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- Metapopulation distribution shapes year‐round overlap with fisheries for a circumpolar seabirdPublication . Rexer‐Huber, Kalinka; Clay, Thomas A.; Catry, Paulo; Debski, Igor; Parker, Graham; Ramos, Raül; Robertson, Bruce C.; Ryan, Peter G.; Sagar, Paul M.; Stanworth, Andrew; Thompson, David R.; Tuck, Geoffrey N.; Weimerskirch, Henri; Phillips, Richard A.Although fisheries bycatch is the greatest threat to many migratory marine megafauna, it remains unclear how population exposure to bycatch varies across the global range of threatened species. Such assessments across multiple populations are crucial for understanding variation in impacts and for identifying the management bodies responsible for reducing bycatch. Here, we combine extensive biologging data from white‐chinned petrel (Procellaria aequinoctialis) populations (representing >98% of their global breeding population) with pelagic and demersal longline and trawl fishing effort to map the global distribution and fisheries‐overlap hotspots for the most bycaught seabird in the Southern Hemisphere. We tracked the year‐round movements of 132 adults in 2006–2018 and examined spatial overlap among seven populations comprising three genetically distinct groupings (metapopulations). Foraging areas during the nonbreeding season were more concentrated than during breeding, with birds from all populations migrating to continental shelf or upwelling zones, but with low spatial overlap among metapopulations. Fisheries overlap differed more among than within metapopulations, underlining that these should be considered separate management units. Overlap with pelagic longline fisheries was greatest for Indian Ocean populations, and from the fleets of South Africa, Japan, Taiwan, and Spain, off southern Africa and in the High Seas. Overlap with demersal longline and trawl fisheries was greatest for Indian and Atlantic Ocean populations, within the Exclusive Economic Zones of South Africa, Namibia, and Argentina, and with the South Korean demersal longline fleet in the High Seas. The high overlap with South Korean longliners in the southwest Atlantic Ocean is of particular concern as demersal fishing in this region is not covered by any Regional Fisheries Management Organization (RFMO). We also identified fisheries‐overlap hotspots within RFMOs where there are no seabird‐bycatch mitigation requirements (1.5%–53.1% of total overlap within the area of competence of each RFMO), or where current mitigation regulations need to be strengthened. Our recommendations are that management bodies target the high‐priority fisheries we have identified for improved bycatch monitoring, mandatory best‐practice bycatch mitigation, and close monitoring of compliance, given the conservation concerns for white‐chinned petrels and other threatened seabirds. Biologging, Bycatch mitigatio, Geolocator, Longline fisheries, Migratory connectivity, Regional Fisheries Management Organization, Trawl fisheries, White-chinned petrel
- Marine protected areas stage of establishment and level of protection are good predictors of their conservation outcomesPublication . Horta e Costa, Barbara; Benito-Abelló, Carmela de; Pike, Elizabeth; Turnbull, John; MacCarthy, Jessica; Harasta, Nikki; Fragkopoulou, Eliza; Roessger, Julia; Sullivan-Stack, Jenna; Grorud-Colvert, Kirsten; Gill, David; Morgan, Lance; Gonçalves, Emanuel J.; Zupan, Mirta; Gonçalves, Jorge M.S.; Claudet, JoachimDespite the importance of active management and strong protection in driving marine protected areas (MPA) performance, coverage area remains the sole indicator for global targets. To assess whether conservation quality lags behind quantity, we conducted a global meta-analysis of 123 MPAs. We show that MPAs’ Levels of Protection and Stages of Establishment are reliable proxies for MPAs’ ecological outcomes; hence, they are good candidates for tracking MPA quality. Actively managed MPAs have significantly higher fish density and biomass than non-protected surrounding areas, while MPAs that are only implemented do not. The effectiveness of actively managed MPAs can be maximized if they are fully or highly protected. Lightly and minimally protected areas that are only implemented can deliver negative outcomes. Our findings highlight the important interplay between stages and levels as developed in the MPA Guide and support the need to include both in conservation targets to track not only MPA quantity but also quality.
- Southernmost record of Liparis montagui (Donovan, 1804) (Perciformes, Liparidae) in European waters (central Portugal), with genetic validationPublication . Duarte-Coelho, Pedro; Miranda, Carolina; Pereira, Ana; Vasco-Rodrigues, Nuno; Almada, FredericoIn January 2022, the presence of adult Liparis montagui (Donovan, 1804) was documented at its southernmost point along the west coast of Portugal. The species was identified through both morphological and genetic barcoding analyses. This observation, part of an ongoing long-term coastal survey, suggests that L. montagui may be a transient species, influenced by complex climate and oceanic interactions along the western Iberian coast. This finding stresses the importance of long-term ecological studies and regular field surveys in understanding species distribution and the effects of climate change on marine biodiversity.
