chance to engage in workshops and games, including a BioQuiz, also promoted by CIBIO-InBIO collaborators.
In an interview to Portuguese newspaper Jornal de Notícias, CIBIO-InBIO researcher Raquel Vasconcelos, talks a bit about this unique opportunity to discover, learn and deepen knowledge about the species of [...]]]> The main goals of this one-day workshop include:Raising awareness about GBIF, its infrastructure and functioning;Pinpoint the benefits of Mozambique’s participation in GBIF;Discuss the establishment of the Mozambican Node of GBIF.
Present in this workshop, aimed at the collaborators of Mozambican or international institutions which have developed relevant work in the country, will [...]]]> In recent years, the populations of large avian scavengers have been suffering a severe decline. In order to counteract this trend, supplementary feeding stations (SFS – known as “vulture restaurants”) have been shown to be effective for conservation of these species.
In an article review with international collaborations and led by CIBIO-InBIO researcher Ainara Cortés-Avizanda, and published by the scientific journal Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, examined the impact of these feeding stations at individual, population and community/ecosystem level.
Despite its mentioned effectiveness in the conservation of avian scavengers, this tool also generated some negative consequences due to large aggregations of individuals, promoting density-dependent decreases in productivity and favoring the congregation of predators, these feeding stations may also interfere with the natural selection processes and severely reduce [...]]]> Following the invitation from BIODIV and the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto, the Distinguished Research Professor will be at CIBIO-InBIO in Vairão to enact a brand new edition of BIODIV’s Advanced Course “Speciation and the Web of Life”, which will take place from the 9th to the 13th of May. During his stay at CIBIO-InBIO, Michael Arnold is expected to attend various meetings with students and researchers, allowing for a fruitful scientific discussion and interaction focusing on several hot-topics pertaining to his main line of work. ]]> Entre os dias 3 e 6 de Maio o CIBIO - Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos/InBIO – Rede de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Biologia Evolutiva, Laboratório Associado, e a Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto (UPORTO), acolhem no Campus de Vairão da UPORTO a grande conferência internacional CONGENOMICS 2016. Este evento, de grande impacto global, foca-se nos mais recentes avanços da genómica aplicados à biologia da conservação, uma área da ciência que se dedica à avaliação do estado da biodiversidade do planeta com o objectivo de proteger as espécies, os seus habitats e os ecossistemas. Reunindo mais de 150 investigadores e estudantes de pós-graduação de 27 países, a conferência é organizada pelo grupo de [...]]]> Professor Nuno Ferrand de Almeida, Scientific Coordinator of CIBIO-InBIO and Director of the Natural History and Science Museum of the University of Porto, was interviewed by Júlio Magalhães for the Portuguese regional TV station Porto Canal. The news piece, originally broadcasted last Friday, April 29, 2016, highlighted some of Professor Ferrand’s outstanding professional achievements which have led him to become one of the most prominent national scientists, and one who is widely recognized internationally due to his notable contribution to advance research on biological sciences and raise public awareness towards pressing topics in this field, especially in what concerns biodiversity, genetics and conservation. The interview unfolds focusing on various cornerstones in the Professor’s career, including his commitment as one of the six experts that constitute the working group recently established by [...]]]> On May 16, 2016 at 17:30h, as part of the programme of the first edition of the annual cycle of conferences “Streams of knowledge” | “Caminhos do Conhecimento”, CIBIO-InBIO’s Scientific Coordinator, Professor Nuno Ferrand de Almeida will be talking about scientists and scientific culture, providing a first-hand view on the key topics that arise from this interaction, in a talk titled “Os cientistas e a cultura científica: uma história na primeira pessoa”. This initiative, which pays tribute to Professor José Mariano Gago’s legacy on his date of birth, will take place at Theatre Thalia, the Portuguese Ministry for Science, Technology and Higher Education headquarters, and is co-organized by the National Agency for Scientific and Technological Culture – Ciência Viva. Attendance at this event is free, but registration is mandatory. To know more about [...]]]> Last week, from the 18th to the 20th of April, a group of students attending the first year of the MSc Course in Genetics, Biodiversity and Evolution of the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto, had the chance to learn about biodiversity conservation in a field class which took place in Corno de Bico Protected Landscape, Paredes de Coura organized in the scope of the discipline Conservation Genetics, coordinated by Paulo Célio Alves. With the collaboration of CONGEN researchers Francisco Álvares, Raquel Vasconcelos, Joana Paupério, Ricardo [...]]]> Socotra is one of the most distinct and difficult to access archipelagos in the world. Its unique features, especially in what concerns the high number of endemic species, have led it to be distinguished in 2008 as a UNESCO World Heritage Natural site. In an article published by the journal PLOS ONE, which has been highlighted in the CSIC (Spanish National Research Council) and in the bulletin of the International Barcode of Life , a team of researchers that includes Raquel Vasconcelos and Xavier Santos reports that up to 54% of reptile species in Socotra may still be undiscovered. This work, performed using “DNA barcoding”, an inexpensive and rapid technique to identify different species, is the first to analyze in detail the reptiles of these islands. By sequencing a small part of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome oxidase (COI) in a large number of samples of all known species from the [...]]]> The book is the final product of a project from the “Sociedade Caboverdiana de Zoologia – SCVZ” funded by the Global Environmental Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF-SGP) in 2011, whose printing in 2015 was funded by the government of Cabo Verde by the National Directorate for the Environment (DNA) “Ministério do Ambiente, Habitação e Ordenamento do Território (MAHOT)” with the support of University of Cabo Verde and CIBIO-InBIO. The money gathered from the sales, has been applied to create a fund for research fellowships to be granted by the SCVZ for students and researchers from Cabo Verde and from Europe, to study the remote Desertas Islands in the field of Zoology and other related disciplines. An evaluating committee, formed by members from the aforementioned Universities, from DNA, from ONG Biosfera I and SCVZ, together with an external senior researcher will evaluate the applications received until 30th April 2016. The [...]]]> In what comes to tuberculosis, while it is well known that there are specific groups which show a much higher risk to acquire infection and develop disease than the majority of the population, this kind of individual heterogeneity is frequently overlooked in traditional methods used in epidemiological studies. However, a new theoretical study coordinated by CIBIO-InBIO researcher Gabriela Gomes and recently published by BMC Infectious Diseases open access journal, a team of researchers used a hypothetical vaccine to illustrate how heterogeneity in individual disease risk can compromise the performance of control programmes. Adopting concepts from ecology and evolution, the researchers noticed that the pool of susceptible individuals is under cohort selection and evolves towards reduced risk when the intensity of transmission is high. Any intervention that reduces transmission has a conflicting effect of increasing susceptibility, which is not captured [...]]]> The presentation event took place at Uni-CV’s Rectorate Auditorium at Praia and counted with the presence of the President of the Cape Verdean Zoological Society, the Minister of Science and the Dean of UniCV. This book, co-edited by the two hosts and by Cornelis J. Hazevoet, from the University of Lisbon (former IICT), focuses on the biodiversity of Desertas Islands’ Santa Luzia, Branco and Raso, containing 10 illustrated chapters with vast scientific information validated by 19 internationally recognized experts.This book constitutes a scientifically accurate bilingual tool (in Portuguese and English) raising awareness about the natural patrimony of these islands that are included in a biodiversity hotspot. The project that gave rise to the book was funded by the Global Environmental Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF-SGP) and the National Directorate for the Environment of Cape Verde.All the profits raised from the book’s selling will revert to fellowships granted by the Cape [...]]]> CIBIO-InBIO’s Director, Nuno Ferrand de Almeida, is one of the six experts that make up the working group recently established by the Portuguese Ministry of Science with the purpose of scrutinizing the assessment of the national scientific system. Coordinated by Karin Wall (Institute of Social Sciences, University of Lisbon),the working group - "Grupo de Reflexão sobre a Avaliação de Ciência e Tecnologia pela FCT" – also includes Cláudio Sunkel (I3S, University of Porto), Carlos Bernardo (IPS/I3N, University of Minho), Constança Providência (Center for Computational Physics, University of Coimbra) and Salwa Castelo Branco (INET-MD, Nova University of Lisbon). Within four months, this working group is expected to present a report disclosing key guidelines concerning the principles and best practices underlying the assessment strategy of scientific and technological activities to be taken into account by the Portuguese [...]]]> In the article, published online on January 6, 2016, CIBIO-InBIO’s researchers, Pedro Vaz Pinto, Pedro Beja, Nuno Ferrand and Raquel Godinho confirm Hubb’s ‘desperation’ hypothesis in the wild, by documenting the demographic variations associated with the occurrence of introgressive hybridization between the critically endangered giant sable antelope (Hippotragus niger variani), and its neighbor roan antelope (H. equinus).
By combining data retrieved along seven years of camera-trapping and molecular surveys, the researchers were able to observe that population depletion leading to the scarcity of conspecific mates led to interspecific hybridization that was sustained over time.
Having in mind that several animal populations are nowadays facing severe size reduction, which is likely to lead to increasingly more [...]]]> The prestigious publication dedicated to anthropological themes has recently highlighted a project developed with the collaboration of CIBIO-InBIO researchers that are currently working with the Organization for Bat Conservation. This project aims to place bat-boxes at vineyards, in order to contain the proliferation of vine-munching insects. Since bats are efficient predators of insects, the introduction of these animals might allow farmers to cut back on pesticides and produce more and better wine.CIBIO-InBIO researchers are currently collaborating with Herdade do Esporão, studying the genetic material present in guano taken from the bat boxes, in order to identify which insects are these bat populations mostly predating on.Even though there are not specific numbers that can allow to quantify how much bats have contributed to pest control in the property studied, it is already certain that these kind of initiatives contribute to [...]]]> Anamarija Žagar was one of the three winners of this year's Award for Women in Science in Slovenia sponsored by L'Oréal and the Slovenian National Committee for UNESCO. Anamarija is currently a PhD student who is developing her studies at CIBIO-InBIO with a Doctoral grant funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, under the supervision of Miguel A. Carretero. She is a member of the Applied Phylogenetics Group and her work is focused on the topic of interspecific competition between two lizard species. During her research, she has integrated research from fields of ecophysiology, morphology, performance and behaviour under the ecological paradigm of species interactions. Anamarija’s work has been published in several high ranked peer-reviewed journals. In the last year of her [...]]]> The weekly magazine, which highlights various environmental themes, shed some light on three projects conservation projects focusing on birds of prey. Highlighted amongst these projects was the joint protocol established by CIBIO-InBIO and EDP aiming to promote the reintroduction and conservation of osprey in Portugal.
In the episode broadcasted on January 23, 2016, CIBIO-InBIO researcher, Luís Palma explained that the ospreys, which had disappeared from the Iberian Peninsula until 2011, are now slowly coming back due to reintroduction efforts carried out in Spain and Portugal. The tasks involved in these projects include the introduction of young birds in new territories with the goal of establishing new nesting areas and repopulating various zones that were abandoned. Even though the project carried out by CIBIO-InBIO and EDP finishes this year, the team foresees the possibility of it being extended, since [...]]]> In a paper recently published by the prestigious scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, an international research team which includes CIBIO-InBIO researchers Nuno Queiroz, Gonzalo Mucientes Sandoval, Fernando P. Lima, Lara Sousa and Rui Seabra has recently reported an 80% overlap in the ranges of commercial fishing vessels and oceanic shark species, like blue shark and mako shark, which places these species at a particularly high risk of overfishing. Tens of millions of ocean-dwelling sharks are caught by fishing activities each year. Even though catch rates have declined significantly for many species, oceanic shark fishing remains largely unregulated. To find out the dimension of this problem, the team of researchers [...]]]> O estudo publicado recentemente na prestigiada revista científica Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA a equipa, que inclui os investigadores do CIBIO-InBIO, Nuno Queiroz, Gonzalo Mucientes, Fernando P. Lima, Lara Sousa e Rui Seabra, chama a atenção para a criação urgente de quotas ou imposição de limites de pesca a fim de proteger os tubarões, atualmente recursos de extrema importância a nível mundial. O declínio da população de tubarões a nível mundialPor ano, estima-se que cerca de 10 milhões de tubarões são capturados. Apesar das capturas terem diminuído significativamente para outras [...]]]> Num estudo inovador publicado recentemente pela revista internacional Proceedings of the Royal Society B, uma equipa de investigadores do CIBIO-Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos/InBIO Laboratório Associado, descreve os efeitos da dopamina na aprendizagem dos peixes limpadores, conhecidos pelas complexas interacções sociais com outras espécies e pela capacidade de adaptação a diferentes cenários. Os resultados deste trabalho abrem novas perspectivas para o conhecimento dos mecanismos neuronais dos processos de aprendizagem em peixes, que podem conduzir a outros estudos noutras espécies igualmente sociais. A dopamina e a sua infuência no comportamentoA dopamina é um neurotransmissor que regula o comportamento animal a vários níveis, incluindo a sua capacidade de procurar alimento e de tomar [...]]]> The TV show, dedicated to disseminating PhD thesis developed in Portugal and by Portuguese researchers working abroad, highlighted the research lines of Nuno’s work developed at the Behavioural Ecology group at CIBIO-InBIO. In its first episode, broadcasted on January 8, 2016, the researcher talked about his academic pathway and his main research interests throughout his scientific career.
