RCAAP Repository

This research aimed to estimate the splash erosion and its evolution during the first months in specific land uses after a forest fire. The study area was located in Congosto (North-West Spain), in the margins of Spanish drylands, after a wildfire occurred in May 2012, which burned 15.56 ha of scrubland and Pinus reforestation. Two different burned land uses were selected and compared to control areas: i) burned pine forest; and, scrublands. Rainfall intensity and the number, sizes and speed of raindrops were measured by an optical disdrometer and soil loss by funnels. Moreover, infiltration, soil moisture content, aggregate stability, water repellence, pH and organic matter were also measured. Results showed that the highest soil losses occurred in the burned areas, especially in the scrubland plots. The most influential factors were the presence of bare soil and the low vegetation recovery rate. Changes in soil properties did not significantly influence splash erosion, although an increase in the presence of smaller classes of aggregates could promote erosion in the scrubland. We conclude that the vegetation ecosystem restoration is the key issue to be considered after a wildfire, especially, in those types of land uses which are severely affected by the fire in the margins of drylands.

Wolbachia are maternally-inherited bacteria that induce cytoplasmic incompatibility in many arthropod species. However, the ubiquity of this isolation mechanism for host speciation processes remains elusive, as only few studies have examined Wolbachia-induced incompatibilities when host populations are not genetically compatible. Here, we used three populations of two genetically differentiated colour forms of the haplodiploid spider mite Tetranychus urticae to dissect the interaction between Wolbachia-induced and host-associated incompatibilities, and their relative contribution to postmating isolation. We found that these two sources of incompatibility act through different mechanisms in an additive fashion. Host-associated incompatibility contributes 1.5 times more than Wolbachia-induced incompatibility in reducing hybrid production, the former through an overproduction of haploid sons at the expense of diploid daughters (ca. 75% decrease) and the latter by increasing the embryonic mortality of daughters (by ca. 49%). Furthermore, regardless of cross direction, we observed near-complete F1 hybrid sterility and complete F2 hybrid breakdown between populations of the two forms, but Wolbachia did not contribute to this outcome. We thus show mechanistic independence and an additive nature of host-intrinsic and Wolbachia-induced sources of isolation. Wolbachia may contribute to reproductive isolation in this system, thereby potentially affecting host differentiation and distribution in the field.

Developmental plasticity can match organismal phenotypes to ecological conditions, helping populations to deal with the environmental heterogeneity of alternating seasons. In contrast to natural situations, experimental studies of plasticity often use environmental conditions that are held constant during development. To explore potential interactions between day and night temperatures, we tested effects of circadian temperature fluctuations on thermally plastic traits in a seasonally plastic butterfly, Bicyclus anynana. Comparing phenotypes for four treatments corresponding to a full-factorial analysis of cooler and warmer temperatures, we found evidence of significant interaction effects between day and night temperatures. We then focused on comparing phenotypes between individuals reared under two types of temperature fluctuations (warmer days with cooler nights, and cooler days with warmer nights) and individuals reared under a constant temperature of the same daily mean. We found evidence of additive-like effects (for body size), and different types of dominance-like effects, with one particular period of the light cycle (for development time) or one particular extreme temperature (for eyespot size) having a larger impact on phenotype. Differences between thermally plastic traits, which together underlie alternative seasonal strategies for survival and reproduction, revealed their independent responses to temperature. This study underscores the value of studying how organisms integrate complex environmental information toward a complete understanding of natural phenotypic variation and of the impact of environmental change thereon.

- Butterfly eyespots play a role in predator avoidance and mate-choice, but more field studies and a better account of animal color vision are needed to better understand the selective pressures shaping eyespot evolution - Comparative analyses of eyespot development have shed light on the evolution of eyespot gene regulatory networks and on the origin of eyespot developmental plasticity - Eyespot development involves two patterning processes responsible for first placing eyespot organizing centers in larval wings, and then placing color rings around them in pupal wings; both of these have been subject to recent modelling and genetic analysis - CRISPR-Cas9 has made it easier to test the function of genes expressed in developing eyespots and to test predictions of models of eyespot patterning - Next generation sequencing (NGS)-based approaches, including RNA-seq, GWAS, and ATACSeq, will boost the genetic dissection of eyespot development and diversification

The characteristic declination is the declination for the day on which the daily extra-terrestrial irradiation on a horizontal surface is identical to its monthly average value. It was introduced as a means to determine monthly average values of irradiation. This paper explores its potential usefulness to reduce computing time when mapping solar potential in complex urban areas. This simplification reduces computing demand by a factor of 30x while introducing a +5 to +8% error in the annual monthly irradiation on a typical urban neighborhood for a low and mid-latitudes. Errors are larger (+10 to +12%) for high latitudes. The magnitude of the errors is comparable to other relevant uncertainties in solar mapping tools, associated with solar radiation modeling, the layout and details of the buildings or the PV energy yield models.

