Repositório RCAAP

Wildfires are key drivers of land use/land cover (LULC) dynamics by burning vegetation and affecting human infrastructure. On the contrary, LULC changes (LULCCs) may affect the fire regime by influencing vegetation type, burnable areas, fuel loads and continuity. This study investigates the relationship between LULCC and wildfires. We developed a methodology based on different indicators, which allowed us to quantitatively assess and better understand the transitions between LULC classes and burnt area (BA) in Europe in the last two decades (2000–2019). The assessment was performed for the entire European continent and, independently, for each of the five European countries most affected by wildfires: Portugal, Spain, France, Italy and Greece. The main results are the following: (i) LULCC analysis revealed a net loss in forests and arable land and a net gain in shrubs; (ii) most of the BA occurred in forests (42% for the whole of Europe), especially in coniferous forests; (iii) transitions from BA generally were to transitional woodland/shrub or, again, to BA. Overall, our results confirm the existence of a strong relationship between wildfires and LULCCs in Europe, which was quantified in the present study. These findings are of paramount importance in fire and environmental system management and ecology.

Infectious disease systems frequently exhibit strong seasonal patterns, yet themechanisms that underpin intra-annual cycles are unclear, particularly intropical regions. We hypothesized that host immune function fluctuates sea-sonally, contributing to oscillations in infection patterns in a tropical diseasesystem. To test this hypothesis, we investigated a key host defense of amphib-ians against a lethal fungal pathogen,Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis(Bd).We integrated two field experiments in which we perturbed amphibian skinsecretions, a critical host immune mechanism, in Panamanian rocket frogs(Colostethus panamansis). We found that this immunosuppressive techniqueof reducing skin secretions in wild frog populations increasedBdprevalenceand infection intensity, indicating that this immune defense contributes toresistance toBdin wild frog populations. We also found that the chemicalcomposition and anti-Bdeffectiveness of frog skin secretions varied across sea-sons, with greater pathogen inhibition during the dry season relative to thewet season. These results suggest that the effectiveness of this host defensemechanism shifts across seasons, likely contributing to seasonal infection pat-terns in a lethal disease system. More broadly, our findings indicate that hostimmune defenses can fluctuate across seasons, even in tropical regions wheretemperatures are relatively stable, which advances our understanding of intra-annual cycles of infectious disease dynamics.

O encapsulamento do extrato natural em vesículas lipídicas pode manter a bioatividade dos compostos úteis, prevenindo a oxidação. Os etossomas são vesículas lipídicas macias e flexíveis constituídas por fosfolípidos, água, e etanol variando entre 20 e 40 % (v/v). O etanol estabiliza as vesículas lipídicas à medida que melhora a solubilização do extrato, aumentando a permeabilidade da pele e facilitando a permeação e deposição do extrato. Em comparação com os lipossomas convencionais, oferecem melhores características para a administração eficiente de cosméticos. O extrato natural selecionado foi o da planta selvagem Rosa canina L., que por sua vez é uma planta espontânea, ou seja, os processos de fertilizações do solo não são necessários para o seu crescimento. Tendo por base estes conhecimentos, preparou-se 4 formulações de etosomas com 2 tipos diferentes de fosfolípidos: duas formulações contendo lectina (uma com extrato de Rosa canina L. e outra sem extrato) e duas formulações contendo fosfatidilcolina (um com o extrato de Rosa canina L. e outra sem o extrato). De seguida, foram caracterizadas pelas suas propriedades físico-químicas, tais como o tamanho da vesícula, índice de polidispersidade, eficiência de encapsulação, potencial zeta e libertação in vitro. Além disso, foi realizado um ensaio de biocompatibilidade em fibroblastos WS1. Preparou-se 4 geles etossomais e adicionou-se ácido hialurónico a 1 % para facilitar a aplicação na pele e melhorar a hidratação cutânea. Para caracterizar estes geles, foi medido o pH e a viscosidade, e realizados ensaios de libertação do conteúdo total fenólico usando células de difusão de Franz. Os etossomas com fosfatidilcolina e Rosa canina L. demonstraram ser nanotransportadores promissores com uma dimensão de 165.7 ±2.0 nm, um índice de polidispersidade de 0.247 ± 0.02, uma eficiência de encapsulação de 92.80 ± 2.02 % e uma carga negativa de -35.99 ± 1.59 mV. Além disso, os etossomas mostram boa estabilidade durante um período de três meses, com uma libertação lenta de polifenóis em comparação com o extrato livre e não são citotóxicos. Em conclusão, os etosomas poderiam ser nanotransportadores inovadores para o encapsulamento do extrato de roseira brava.