Nuno’s research work focus on sexual selection and reproductive systems’ evolution, namely in relation to the impact of global warming effects. His current work focuses on genomics, morphological and behavioral characterization of animal species affected by geographical alterations due to global warming, raising awareness about the consequences of this phenomenon on sexual selection.
To know more about this topic, [...]]]> The book The Natural History of the Desertas Islands (“História Natural das Ilhas Desertas”) was presented on December 1, 2015 in Cape Verde.
Focusing on the biodiversity of Desertas Islands – Santa Luzia, Branco and Raso, this book, co-edited by CIBIO-InBIO’s researcher, Raquel Vasconcelos, constitutes an invaluable tool to raise awareness about the natural patrimony of these islands, bringing attention to the need to set up conservation and management measures that can ensure the preservation of the natural heritage comprised therein.
With contributions from various international specialists, and sponsored by the the Global Environmental Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF-SGP) and the Capeverdian Environment-Spatial planning Ministry, the book provides an overview of several topics on the natural history of this sub-archipelago, which until now were underexplored. Together with the printed Portuguese version, which [...]]]> The online Platform Notícias UP highlighted the professional profile of Joana Paupério, who was targeted as a "Pessoa UP”. In the interview, published on November 23, 2015, the researcher talked about her academic pathway and her main research interests throughout her scientific career.Joana’s work focuses on small mammal’s evolution and conservation genetics. She has participated in several projects of conservation biology and most recently, was also involved in the study that confirmed the first record of occurrence of European snow vole (Chionomys nivalis) in Portugal.
In addition to her research work, Joana also participates in several science communication and education initiatives, which allow her to raise awareness about the ecological and environmental importance of small mammal’ conservation.
To access the [...]]]> A research team that includes CIBIO-InBIO researcher Joana Paupério has confirmed the first record of occurrence of European snow vole (Chionomys nivalis) in Portugal. The findings of the study carried out at CITAB – Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences, and CIBIO-InBIO, which were recently published by the Italian Journal of Zoology, have been extensively highlighted in various national media outlets. The distribution of the European snow vole is usually associated to mountain systems from Southern Europe to Turkmenistan. But now, the presence of the species in the Portuguese territory has been confirmed through the analysis of morphological, biometrics and genetic features of two individuals captured in the Montesinho Mountain range in the October 2014. The outcomes of the analyses carried out by the team of researchers revealed that the [...]]]> Last Monday, October 26, 2015, the national newspaper Público published a news piece focusing on the progress of the Asian hornet in our country. This is an invasive species, which specializes in the predation of bees, and that often install its nests in urban areas. These features have led it to be considered a threat to biodiversity and to public health.
The entomologist José Manuel Grosso-Silva, a collaborator of CIBIO-InBIO, argues that the hornet is here to stay and calls attention to the fact that, at this stage, it is very important that our country improves the detection mechanisms and preventive control of these insects.
To access the full news piece, please follow the link below:
Portugal não consegue travar avanço da vespa-asiática | Público | Out 26, 2015 (in Portuguese only) ]]> The online platform Clima@EduMedia recently published a report entitled “Espécies invasoras estão a ganhar terreno “, raising awareness towards the expansion of invasive plant species in our country and how this phenomenon may relate to climate change, and to land use practices and management. In this report, authored by Cláudia Azevedo, Paulo Alves highlights that the national picture is one of grave seriousness, especially in what concerns coastal areas, where native vegetation is being replaced by alien species. The researcher also notes that climate change is affecting the flora, particularly mountain species. In turn, Joana Vicente draws attention to prospective climate change scenarios, which foresee an even greater expansion of these invasive species both in altitude (spreading to lower heights) and across the country (advancing inwards, towards the inland). In view of this, [...]]]> The online platform Clima@EduMedia recently published a report on biodiversity and climate change entitled ‘Biodiversidade de “malas feitas”de sul para norte, which focuses on the impact that the phenomenon may have for animal populations along our national territory. Amongst the contributions for this report, is the expert view provided by CIBIO-InBIO researchers Diogo Alagador, Dora Neto and Hugo Rebelo. In an interview to Renata Silva, Diogo Alagador highlighted the importance that predictions based on climate models may have to help us understand which species can most easily adapt themselves to climate change, and consequently allow us to draw effective spatial conservation strategies optimizing persistence scenarios.”. In turn, Hugo Rebelo refers to the impact that climate change has on bats [...]]]> The ICCB-ECCB Student Awards Competition took place on August 3, 2015. The twelve finalists presented their 15 min. talks in front of a panel of six judges. Each talk included a 3 min question and answer round with the judges. The talks covered a range of topics, including the role of genomics in informing conservation strategies, social values and biodiversity conservation, the mitigation of the impact of roads on wildlife, and the balancing of food production with biodiversity conservation in Europe. With a presentation entitled "Derivation of a high resolution landcover map of the Western Sahara-Sahel transition zone for local biodiversity conservation", João Carlos Campos, from CIBIO-InBIO’s BIODESERTS group shared the first place with Paul Elsen (from the USA).
In addition, Soraia Barbosa, from CIBIO-InBIO’s CONGEN group, was [...]]]> From October 16 to October 18, 2015, Mértola hosted the sixth of its already famous Feira da Caça. Included in the programme of this event was a conference organized by CIBIO-InBIO, the National Association of Owners and Hunting Producers(1) and the Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Fund(2) with the purpose of sharing and fostering the discussion of some of the outcomes gathered so far in the context of the nationwide project SOS Rabbit (SOS Coelho), an initiative that ensued the celebration of a collaboration protocol between the three entities on October 2014.
With the participation of CIBIO-InBIO researchers Paulo Célio Alves, Pedro Esteves and Pedro Monterroso, this conference, which took place on [...]]]> Raquel Vasconcelos shares some insights about her project on the conservation of Socotra's hallmark species Dragon Blood Tree’s Gecko (Hemidactylus dracaenacolus), which, in January this year, received financial support from the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund. To read the interview, please follow the link below: Mohammed bin Zayed Wildlife Fund supports hundreds of projects | The National | Feb 14, 2015 To read an extended interview about Raquel’s personal and professional interests and motivation towards conservation, you can also check the Fund’s Como resultado da 14 ª reunião anual dos Amigos de Soqotra (FoS), que teve lugar a 13 de Setembro de 2015 no CIBIO-InBIO em Portugal, especialistas nacionais e internacionais chamam a atenção para o impacto actual e potencial no futuro que a agitação política no Iémen está a ter sobre a biodiversidade de Socotra, um arquipélago classificado como Património da Humanidade, devido ao seu excepcional valor biológico e cultural. Localizado no oceano Índico ocidental, o arquipélago de Socotra foi designado Património Mundial Natural (PMN) em 2008 por causa da sua elevada riqueza em biodiversidade, bem como do elevado número de espécies ameaçadas, e é actualmente reconhecido mundialmente pelo seu valor cultural e biológica excepcional. Sendo uma divisão administrativa [...]]]> Joseph Gregory Rossano: Vanity is an arts exhibition originally hosted by the Museum of Glass, Washington, USA, which addresses the phenomenon of human-derived extinction, resulting from the often not too positive impact of our actions upon the environment.
In it, the author invites the visitor to engage with 11 examples of extinct species represented in an installation setting, in a plethora of supports – sculptures of the specimens are displayed in jars; drawings are presented following the Naturalist’s tradition; scientific descriptions and a scholarly catalog are provided, allowing for an historical overview; and a controversial, unexpected perspective is provided by obscuring these specimens by human DNA sequences. Throughout the whole exhibition, by taking advantage of a game of reflections and dissimulations, Rossano incessantly demands that we interpret the information about these species and their extinction in light of our presence, forcing us to acknowledge the relevance [...]]]> João Messias and Marta Soares and former collaborator José Paula on the effect of that neurotransmitter in the behavior of cleaner wrasses, which made the cover of the March issue of the journal Behavioral Ecology. To read the full text in the Scientific American blog, please follow the link: Serotonin-deprived cleaner fish [...]]]> The lovely image of a European wildcat climbing a tree that appears in the front cover of the latest issue of the journal Heredity highlights the study developed in the context of the PhD project of Rita Oliveira (former CIBIO-InBIO member and student at the Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto), carried out in collaboration with an international team and under the supervision of CIBIO-InBIO researcher Paulo Célio Alves on the development of molecular methods to detect hybridization between domestic and wild cats. The paper “Toward a genome-wide approach for detecting hybrids: informative SNPs to detect introgression between domestic cats and European wildcats (Felis silvestris)”, co-authored by the researchers, details the outcomes of the analysis of the genetic variation observed for 158 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 274 animals - 139 domestic cats, 130 European wildcats and 5 captive-bred hybrids. In this study, the [...]]]> Given their physical similarity, African and Eurasian golden jackals have long been considered to be a single species: Canis aureus. However, a recent study conducted by an international team of experts that includes CIBIO-InBIO’s researchers Raquel Godinho, Pedro Silva, Francisco Álvares and José Carlos Brito reveals that these are in fact two distinct species and that African golden jackals are more closely related to gray wolves, regardless of the fact that they look very different from the latter and that there is now evidence of the existence of gray wolves in Africa.
In their paper, recently published by the journal Current Biology, the researchers provide an in-depth analysis of genomic data, including mitochondrial and nuclear genome sequences retrieved from African and Eurasian golden jackals, gray wolves and other [...]]]>   The Cryptogamic Botany Symposium is a bi-annual meeting of researchers and students covering all aspects of mycology, phycology, lichenology, bryology and pteridology. Running on its 20th edition, this year the event was co-organized CIBIO-InBIO (Predictive Ecology Group) and CIIMAR, and took place in Porto, on July 22-25, 2015. During the three intensive days of the event, the participants had the chance to engage in fruitful scientific discussions about key aspects pertaining to the taxonomic groups that determined the topic of each scientific session (algae, bryophytes, lichens and pteridophytes). They also enjoyed of abundant social interaction during a very appealing social programme, which included, among other activities, a trip to Douro’s wine region. The full [...]]]>    In 2013, CIBIO-InBIO researcher Raquel Vasconcelos was granted the support of the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund to develop a project on the conservation of the Dragon Blood Tree’s Gecko (Hemidactylus dracaenacolus), a species which can be seen as a hallmark of Socotra, an island belonging to the Socotra Archipelago, Yemen, classified in 2008 as a UNESCO world natural heritage site, and one of the most remarkable and exquisite hotspots of biodiversity in the world.
Now, upon its conclusion last year, the Fund decided to highlight the work carried out by the researcher, by opening its 2014 Annual Report, a stunning [...]]]>      With the purpose of fostering the wellbeing of the academic community and the general public the University of Porto (U.Porto) took on the challenge to create an urban park in the Asprela pole, between the Faculty of Engineering (FEUP) and the Faculty of Economy (FEP). The opening ceremony of new Urban Park of Quinta de Lamas took place on July 2, 2015, in the presence of the Rector of the University of Porto, Sebastião Feyo de Azevedo, the Mayor of Porto, Rui Moreira, and the President of the Bank Santander Totta, António Vieira Monteiro. Coordinated by landscape architect Paulo Farinha Marques, leader of the Landscape Planning, Design and Management group at CIBIO-InBIO and Professor at the Faculty of Sciences, [...]]]> João Messias and Marta Soares on the modulatory role of serotonin in cooperation between unrelated individuals. In the article “The role of serotonin in the modulation of cooperative behavior”, the researchers demonstrate that this hormone is a driver of cooperative behaviors on wild cleaner wrasses. By showing that modifications in the activity of serotonin lead to changes on social and cooperative activities, they provide a contribution to the understanding of neural pathways of cooperation, giving the first steps towards our ability to grasp what makes animals cooperate with each [...]]]>
Following its recent media coverage, the coexistence between wolves and human populations is once again highlighted in media platforms. This time around, it has received the attention of the national magazine Visão. Attending to the fact that wolves are still seen as feared carnivores, the wildlife photographer João Cosme with the scientific support of CIBIO-InBIO researchers, decided to track these mammals in the wild and photograph them aiming to publish a book and organize an exhibition about the key environmental, ecological and social aspects that surrounds this large carnivore. João, wanted to share the beauty of this animal and show how a wolf pack lives and behaves. To make this happen, pictures are not enough: it is also important to record the rural and daily life of shepherds and livestock farmers.  In an article recently published by the journal Ibis, researchers Ana Leitão and Paulo Gama Mota (CIBIO-InBIO and University of Coimbra) show that the investment made by male European serins (Serinus serinus) in plumage maintenance is dependent on their coloration levels. In a previous study, published last March by the journal Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, Sandra Trigo and Paulo Gama Mota had demonstrated that European Serin females prefer more colourful males, whose plumage contains higher concentrations of carotenoids. Plumage coloration in birds is used in signalling, but it is generally assumed to be a relatively fixed trait, which only changes when birds moult their plumage. However, it is known that birds spend much [...]]]> Sónia Ferreira, Fernando Martínez-Freiría, Paulo Célio Alves and José Carlos Brito on the decreasing of populations of the endangered Coenagrion mercuriale in North Africa, published by the International Journal of Odonatology. To read the full text in the Scientific American blog, please follow the link:  CIBIO-InBIO researchers César Capinha and Henrique Pereira co-authored an article on the dispersal of invasive species and the way it redefines the biogeography published yesterday by the prestigious scientific journal Science. This is a pioneer study, which provides the first empirical evidence to support an old hypothesis: that globalization in human-mediated dispersal of species breaks down biogeographic boundaries. In addition, the outcomes of this study further demonstrate that climate and, to some extent, socioeconomic relationships, play a key role in defining biogeography in an era of global change. These important findings have made cover of the national newspaper Público, which has highlighted the study in the news piece:  The "first national meeting on research and management of biological invasions” took place in CIBIO-InBIO Vairão Campus, on June 3, 2015. This event was organized by the AliensWatch work group, and had as main goal the compilation and synthesis of the research on this issue that has been developed in Portugal. The main goal was to define the major future prospects of research on this topic and to identify the most relevant conservation measures that can mitigate the impact of this phenomenon in our country.