Esta tese parte da análise dos filmes The Birds, de Alfred Hitchcock, e Journal d'un curé de campagne, de Robert Bresson, e dos depoimentos destes dois realizadores, para fazer uma descrição geral do cinema e da importância do espectador na construção do significado de um filme. Nela são tratadas questões linguísticas, literárias e epistemológicas, sobre usos de palavras em filmes, sobre interpretação, e sobre a percepção, o conhecimento e a construção de sentido.

This study aimed to find possibilities for the coexistence of digital and analogue media in the independent music scene. In order to contextualize the study it starts by describing the landscape of the musical industry since the beginning of the recorded music. It begins with a chronological review of the recording media to understand the progressive dematerialization levered by de digital technology. The dematerialization and the internet are the milestones for a changing paradigm with an impact on the music industry. Next it describes the way the digital media is changing the graphic design for musical projects. Some aspects are important like the democratization of the production resources and the possibilities of publishing provided by the internet. Some artists, who already grew up on the digital era, are using analogue processes as an inspiration. They produce physical objects which they promote using their digital skills and the potential of the internet. To try to identify publishing and disclosure habits in the independent music in Portugal we created a survey. Having the main findings of the research and the survey as a reference, we created a project entitled Colanimal. The purpose of this project is to spread and promote printing techniques and encourage the collaboration between musicians and designers creating posters and publications

In this work, using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers, we present new insights into the genetic diversity, differentiation, and structure of Beta vulgaris subsp. maritima of western Iberia and the Azores and Madeira islands and of B. macrocarpa from southern Portugal. B. macrocarpa occurs only in southern Portugal and frequently in sympatry with B. vulgaris subsp. maritima, showing genetic introgression. B. macrocarpa has a better-defined structure than B. vulgaris subsp. maritima, which has a high degree of admixture. A great differentiation (FST ranging from 0.277 to 0.184) was observed among the northern populations of B. vulgaris subsp. maritima. In contrast, only a small differentiation (FST ranging from 0.000 to 0.026) was detected among the southern B. vulgaris subsp. maritima populations. The inland B. vulgaris subsp. maritima populations (“RIO” and “VMT”) are distinct from each other, which also occurs with the two islands’ populations (“MAD” and “AZO”). The existence of two distinct Atlantic Sea currents can explain the fact that Madeira is related to the southern populations, while the Azores is related to the northern populations. We consider that understanding the relationships existing within Beta spp. is key to future genetic studies and for the establishment of conservation measures. Our results show that the southern coastal areas of Portugal should be considered as a potential site for in situ conservation of the beet wild relatives. Special attention is needed in what concerns B. macrocarpa because this is a rare species that also occurs in a sympatric relationship with B. vulgaris subsp. maritima.

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Global change and growing human population are exhausting arable land and resources, including water and fertilizers. We present inoculation with the endophytic plant-growth promoting bacterium (PGPB) Herbaspirillum seropedicae as a strategy for promoting growth, nutrient uptake and photosynthetic efficiency in rice (Oryza sativa L.). Because plant nutrient acquisition is coordinated with photosynthesis and the plant carbon status, we hypothesize that inoculation with H. seropedicae will stimulate proton (H+) pumps, increasing plant growth nutrient uptake and photosynthetic efficiency at low nutrient levels. Plants were inoculated and grown in pots with sterile soil for 90 days. Herbaspirillum seropedicae endophytic colonization was successful and, as hypothesized, inoculation (1) stimulated root vacuolar H+ pumps (vacuolar H+-ATPase and vacuolar H+-PPase), and (2) increased plant growth, nutrient contents and photosynthetic efficiency. The results showed that inoculation with the endophytic bacterium H. seropedicae can promote plant growth, nutrient uptake and photosynthetic efficiency, which will likely result in a more efficient use of resources (nutrients and water) and higher production of nutrient-rich food at reduced economic and environmental costs.

