Assessing migratory connectivity and the role of shorebirds in the functioning and structuring of tropical and temperate coastal ecosystems

Funder

Organizational Unit

Publications

Estimation of mercury background values in sediment and biota of the Bijagós archipelago, Guinea-Bissau

Publication . Coelho, J. P.; Monteiro, R. J. R.; Catry, Teresa; Lourenço, Pedro Miguel; Catry, Paulo; Regalla, Aissa Said; Catry, Inês; Figueira, Paula; Pereira, Eduarda; Vale, Carlos; Granadeiro, José Pedro

This work evaluates the mercury (Hg) contamination status (sediments and biota) of the Bijagós archipelago, off the coast of Guinea-Bissau. Sediments exhibited very low concentrations (<1-12ngg(-1)), pointing to negligible sources of anthropogenic Hg in the region. Nevertheless, Hg is well correlated to the fine fraction, aluminium, and loss on ignition, indicating the effect of grain size and organic matter content on the presence of Hg in sediments. Mercury in the bivalves Tagelus adansoni and Senilia senilis did not vary considerably among sites, ranging within narrow intervals (0.09-0.12 and 0.12-0.14μgg(-1) (dry weight), respectively). Divergent substrate preferences/feeding tactics may justify slight differences between species. The value 11ngg(-1) is proposed as the sediment background concentration for this West-African coastal region, and concentrations within the interval 8-10ngg(-1) (wet weight) may be considered as reference range for S. senilis and T. adansoni in future monitoring studies.

2016-06-16Journal article

Restricted access

Brood-guarding behaviour in Bulwer's Petrel (Bulweria bulwerii)at two East Atlantic colonies

Publication . Pinto, Maria Gomes Ribeiro Teixeira; Catry, Teresa; Pedro, Patrícia I.; Gatt, Marie Claire; Dias, Maria P.

We characterized the brood-guarding behaviour of the Bulwer’s Petrel Bulweria bulwerii at two Atlantic colonies. Our results suggest that predation avoidance might be a major factor driving broodguarding duration on this species.

2016Journal article

Open access

Funding agency

Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia

Funding Award Number

SFRH/BPD/102255/2014