O nosso plano de trabalhos centrar-se-á sobre o período entre o ciclo do ouro do Brasil e a chamada “Viradeira”. A nossa proposta didática analisará e concentrar-se-á sobre a conjuntura económica da segunda metade do século XVII até ao Tratado de Methuen; os efeitos do ouro do Brasil para Portugal; a política económica e social pombalina; a política pombalina e o fomento industrial; a viragem para a indústria manufatureira; a prosperidade comercial de finais do século XVIII, a “Viradeira”. O plano de trabalhos organiza-se da seguinte forma: resumo, introdução, contexto escolar e turma, enquadramento curricular e didático, unidade didática (enquadramento científico e estratégia didática), plano do subdomínio, plano de aulas, notas conclusivas.

Botanical gardens are important spots in urban spaces, both for researchers and for many different kinds of public. Conveying scientific information by means of an attractive digital product, on a pre-or post-visit experience, is a way of captivating the public, especially the youngergeneration, to the relevance of those gardensas repositories of knowledge and for conservation of plant speciesdiversity. This approach also facilitates communication with the general public and access tohistoricaldata. On the other hand, bringing the garden to the desktop of researchers and managers canbe an advantage, not only for an overview of the status quobut also in spatial planning matters. Thispaper describes the production of a 3D dynamic model of the Tropical Botanical Garden in Lisbon on top of a Geographic Information System (GIS).Its development included creatinga spatial database to organise data originating from a variety of sources,the three-dimensional (3D)modelling of plants, buildings and statues, the creation of web pages with historic and contextual information, as wellasthe publication of a number ofinteractive 3D scenes. Several software packages wereused, and the final outputs were published in ArcGIS Online to be explored by the public and researchers (link provided at the end of the text). The data areorganisedin a database,and most 3D modelling tasks are procedural through Computer Generated Architecture (CGA) rules. Thus,updating information or 3D models can be done without having to repeat all steps, an important feature for a dynamic botanical garden. Challenges and solutions are also addressed,providing a constructive contribution to the further implementation of similar experiences in other botanical gardens.According to a user survey carried out, the realism of the representation and the possibility of easily retrievinginformation from the objects are the most positive aspects of the project.