The AliensWatch group is a national network, coordinated by CIBIO-InBIO researcher Joana Vicente, which bring together experts from various fields to discuss biological invasions.Present in this event were representatives from 15 research units from distinct national universities: University of Porto, University of Lisboa, University of Açores, University Nova de Lisboa, University of Évora, University of Coimbra, [...]]]> Apesar das suspeitas de que a globalização da dispersão de espécies mediada pelo Homem poderá ter como consequência a eliminação das barreiras biogeográficas, até ao momento não existiam dados empíricos que permitissem suportar esta hipótese. Mas os resultados obtidos por uma equipa internacional que inclui César Capinha e Henrique Pereira, investigadores do CIBIO-InBIO, revelam que as barreiras biogeográficas que condicionam a dispersão dos organismos estão efectivamente a ser quebradas e que a homogeneização está de facto a ocorrer. Num estudo publicado hoje pela prestigiada revista Science, os investigadores detalham a recém-descoberta reorganização biogeográfica de 175 espécies de gastrópodes – uma classe de moluscos - invasores ao longo [...]]]> O CIBIO-InBIO acolheu na passada quarta-feira, dia 3 de Junho de 2015, em Vairão, a “1ª Reunião Nacional sobre Investigação e Gestão de Invasões Biológicas”. Promovido pelo grupo de trabalho em invasões biológicas AliensWatch, este evento teve como objectivo principal discutir a diversidade temática associada ao estudo das invasões biológicas em Portugal, e definir estratégias de colaboração e partilha de informação entre as partes envolvidas com vista à edição de um guia que constitua uma ferramenta de trabalho de divulgação para técnicos, gestores, estudantes, público em geral e outros interessados. Presentes na reunião estiveram representantes de 15 unidades de investigação associados a distintas Universidades nacionais -Universidade do Porto, Universidade de Lisboa, Universidade dos [...]]]> No próximo dia 3 de Junho, o CIBIO-InBIO acolhe no Campus de Vairão a primeira reunião nacional de especialistas no estudo e gestão de invasões biológicas. Este encontro tem como objectivo fundamental a compilação e síntese da investigação que se tem vindo a desenvolver em Portugal ao nível desta temática, com vista a definir as principais perspectivas futuras de investigação e identificar as mais relevantes medidas de conservação que permitam minimizar o impacto deste fenómeno no nosso país. O tema das invasões biológicas está no centro das políticas de conservação da natureza devido ao impacto que estes organismos exercem na biodiversidade e nos ecossistemas. A aprovação de legislação europeia, em vigor desde o início de 2015, veio estimular a necessidade de definir quais as [...]]]> Catarina Ginja and published in the scientific journal Veterinary Medicine: Research and Reports. In it, Catarina shares some insights about the innovative approach that is currently being developed in collaboration with veterinary researcher Mário Ginja from the University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD). Canine hip dysplasia (CHD) is a common inherited polygenic orthopedic condition, whose phenotypic expression is also influenced by environmental factors. This trait leads to a debilitating secondary hip osteoarthritis, with varying degrees of severity. The diagnosis is confirmed radiographically and there is no ideal medical or surgical treatment. Therefore, prevention based on controlled breeding is considered to be the optimal approach. To understand [...]]]> José Manuel Grosso Silva was interviewed by the magazine “Parques e Vida Selvagem” concerning the Asian hornet, an invasive species already identified in several localities in the North of Portugal. Even though this this wasp was firstly observed in our country four years ago, in 2011, to this very day there are still several myths and fears about it, some of which refer to the animal as being a giant hornet or a killer wasp. Along the interview, José Manuel debunked these myths and clarified the true nature of this insect. The researcher explained that although the wasp may attack people, its sting is not lethal. He also mentioned that due to its size, the Asian hornet can easily be misidentified and taken by a native species. In addition, José Manuel talked about the origins of the animal, its life cycle, and what to do in order to control the threats it presents to biodiversity. To know more [...]]]> Cristiana Vieira with the collaboration of Cláudia Oliveira, Cristiana Alves and Ricardo Pinto, are framed within the scope of the citizen science [...]]]> Paulo Farinha Marques, Cláudia Fernandes, Filipa Guilherme, José Miguel Lameiras, Paulo Alves and Robert Bunce, was officially presented on February 23, 2015, at CIBIO-InBIO in Vairão (please click here for further details about this event). Book description:Urban green areas can be considered an essential refuge for wild or cultivated [...]]]> On May 8, 2015, the University of Porto (UP) and the Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources hosted an official ceremony to mark the signing of the collaboration protocol between the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), the company Redes Energéticas Nacionais (REN) and UP, that will allow to set up a co-sponsored Invited Chair – REN Chair in Biodiversity. Present in this event were CIBIO-InBIO’s Director, Prof. Nuno Ferrand de Almeida, REN’s Administrative Council President and CEO, Mr. Rodrigo Costa, and Executive Administrator, Eng. João Conceição, FCT’s Vice-President, Dr. Pedro Carneiro, and UP’s Rector, Prof. Sebastião Feyo de Azevedo. Coordinated by CIBIO-InBIO, the REN Chair in Biodiversity, [...]]]> Amanhã, dia 8 de Maio, o Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos (CIBIO-InBIO) e a Universidade do Porto (UP) acolhem no Campus de Vairão a cerimónia oficial que assinala a celebração do acordo de colaboração entre a Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT), a empresa Redes Energéticas Nacionais (REN) e a UP, com vista ao co-financiamento de uma Cátedra Convidada em Biodiversidade – a Cátedra REN em Biodiversidade.  A Cátedra REN em Biodiversidade, coordenada pelo CIBIO-InBIO, terá como objectivo principal atrair para Portugal especialistas de alto nível no domínio da biodiversidade, com vista a promover áreas [...]]]> The osprey, Pandion haliaetus, commonly known as 'Guincho', stopped reproducing in Portugal in 1997, following the death of the last reproductive female. The male of this couple was last seen in 2002. But just a couple of weeks ago, CIBIO-InBIO/EDP Biodiversity Chair researchers identified a reproductive osprey couple in the Southwestern coast of Portugal. In addition, two adult males were observed inland, in Southeastern Portugal, at the country's largest dam 'Alqueva'. The latter individuals had been released in previous years in the context of the Portuguese osprey reintroduction project, coordinated by CIBIO-InBIO and fully supported by EDP. These exciting results come about as the outcome of a collaborative investment to recover the species in the Mediterranean region, involving Italy, Spain and Portugal. So far, in our country, 40 animals have been reintroduced since 2011. And it is indeed very positive and encouraging to [...]]]>   TWELVE SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE BIODIV PhD PROGRAMME The Doctoral Programme in Biodiversity, Genetics and Evolution (BIODIV), invites applications for 12 scholarships for the 2015-16 academic year. Funded by FCT – Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, BIODIV is organized by the two largest Portuguese universities - University of Porto and the University of Lisbon - in partnership with CIBIO-InBIO (Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources/ Associate Laboratory) and Uma Janela para a Eternidade, published by CIBIO-InBIO, was highlighted by the national generalist magazine “Sábado”, on the weekly chronicle of the journalist Nuno Rogeiro. A Window on Eternity, is a magnificently written book about the rich biodiversity found in Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique, in which the text is complemented with astonishing photos by Piotr Naskrecki. The presentation of this book, published by CIBIO-InBIO, took place on March 28, in Fundação Cupertino de Miranda, Porto, during the annual meeting of “Grupo de Amigos da Gorongosa” (GaG). To read the chronicle, please follow the link:  Alicaça is a national hunting event that took place on the weekend of April 18 and 19 in the Municipality of Alijó. In addition to several hunting-related field activities, the event included a conference focused on the topic “Hunting – Past, Present and Future of the Region”, in which Paulo Célio Alves, from the CONGEN group, gave a lecture, entitled “Problemática da doença hemorrágica viral no coelho bravo – Programa SOS CIBIO-InBIO – Impacto no sector” (Problematic of viral hemorrhagic disease in wild rabbits - SOS CIBIO-InBIO Program - Impact on the sector). In it, the researcher talked about the impact of viral haemorrhagic disease (VHD) in the hunting sector, highlighting the relevance of the project SOS Coelho (SOS Rabbit). To know more about this issue, please follow the link:Alicaça, [...]]]>  Passados treze anos desde a última observação de uma águia-pesqueira que se reproduziu em território nacional, o malogrado número converte-se em presságio de boa sorte, com a recente confirmação da presença de um casal reprodutor na Costa Vicentina e do regresso à Barragem de Alqueva de aves libertadas no âmbito do projecto de reintrodução português, conduzido pelo CIBIO/InBIO com o financiamento da EDP.  Na passada semana, uma equipa de investigadores do CIBIO-InBIO/Cátedra EDP-Biodiversidade, conseguiu identificar com sucesso um macho e uma fêmea adultos de águia-pesqueira, que ocupam um ninho detectado no Outono do ano passado, e que já na altura se suspeitava ser de “Guincho”, o nome vernáculo português atribuído a este espécie que, com o seu desaparecimento, acabou por [...]]]> CIBIO-InBIO researcher Miguel Porto, from the Applied Ecology (APPLECOL) Group, is one of the six finalists of the GBIF Ebbe Nielsen 2015 Challenge, with the project ecoSpace. Although these finalists already received 1.000€ each, the winner may take an additional amount of 20.000€. But, until the winner is announced, all nominees will have to live in suspense, since the final results will be presented during the 22nd GBIF Governing Board, on October 2015, an event to be held in Madagascar. This challenge replaces the usual Ebbe Nielsen prize awarded until 2014. In 2013, this very same prize was granted to another CIBIO-InBIO researcher – Miguel Bastos Araújo, coordinator of the Climate Change and Biodiversity ( Coordinated by Marta Soares, a new partnership has been established between the Behavioural Ecology (BE) Group and two Brazilian institutions - the Laboratory of Professor Leonardo Barcellos, who presented a seminar at CIBIO-InBIO in November last year, at the University of Passo Fundo (UPF), and the Laboratory of Professor Carlos Ferreira, at Fluminense Federal University (UFF),with the main purpose of studying the behaviour of coral reef fishes. Universidade de Passo Fundo, through its post-graduation programmes, is involved in several projects, one of which - “The influence of ecological and anthropogenic factors in the behaviour, physiology and health of reef fishes” - resulted from a partnership between [...]]]> A new study, published in the latest issue of PLoS ONE, revealed the origin and the potential expansion of snakes invading the Balearic Islands. The study was conducted by an international team of researchers which includes Iolanda Silva-Rocha, Daniele Salvi and Miguel Carretero, from CIBIO-InBIO’s Applied Phylogenetics Group, and also scientists from the Research Center in Geo-Spatial Sciences of the University of Porto and the Spanish Herpetological Association. Thorough analyses based on a combination of molecular markers and ecological niche models allowed not only the identification of potential invasion pathways, but also future areas of expansion of invasive snakes. The results show that these recent invaders have their origin in the Iberian Peninsula and [...]]]> Iolanda Silva-Rocha, Daniele Salvi e Miguel A. Carretero, bem como representantes do Centro de Investigação em Ciências Geo-Espaciais da Universidade do Porto e da Associação Herpetológica Espanhola, efectuou uma análise exaustiva deste processo de invasão. Os resultados obtidos neste estudo acabam de ser publicados pela revista PLOS One. Através da combinação de marcadores moleculares e de modelos de nicho ecológico, os investigadores conseguiram determinar quer os potenciais percursos de invasão, quer as futuras áreas de expansão destas serpentes [...]]]> Malditos – histórias de homens e de lobos” published last month by Fundação Francisco Manuel dos Santos, is Ricardo J. Rodrigues’ most recent work. In this raw and unbiased report on the historic coexistence of wolves and human populations, the research and conservation studies on Iberian wolves carried out by CIBIO-InBIO researchers Helena Rio-Maior and Francisco Álvares, is highlighted. Unfolding along the book’s pages is an open invitation to readers to witness and reflect upon the conflicts between shepherds and wolves. This longstanding contention has been forged upon a single motif: the competition for territory, livestock and survival. Taking into account the decline of the number of wolf packs currently identified in Portugal, it seems as [...]]]> The programme “Environment in Family” is being developed by the Municipal Council of Porto since the beginning of this year. Twice a month, families have the opportunity to carry out practical activities, for free, and talk with specialists in a given environment-related area. “Líquenes à moda do Norte” was the theme of the first session of this programme, which took place in the Environmental Education Centre of the Cristal Palace Gardens. CIBIO-InBIO’s researcher Joana Marques conducted the activities for an audience of families, which, according to the online news site Porto.pt, were a huge success. The 22 attendants had the chance to learn more about lichens – a symbiosis between an algae and a fungus – and their [...]]]> BIOISLE researcher Manuela Parente was present in the seminar “Marine Non-Indigenous Species” that took place in the University of Azores, on February 18. Afterwards, she was interviewed for the local newspaper “Atlântico Expresso” with whom she shared some of the results of the ASMAS project. The main goal of this project was to study the invasive macroalgae in marinas and harbors of Azores.

