pdf Waves - Vol. 2, Issue 6 (June 2011) Waves_12

News from above and below the
Editors
CIIMAR’s monthly NEWS LETTER
V. Vasconcelos
L.F.C. Castro
J.M. Wilson
Vol 2 Issue 6
(IN)FORMATION BOGA
All Aboard
Dear Friends,
Summer approaching, and Waves will “rest” for a couple of months. Before we
go, please be aware of the many events taking place this month (e.g. Fórum do
Mar at EXPONOR). For all the contributors and readers over the past year,
MANY THANKS. The Editors
Project of the Month
CIIMAR research lines in action
DEOSOM - Detection and evaluation of oil spills by optical methods
Principal investigator: Luísa Bastos
Laboratory: Dinâmica Costeira e Oceânica (COD – Coastal and Ocean
Dynamics)
Other participating institutions: INOV - Inesc Inovação (Portugal) Laser
Diagnostic Instruments AS (Estonia) Universidade de Vigo (Espanha)
Financing institution: Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT)
The project "Detection and Evaluation of
Oil Spills by Optical Methods", which started in October 2008 within the framework
of AMPERA (European Coordination Action
to Foster Prevention and Best Response to
Accidental Marine Pollution), intends to
respond to the surveillance needs associated with the increasing risk of
water pollution by accidental or criminal oil spillage due to the evergrowing traffic of cargo ships in European ports, navigable rivers, channels and coastal waters. . Oil spills became one of the most important
forms of water
pollution and its detection and evaluation has attracted increasing
attention in the last two decades.
DEOSOM aims at developing an innovative water inspection method
based on laser remote sensing, namely, on laser-induced fluorescence
light detection and ranging (LIF LIDAR). Laser remote sensing is an
efficient, proven tool capable of providing quantitative, spatiallyresolved, real-time data for chemical pollution, eutrophication, biomass, and hydrographical processes over large water surface areas
with high spatial resolution; and is often the only solution for many
environmental marine applications.
The project will result in the development of a low cost efficient portable and modular system for automatic detection and characterisation
of oil spills, based on inexpensive LIF/LIDAR detectors, but able to combine LIF/LIDAR data with GPS/GNSS+IMU data to produce an accurate
localisation, characterisation and mapping of
hydrocarbon pollutant films on water. The system is designed to be installed on watercraft, or
sircraft, and used for intensive surveillance of
harbourages, rivers, channels, and coastal
waters.
One of the CIIMAR Bioterium
tasks is supporting the planning,
construction, assembly and
maintenance
of
exhibition
aquatic systems in both CMIA’s
(Centros de Monitorização e Interpretação Ambiental) – Matosinhos and Vila do Conde.
In order to obtain aquatic organisms for these aquatic systems, BOGA staff have to do
field work frequently. On 23rd
of March of 2011, in one of our
field sampling, we found a
bunch of eggs that we suspected being from cuttlefish! In order to see if we could
keep the eggs until eclosion, we brought them to our fish
facilities and maintain them in an aquarium. Two weeks
ago, 16th of May, we register the first 3 births ... we had 3
beautiful small cuttlefishes. Since then, we had more
about fifteen births. Although we had some mortality, we
are trying to keep them until adult stages by giving them
the best maintenance conditions and diversifying their
nutrition, using mainly live food (adult brine shrimps and
amphipods).
After being able to keep
some dogfish, from egg to
an advanced juvenile
stage, a few years ago, we
are trying to do it again
with cuttlefish. Studying
reproduction
processes
and keeping eggs and larvae are areas where BOGA can help CIIMAR researchers.
Together we will have more and better research in BOGACIIMAR!
Hugo Santos
June 2011 Vol 2 Issue 6 waves
CIMAR/CIIMAR Rua dos Bragas 289, 4050-123 Porto Portugal tel: +351 22 340 1800 fax +31 22 339 0608 web www.ciimar.up.pt 1
“Deus ao mar o perigo e o abismo deu,
Mas nele é que espelhou o céu.” F. Pessoa
Paper of the month
Open Calls
CIIMAR publishes
Funding Opportunities
LIFE+ 2011 Call for Proposals
The LIFE+ programme comprises three components:
·LIFE+ Nature & Biodiversity: co-finance best practice or demonstration
projects that contribute to the implementation of the Birds and Habitats
Directives. In addition it will co-finance innovative or demonstration projects that contribute to the implementation of the objectives "Halting the
loss of biodiversity by 2010 – and beyond".
·LIFE+ Environment Policy & Governance: co-finance projects that contribute to the implementation of Community environmental policy, the development of innovative policy approaches, technologies, methods and instruments, the knowledge base as regards environment policy and legislation,
and the monitoring of environmental pressures (including the long-term
monitoring of forests and environmental interactions).