A pele e as membranas mucosas são consideradas os maiores órgãos do corpo humano. Estas constituem a primeira linha de defesa em caso de disrupção da homeostasia causada por qualquer tipo de invasão, o que pode levar a uma aumentada predisposição a infeção de feridas e, consequentemente, impedir a sua cura correta. Quando a barreira epitelial oral é destruída pode originar perda óssea, dano tecidular e, eventualmente, levar a doenças tais como periodontite, doenças mucosas orais e cancro oral. Para superar estes problemas, existe uma clara necessidade de desenvolver novos sistemas de veiculação eficazes e abordagens alternativas que promovam a cura intraoral e a remodelação tecidular. O Electrospinning é uma técnica emergente, simples e barata que explora a força electroestática para produzir fibras contínuas de dimensões nanométricas a partir de vários materiais poliméricos. No entanto, embora as estruturas (scaffolds) obtidas por electrospinning tenham inúmeras vantagens e características benéficas, estas consistem em camadas de fibras densamente empacotadas, o que pode restringir a infiltração e crescimento celular nas mesmas. Assim, há uma necessidade crescente de desenvolver um novo procedimento capaz de criar uma estrutura tridimensional que mimetize a arquitetura da matriz celular nativa. Com este propósito, a combinação da técnica de electrospinning com gas foaming providencia uma abordagem interessante para o tratamento de feridas da mucosa oral. Adicionalmente, os insetos, especialmente os grilos, têm sido propostos como uma ferramenta inovadora para a saúde humana devido aos seus efeitos anti-inflamatórios, antimicrobianos, antifúngicos e antioxidantes, características conferidas pela sua quantidade significativa de quitina. Para melhorar o processo de cura de feridas, foi tida em consideração a adição de hidroxiapatite, um material biocerâmico capaz de mimetizar o conteúdo mineral da matriz extracelular no osso. Tendo estas premissas em conta, este projeto teve como objetivo o delineamento (design) e desenvolvimento de nanofibras baseadas em grilos através de gas foaming enriquecidas com hidroxiapatite, capazes de mimetizar a matriz extracelular nativa e de restaurar o tecido ósseo através da estimulação da produção de cálcio. Foram produzidas estruturas nanofibrosas contendo grilos e hidroxiapatite na sua constituição utilizando a técnica de electrospinning, tendo sido mais tarde convertidos em sistemas tridimensionais utilizando a técnica de gas foaming. A presença de grilos alterou a morfologia das fibras conferindo-lhes uma maior ancoragem à célula, enquanto que a hidroxiapatite lhes providenciou uma elasticidade aumentada e uma maior resistência à quebra. As fibras provaram ser biocompatíveis com fibroblastos humanos e suportar a adesão e proliferação dos mesmos in vitro. Revelaram ainda possuir atividade anti-inflamatória.

Acacia longifolia (Sydney golden wattle) is considered one of the most problematic plant invaders in Mediterranean-type ecosystems. In this study, we investigate the species’ invasion history by comparing the genetic diversity and structure of native (Australia) and several invasive range (Brazil, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, and Uruguay) populations and by modelling different introduction scenarios using these data. We sampled 272 A. longifolia individuals – 126 from different invasive ranges and 146 from the native range – from 41 populations. We genotyped all individuals at four chloroplast and 12 nuclear microsatellite markers. From these data we calculated diversity metrics, identified chloroplast haplotypes, and estimated population genetic structure based on Bayesian assignment tests. We used Approximate Bayesian Computation (ABC) models to infer the likely introduction history into each invaded country. In Australia, population genetic structure of A. longifolia appears to be strongly shaped by the Bass Strait and we identified two genetic clusters largely corresponding to mainland Australian and Tasmanian populations. We found invasive populations to represent a mixture of these clusters. Similar levels of genetic diversity were present in native and invasive ranges, indicating that invasive populations did not go through a genetic bottleneck. Bayesian assignment tests and chloroplast haplotype frequencies further suggested a secondary introduction event between South Africa and Portugal. However, ABC analyses could not confidently identify the native source(s) of invasive populations in these two countries, probably due to the known high propagule pressure that accompanied these introductions. ABC analyses identified Tasmania as the likely source of invasive populations in Brazil and Uruguay. A definitive native source for Spanish populations could also not be identified. This study shows that tracing the introduction history of A. longifolia is difficult, most likely because of the complexity associated with the extensive movement of the species around the world. Our findings should be considered when planning management and control efforts, such as biological control, in some invaded regions.