The obtained results were very impressive. After identification, 26 non-indigenous species were recorded, of which 84% were red algae, and the majority was filamentous. From these, 6 exotic species found in Azores are potentially invasive and belong to the 100 worst marine invasive Mediterranean species. Although the majority had its origin in the Pacific Ocean, they arrived to Azores together with watercrafts from Europe and Mediterranean Sea. Those [...]]]> National Geographic Society, fell in love with its National Park. Uma Janela para a Eternidade (A Window on Eternity in its original version) depicts the environmental rehabilitation of Gorongosa National Park, one of the world’s richest places in biological diversity. Throughout its pages, the reader is presented with an extremely exciting and marvelously written narrative, which is elegantly framed by the magnificent pictures of Piotr Naskrecki. In addition to a preface by the internationally acclaimed writer Mia Couto, the book includes the documentary The Guide, by Academy Award Winner Jessica Yu.
The book’s public presentation, which took place at Fundação Cupertino de [...]]]> A public session took place on February 28th in Arga de Baixo, in the Alto Minho region, with the purpose of discussing the presence of a wolf pack recently identified in the surrounding area and the best husbandry practices to minimize wolf predation on livestock. Several organizations involved in wolf conservation and research, such as CIBIO-InBIO, ICNF (Instituto da Conservação da Natureza e Florestas) and ACHLI (Associação da Conservação do Habitat do Lobo Ibérico) were present in this session. The main goal of this initiative was to provide some explanations concerning the wolf occurrence in the region and offer solutions to the local population, namely involving livestock protection using livestock-guarding dogs and efficient fences; granting financial support to breeders so that they can purchase and sustain those [...]]]> In an interview to the Galician newspaper “Atlántico Diario”, Guillermo Velo-Antón talked about the strange peculiarities of the herpetological fauna of the Atlantic Islands National Park (Parque Nacional Illas Atlánticas). A geographical isolation from the mainland, which took place approximately 8.000 years ago, led to different strategic adaptations of the amphibians and reptiles encountered in this region. Amongst the peculiar examples identified, there are: salamanders which have descendants in the ground and that make their living during daylight; lizards whose size on most of the islands is larger than that of their counterparts in all the Iberian Peninsula; and water snakes (Natrix maura) that live in intertidal areas and feed on fish in sea water instead on preying on amphibians in fresh water. These are some of the evolutionary [...]]]>   Sponsored by the COST Action ALIEN Challenge in partnership with the BIODIV Doctoral Programme, and organized by CIBIO-InBIO researchers Joana Vicente and António Monteiro, the Models in Invasion Ecology: Challenges and Applications Training School will take place on March 2-4, 2015 at CIBIO-InBIO, in Vairão. All together, the training school received a total of 114 applications from 40 different countries.    The successful candidates who attended the event are:Schindler Stefan, Austria
Tim Adriaens, Belgium
Štajerová Kateřina, Czech Republic
Wenyon Guo, Denmark
Ana Luisa Nunes, Germany
Vetek Gabor, Hungary
Helen Moran, Ireland
Lorenzo Lazzaro, Italy
Frank Collas, The [...]]]> EDWARD O. WILSON, um dos mais notáveis cientistas do mundo, criador de duas disciplinas científicas - biogeografia de ilhas e sociobiologia – descreve no seu livro “A Window on Eternity”, de uma forma extraordinariamente bela e excitante, o recente renascimento da magnífica fauna do Parque Nacional da Gorongosa, após a sua destruição durante a devastadora guerra civil que arrasou Moçambique. Em 2015, o Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos – CIBIO-InBIO Laboratório Associado torna este magnífico relato disponível aos leitores de língua Portuguesa. Ao longo das páginas deste livro, preenchidas com os mais acessíveis e emocionantes textos e com os não menos inacreditáveis registos fotográficos de Piotr Naskrecki, somos convidados a descobrir a beleza sem paralelo do Parque da Gorongosa. Desde o cume da Serra, passando [...]]]> Watch it online   A new scientific documentary series, entitled “Os Fósseis de Santa Maria – Açores”, will be broadcasted by the regional TV channel RTP-Açores every Friday, from March 13 to April 3, 2015. Authored by Sérgio Ávila, biologist and paleontologist from CIBIO-InBIO’s BIOISLE Group at the University of Azores, this television series was produced with the special collaboration of director José Serra. The filming took place during the fieldwork of the 10th international workshop Paleontology on the Atlantic Islands (“Paleontology in Atlantic Islands”), which brought together over 20 researchers from Portugal and abroad, including PhD [...]]]>  A antiga Reserva Ornitológica de Mindelo (ROM), criada em 1957, foi a primeira área protegida em Portugal. Atualmente, parte da antiga ROM está incluída numa área de Paisagem Protegida Regional (Paisagem Protegida Regional do Litoral de Vila do Conde e Reserva Ornitológica de Mindelo). Apesar da sua grande relevância histórica, a área tem sido muito afetada pelo desenvolvimento urbanístico, perdendo alguma importância aos olhos da comunidade ornitológica e pública. Nos últimos anos algumas ações de divulgação foram sendo realizadas, incluindo algumas sessões de anilhagem organizadas pelo CIBIO-InBIO, mas com um carácter esporádico. Desde 2014 o CIBIO-InBIO retomou os trabalhos regulares nesta reserva, com a realização de sessões de anilhagem integradas em projetos nacionais de monitorização de avifauna. Estas [...]]]> A new study, published in the latest issue of Scientific Reports, revealed that amphibian chytrid fungus is present in wild amphibians of Madagascar since 2010. The study was conducted by an international team of researchers which included Angelica Crottini, from CIBIO-InBIO’s Applied Phylogenetics Group.
This fungus, which is present in several continents, is now identified in five different places in Madagascar, making it a possible threat to hundreds of those species, in a country that shelters 7% of worldwide amphibian diversity.  To read the full story, please follow the link bellow: L'isola delle rane | Le Scienze | Mar, 2015 (In Italian only)  Columba palumbus azorica is a subspecies of the Common Woodpigeon which can only be found in Azores. Due to the lack of knowledge about the biology and ecology of this species in the island ecosystem, the Regional Government of Azores decided to support research on this subject, aiming to outline management and conservation measures for the species. The project, approved for funding in 2012, has the title AZORPI - “Ecology and evolution of the Azores woodpigeon: support tools for a management and conservation strategy" Ecologia e Evolução do Pombo-torcaz: ferramentas para uma estratégia de gestão e conservação and the research team includes CIBIO-InBIO members: Rémi Fontaine, Tiago Rodrigues, Pedro Andrade, The work of a team of researchers from CIBIO-InBIO’s BIODESERTS Group on the biodiversity of mountain rock pools in deserts was published in the latest issue of PLOS ONE. The main goal of this study was to assess the importance of “gueltas” as local biodiversity hotspots in the Sahara-Sahel region. In order to proceed with this assessment, researchers quantified the number of vertebrate species from each taxonomic group and of endemics present in 69 Mauritanian gueltas. Then, they compared these results with species in the surrounding areas and whose occurrence has been recorded in the country. By subjecting the data gathered to thorough statistical analyses, gueltas were ranked by their priority for conservation according to the percentage of endemics and threats posed to each guelta. When asked about the results of the study and its importance, researchers explained that the richness of species [...]]]> In an interview to Correio dos Açores, Joana Micael talks about a potential alien species which can threaten the Azorean coast: the corean marine worm. These animals, which are being sold as bait, end up invading the ocean. In this process, there are two relevant issues to bare in mind: firstly, these animals are being sold for only 20 cents each, making them a very attractive alternative for those fishermen who are used to catch autochthone worms that are hard to find and to catch; secondly, these is a highly predatory species, which necessarily unbalances the native ecosystem. The main concern in this regards is not the use of the worms in fisheries, but rather the release of the left overs that are still alive to the sea, as this gives them a chance to reproduce and conquer a new territory. Overall, there are two possible solutions for these problems that may reduce the probability of spreading the exotic worms: a) avoiding [...]]]> Ana Costa, researcher from CIBIO-InBIO/University of Azores, was interviewed for the newspaper Atlântico Expresso about the invasion of marine alien species in the archipelago. This interview took place on February 18th, during the seminar “Marine Non-Indigenous Species” in the Azorean University.