- Relating differently: Assessing and comparing associations between social and affective adjustment factors in immigrant and non‐immigrant studentsPublication . Campos, Mafalda L.; Peixoto, FranciscoImmigrant students face additional challenges in educational settings. Current research lacks understanding of the associations between social aspects of students' school life, their impact on adjustment and how these differ based on immigrant status. We argue that merely noting about the existence of differences is insufficient, and there is a need to better comprehend the complexity of such inequalities.This study aimed at exploring associations among reported bullying, friend and teacher relationships, achievement motivation, well‐being and sense of school belonging, and comparing them among native and non‐native students.We used structural equation modelling to test a theoretically proposed model. Multi‐group analysis compared associations between native and non‐native students, with additional analyses exploring differences between first‐ and second‐generation students. Immigrant status is linked to higher reports of bullying and poorer friendship quality. First‐generation (1G) immigrants are particularly affected in their friendships compared to second‐generation (2G) peers. The association between socioeconomic status (SES) and bullying was negative and significant in the native sample, but positive and slightly significant for non‐natives. The positive relationship between SES and the quality of friendships was only significant for the 1G sample, but not for 2G students. Finally, the negative association between bullying and well‐being was only significant for 2G students, but not for 1G immigrants. These and other results are presented and discussed.Natives, 1G and 2G immigrant students show some differences in the way their social and affective school factors relate to one another. Implications, limitations and future directions are discussed.
- Knowledge to teach mathematics with technology: The global modelPublication . Rocha, HelenaThe teacher’s central role in technology integration and the chal-lenges of that integration emphasise the need for a deeper under-standing about the teacher’s knowledge required to teach with tech-nology. Based on previous work and a systematic literature review,we identified three knowledge models often used: TPACK, KTMT andPTK. The goal of this paper is to discuss the similarities and differencesbetween these knowledge models and present a Global Model. ThisGlobal Model is not a new model. On the contrary, it is a model devel-oped based on the existing models and intending to integrate ina single model the knowledge domains considered in the differentexisting models. The Global Model highlights the common domainsconsidered and the common roots for the three models, but it alsomakes explicit the differences, mostly related to the understandingof the domains or even to the domains considered, and also to theway how the knowledge’s development is conceived
- Bereavement support guidelines for caregivers in palliative care: A scoping reviewPublication . Coelho, Alexandra; Albuquerque, Sara; Neto, David DiasPalliative care teams’ support practices for bereavement vary substantially. Clinical guidelines are needed to promote concerted, evidence-based intervention. The goal of the present study is to identify and synthesize the principles and clinical guidelines that ensure best practices in bereavement support for family caregivers accompanied in palliative care. A scoping review was conducted based on a systematic search of articles in academic databases (EBSCO, PsycINFO, PubMed, Web of Science, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection, Scopus) and Google (2010–2024). The review included articles focused on the principles, guidelines, and clinical recommendations for bereavement support for adult family caregivers in palliative care. Quality appraisal of guidelines was conducted using the AGREE II instrument. Of the 1,489 references identified, 20 documents were included, mostly governmental or institutional norms and clinical guidelines from gray literature. Quality appraisal revealed gaps in evidence selection, resource implications, updates and monitoring criteria. Eight fundamental principles were identified, from which several clinical guidelines were derived, organized according to the moments of assessment and intervention throughout the bereavement process, including pre and post-death period: (1) organizing support for the family caregiver; (2) assessing needs and establishing a care plan; (3) ensuring information and support for the family caregiver; (4) preparing for death; (5) support at the time of death; and (6) bereavement support post-death. In addition to universal support and information measures, regular assessment procedures should be adopted for timely referrals based on individual needs.These guidelines cover the temporal variation of care and the multidimensional and multiple-actor nature of palliative care. Implementing these guidelines and evaluating their impact will allow for the standardization of best practices and improve the quality of bereavement support in palliative care.