A administração pulmonar de fármacos é complexa devido a diferentes mecanismos de defesa do trato respiratório, resultando numa toma repetida de fármacos e baixa adesão à terapêutica por parte do doente. Dito isto, formas inovadoras de melhorar a biodisponibilidade pulmonar têm sido investigadas. Ciclodextrinas são excipientes populares pela sua ação solubilizadora de compostos pouco hidrossolúveis. Os polímeros tiolados são usados pelas suas propriedades muco adesivas e de aumento de permeabilidade. Neste estudo, as propriedades solubilizantes e de aumento da permeação da hidroxipropil-β-ciclodextrina tiolada foram investigadas, usando como fármaco-modelo a dexametasona, que é pouco hidrossolúvel. A ciclodextrina tiolada foi sintetizada via micro-ondas, resultando numa ciclodextrina com um grau de tiolação de 25%. A estrutura foi confirmada por espetroscopia 1H RMN, e os nano-agregados formados foram avaliados pelo método de dispersão dinâmica de luz. Estudos de citotoxicidade foram realizados com recurso ao ensaio de WST-1 em placas de 96 poços para os complexos ciclodextrina-dexametasona, em células alveolares tipo II da linha celular imortalizada NCI-H441 de adenocarcinoma pulmonar humano e demonstraram uma viabilidade celular mantida. A permeabilidade da dexametasona foi avaliada através de uma mono camada de células alveolares, de forma a representar de modo simplificado a absorção alveolar. Os resultados mostram que há maior permeação de dexametasona através da mona camada quando complexada com ciclodextrina tiolada, em comparação com ciclodextrina não tiolada, sugerindo que a ciclodextrina tiolada possui propriedades muco adesivas que prolongam o seu tempo de residência no local alvo. Para além disto, a ciclodextrina tiolada parece ter uma maior capacidade de solubilizar a dexametasona do que a não tiolada. Assim, estes resultados sugerem que a hidroxipropil-β-ciclodextrina tiolada é um excipiente promissor para formulações pulmonares de fármacos pouco hidrossolúveis, tendo um tempo de residência prolongado resultando numa maior biodisponibilidade do fármaco, o que ulteriormente pode resultar numa redução da dose administrada e maior adesão do doente.

Animal tracking has afforded insights into patterns of space use in numerous species and thereby informed area-based conservation planning. A crucial consideration when estimating spatial distributions from tracking data is whether the sample of tracked animals is representative of the wider population. However, it may also be important to track animals in multiple years to capture changes in distribution in response to varying environmental conditions. Using GPS-tracking data from 23 seabird species, we assessed the importance of multi-year sampling for identifying important sites for conservation during the chick-rearing period, when seabirds are most spatially constrained. We found a high degree of spatial overlap among distributions from different years in most species. Multi-year sampling often captured a significantly higher portion of reference distributions (based on all data for a population) than sampling in a single year. However, we estimated that data from a single year would on average miss only 5 % less of the full distribution of a population compared to equal-sized samples collected across three years (min: −0.3 %, max: 17.7 %, n = 23). Our results suggest a key consideration for identifying important sites from tracking data is whether enough individuals were tracked to provide a representative estimate of the population distribution during the sampling period, rather than that tracking necessarily take place in multiple years. By providing an unprecedented multi-species perspective on annual spatial consistency, this work has relevance for the application of tracking data to informing the conservation of seabirds.