Click below to read the full interview

Baldeação de água dos navios contamina com espécies invasoras as costas junto aos portos açorianos | Atlântico Expresso | Feb 23, 2015 (in Portuguese only)]]> Um fungo conhecido como quitrídio-dos-anfíbios (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, Bd), que tem vindo a causar o declínio acentuado das populações de anfíbios da América Central, Austrália, oeste dos Estados Unidos da América, Europa e este de África, foi agora identificado em Madagáscar. Os resultados do estudo com a participação da Angelica Crottini, investigadora do CIBIO-InBIO foram agora publicados pela revista Scientific Reports e revelam a presença de Bd em anfíbios selvagens de Madagáscar desde 2010. Estes dados levaram a que conservacionistas por todo o mundo se unissem com vista a tomar medidas para actuar sobre uma grave ameaça que pode afectar um país que alberga cerca de sete por cento de toda a biodiversidade de anfíbios conhecida a nível mundial. “Temos consciência da gravidade desta [...]]]> The work on the European serins carried out by the CIBIO-InBIO team - Sandra Trigo and Paulo Gama Mota – published last month by the journal Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology has been highlighted by the Portuguese newspaper SOL. By conditioning the availability of β-carotene in the diet of cardueline finches with yellow coloration during moulting season, it was observed that males supplemented with β-Carotene: i) had higher plasma carotenoid concentration and higher response to a cellular immunity challenge than their counterparts in the control group, ii)  exhibited more saturated plumage colouration; and iii) were preferred by females in a mate choice test. This study gathers key [...]]]> Evolução Humana revelou "Somos Mutantes” | Blasting News | Jan 7, 2015 To know more about this project, please click here and Alexandre Vaz, a photojournalist for the Portuguese edition of National Geographic, followed a team of four researchers - Augusto Faustino (ICBAS), Ângela Ribeiro (CIIMAR), Martim Melo and Pedro Cardia (CIBIO-InBIO) - on a fieldtrip to Cape Verde. Their quest was motivated by the search for a common bird, the Iago Sparrow (Passer iagoensis). While, at a first glance, it may seem unusual to be looking for such a common species, this sparrow may turn out to be an excellent model to understand the process of speciation. In fact, there are several features that make this species an interesting model to study the first stages of the speciation process. First, this species is widespread and abundant on the Cape Verde archipelago, having at least 12 well-established allopatric populations. It is present in very distinct habits, allowing to study [...]]]> EU awards grants to help less developed research institutes recruit talent | Science Business | Feb 19, 2015 Quatro instituições [...]]]> BIOISLE researcher Ana Cristina Costa shared her expertise about the introduction and current status of the invasive red swamp crayfish in S. Miguel, Azores, in an interview for the TV programme Biosfera.In this episode, which focused on freshwater invasive species, Ana Cristina explained how red swamp crayfish arrived to S. Miguel, Azores. This alien species was observed for the first time in the archipelago in 1993, and recent genetic analyses show that these animals descend from mainland individuals. To watch the full episode, please click follow the link bellow Passageiros sem passaporte | Biosfera | Jan 31, 2015 (Portuguese only)  ]]> 14 de fevereiro de 2014 – O Instituto de Medicina Molecular (IMM), o InBIO - Rede de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Biologia Evolutiva, a Universidade de Coimbra e a Universidade do Minho - Grupo de Investigação 3B’s vão receber cerca dois milhões e meio de euros cada, do European Research Area - Chairs (ERA-Chairs). Trata-se de um financiamento da Comissão Europeia inserido no programa Horizonte 2020. Foram submetidas 88 propostas das quais 13 foram aprovadas, quatro destas, portuguesas. Este financiamento internacional tem como propósito potenciar a investigação científica de excelência, bem como aumentar a capacidade de captação de verbas destas entidades. Estes projectos terão a duração de cinco anos e permitem atrair investigadores de topo, para que as instituições possam competir com os centros de excelência pertencentes ao Espaço [...]]]>
InBIO, the Research Netwrok in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, is one of four Portuguese institutions to receive approximately 2.5 M€ from the European Commission’s ERA Chairs scheme, framed within the HORIZON 2020 Programme. From 88 submitted applications, only 13 were approved for funding. Amongst is our research network, which together with the Molecular Medicine Institute (IMM), Coimbra’s University, and the 3B’s Research Group from the University of Minho, will attract a significant amount of 10 M€. The ERA Chairs scheme is one of several measures put forth by the European Commission with the purpose of creating opportunities to spread excellence and widen participation across Member States, leveling up research and innovation performance, by providing [...]]]> The image of an Iberian wolf which appears in the front cover of the latest issue of the journal Molecular Ecology Resources, highlights a work developed at CIBIO-InBIO and headed by CONGEN researcher Raquel Godinho. The article entitled Real-time assessment of hybridization between wolves and dogs: combining noninvasive samples with ancestry informative markers focus on the comparative power of 52 nuclear markers with a subset of 13 ancestry informative markers. The results obtained show that ancestry informative markers are as accurate as the full set of markers in identifying wolf-dog backcrosses, and have the advantage of being rapidly screened on noninvasive samples. Therefore, this is a reliable tool for conservation, allowing to efficiently evaluate hybridization and to estimate the success of management actions. To see the front cover of the journal, please click The work on the giant sable antelope carried out by the CIBIO-InBIO team – Pedro Vaz Pinto, Susana Lopes, Sofia Mourão, Pedro Beja, Nuno Ferrand and Raquel Godinho, published on January 2015 by the European Journal of Wildlife Research has been highlighted on the Facebook page of Springer Animal Sciences. By developing a set of 57 microsatellites specific for the critically endangered giant sable, the team was able to identify depleted levels of genetic diversity and molecular signals of severe population crashes. To visit Springer Animal Sciences Facebook page, please click here. To read the full article, please click [...]]]> In a talk entitled “The pearl and the onion: thoughts on science and faith”, Professor Frias Martins addressed the links between faith and scientific reasoning, arguing that in order to understand the “self”, i.e. to be able to answer three questions: “what am I?”, “who am I?”, and “why am I?”, one should use different methodologies, such as science, philosophy and faith, respectively. Since these three areas focus on ideas, thoughts and procedures that intend to answer different types of questions, they should not be regarded as conflicting with one another. According to Prof. Frias, in this sense, it is perfectly possible for a scientist to cope with faith. To watch this talk, please visit:
A pérola e a cebola: reflexões sobre ciência e [...]]]> Pedro Seabra Monterroso, currently a researcher at CIBIO-InBIO, was recently awarded with the SECEM (Sociedad Española para la Conservación y Estudio de los Mamíferos) Prize 2014, with a value of 3.000€, delivered to the best doctoral thesis on Iberian mammals. The main purpose of SECEM in offering this award is to promote the research on wild mammal species of the Iberian Peninsula, Balearic and Canary Islands. This January 29th the Jury, composed by the Directive Board of the SECEM, decided to endow the prize to the thesis “Ecological interactions and species coexistence in Iberian mesocarnivore communities” defended at the University of Porto. With the ambitious goal of studying the extremely complex structure of mesocarnivores communities, Pedro’s research was focused on two main topics: the evaluation of non-invasive methods; and the [...]]]> Num estudo inovador recentemente publicado pela revista internacional Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology, Sandra Trigo e Paulo Gama Mota, investigadores do CIBIO-Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos/InBIO Laboratório Associado, mostram que a coloração amarela da milheirinha (Serinus serinus) é mais do que um aspecto estético, ao desvendar o papel indirecto que a coloração do carotenóide amarelo desempenha na condição física, saúde e sucesso reprodutivo desta espécie de ave. Ao condicionar a disponibilidade de carotenóides (β-caroteno) na dieta de um conjunto de machos de milheirinha com plumagem amarela, durante a fase de muda, os investigadores do CIBIO-InBIO e da Universidade de Coimbra conseguiram observar que uma dieta mais rica neste [...]]]> Two years ago, a serious outbreak of Rabbit Haemorrhagic disease (RHD) caused by a new strain of the virus that causes the disease, Rabbit Haemorrhagic disease virus, threatened several wild rabbit populations across the Iberian Peninsula. Aiming to address this issue and scaffold the recovery of these populations in Portugal, a collaboration protocol has been signed on October 23, in Mértola, by CIBIO-InBIO, National Association of Owners and Hunting Producers (1) and the Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Fund (2). By developing a massive national project, which entails a set of concerted actions that will allow to better understand the etiology, biology and impact of this new strain of the virus, the partners expect to be able to identify solutions to foster the preservation of this species, which constitutes a key element underpinning the stability of Iberian Mediterranean ecosystems. (1) Associação Nacional de Proprietários e Produtores de Caça [...]]]> In samples of Iberian Hare (Lepus granatensis) collected in Portugal in 1995, CIBIO-InBIO researchers were able to identify a strain of Rabbit Haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) which, at that time, was widespread in wild rabbit populations. The results of their study, published last year in the journal Veterinary Research, may explain the decline observed in populations of Iberian hares and provide a starting point to preserve this species. To know more, please read: IDENTIFICAÇÃO EM PORTUGAL DA DOENÇA HEMORRÁGICA VIRAL EM LEBRES | Caça & Cães de Caça, nr. 207| Jan 2015 (Portuguese only) Please click here to access the original article.]]> CIBIO-InBIO researchers Sandra Trigo and Paulo Gama Mota unveil the indirect role played by yellow carotenoid colouration in the condition, health and reproductive success of European serin (Serinus serinus). By conditioning the availability of carotenoids (β-carotene) in the diet of a set of yellow males during moult, the researchers were able to observe that a richer diet in this pigment led to increased plasma carotenoid concentration and also to a higher immune response. In addition, they also noticed that supplemented males had a more saturated plumage coloration than their counterparts, leading them to be preferably chosen by females when subjected to a mate choice test. This study, recently published by the journal Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology is very interesting as it brings together key elements associated with the evolution of signals through sexual [...]]]> With the incommensurable advancements in the field of genomics, researchers are finding it necessary to extensively revise the traditional and widely accepted depictions of the processes underlying animals domestication. While many questions persist and are fuelled by the new findings encountered, the innovative tools which came into the picture in the last decade, especially in what comes to whole-genome sequencing, and that are increasingly growing much more inexpensive and accessible, support a robust and insightful scenario that portrays domestication as a phenomenon associated with multiple genetic changes and resulting from extended periods of continuous mixture between domestic and wild populations. This subject is unquestionably attracting the interest of the scientific community worldwide, with researchers focusing their attention on the evolution of animals such as horses, chickens, pigs, and rabbits. However, by studying a comparatively less popular animal – the [...]]]> During two field missions to Mauritania in 2010 and 2012, researchers from the BIODESERTS Group at CIBIO-InBIO were able to observe, identify and sample a wide range of reptiles (crocodiles, lizards, snakes) and amphibians (frogs, toads) inhabiting the National Park of Diawling. By combining field and historical data obtained from Museum collections, the researchers characterized around 15% and 31% of all amphibian and reptiles species currently known in Mauritania. While these provisional estimates are expected to be broaden through additional sampling efforts to be put forth in the near future, these findings present an important contribution to describe and preserve the still scarcely known biodiversity of this region.
If you want to know more about these findings, please read the full article:  In a news piece by Portuguese newspaper SOL, Pedro Esteves comments about the impact that the availability of wild rabbit populations (Oryctolagus cuniculus) may have on the success of the recent release of two Iberian lynxes (Lynx pardinus) in Natural Park of Vale do Guadiana (Mértola, Portugal). The Iberian lynx is currently the world's most threatened species of cat and the decline of its main prey, the wild rabbit, along with habitat loss and mortality caused by car collisions, are considered to be the main threats to its conservation. For the next month and a half, the two lynxes will remain in a 2ha fenced area with high prey availability and under tight monitoring. Only after this initial period will Jacarandá and Katmandu be released into the wild. In the next months, eight more lynxes are expected to be released, but for now, and even though recent data on the effects of the new strain of Rabbit [...]]]> Since its establishment in 2012, the FCT Investigator Programme has been providing 5-year funding for: i) post-doctoral researchers with a solid track record (Starting Grants); ii) researchers with an excellent track-record and proven experience of independent research, who intend on developing their leadership career path (Development Grants); and iii) established independent and leading researchers, with exceptional curricula and track record, who wish to consolidate their careers (Consolidation Grants). The main goal of this Programme is “to create a talent base of scientific leaders/…/, across all scientific areas and nationalities”. This year, from the almost 1400 eligible applications received by FCT, a total of 514 passed along to the second stage of evaluation. From these, 228 were recommended for funding following the final evaluation process.
Although the conservation of large carnivores is a major challenge for biodiversity conservation, a recent study has shown that protective legislation, supportive public opinion, and various practices scaffolding as much as possible the coexistence between large carnivores and people, can contribute for the preservation of these animals in humanized areas.
In this study published today by the prestigious journal Science, an international team of 76 researchers from 26 countries, which includes Francisco Álvares (CIBIO-InBIO) produced a distribution map for brown bears, Eurasian lynxes, gray wolves and wolverines in European countries, by combining data about the past and current status of these species.
The results obtained show that these animals are expanding their territory and increasingly occupying human-dominated landscapes. While in other parts of the world, as in North America, wild animals are usually found in [...]]]> While folklore establishes a connection between the wolf and a ferocious predator, reality tells us a different story: the wolf is a shy animal that only crosses humans' path in search of food, often finding in our species its worst enemy, i.e. the one who has been the main responsible for its near extinction. The persecution that has been inflicted upon these animals is leading to a decline of the geographical distribution of this species in Portugal, where wolf packs are now only identified in Northern regions with some evidence of getting towards the coastal area of Viana do Castelo.  Aiming to preserve this protected species, a monitoring program coordinated by CIBIO-InBIO and supported by “Associação de Conservação do Habitat do Lobo Ibérico (ACHLI)” was established in 2007, which, until now, has allowed the surveillance of 15 animals by telemetry. Engaged in this project is By comparing the head morphology of urban and rural populations of wall lizards using geometric morphometrics, a Portuguese-Serbian team, which includes CIBIO-InBIO researchers Miguel Carretero and Antogoni Kaliontzopoulou, has found significant deviations in size and shape, which suggest disturbing effects on development. This research extends our understanding of how human activities affect biodiversity and can provide tools for detecting human impacts on ecosystems. Stay alert for the upcoming paper “Effects of environmental disturbance on phenotypic variation: an integrated assessment of canalization, developmental stability, modularity and allometry in lizard head shape” to be published by the journal The American Naturalist. Meanwhile, you can take a sneak peak on the important insights it unveils at the American Society of Naturalists’    As recent losses of ecological value in many European rural landscapes have been attributed to changing agricultural practices, nature conservation and rural development priorities have progressively converged within EU agricultural and environmental policies, thus contributing to an increased efficiency and progress towards conservation goals and targets.
To overcome the lack of specific rules and quantified criteria for identifying High Nature Value farmlands (HNVf) that compromise the ability to produce accurate and realistic spatially-explicit information on HNVf landscapes across Europe, a novel approach for a cost-effective mapping and monitoring of HNV farmlands was proposed by an international team of scientists which includes CIBIO-InBIO researchers Estirpe endémica da Doença Hemorrágica Viral no coelho-bravo identificada na ilha do Pico | Caça & Cães de Caça | Dec 2014 (in portuguese)]]> In the context of AliensWatch, the recent work group in biological invasions, CIBIO-InBIO hosted last Wednesday, November 19, 2014, the “Meeting on the Asian hornet”, co-organized with the Beekeepers Association of Entre-Minho e Lima - APIMIL (Associação Apícola de Entre-Minho e Lima). The general purpose of the meeting was to discuss the Asian hornet’s (Vespa velutina) invasion of continental Portugal, and contribute to the definition of cooperation and information sharing strategies between those involved in dealing with the problem.
Institutions represented in the meeting included municipalities and municipal civil protection services (over 20 municipalities overall), beekeepers associations, agricultural cooperatives and forestry associations.