Drylands are highly susceptible to degradation and climate change, which has important ecological and socio- economic consequences worldwide. To halt drylands degradation, plant species selection for restoration is starting to include also a functional approach, but does not integrate belowground functional traits yet. Therefore we tested the use of mycorrhizal traits to identify native plant species which host guilds of beneficial microbes and therefore enhance multiple soil functions simultaneously – soil multifunctionality. We used a soil organic matter (SOM) gradient (0.9–1.9%) and evaluated the effect of 14 common and abundant native herbaceous plant species (+bare soil) on soil functionality. We measured several soil functions (soil microbial biomass, metabolic quotient, and enzymatic activities – dehydrogenase, β-glucosidase and phosphatase) and built a soil multi- functionality index. Soil multifunctionality was strongly associated with mycorrhizal traits across the analysed SOM gradient. Bare soils and soils under non- or low-mycorrhizal plant species displayed the lower soil func- tionality (both individual functions and multifunctionality), while soils under Fabaceae species (Medicago truncatula, Astragalus corrugatus and Lotus halophilus) displayed the highest. For each plant species, the highest soil multifunctionality was observed at the SOM-richer site. Soil multifunctionality was strongly associated with all the mycorrhizal traits but mycorrhizal intensity and AMF spores abundance were more correlated with soil multifunctionality than mycorrhizal frequency. Our data show that: i) AM traits can be good indicators of simultaneous multiple soil functions in drylands; and ii) soil multifunctionality in drylands can be improved by management practices promoting SOM accumulation and favouring specific native plant species.

Despite its importance as a component of urban green spaces, as far as we are aware no study has focused on plant diversity in urban green corridors (GCs). Therefore, this study aimed at: (i) characterizing tree and shrub communities in Lisbon’s GCs and (ii) assessing whether GCs’ users value trees and shrubs. We counted Lisbon’s GCs users in the same places where we assessed the tree and shrub community. Along the nine GCs, we observed trees and shrubs belonging to 70 species, distributed across 35 families with most (≥50%) species and plants being trees, exotic, pollinated by insects, with fruit dispersion by animals, evergreen leaves, and producing dry fruits. Most GCs had a similar number of users (20–30 users h−1 survey−1) except for those of Central and Ribeirinho, which were more frequented (60 and 100 users h−1 survey−1, respectively). Most users (≥50%) were adults, walking accompanied, and performing leisure activities. Finally, the number of users was shown to be influenced by: (i) tree and shrub relative abundance, confirming that users preferred greener corridors; and (ii) function(s), showing that users preferred the most multifunctional GCs (i.e., GCs fulfilling ecological, cultural, and recreational functions). Our data suggest that Lisbon’s GCs favor more the inclusion of citizens than ecological functionality and resilience.

Soils are essential to life on Earth but are rapidly degrading worldwide due to unsustainable human activities. We argue that soil degradation constitutes a key Earth system process that should be added to the planetary boundaries framework.

Atmospheric nitrogen (N) inputs in the Mediterranean Basin are projected to increase due to fossil fuel combustion, fertilizer use, and the exacerbation of agricultural production processes. Although increasing N deposition is recognized as a major threat to ecosystem functioning, little is known about how local environmental conditions modulate ecosystem function response to N addition, particularly in the context of Mediterranean-Basin ecosystems. Here, we assess how N addition affects important ecosystem properties associated with litter decomposition, soil physical-chemical properties, soil extracellular enzymatic activity and microbial abundance across three long-term N addition experimental sites in the Mediterranean Basin. Sites were located in El Regajal (Madrid, Spain), Capo Caccia (Alghero, Italy), and Arrábida (Lisbon, Portugal) and are all representative of Mediterranean shrublands. No common pattern for litter decomposition process or other studied variables emerged among the control plots of the studied sites. Nitrogen supply only affected soil pH, a major driver of decomposition, in two out of three experimental sites. Moreover, when we explored the role of N addition and soil pH in controlling litter decay, we found that the effects of these factors were site-dependent. Our results point out to local ecosystem features modulating N addition effects in controlling litter decomposition rates in Mediterranean ecosystems, suggesting that the responses of soil functioning to N deposition are site- dependent. These findings provide further knowledge to understand contrasting ecosystem responses to N additions based on a single field experiments.

The riots of 2005 in Mocímboa da Praia and the current violent attacks in Cabo Delgado province have resulted in a range of unsettling rumors. This article revisits the riots and their aftermath to make sense of the rumors that have spread since then, fueling fears of violence and uncertainty. These disconcerting rumors are especially rich in what they tell us about the perception of the political Other and the narratives that materialize following violent events. The way in which rumors circulated and were believed or discarded draws a rough picture of the local political arena. This article discusses the elusive nature of trust following sudden violence and addresses the role and relevance of rumors as an obstacle to the creation of peaceful trust relationships.

Twenty issues and around 10,000 pages after its launching, Pessoa Plural―A Journal of Fernando Pessoa Studies celebrates ten years. It is not we who do not stop, and it is Pessoa who does not stop nor will stop and will continue to be better known in the years to come. Vinte números e umas 10,000 páginas depois do seu lançamento, a revista Pessoa Plural―A Journal of Fernando Pessoa Studies celebra 10 anos. Não somos nós que não paramos. É Pessoa que não pára nem parará. É Pessoa que continuará a ser mais e mais conhecido no futuro.

