Laboratory for Sustainable Land Use and Ecosystem Services

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Publications

A Fish-Based Tool for the Quality Assessment of Portuguese Large Rivers

Publication . Faro, António Tovar; Ferreira, Teresa; Oliveira, João Manuel

Multimetric indices play a pivotal role in assessing river ecological quality, aligning with the European Water Framework Directive (EU WFD) requirements. However, indices developed specifically for large rivers are uncommon. Our objective was to develop a fish-based tool specifically tailored to assess the ecological quality in Portuguese large rivers. Data were collected from seven sites in each of three Portuguese large rivers (Minho, Guadiana, and Tagus). Each site was classified using an environmental disturbance score, combining different pressure types, such as water chemistry, land use, and hydromorphological alterations. The Fish-based Multimetric Index for Portuguese Large Rivers (F-MMIP-LR) comprises four metrics: % native lithophilic individuals; % alien individuals; % migrant individuals; and % freshwater native individuals, representing compositional, reproductive, and migratory guilds. The index showed good performance in separating least- and most-disturbed sites. Least-disturbed sites were rated ‘high’ or ‘good’ by F-MMIP-LR, contrasting with no such classification for most-disturbed sites, highlighting index robustness. The three rivers presented a wide range of F-MMIP-LR values across the gradient of ‘bad’ to ‘high’, indicating that, on a large spatial extent, the biological condition was substantially altered. The F-MMIP-LR provides vital information for managers and decision-makers, guiding restoration efforts and strengthening conservation initiatives in line with the WFD.

2024-04Journal article

Open access

Introducing biosensing techniques in urban geography fieldwork activities with students

Publication . Paiva, Daniel; Mantey, Dorota; Silva, Márcia; Ferreira, Daniela; Boavida-Portugal, Inês; Cachinho, Herculano

While biosensing is becoming a popular tool among urban geogra-phers to address the emotional experience of the urban environ-ment, it is also posing significant challenges, as its applicationdemands expertise on technology and human physiology that isnot part of regular curricula in geography courses. Despite this,there is little exploration of how to teach biosensing to urbangeography students. This paper responds to this gap by exploringhow undergraduate urban geography students respond to theintroduction of biosensing techniques in urban geography field-work. Empirically, we draw on two case studies in a European(Warsaw, Poland) and a South American (Cuiaba, Brazil) context.Our findings show how the introduction of biosensing leverageda greater engagement with the body-environment relation in urbanspace, but also sparked a series of technical, methodological, andanalytical challenges for students. With this, we contribute to cur-rent knowledge on the introduction of mobile technologies ingeographical fieldwork. We conclude the paper by providingrecommendations for biosensing training for geographers andfuture research paths on this topic.

2025Journal article

Restricted access

Eradication programs against non-native pests and pathogens of woody plants in Europe: which factors influence their success or failure?

Publication . Branco, Sofia; Douma, Jacob C.; Brockerhoff, Eckehard G.; Gomez-Gallego, Mireia; Marcais, Benoit; Prospero, Simone; Franco, José Carlos; Jactel, Hervé; Branco, Manuela