The debate had a significant participation by the representatives of the institutions, who presented their views of the problem and asked a [...]]]> ICN vai utilizar investigação da U.Porto | Notícias Universidade do Porto | Nov 14, 2014]]> The documentary "Mineração Romana em Valongo", produced by Alto Relevo - Clube de Montanhismo, was released during the 1st Congress of Roman Mineration in Valongo, on November 8th. This Production, for which there was no budegt, was intended to disseminate the information about Valongo’s roman heritage to the general public, aiming to protect and promote the study and interpretation of this important part of our history. Several researchers of CIBIO-InBIO participated in this video, such as Paulo Alves, Francisco Amorim and Fernando Sequeira. To watch the documentary, please click here. (information only available in portuguese)]]> On November 5, 2014, InBIO and the Nature Conservation and Forests Institute (Instituto da Conservação da Natureza e das Florestas - ICNF) signed a Strategic Collaboration Protocol aimed at framing and promoting the scientific and technical cooperation between both institutions. Present in this event, which took place at Vairão Campus and was coordinated by InBIO’s Director Prof. Nuno Ferrand de Almeida, were the Secretary of State for Planning and Nature Conservation (Secretário de Estado do Ordenamento do Território e Conservação da Natureza), Prof. Miguel Castro Neto and his committee, the Direction Board of the Nature Conservation and Forests Institute (Instituto da Conservação da Natureza e das Florestas - ICNF), headed by Eng. Paula Sarmento, the Rector of the University of Porto, Prof. Sebastião Feyo de Azevedo and the Director of the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto, Prof. António Fernando [...]]]> This annual festival, that typically attracts an impressively large number of visitants, was the stage for a wealth of exciting activities co-organized by several institutions, including CIBIO-InBIO. In this year’s event we were represented in two main activities: guided tours through the Park and a Bioquiz.
Throughout the day, CIBIO-InBIO researchers fostered guided visits to various spots across the Park in search of the most amazing examples of fauna and flora, in a set of activities called “Discovering the Biodiversity of the Park”. Meanwhile, near the rural center of the Park, our science communication team strived to engage the visiting children and adults alike, challenging them to test their knowledge about biodiversity in a funny and relaxed question and answer game: the “BioQuiz”. All of these initiatives were carried out in close collaboration with the Serralves 360º Project Team. This very pleasant day was an opportunity to gather different [...]]]> Taking advantage of the Halloween festivities, scientists in several cities of Portugal debunked misconceptions about amphibians and nocturnal animals, by engaging the public in a set of activities that took place during night time. The researchers organized guided visits to public gardens and there talked about the fauna that is mostly active in the dark. Jael Palhas, science communicator from CIBIO-InBIO and promoter of this initiative, gave an interview for Público newspaper. To know more about this subject, please, see the following link: Há “criaturas das trevas” à solta nos jardins. Esta é a noite para as conhecer melhor | Público | Oct 31, 2014 (in portuguese)  Coelhos Ibéricos dão respostas às questões de Darwin | Notícias Universidade do Porto | Oct 27, 2014 (in Portuguese) Dois novos estudos sobre as bases genéticas da domesticação e da formação de novas espécies | FCT newsletter | Nov 12, 2014 (in Portuguese)]]> Nature photographer João Cosme travelled to Alto Minho in search for wolves. That journey resulted in the exciting story that can be found in the September issue of the magazine National Geographic Portugal. This alluring prose acquaints us with the current status of the Iberian wolf in our country, and highlights the projects in which researchers of CIBIO-InBIO were involved: ranging from the critical analysis of Francisco Álvares, to the contribution of Mónia Nakamura and Helena-Rio, and to the unexpected results of a study coordinated by Raquel Godinho and Nuno Ferrand that examined 73 genetic samples of Wolf. To know more about this subject, please, see the following links:
No Trilho do Lobo (PDF) | National Geographic Portugal | Sep 2014 (in Portuguese) NOTE: The text, published in September 2014, is disclosed with the permission of magazine National Geographic [...]]]> José Carlos Brito’s interview for the series '5 minutes with a scientist' is now available on RTP’s educational online platform – Ensina RTP. To find out more about this project, promoted by the Science Museum of the University of Coimbra, click here. Das lagartixas da infância à investigação dos répteis | Ensina RTP | Oct 9, 2014 (in Portuguese)]]> Península Ibérica: Mega experiência de campo pretende determinar o impacto das alterações climáticas na biodiversidade | Naturlink | Sep 25, 2014]]> Numa iniciativa excepcional, são publicados amanhã em duas das revistas da especialidade com maior impacto a nível mundial dois estudos sobre genómica e evolução liderados pelo CIBIO-InBIO/UP e desenvolvidos em colaboração com instituições tão prestigiadas como o Instituto Max-Planck (Alemanha) o Broad Institute do MIT e Harvard (EUA) ou a Universidade de Uppsala (Suécia). Este acontecimento é especialmente relevante por contrariar a tendência pouco comum de ver o trabalho de equipas portuguesas reconhecido pelas mais importantes revistas internacionais: uma breve consulta da base de dados da Web of Knowledge (Thomson Reuters) revela que nos últimos 6 anos foram publicados menos de 10 artigos com primeira e/ou última autoria portuguesa nas duas revistas de topo – Science e Nature. Porque é que estes estudos chamaram a atenção da comunidade científica [...]]]> CIBIO ajuda a explicar os padrões de distribuição de espécies invasoras | Notícias UP | July 2, 2014 (in Portuguese) Click here to read the original article.]]> Assista aqui à reportagem do Biosfera sobre o trabalho de monitorização de populações de morcegos em Portugal disponível no canal vimeo da produtora Farol de Ideias. A partir dos 13,25 minutos fique a conhecer o trabalho que Francisco Amorim, investigador do CIBIO-InBIO tem vindo a desenvolver no contexto do projecto Sabor-LTER, com o objectivo de perceber as consequências da perda e fragmentação de habitat decorrentes da construção da Barragem do Baixo Sabor na estrutura das populações de morcegos existentes na região. Quem vigia os morcegos em Portugal? | Biosfera - Farol de Ideias | Ago 06, 2014 ]]>  TWELVE SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE BIODIV PhD PROGRAMME The Doctoral Programme in Biodiversity, Genetics and Evolution (BIODIV) invites applications for 12 scholarships for the 2014-15 academic year, funded by FCT – Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology. BIODIV is organized by the two largest Portuguese universities - University of Porto and the University of Lisbon - in partnership with CIBIO-InBIO (Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources) and A new species of gecko with the scientific name Hemidactylus minutus was described from Oman and extreme eastern Yemen, by Raquel Vasconcelos (CIBIO-InBIO and CSIC) and Salvador Carranza (CSIC). In the study recently published by Zootaxa, the researchers demonstrate that this small-size that lives in Oman and continental Yemen is different from the Arabian leaf-toed gecko from Socotra archipelago.
With the description of this new species, which came about as the result of more than a decade of work led by Carranza’s group, all native reptile species of Socotra are now known to be unique, such that this archipelago has one with the highest number of endemic reptiles in relation to its small size. As this work, funded by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs, (www.omanherpetology.org), MEC-FEDER project (CGL2012-36970) and FCT (SFRH/BPD/79913/2011) grant, is still ongoing, the description of new species for Arabia [...]]]> Dr. Raquel Vasconcelos1,2 & Dr. Salvador Carranza2
1 CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Universidade do Porto, Portugal
2 Institute of Evolutionary Biology (CSIC-Universitat Pompeu Fabra), Barcelona, Spain A new species of gecko with the scientific name Hemidactylus minutus was described from Oman and extreme eastern Yemen. On July the researchers Dr. Raquel Vasconcelos and Dr. Salvador Carranza published a study that demonstrates that this small-size gecko of the genus Hemidactylus that lives in Oman and continental Yemen is different from the Arabian leaf-toed gecko from Socotra archipelago. This species is characterized morphologically by its very small size, and that [...]]]> Num estudo publicado ontem pela prestigiada revista Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), uma equipa de investigadores de Portugal, Brasil e Austrália, que inclui dois investigadores do CIBIO - Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos/ InBIO Laboratório Associado, explica como se podem prever os padrões de distribuição das espécies invasoras atendendo não só às suas limitações fisiológicas, mas também às interacções que estas estabelecem com outras espécies. Para o fazer, os investigadores utilizaram como exemplo o sapo cururu (Rhinella marina). Esta espécie, oriunda da América do Sul e da América Central, foi introduzida na Austrália na década de 30 com o objectivo de controlar pragas da cana-de-açúcar, o que curiosamente levou a que seja também conhecida como [...]]]> In a study published this week in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), a luso-brazilian and Australian research team, which includes Fernando Sequeira (CIBIO-InBIO) e Marcelo Vallinoto (University of Pará and CIBIO-InBIO), explains how the distribution patterns of invasive species can be predicted. The researchers used the example of the cururu toad (Rhinella marina), a species originally distributed across South and Central America, which has also became known as sugar-cane toad after its introduction in Australia in the 30’s with the purpose of controlling pests of sugar-cane cultures. Using an innovative methodology that integrates information from several areas of the biology of an organism, from ecology to physiology, the team demonstrated that the interactions with other living beings may have a more determinant role than the climatic conditions in processes of habitat occupation and ecological niche definition. To find out more about [...]]]>  "Uma luz ao fundo do Parque" | Notícias Magazine | Jun 22, 2014 Descrição da imagem: "Os pirilampos mais frequentes em Portugal, observáveis durante a maior parte do ano, são as larvas do género Lampyris (na imagem provavelmente Lampyris iberica), que se alimentam de caracóis e estão ativas durante o dia, principalmente." Créditos da imagem: José Manuel Grosso Silva]]> “Investigador da universidade de évora recebe o Ebbe Nielsen Prize 2013” | LOCAL.PT | Jul 18, 2013 “Miguel Bastos Araújo recebe Ebbe Nielsen Prize 2013” | ueline | Jul 18, 2013 “Ebbe Nielsen Prize 2013: Investigador português recebe prestigiado prémio internacional” | Naturlink | Jul 19, 2013 “Não podemos fazer previsões, mas é importante contribuir para a tomada de decisões assertivas” | Ciência Hoje | Jul 19, 2013]]> “Iberian lynx doomed to extinction by climate change (Video)" | Examiner.com | Jul 21, 2013 “Iberian Lynx Doomed by Climate Change?” | Discovery News | Jul 21, 2013 “We can help endangered cat survive climate shift, scientist says” | NBC News | Jul 22, 2013 “Alterações climáticas podem levar lince-ibérico à extinção neste século” (Portuguese only) | Público | Jul 22, 2013   Mosquitos podem voltar a "atacar" o Algarve | Algarve Vivo, ano VII, nº60 | Jun/Jul, 2014]]>  Atrás dos peixes-lua do Algarve, que gostam de apanhar banhos de sol | Público | Jun 17, 2014 (portuguese only) Fotografia: João Fortuna, Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto]]> Publicação História natural de ilhas Desertas de Cabo Verde posta em livro | Notícias ao Minuto | 04 Jun 2014]]> On May 22, 2014, at 17h30, the Serralves Foundation will host Walter Alvarez's conference A study of Big History — Supercontinents and how the Portuguese invented science, and the presentation of the book As Montanhas de São Francisco - à descoberta dos eventos geológicos que moldaram a Terra, co-edited by CIBIO-InBIO.  A study of Big History — Supercontinents and how the Portuguese invented science This talk will explore two aspects of the historical relationship of Portugal to continents and oceans, which have taken place at very different time scales. The first deals with the Portuguese explorers of the 15th and 16th centuries, who traced the shorelines separating continents from oceans, which were previously unknown to Europeans. It will present a new viewpoint, developed with Lisbon historian of science Henrique Leitão, arguing that the Portuguese voyages of discovery were the first manifestation of what was to become modern science, [...]]]> A redução das camadas de gelo (ice sheets) e o derretimento das calotas polares, bem como os impactos desses fenómenos na biodiversidade, são consequências bem conhecidas das alterações climáticas. Mas um novo estudo de uma equipa internacional que inclui investigadores do CIBIO-InBIO (Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos), publicado recentemente pela revista Science, revela que os impactos sobre a biodiversidade serão igualmente graves noutras regiões do mundo. Quando as múltiplas dimensões das alterações climáticas são analisadas, verifica-se que várias regiões são ameaçadas por diferentes aspectos. Por exemplo, é previsto que os trópicos, sejam altamente afectados por alterações locais da temperatura e precipitação, o que conduzirá a climas completamente diferentes dos [...]]]