·LIFE+ Information & Communication: co-finance projects that implement
communication and awareness raising campaigns on environmental, nature
protection or biodiversity conservation issues.
Deadline: The deadline for applicants to send proposals to Member State authorities is 18 July. More information: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/
funding/lifeplus2011/call/index.htm Susana Moreira
Idea and Innovation...
A team comprising
two members of
LEGE, Peter Leão and
Victor Ramos, applied
to the iUP25k - Business Idea Contest of
Porto University,
sponsored by the
UPIN, with the idea
"LuSea - ocean microbial resources". On
last May the 12th the
final stage of this
competition took place, where LuSea won the third prize, worth €
5000. The LuSea is an idea grounded in the biosynthetic potential of a
particular group and very diverse of marine microorganisms - cyanobacteria. From this biosynthetic capability derives a great economic potential, since cyanobacteria can be used as a natural resource and the products they
produce are marketed with high added value. Based on this evidence, the LuSea
plans to leverage the know-how and expertise of their team to prospect and
market these products. The idea comes from the clear perception that there is
an immense marine biodiversity of cyanobacteria in our territorial waters, still
unexplored.Pedro Leão e Victor Ramos (LEGE)
Science in images
Howcroft, C. Gravato, M. J. B. Amorim,
S. C. Novais, A. M. V. M. Soares and L. Guilhermino
Ecotoxicology (2011) 20:119–130
Enchytraeus albidus are important
organisms of the soil biocenosis,
used as standard test species in
environmental risk assessment. The
inhibition of cholinesterases (ChE)
activity of several species has been
widely used to assess the exposure
and effects of anticholinesterase
environmental contaminants. Several studies have shown the association between ChE activity inhibition and adverse effects on behaviour and survival. Extensive studies addressing survival and behavioural
endpoints, as well as other biomarkers, have been done in E. albidus
with different types of soil contaminants. The main objectives of this
study were: (1) to characterize biochemically the ChE present in the
soluble post-mitochondrial fraction of E. albidus whole body homogenates, using different substrates and selective inhibitors; (2) to assess
the in vivo effects of copper, phenmedipham and different soil properties (pH, organic matter, clay) on the ChE activity; (3) to assess the in
vitro effects of copper and phenmedipham on the ChE activity. The
results suggest the presence of one ChE in the soluble postmitochondrial fraction of E. albidus whole body homogenates, which
displays properties of both acetylcholinesterase and pseudocholinesterase considering the typical mammalian enzymes. It is also shown
that ChE activity is not inhibited by exposure to different soil properties
and that copper and phenmedipham inhibited ChE activity both in in
vivo and in in vitro conditions and therefore ChE inhibition seems to be
a robust biomarker for this herbicide and this heavy metal. This study
showed that ChE activity in E. albidus might be correlated to previously
determined higher level effects like survival and reproduction, as well
as avoidance behaviour.
This month at...
►1 to 31
►1
►3
►6
Oceanus Seminar, Valeska Contardo-Jara , Bioaccumulation and
molecular effects of pharmaceutical active compounds in the
non-target organism Dreissena polymorpha ", 2:30pm, CIIMAR.
►8
Dia Mundial dos Oceanos, workshop and visit to APDL, CMIA
@CIIMAR
"The picture of
the earth from
far above is mirrored in the
teleost development (picture of
an oocyte of
Danio rerio, stained with EtBr). “
Exhibition: “O CIIMAR olha para dentro”- exposição de posters
de trabalhos de investigadores do CIIMAR”- 9-19 h. CIIMAR hall.
Dia da Criança, Scientific experience, volcanos, shells and sand..,
Field Course at the Zona Dunar, CMIA Matosinhos
Oceanus Seminar, Matt Vijayan , “"Stress axis disruption in fish:
Field, Lab and Generational Studies ", 1430, CIIMAR.
Matosinhos.
►20
.
Oceanus Seminar Raquel Silva (IPATIMUP), TBA, 2:30pm
►27
Oceanus Seminar Filipe Castro, “When I’m saturated and desaturate”, 2:30pm
Exhibition: “Matosinhos conserva-se”, CMIA Matosinhos.
Café Ciência at CMIA Matosinhos: Engº Emílio Brògueira Dias,
APDL "O porto de Leixões e a Cidade", 9pm.
►29
►29
Ralph Urbatzka (LECEMA)
Have your say in waves
Contributions welcome. Contact Vitor Vasconcelos, Filipe Castro or Jonathan Wilson @ [email protected]
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