When a non-native species succeeds in establishing in a new habitat, one of the possible responses is to attempt its eradication. In the present study, we analysed European eradication programmes against non- native pests and pathogens of woody plants (PPWP) from 1945 to date. Our main goal was to identify which factors affect the success of an eradication programme, reinforcing guidelines for future eradica- tion of PPWP. Data on eradication campaigns were obtained from online databases, scientific and grey literature, and Plant Protection Organizations’ reports. Factors influencing eradication success for both arthropods and pathogens were analysed with LASSO regression and decision tree learning. A total of 848 cases officially declared as eradication attempts were documented in our database (8-fold higher than previous reports). Both the number of programmes and their rate of success increased sharply over the last two decades. Only less than 10% of the non-native organisms affecting woody plants were targeted for attempted eradication despite the high economic and ecological impacts caused by some species for which no efforts were undertaken. Almost one-third of the officially declared cases of eradication concerned organisms that were still restricted to the material with which they were introduced. For these cases the success rate was 100%. The success rate of established species was only 50% for arthropods and 61% for pathogens. The spaSofia Branco et al. / NeoBiota 84: 281–317 (2023)282 tial extent of the outbreak was the factor that most affected the outcome of eradication campaigns. The eradi- cation success decreased abruptly above 100 ha for arthropods and 10 ha for pathogens. Additionally, other variables were shown to influence the outcome of eradication programmes, in particular the type of environ- ment, with the highest eradication success rate found in nurseries and glasshouses, with successful outcomes increasing if quarantine measures were applied and when monitoring included asymptomatic plants. Particu- lar species traits may reduce eradication success: parthenogenetic arthropods, saprotrophic pathogens, wind dispersal, the possibility to remain asymptomatic indefinitely, and the existence of resting spores or stages. In conclusion, small affected areas, quick response, and efficient implementation of quarantine re- strictions, together with particular species traits, may allow a high probability of eradication success. Pre- paredness at the country and European level would allow a larger number of target species to be included in future eradication programmes.

2023Journal article

Open access

Melanaspis corticosa: a new insect pest of olive trees in Europe

Publication . Mazzeo, Gaetana; Pellizzari, Giuseppina; Mateus, Célia; Silva, Elsa Borges da; Russo, Agatino; Nucifora, Salvatore; Soares, Celestino; Tomé, Dora; Andrade, Eugénia de; Franco, José Carlos

The presence of the South African Obscure Scale, Melanaspis corticosa (Brain) (Hemiptera, Diaspididae), was detected infesting olive trees, in Portugal. The identity of the scale insect was confirmed based on both morphological and molecular studies. Until now, this species was only known in a few African countries, including Guinea, Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe. This is the first record of this species in Europe and in the Palearctic region. The scale was observed in 15 different locations, in the Algarve, since its first detection at the end of 2016. Samples were collected between 21 December 2016 and 10 March 2022, covering all seasonal periods. Most of the sampling sites resulted from private requests from farmers and proprietaries received by the Plant Protection Division of the Regional Directorate of Agriculture. Although it is considered a polyphagous species, it was not observed in other plant species, besides olive trees. The actual dispersion in the region suggests that M. corticosa became established and has been expanded its distribution since its arrival. This scale insect is a potential injurious pest of olive trees and needs to be studied to clarify its pest status and develop effective pest management strategies.

2023-04Journal article

Open access

Exploring social indicators in smallholder food systems: modeling children’s educational outcomes on crop-livestock family farms in Madagascar

Publication . Thom, Amy E.; Bélières, Jean-François; Conradie, Beatrice; Salgado, Paulo; Vigne, Mathieu; Fangueiro, David

Promoting smallholders’ sustainable development in Africa means addressing agronomic and economic factors but also highly relevant social influences shaping farmers’ production and affecting household well-being. Holistic, integrated analyses can help to meet this need, informing more effective policies and interventions for smallholder farming systems. The authors apply a transdisciplinary, quantitative approach to analyzing social impacts in the smallholder context, using milk-producing crop-livestock family farms in central Madagascar as a test case. First, stochastic frontier analysis is leveraged to confirm education as a social indicator linked to production efficiency. Then, linear regression is used for exploratory modeling of children’s educational outcomes. Findings from the Malagasy case emphasize the influence of rural infrastructure, parental education, chronic poverty, family planning, and crop-livestock diversification on children’s educational outcomes among one region’s farming households. Taken together, results suggest that Madagascar’s policymakers should consider comprehensive territorial planning for simultaneously promoting agricultural development and human well-being. This study illustrates how a transdisciplinary approach to social impacts analysis can integrate agronomic, economic, and social dynamics and help anticipate potential outcomes in support of smallholders’ sustainable development.

2024-03Journal article

Open access