> O artigo de Alvarez sobre a última extinção em massa na Terra foi publicado em 1980 perante a resistência da comunidade científica que exigia provas. O embate de um meteorito - diziam - teria de ter deixado marcas visíveis na crosta terrestre, e em nenhum lugar existia essa cratera. Passados 11 anos, durante explorações submarinas para a pesquisa de jazidas de petróleo, a prova apareceu. Debaixo de água, na península de Yucatán, no Golfo do México, existia uma cavidade profunda no solo com dezenas de quilómetros de diâmetro. Era a dimensão que Alvarez tinha [...]]]>  Article’s full reference: Serén N, Glaberman S, Carretero MA, Chiari Y (2014) Molecular Evolution and Functional Divergence of [...]]]>  Boticas: Auditório Municipal recebeu palestra: "Cágados, um futuro a construir" | Diário atual | Mar 28, 2014 (portuguese only)]]> Mário Ferreira, researcher of CIBIO-InBIO was distinguished with Prémio Fluviário – Jovem Cientista do Ano, sponsored by Fluviário de Mora, ex-aequo with Mariana Pandeirada (Universidade de Aveiro). The prize was earned by Mário in recognition for his scientific paper ‘Mediterranean amphibians and the loss of temporary ponds: Are there alternative breeding habitats’, published in the journal Biological Conservation, in wich he is co-author together with Pedro Beja (CIBIO-InBIO). Read the paper here. This distinction was highlighted in national media.]]>  Prémio Fluviário tem pela primeira vez dois vencedores | Sábado | Mar 25, 2014 (portuguese only) Prémio Fluviário - Jovem Cientista do ano 2013 com dois vencedores | VerPortugal | Mar 26, 2014 (portuguese only) ]]> Cilarcas nas ementas dos restaurantes da Vidigueira | Correio Alentejo | Mar 18, 2014 Pratos confecionados com cilarcas "abrem o apetite" em Vidigueira |  Diário do Alentejo | Mar 18, 2014]]> “Crocodiles of Africa, crocodiles of the Mediterranean, crocodiles of the Atlantic (crocodiles part VI)” | Scientific American | Mar 12, 2013]]>  Lebres em risco | Caça e cães de caça | Mar 01, 2014 (portuguese only)]]> Conhecer melhor a galinhola | Caça e cães de caça | Mar 01, 2014 (portuguese only) ]]> Tertúlia com Ciência na EB 2,3 de Agrela | Jornal de Santo Thyrso | Fev 21, 2014 Quatro alunos da EB 2,3 de Agrela integram projeto sobre evolução | entreMARGENS | Fev 27, 2014]]>
The book resulted from a contest where students were challenged to think not only in questions but also in their answers. Those answers were complemented with texts written by 18 biologists working on Evolution. The book also includes a list of the most common misconcetions about Evolution and its corrections, and a glossary. The book is freely available online in PDF format. Those who whish to acquire [...]]]>  Projecto europeu quer fazer as pazes entre os agricultores e os charcos | Público | Fev 27, 2014 (portuguese only)]]>  This is the first volume of a series of three, which counts about 170 species of Lepidoptera belonging to the families Hesperiidae and Papilionidae. Inside you can find information about the morphology of the butterflies, the techniques to study them, their geographic distribution in Angola, the ecological relations, and the economic importance. The texts are complemented with a pleasant graphic execution: beautiful pictures of butterflies, photographs of the habitats and maps of geographic distribution. Nuno Ferrand (director of CIBIO-InBIO) was in charge of opening and closing the presentation session. To [...]]]>  The piece was originally broadcasted by RTP2 on Sunday 9, 2014, and you can watch it here, at Farol de Ideias vimeo channel (Portuguese only).]]> The work of Joana Marques, CIBIO-InBIO researcher, on lichens highlighted by the Portuguese newspaper Público. You can read the article and watch the amazing video report shot in the Côa Valley Archaeological Park here: “As gravuras ou os líquenes? Felizmente, no Côa não é preciso escolher” | Público newspaper | Jan 02, 2014 (portuguese version)  Credits:- Yellow linchens (Acarospora charidema): Cristiana Vieira- Biologist Joana Marques searching for linchens: Cristiana Vieira- ark linchen (Peltula lobata): Matthias Schultz- Biologist Joana Marques during the interview: Cláudia Oliveira]]> Comunidade convidada a visitar mostra de anfíbios | Diário de Coimbra | Fev. 04, 2014 (portuguese only) Comunidade convidada a visitar anfíbios na Escola | Diário de Leiria | Fev. 04, 2014 (portuguese only)]]> Carne de mais de 1500 macacos chega aos mercados da Guiné-Bissau todos os anos | Público | Jan 20, 2014 Carne de macaco é petisco para ricos em Bissau | TVI24/CM | Jan 20, 2014 Carne de macaco é petisco em Bissau | RTP Notícias | Jan 20, 2014]]> Watch CIBIO-InBIO researcher José Carlos Brito talk about his work on the programme '5 minutes with a scientist'. '5 minutes with a scientist' is a series of 26 episodes broadcasted by RTP 2, in which Portuguese scientists talk about what sparked their interest in science and the research they conduct. To find out more about this project, promoted by the Science Museum of the University of Coimbra, visit: José Carlos Brito - 5 minutos com um cientista | Museu da Ciência da Universidade de Coimbra | Dec 26, 2013 (in Portuguese)]]> Leia aqui a entrevista a João Tereso, investigador do CIBIO-InBIO, na edição de Dezembro a Março (Ano XIII, N.º 45) da revista Parques e Vida Selvagem. Ao espreitar entre as páginas 51 e 56, poderá tomar contacto com os principais aspectos que motivam o trabalho de investigação de João, aliando arqueologia e a botânica. Rever o passado entre a Arqueologia e a Botânica | Parques e Vida Selvagem, Ano XIII, nº 45 | Dez 22, 2013]]> Albano Beja Pereira, researcher from CIBIO-InBIO and from Faculty of Sciences of University of Porto (FCUP), gave a talk on the origin of domestic animals and, based on DNA data, told the history of a partnership of more than 10.000 years. For more information, plase read: Rui Reininho vai "acabar" com a "Invasão da Casa Andresen" | P3 - Público | Nov 15, 2013 (in portuguese) ]]>  “CIBIO identifica variante de vírus letal para o coelho-bravo” | Notícias UP | Aug 27, 2013 “Proprietários de caça obrigados a ter seguro” | Correio da Manhã | Out 28, 2013 “Praga dos coelhos ameaça lince ibérico” | SOL | Nov 17, 2013 Entrevista a Joana Abrantes (CIBIO-InBIO) sobre o DHV que afecta o coelho | Veterinária Actual | Dezembro, 2013  “Scorpions Use Strongest Defense Mechanisms When Under Attack” | ScienceNewsline | Nov 13, 2013 “Scorpions Use Strongest Defense When Under Attack: How They Choose Between Their Stinger Or Pincers” | International Science Times | Nov 13, 2013 “Scorpions Use Strongest Defense Mechanisms When Under Attack” | ScienceDaily | Nov 13, 2013 “Scorpions Choose Their Weapons Wisely” | redOrbit | Nov 14, 2013  “Mudanças climáticas ameaçam morcegos europeus” | Notícias UP | Out 22, 2013 “Futuro dos morcegos europeus depende das populações ibéricas” | Diário de Notícias | Out 28, 2013]]> As condições climáticas têm vindo a influenciar os hotspots de biodiversidade de populações de Morcego-orelhudo-cinzento, uma espécie cuja distribuição se encontra restrita à Europa. Contudo, num artigo publicado recentemente na prestigiada revista científica Ecology Letters, uma equipa internacional de investigadores que conta com a colaboração de Hugo Rebelo, investigador do CIBIO – Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos/InBIO laboratório Associado, demonstra que estes mananciais de biodiversidade estão em risco perante a ameaça de futuras alterações climáticas. Esta questão é especialmente preocupante, dada a importância da diversidade genética para a capacidade das espécies se adaptarem às mudanças ambientais e [...]]]> “Investigadores do CIBIO ajudam a montar puzzle da evolução” (Portuguese only) | Notícias UP | Apr 26, 2013 “Hares, turtles, and the race to unravel genetic diversity” | PhysOrg | Apr 29, 2013 “Nova abordagem para a compreensão da variabilidade genética das populações” (Portuguese only) | Ciência Hoje | Apr 29, 2013 “Variabilidade genética das populações” (Portuguese only) | Porto Canal | May 28, 2013]]>  “A intrigante vida comunitária do tecelão sociável” | Cientifica Mente / RTP | Out 12, 2013]]> The Doctoral Programme in Biodiversity, Genetics and Evolution (BIODIV) is organized by the two largest Portuguese universities, the University of Porto and the University of Lisbon, and is funded by FCT – Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology. BIODIV aims to create a new generation of researchers in the areas of biodiversity, evolutionary biology and genetics, providing excellent teaching and research and a multicultural learning environment. BIODIV is a 4years programme structured upon a highly flexible system that enables students to design their own curricular profile, by choosing from a diversity of seminars and advanced courses. Please see the call at www.biodiv.pt.For further information, contact applications@biodiv.pt]]> “Sobrevivência de pássaros “urbanos” é condicionada pelo canto” (Portuguese only) | Notícias UP | Oct 1, 2013 “Canto do tentilhão europeu nas ilhas é mais “informal” do que no continente?” (Portuguese only) | Público | Out 2, 2013 “Cantos mais agudos facilitam vida de pássaros nas cidades” (Portuguese only) | Diário de notícias | Out 6, 2013]]> “Morcegos em perigo de extinção descobertos na Tapada de Mafra” | Público | Out 3, 2013 “Morcegos em perigo de extinção descobertos na Tapada de Mafra - especialista” | Expresso | Out 3, 2013 “Morcegos em perigo de extinção descobertos na Tapada de Mafra, revela especialista” | Diário Digital | Out 3, 2013 “Morcegos em perigo de extinção descobertos na Tapada de Mafra” | TVI 24 | Out 3, 2013]]> In a study schedule to be published on the 1st of October in the journal Global Change Biology, Gonçalo C. Cardoso, a behavioural ecologist from CIBIO – Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources/InBIO Associate Laboratory, Portugal shows that the ability of passerine birds to survive in urban areas is influenced by the features of their songs. Gonçalo compared reports of urban tolerance across 140 European and North American passerines to understand how strongly high song frequency can facilitate living in noisy urban environments. The association between high song frequency and urban tolerance was about half as strong as that of the ecological trait most closely associated with urban living: off-ground nesting. This means that acoustic communication is amongst the most important traits of species influencing urban living.  Predicting birds’ ability to live in cities based on the pitch [...]]]> Uma equipa de investigação coordenada por Pedro Esteves, investigador do CIBIO - Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos/InBIO Laboratório Associado e docente na CESPU, identificou uma nova variante do vírus responsável pela Doença Hemorrágica Viral (DHV), que afecta mortalmente o coelho-bravo. No artigo recentemente publicado pela prestigiada revista internacional em doenças infecciosas Emerging Infectious Diseases, os investigadores descrevem a presença e características desta nova variante, isolada pela primeira vez em 2010 em França e que pode estar associada a taxas de mortalidade na ordem dos 50%, em animais provenientes de três localidades do norte e sul do país. Esta informação tem implicações cruciais para a gestão das populações selvagens de coelho-bravo, assim como para a conservação de [...]]]> Image Credits: Cólobo vermelho, fotografia de Tânia Minhós  Equally alarming is the fact that according to the molecular analyses carried out, there is a considerable amount of error in the species identification provided by traders at local markets and restaurants. The insights made available in this study are exceedingly important for the definition and management of conservation strategies to protect these animals. In fact, the incorrect identification of the primates being sold can foster the inadequate allocation of funds and measures [...]]]> Guiné-Bissau: DNA revela comércio ilegal da carne de 6 das 10 espécies de primatas existentes no país • Num estudo recente publicado pela revista Biological Conservation, uma equipa de investigação internacional que conta com a participação de Maria Ferreira da Silva, investigadora no CIBIO - Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos/ InBIO Laboratório Associado e na e na School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, demonstra que 6 das 10 espécies de primatas presentes na Guiné-Bissau são vendidas para consumo humano. Igualmente alarmante é o facto de os dados obtidos através de análises moleculares realizadas pelos investigadores demonstrarem um elevado erro na identificação das espécies fornecida pelos vendedores nos mercados e restaurantes locais. • Esta [...]]]> “Surto de “lagartos do fogo” ao deus dará” | A Nação | Jul 25, 2013]]>
In a study recently published on Nature Climate Change, an international research team led by Miguel B. Araújo, coordinator of CIBIO/InBIO’s pole at the Universidade de Évora, holder of the “Rui Nabeiro” Biodiversity Chair, demonstrates that the conservation efforts to protect the Iberian lynx can be compromised if the effects of climate change are not considered in the reintroduction strategies put forth.

By examining the combined effects of climate change, prey availability and management interventions on the survival of the Iberian lynx, the researchers were able to demonstrate that climate change will expectably prompt a rapid and stark decrease in lynx abundance, which can lead to the species’ extinction within the next 50 years. Their findings suggest that in order to prevent the extinction of the most endangered wild cat, it is necessary to account for the effects of climate change while outlining reintroduction programmes.