- Mitonuclear genetics reveals a novel perspective on the stock structure and fishery management of skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) in the Atlantic OceanPublication . Queiroz-Brito, Maria Clara G.; Mendonça, Fernando F.; Robalo, Joana; Arocha, Freddy; Diaha, N’Guessan Constance; Amandé, Monin Justin; Sow, Fambaye Ngom; Angueko, Davy; Travassos, Paulo; Torres, Rodrigo A.The skipjack tuna, Katsuwonus pelamis is the worldwide most fished and economically significant tuna species. In the Atlantic Ocean, the management strategy of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) includes two stocks: (a) eastern (SKJ-E) and (b) western (SKJ-W) stocks. However, the genetic cohesiveness between these stocks remains poorly understood. Here, we provide this information through mitochondrial [control region (CR)] and nuclear (intron S7) data. In both markers, high genetic diversity and no contraction signals in effective population sizes were found, supporting the species conservation status as ‘Least Concern’ by the IUCN and the results of the latest ICCAT assessment of the two stocks. In general, no well-defined genetic-geographic structure was detected, which may be explained by the specie life history strategies, such as large population effective sizes and migratory behavior, with a broad geographical distribution, that reduce the isolation, inbreeding, and genetic drift effects. However, pairwise FST values within and between the Eastern and Western Atlantic suggest some weak to moderate genetic differentiation. These results involved mainly the Eastern Temperate Zone, represented herein by the Azores archipelago. It is important to highlight that higher differentiation levels were found between sites from different stocks. In addition, the CR data revealed a weak but significant genetic differentiation between the eastern and western stocks (FST = 0.0006). These results can be used to improve and support the ICCAT management strategies of skipjack tuna stocks, highlighting the need for a reevaluation and possible alignment between Eastern and Western Atlantic management actions. Similar content being viewed by others
- Bridging the gap: Environmental health literacy as key to adolescent well-being and sustainable behaviorsPublication . Matos, Margarida Gaspar de; Branquinho, Cátia; Domingos, Leonor; Guedes, Fábio Botelho; Cerqueira, Ana; Gaspar, TaniaAdolescents who possess environmental health literacy are more equipped to handle the effects of the environment on their health. This study uses data from Portugal’s 2022 HBSC survey to investigate the environmental health literacy (EHL) of teenagers. The Environmental Health Literacy Scale (EHLS) was verified by confirmatory component analysis. Within the framework of an ecosystem, this study investigates factors related to health and well-being. There are 7355 adolescents in the sample. EHLS_Social Norms and participation in volunteering activities were found to be significant predictors of EHL_Knowledge, which explained 25.2% of the variance in the final model. EHLS_Social Norms and EHLS_Knowledge accounted for 42.9% of the variance in EHL_Behaviors, while school grade was adversely connected with pro-environmental behavior. While actions and knowledge were major positive predictors, gender and school grades showed negative relationships, and EHL_Social Norms accounted for 46% of the variance. This study establishes a valid measure of environmental health literacy in adolescents, informing science education strategies and public health interventions.
- Hematological and blood chemistry profiles of the Mediterranean pond turtle (Mauremys leprosa) in a Portuguese wildlife rehabilitation centerPublication . Marques, Gonçalo N.; Guerra, Joana S.; Leal, Miriam O.; Neves, JoãoThe Mediterranean pond turtle (Mauremys leprosa) is increasingly recognized as a sentinel species for freshwater ecosystem health due to its resilience to environmental pollutants. Despite its ecological significance, there is a lack of research on the blood profile of this vulnerable species. This study assessed the hematological and biochemical profile of healthy individuals admitted to Zoomarine’s Porto d’Abrigo rehabilitation center in southern Portugal between 2015 and 2024. This investigation revealed significant differences between the established data and the reference intervals reported in a Spanish study, notably in total erythrocyte (RBC) counts, packed cell volume (PCV), differential counts of lymphocytes and eosinophils, total protein (TP), creatine kinase (CK), potassium (K+), phosphorous (PHOS), and glucose (GLU) levels. Significant differences were also observed between captive and wild-rescued individuals in monocyte percentages, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and CK levels. No seasonal influence was detected except in the differential count of eosinophils. These findings indicate a possible geographical, environmental, and captivity-induced variation, providing the first comprehensive species-specific hematological and biochemical intervals for M. leprosa derived from a healthy population. This study enhances the understanding of M. leprosa health within a One Health framework by offering critical diagnostic benchmarks for veterinary care and facilitating conservation strategies.
- Beyond achievement gaps: inequalities in affective components of math learningPublication . Mafalda Campos; Eryilmaz, Nurullah; Strietholt, RolfComparative educational research has studied inequality in educational outcomes through large-scale assessments like PISA and TIMSS, by identifying achievement gaps within social groups (e.g., gender, parental education, and immigrant gaps) to inform investment in intervention programs and educational policies. However, the focus of these studies has mainly been on achievement, neglecting social and affective adaptation factors (e.g., confidence, enjoyment, and value). This paper argues for the inclusion of affective components in studying educational inequalities and analyzes affective gaps using TIMSS 2019 data. We investigate gender, parental education, and immigration status gaps regarding confidence, enjoyment, and attributed value for math learning. For context, achievement gaps are also analyzed and accounted for with the goal of confirming previous research and to assess its role in affective gaps. Regression analysis across 39 countries in TIMSS 2019 (23 in the case of immigration status) were conducted. Complex sample designs were accounted for using the IDB Data Analyzer, sampling weights, and the Jackknife Replication procedure to compute standard errors, with pooled effect sizes calculated using a random effects model. Among the key findings, we observe that in the case of gender, a clear general gap benefitting boys was observed in most countries for math confidence, enjoyment, and value. As for parental education, the well-known results concerning achievement are reproduced for the assessed affective components of math learning, that is, students from highly educated parents have a clear tendency to be more confident towards math, and to enjoy and value math learning more. Finally, results are rather mixed in what concerns gaps according to immigration status, as trends vary throughout nations. These results mainly remained when controlling for achievement. At the country level, we found that achievement gaps correlate with confidence gaps but not with enjoyment or value gaps.Our findings highlight that affective gaps—differences in students' confidence, enjoyment, and value attributed to math—are distinct from achievement gaps and often follow unique patterns across gender, parental education, and immigration status. While achievement gaps may correlate with confidence gaps, they do not align with enjoyment and value gaps, underscoring that affective dimensions of learning cannot be fully understood through achievement data alone. This study sets out to contribute to a more holistic view on academic adaptation when it concerns equalities in the field.