Esta dissertação de doutoramento insere-se na área científica de Geografia Física, mais especificamente noâmbito da Fitogeografia. O trabalho de investigação abarca trinta e três espaços verdes do concelho doFunchal, ordenados em cinco categorias: Jardins e Parques Públicos não vedados com acesso livre 24horas; Jardins Públicos de uso condicionado, vedados, que encerram durante a noite e durante alguns diasdo ano; Jardins Privados com acesso público; iJardins dos Hotéis; Cemitérios.Na Introdução (Capítulo 1) é feita uma abordagem do Funchal como cidade jardim, são localizados osespaços verdes e enumerados os objectivos deste trabalho de investigação.O Capítulo 2 (Caracterização Biofísica do Concelho) inicia-se com uma descrição dos aspectos geológicos egeomorfológicos, seguindo-se uma breve análise climática em que é vincada a importância da altitude namodificação das condições atmosféricas e o seu reflexo na flora e na imagem dos jardins. Na caracterizaçãohidrológica, para além da análise da relação entre o relevo, o regime de precipitação e o carácter torrencialdas ribeiras, é descrita a importância das levadas no transporte de água desde as vertentes voltadas a Nortepara a rega dos espaços verdes especialmente durante o Verão. Após a referência à composição físicoquímicados solos, este capítulo termina com a caracterização da vegetação indígena e a sua organizaçãoem andares fitoclimáticos.No Capítulo 3 (Metodologia) são definidas as etapas do processo de investigação e explicitados osconceitos referentes aos descritores utilizados no Estudo Fitogeográfico de cada espaço verde e no seuconjunto.O Capítulo 4 (Estudo Individualizado dos Espaços Verdes) é o mais extenso. Tendo por base o trabalho decampo realizado entre Janeiro de 2002 e Janeiro de 2005, cada espaço verde está retratado num texto quecontém: uma breve resenha histórica; a área, a topografia e o andar fitoclimático; a descrição fitogeográfica;a caracterização da flora, que inclui a composição florística, a riqueza taxonómica e a abundância específica(calculada apenas para as árvores); a caracterização da vegetação, através da análise do porte, do regimefenológico (calendários da follheação e da floração), e da densidade da formação vegetal; a distribuiçãofitogeográfica da flora ornamental e a sua rusticidade; uma referência às funções e equipamentos.Após a análise individual das características fitogeográficas dos trinta e três espaços verdes, no capítulo 5(Síntese Fitogeográfica dos Espaços Verdes Estudados) é elaborada uma síntese sobre o estudocomparativo da flora e da vegetação, com base na informação contida no capítulo 4 e nos capítulosanteriores que descrevem as características dos biótopos dos espaços verdes estudados. Aqui se avalia afitodiversidade do conjunto dos espaços verdes do concelho do Funchal, e se avançam tentativas deexplicação para a diversidade florística, o comportamento fenológico das plantas e a origem geográfica daflora ornamental estudada.No Capítulo 6 apresenta-se o Elenco Florístico, que, por razões formais não foi anexado ao capítulo 5. Neleé possível verificar que, no conjunto dos espaços verdes estudados existem 1928 taxa (1771 espécies, 32subespécies, 40 variedades e 85 híbridos), que pertencem a 901 géneros e 194 famílias..No Capítulo 7 (Conclusões) é relevada a extraordinária fitodiversidade dos jardins do Funchal e a suaimportância na conservação de espécies endémicas ameaçadas na Natureza. Em contrapartida, é vincada aenorme vulnerabilidade taxonómica. A lista da Bibliografia consultada remata o trabalho.

O objetivo geral do presente estudo foi analisar as percepções dos professores acerca dos alunos sobredotados.

Species baseline information is required for effective biodiversity conservation. Here we provide sound ecological data to support effective conservation of the Principe Scops-owl, Otus bikegila Melo, Freitas, Verbelen, Costa, Pereira, Fuchs, Sangster, Correia, de Lima & Crottini 2022, discovered in 2016. We mapped the observed and potential distribution, inferred habitat associations, estimated population size, and assessed the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List category for this species. Surveys were carried out across Príncipe Island during the long and short dry seasons, recording owl presence in sampling points along transects. These data were used to model distribution, revealing that the Principe Scops-owl is restricted to 34.4 km2 in the south of the island, inside the Príncipe Obô Natural Park. Most records were in lower altitude native forest. Remoteness was the most important variable to explain presence at island level, followed by land use, which showed that the species is restricted to forest, clearly depending on native forest. Distance sampling using different models suggested a population density ranging between 33.4 individuals/km2 (95% CI: 23.6–47.2) and 46.4 individuals/km2 (95% CI: 29.3–73.6), which extrapolates to an estimated population size ranging from 1,149 individuals (95% CI: 813–1,623) to 1,597 individuals (95% CI: 1,007–2,533). We propose that the species is classified as “Critically Endangered” due to the small extent of occurrence, coupled with occurrence in a single location and inferred continuing declines in the extent of occurrence, area of occupancy, number of mature individuals and area, extent, and quality of habitat. Effective conservation of the Principe Scops-owl requires regular monitoring and further studies focusing on reproduction and potential nest predation by introduced mammals. Widespread support for the conservation of the Natural Park is vital to ensure the protection of this species and the endemic-rich native forests of Príncipe on which it depends.