[...]]]> Num novo estudo publicado pela revista Nature Climate Change uma equipa de investigação internacional coordenada por Miguel Araújo, investigador do CIBIO – Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos/InBIO Laboratório Associado, concluiu que os esforços para proteger o felino mais ameaçado do mundo poderão ser comprometidos, caso os efeitos das alterações climáticas não sejam considerados na definição de estratégias de reintrodução da espécie.Este estudo fornece a análise mais abrangente dos efeitos das alterações climáticas na dinâmica populacional e conservação de um vertebrado ameaçado.  O Lince Ibérico O Lince Ibérico é o felino mais ameaçado do mundo, estimando-se [...]]]> Pedro Vaz Pinto, researcher of CIBIO/InBIO - ISCED-Huíla, in Angola, has been awarded the 2013 International Prize “Terras Sem Sombra” for biodiversity, in recognition of his work on the conservation of the giant sable antelope, a rare, critically endangered species, which only exists in Angola.

This award is granted annually by the Historical and Artistic Heritage Department of the Diocese of Beja to three outstanding personalities or institutions in the fields of music, cultural heritage and biodiversity. In 2013, this award distinguished the work of Pedro Vaz Pinto on the conservation of the stunning and iconic giant sable antelope, which is one of the most beautiful and majestic antelopes in the world and also the national symbol of Angola.


Conservation of the Giant Sable Antelope and its importance
The giant sable antelope is an endemic species of Angola that only exists in the Malanje province. Due to the lack of reliable records of its [...]]]> Thanks to the work of a team of researchers from CIBIO/InBIO, the conservation status of the terrestrial reptiles of the Cape Verde Island are now available at the IUCN Red List website. In a study published in Oryx last January (Vasconcelos et al., 2013), Raquel Vasconcelos (CIBIO/InBIO and Institut de Biologia Evolutiva – IBE, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas–Universitat Pompeu Fabra - CSIC-UPF), José Carlos Brito (CIBIO/InBIO), Salvador Carranza (IBE, CSIC-UPF) and James Harris (CIBIO/InBIO) review the distribution and conservation status of the terrestrial Cape Verdean herpetofauna.

Their findings have been recently highlighted in IUCN’s international news release about the latest update of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™.


Preserving biodiversity in island populations
The preservation of biodiversity is a key issue on the agendas of policy makers, scientists, environmentalists and increasingly, the [...]]]> “Prémio Internacional Terras Sem Sombra premeia tríade que constitui o seu ADN” | Departamento do PatrimónioHistórico e Artístico da Diocese de Beja | Jul 01, 2013 “Investigador do CIBIO-InBIO vence Prémio Internacional Terras Sem Sombra” | Ciência Hoje | Jul 05, 2013 “Prémio "Terras sem Sombra" entregue na Comporta” | Radío Renascença | Jul 06, 2013 “Investigador do CIBIO-InBIO vence Prémio Internacional Terras Sem [...]]]> Miguel Bastos Araújo, coordinator of the CIBIO/InBIO’s pole of the Universidade de Évora, holder of the “Rui Nabeiro” Biodiversity Chair, has been awarded with the 2013 EBBE NIELSEN PRIZE, by the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF).

The GBIF Science Committee recognized the quality and groundbreaking character of Miguel B. Araújo’s research in applying informatics to model and forecast environmental phenomena, specifically related with the effects of different climate change scenarios on regional and global biodiversity patterns. The €30,000 prize will be used in the development of an ‘Ecotron’ experimental facility that will allow validating predictions of the impact of environmental change on biodiversity in different locations, helping to inform conservation decisions.

The Ebbe Nielsen Prize “was established by the GBIF Governing Board to honour the memory [...]]]> INVESTIGADOR PORTUGUÊS RECEBE O EBBE NIELSEN PRIZE 2013 Miguel Bastos Araújo, professor e investigador convidado da Universidade de Évora, foi distinguido com a atribuição do prestigiado galardão EBBE NIELSEN PRIZE, concedido anualmente pelo Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). O investigador utilizará o prémio de €30.000 no desenvolvimento de um projecto que visa a implementação do “Ecotron”: uma plataforma com instalações experimentais que permitirá validar previsões do impacto de alterações climáticas sobre a biodiversidade em diferentes locais – o que irá contribuir para uma tomada de decisões mais assertivas sobre estratégias de conservação.O Comité Científico do GBIF reconheceu a qualidade e o carácter inovador da pesquisa de [...]]]> The largest scientific and academic cooperation program between research centres from Angola and Portugal was launched last week, on the 27th of May 2013, in Lubango, Huíla. Under the coordination of CIBIO/InBIO, and involving IICT - Instituto de Investigação Científica Tropical and ISCED - Huíla - Instituto Superior de Ciências da Educação do Lubango, this program comes about as the result of a laboratory twinning project led by CIBIO/InBIO and ISCED-Huíla. So far, the program consists of eight ongoing innovative projectsof great importance for the understanding of biodiversity and conservation, including: the study of the genome of the giant sable antelope, an endangered species endemic to Angola; the inventory and mapping of mammals in Angola; or the survey and description of over 800 diurnal butterflies that exist in the country, whose data will be consolidated and conveyed in a groundbreaking book [...]]]> "Bico-de-lacre é um passarinho com personalidade” (Portuguese only) | Diário de Notícias | May 11, 2013 “Bird personality linked to climate variation?” | Science Omega | May 13, 2013 “Les animaux aussi n'en font qu'à leur tête” | Le Monde | Jun 03, 2013]]>  “Ciência portuguesa investe em Angola” | Expresso | Jun 01, 2013]]> “As borboletas de Angola voam por aí no primeiro livro” | Público | Mai 05, 2013 “O Livro Borboletas de Angola” | Antena 1 | Mai 25, 2013 “Biólogos dão asas a novas espécies. As borboletas de Angola” | Novo Jornal | Mai 31, 2013]]>  “Alto Minho com meia centena de lobos, mas metade das alcateias são frágeis” | RTP Notícias | Mai 29, 2013]]> ]]> If you thought the only way to solve a puzzle was by looking at a picture of its end result as you go, guess again. Using an innovative approach to the study of genetic diversity, an international research team, comprising three researchers from the Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources – CIBIO/InBIO Laboratório Associado, in Portugal, demonstrated that it is possible to unveil the mechanisms underlying genetic diversity and evolutionary change, by focusing on species that are not commonly used as model-organisms.
In the age of genome analysis, most of the strategies put forth to tackle genetic diversity have focused on a very limited number of species, for which well-annotated reference genomes are available, as for instance, fruit flies and humans. However, in a recent study, published in the latest issue of PLOS Genetics, Gayral, Melo-Ferreira and colleagues overcome the traditional paradigms of genomic analysis and their potential limitations, and show that it is [...]]]> “Portugueses revelam segredos da cor da pele e dos olhos” | Expresso | Abr 25, 2013 Créditos: fotografia da autoria da investigadora Raquel Vasconcelos]]> “Vespa asiática chegou a Portugal e não deixa as abelhas sair das colmeias” | Público | Fev 04, 2013 “Vespa velutina em Portugal” | SIC | Fev 14, 2013]]> On March 6th 2012, the Niger Government officially established the Termit & Tin Toumma National Nature and Cultural Reserve. At 97,000 km², or approximately the same size as Hungary or the state of Indiana, the reserve is the largest single protected area in Africa. Some 14 per cent of Niger is now made up of protected areas, thus achieving the recommendation of the United Nations Millennium Goals for Development. The fruit of a process initiated in 2004 under the guidance of Niger’s Environment Ministry and UNEP’s Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), work was made possible by generous support from the French Global Environment Facility (FFEM) and the European Union. Technical input was provided by the Sahara Conservation Fund and Belgium’s Royal Institute for Natural Sciences (IRSNB). Local stakeholders have also been heavily involved in the process, including [...]]]> Dr. Robert Drewes (California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco) will present a Seminar in Biodiversity and Evolution entitled "Discovering Biodiversity at the Center of the World" on 23th of March, at 14.30, in Campus Agrário de Vairão auditorium. Scientists have known for some time that the fauna and flora of the Gulf of Guinea islands, and of São Tomé and Príncipe in particular, are special. Nevertheless, apart from the flora and the bird fauna, knowledge on the biodiversity of the islands is mostly based on work done at the end of the 19th Century and many important groups remain completely unstudied.
In order to address this flagrant knowledge gap, Bob Drewes initiated in 2001 the Gulf of Guinea biodiversity project with the objectives of: I. Discovering, documenting and describing unknown elements of the unique biota of the oceanic islands of São Tomé and Príncipe.
II. Analyzing the relationships of the members [...]]]> The prize is awarded every year and aims to distinguish innovating projects and initiatives of research, conservation and management of biological diversity in Portugal.The prize is alternatively awarded in one of the following categories: • Biodiversity: Research and Conservation
• Biodiversity and Business The application period starts on 01 February 2012 and ends on 31 March, 2012. More information here]]> Recognizing the relevance and timeliness of the International Year of Forests, declared by the United Nations under the motto "Forests for people”, InBio joins the celebrations by organising a seminar with invited specialists and the presentation of the e-book entitled "Forests of Northern Portugal - History, Ecology and Management Challenges".This work, coordinated by João Tereso, João Pradinho Honrado, Ana Teresa Pinto and Francisco Castro Rego, join the contributions of experts in different scientific disciplines such as ecology, forest engineering and archaeology.We are certain that the result is a renewed and up-to-date vision of what forest are nowadays, how they have evolved, which are their major threats and what are the main challenges to their future management.Parque Biológico de Gaia on 17th December 2011 at 02:00pm.Program 14:00 - Opening session
Water and Parque Biológico de Gaia” (EEM)
InBio (CIBIO-UP and [...]]]> La salamandra de Cíes tuvo una evolución rápida y singular | Atlántico | Dec 01, 2011 (in spanish only)]]> The international Conference “Comparing Ancient and Modern DNA Variability in Human Populations”, organized by CIBIO, is the fifth conference of the series DNA Polymorphisms in Human Populations. The aim of this conference is to compare the results emerging everywhere about the genetic variability of ancient populations with the modern variability of their supposed descendants, or with populations inhabiting the same region. Contemporary ancient DNA technology allows the typing of several specimens and a population genetics approach of ancient and remote populations is now emerging. With this meeting we want to give emphasis to this new dimension of population studies that equally challenge scholars working with modern or ancient material.This conference will take place from 23-25 November 2011 in Almeida Garrett Municipal Library at the Crystal Palace Gardens.]]> InBio - Research Network in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology - is now a new Associate Laboratory in Portugal since January 1st 2011. The two partners in this new Associate Laboratory are CIBIO (University of Porto, University of Azores, University of Évora, and IICT) and CEABN (ISA, Technical University of Lisbon).]]> CIBIO (Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos da Universidade do Porto) was funded by the CAPACITIES Programme from the European Unit 7th Framework Programme (FP7), which major goal is to stimulate excellency in research and innovation in the EU, with the project Capacity building at CIBIO for research using Next-Gen Sequencing.]]> “Como o coelho ibérico conquistou o mundo” | Expresso | Ago 28, 2010]]> “Descoberta nova espécie de ácaro de lagarto” | Destak | Abr 11, 2009 “Descoberto ácaro do lagarto-de-água” | Público | Abr 11, 2009 “Ciência: Descoberta nova espécie de ácaro de lagarto na fronteira luso-espanhola” | Correio do Minho | Abr 11, 2009 “Nova espécie descoberta na fronteira luso-espanhola” | Diário de Notícias | Abr 12, 2009]]> “Preciosos insectos” | Parques e Vida Selvagem | Set 21, 2008]]>  “Biólogo português estuda crocodilos do Sahara” | Ciência Hoje | Jan 2, 2008]]> “Investigador da U.Porto distinguido com bolsa da National Geographic”| Universia | Set 18, 2007]]> “L’homme, la vache et la LPH” | Les Dossiers de la Recherche | MAI, 2007]]> “Estudo avança para valorizar recursos cinegéticos” | Açoriano Oriental | Out 16, 2006]]> “Uma rede pelo hotspot da biodiversidade europeia” | Revista UPORTO | SET, 2006]]> “Nem cão nem lobo…” | Parque e Vida Selvagem | Set 21, 2006]]> “Mindelo: uma reserva do Norte” | Parques e Vida Selvagem | Set 21, 2006]]> “Sardão de cabeça azul”| Parques e Vida Selvagem | Jun 11, 2006]]> “Primeiros cowboys da Península Ibérica terão sido africanos” | Público | May 12, 2006]]> “Unidades evolutivas do lagarto-de-água em estudo” | Terras da Beira | Mai 11, 2006]]> “O Chico dos Lobos” | Notícias Magazine | Mai 22, 2005]]> “NGS em Missão” | National Geographic | NOV, 2004]]> “Ancient Culture's Wild Donkey Ride” | Discover Magazine | Nov 25, 2004]]> “Grupo de biólogos desvendou a “vida” do estuário do Mondego” | Diário de Coimbra | Ago 09, 2004 “Visita ao estuário do Mondego” | O Figueirense | Ago 13, 2004]]>