Throughout the world, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted family routines, relationships, projects and sociability, threatening the health, income, social cohesion, and well-being of individuals and their families. Lockdown restrictions imposed during the first wave of the pandemic challenged the theories, concepts, and methods used by family sociologists and the intersecting fields of gender and social inequality. By restricting physical interactions to co-resident family members, the household regained a privileged role as a crucial social laboratory for studying the impact of COVID-19 on family life. The difficulties encountered by individuals in maintaining and dealing with close relationships across households and geographical borders, in a context in which relational proximity was discouraged by the public authorities, exposed the linked nature of family and personal relationships beyond the limits of co-residence. The main aim of this article is to investigate the social impacts of the pandemic on different types of households during the first lockdown at an early stage of the pandemic in Portugal. Drawing on an online survey applied to a non-probabilistic sample of 11,508 households between 25 and 29 March 2020, the authors combined quantitative and qualitative methods, including bi-variate inferential statistics, cluster analysis and in-depth case studies. The article distinguishes between different household types: solo, couple with and without children, extended, friendship, lone-parent families, and intermittent arrangements, such as shared custody. A cross-tabulation of the quantitative data with open-ended responses was carried out to provide a refined analysis of the household reconfigurations brought about during lockdown. The analysis showed how pre-existing unequal structural living conditions shaped the pathways leading to household reconfiguration as families sought to cope with restrictions on mobility, social distancing norms, and other lockdown measures. The findings stress that, in dealing with a crisis, multilevel welfare interventions need to be considered if governments are to cater to the differentiated social needs and vulnerabilities faced by individuals and families.

I - In the example of La totalidad imposible are made the assumptions to define site-specific painting. Concepts such as topos / locus are articulated with the problem of musealization in order to formalize the specificity of this painting. The position of the painting on display is determined (also) by its pre-figuration: by a representation where the regime of implementation specified in the citation (in the representation and in the title) allows the cutting, repetition, mise en abyme and the mise en scène to participate in a performative way. II - «In advance of» distinguishes itself by using citation as a constant resource on representation and in the title. The fragment is conceptualised as a part of the representation: fragment as formal statement of a figural order. III - The Museum as Muse: an option to intervene in continuum. Nimium ne credere colori exemplifies how the performativity of a place within the regime of co-presence of exhibitions is achieved from games made in trompe l'oeil to camouflage representation. IV - ConTemplar ou A moldura como limite allows to give focus to the theme / concept of the frame that spans the previous examples: while parergon, as assumed in presence or represented, in whole or fragmented, complete or incomplete. V – Site-specific Painting: five works for the former Convent of San Francisco in Lisbon. Photographic documentation of the corpus of practical dissertation

Este trabalho teve como objetivo implementar, otimizar e validar um método de quantificação de quatro componentes gasosas, monóxido de carbono, CO, dióxido de carbono, CO2, propano, C3H8 e oxigénio, O2, numa matriz de gases de escape. O método desenvolvido permite ao Instituto de Soldadura e Qualidade, ISQ, com uma futura acreditação, certificar misturas destes quatro componentes na matriz de interesse. Para esse fim, iniciou-se com a consulta dos manuais do cromatógrafo gasoso Inficon Micro GC Fusion e dos métodos implementados no ISQ para certificação de misturas gasosas, obtendo uma fundamentação sólida por onde iniciar o desenvolvimento do novo método. Uma vez que a determinação da composição de misturas de gases é regida pela norma ISO 6143, utilizou-se o procedimento descrito nesta norma internacional como referência ao longo do trabalho desenvolvido. Utilizando os parâmetros exigidos pela norma, foram determinadas duas gamas de trabalho que satisfazem os objetivos estabelecidos pelo ISQ. A validação do método desenvolvido baseou-se na ISO 6143 e no “Guia Relacre nº13 – Validação de métodos internos de ensaio em análise química”. As incertezas apresentadas foram calculadas recorrendo ao software xGenline desenvolvido pelo National Physical Laboratory, NPL, e expandidas para um grau de confiança de 95%. Finalmente, avaliou-se a exatidão e precisão do método analisando materiais de referência certificados calculando o coeficiente de variação, erro relativo e erro normalizado para todos os componentes.

This essay is an ethnographic analysis of the life history of a middle-aged man living in a small town in southern Portugal during the “austerity” crisis. Pedro’s initial engagement with caring for older persons eventually led him to a fascination with “things”, to such an extent that his friends jokingly call him a coisista (a ‘thingist’). His life story, as that of someone who has become a specialist in dealing with what happens to domestic objects when households break down, can help us throw light on the complexities of the process of objectification. Taking recourse to a long tradition of phenomenological analyses, the essay focuses on the mysterious relation between things and objects attempting to relate it to contemporary developments in sociocultural anthropology of the notions of personhood, company, and transcendence.