Developing organisms are often exposed to fluctuating environments that destabilize tissue-scale processes and induce abnormal phenotypes. This might be common in species that lay eggs in the external environment and with little parental care, such as many reptiles. In turtles, morphological development has provided striking examples of abnormal phenotypic patterns, though the influence of the environment remains unclear. To this end, we compared fluctuating asymmetry, as a proxy for developmental instability, in turtle hatchlings incubated in controlled laboratory and unstable natural conditions. Wild and laboratory hatchlings featured similar proportions of supernumerary scales (scutes) on the dorsal shell (carapace). Such abnormal scutes likely elevated shape asymmetry, which was highest in natural nests. Moreover, we tested the hypothesis that hot and dry environments cause abnormal scute formation by subjecting eggs to a range of hydric and thermal laboratory incubation regimes. Shape asymmetry was similar in hatchlings incubated at five constant temperatures (26-30°C). A hot (30°C) and severely Dry substrate yielded smaller hatchlings but scutes were not overtly affected. Our study suggests that changing nest environments contribute to fluctuating asymmetry in egg-laying reptiles, while clarifying the conditions at which turtle shell development remains buffered from the external environment.

Changes in the structural association of skeletal traits are crucial to the evolution of novel forms and functions. In vertebrates, such rearrangements often occur gradually and may precede or coincide with the functional activation of skeletal traits. To illustrate this process, we examined the ontogeny of African hinge-back tortoises (Kinixys spp.). Kinixys species feature a moveable “hinge” on the dorsal shell (carapace) that enables shell closure (kinesis) when the hind limbs are withdrawn. This hinge, however, is absent in juveniles. Herein, we describe how this unusual phenotype arises via alterations in the tissue configuration and shape of the carapace. The ontogenetic repatterning of osseous and keratinous tissue coincided with shifts in morphological integration and the establishment of anterior (static) and posterior (kinetic) carapacial modules. Based on ex vivo skeletal movement and raw anatomy, we propose that Kinixys employs a “sliding hinge” shell-closing system that overcomes thoracic rigidity and enhances the protective capacity of the carapace. Universal properties of the vertebrate skeleton, such as plasticity, modularity, and secondary maturation processes, contributed to adaptive evolutionary change in Kinixys. We discuss a hypothetical model to explain the delayed emergence of skeletal traits and its relevance to the origins of novel form-to-function relationships.

Green (and blue) spaces receive attention as important components of cities that can help to mitigate the effects of climate change, support biodiversity and improve public health. Green space planning aims to transform cities towards urban sustainability and resilience. In a longitudinal study, representatives from eleven European municipalities that had previously been interviewed in 2014 were re-interviewed in 2020–2021 on changes in urban greening and related practices. The interviewees reported mainly advancements in dealing with ecological issues, such as new plans, strategies, regulations or funding programmes for climate adaptation or biodiversity support, as well as some progress in co-governance with non-governmental stakeholders. Promising developments include breaking professional silos by creating new units that can better deal with complex urban issues. In a few cases, high-level local politicians induced profound changes. These changes stimulated the development of new planning and governance cultures, resulting in more co-creation of urban green spaces. However, from a transformation studies perspective, incremental strategies dominate, and even when municipal representatives are aware that substantive changes are needed, they often lack the means to act. For more radical system change, significant extra efforts are needed.

Keystone species are disproportionately important for ecosystem functioning. While all species engage in multiple interaction types with other species, keystone species importance is often defined based on a single dimension of their Eltonian niche, that is, one type of interaction (e.g. keystone predator). It remains unclear whether the importance of keystone species is unidimensional or if it extends across interaction types. We conducted a meta-analysis of tripartite interaction networks examining whether species importance in one dimension of their niche is mirrored in other niche dimensions, and whether this is associated with interaction outcome, intimacy or species richness. We show that keystone species importance is positively associated across multiple ecological niche dimensions, independently of abundance, and find no evidence that multidimensionality of keystone species is influenced by the explanatory variables. We propose that the role of keystone species extends across multiple ecological niche dimensions, with important implications for ecosystem resilience and conservation.

Lichens are one of the most responsive components of the ecosystem to reactive forms of nitrogen. In this work, we selected the lichen genera Cladonia and Usnea, composed of terricolous and epiphytic lichens respectively, and described as sensitive to nitrogen, to test the effects of different doses of nitrogen on lichen physiological parameters (photobiont and mycobiont vitality, chitin quantification, nitrogen content and stable isotopes analysis). The main objectives were to check if the activation of protective mechanisms could be stimulated in case of chronic stress (low nitrogen increase for prolonged time), and, if so, if a toxicity threshold could be identified above which these mechanisms fail. The two lichen genera were generally affected by prolonged exposure to increased nitrogen availability. However, Cladonia rangiformis was able to maintain physiological functioning at the lowest nitrogen doses used, whereas thalli of Usnea become overwhelmed. Moreover, the mycobiont appeared to be more sensitive than the photobiont responding to lower nitrogen doses. Although only studies of longer duration and testing more nitrogen doses will be able to determine an accurate toxicity threshold, these results give important clues on the use of lichens as biomonitors for the establishment of environmental policies.

Four new species of Afrotropical ground beetles of the genus Macrocheilus Hope, 1838 (Coleoptera, Carabidae) are described: M. assmanni n. sp. from Tanzania, M. kudrnai n. sp. from Benin and Burkina Faso, M. philippeorum n. sp. from Benin, Burkina Faso and Senegal and M. schuelei n. sp. from Central African Republic. An annotated checklist of 19 Afrotropical species and subspecies is provided, including data on general distribution and new distribution records at country level. Further, a dichotomic key is made available for the identification of the Afrotropical (excluding Madagascar) Macrocheilus species and subspecies and diagnosing morphological characters of both males and females are illustrated.

A variety of veterinary and human medicinal products (VHMPs) are found in groundwater, an often-neglected habitat inhabited by species with unique traits, stygobitic species. It is crucial to understand the effect of VHMPs on stygobitic species because they may respond differently to stressors than surface species. Our hypothesis is that groundwater species may be more susceptible to environmental contaminants due to less plasticity in their detoxification response and acquisition of energy because subterranean habitats are more stable and isolated from anthropogenic activities. We performed a battery of biomarkers associated with important physiological functions on the stygobitic asellid crustacean Proasellus lusitanicus, after a 14-day exposure to acetaminophen, a commonly used pharmaceutical and pollutant of groundwaters. Our results show a decrease in total glutathione levels and an increase in glutathione S-transferase activity, suggesting a successful detoxification response. This helps explaining why acetaminophen did not cause oxidative damage, as well as had no effect on cholinesterase activity nor in aerobic production of energy. This study shows the remarkable capacity of P. lusitanicus to tolerate sublethal concentrations of VHMP acetaminophen. Most ecotoxicological studies on stygobitic species focused on the lethal effects of these compounds. The present study focuses on consequences at sublethal concentrations. Future studies should assess the stress levels induced to better predict and estimate the impacts of contaminants on groundwater ecosystems.

No summary/description provided