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MED: Looking Back, Moving Forward

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Title: MED: Looking Back, Moving Forward Authors: Pedroso, Nuno; Eufrázio, Sofia; Gomes, Luis Editors: Baptista, Fátima; Romano, Anabela; Vicente, Cláudia; Lamy, Elsa; Gomes, Luis; Duarte, Fátima; Pedroso, Nuno; Lourenço, Rui; Eufrázio, Sofia; Filipe, Susana Abstract: Since its creation in 2020, the MED – Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development – has consolidated its identity as a multidisciplinary research centre connecting nature, food and people. This presentation provides an integrated overview of MED’s evolution, major achievements, internal restructuring, and strategic vision for the next funding cycle. Between 2020 and 2024, MED grew to 410 members and delivered substantial scientific output, with 1,150 publications, active participation in 186 national and international projects, and a strong presence in science communication, knowledge transfer and policy impact, supported by its role within the CHANGE Associated Laboratory. Structural reorganisations — including the creation of new Thematic Lines, Research Groups and the MEDULLA data management system — strengthened internal governance and scientific coherence. Key challenges remain, notably human-resource retention, administrative constraints, and the need to increase success in competitive funding. Looking ahead, MED aims to deepen problem-solving-oriented research, enhance internationalisation, integrate Artificial Intelligence into science management, and reinforce its role in Mediterranean agroecosystems, ecological restoration, soil health, water efficiency and sustainable food systems. By combining interdisciplinary research with stakeholder engagement, informing public policies through scientific evidence, and promoting open-science practices, MED positions itself as a reference institution for resilient, sustainable and climate-adapted agroecosystems.

Heavy Metals Bioremediation: Cd2+, Pb2+ and Zn2+ bioremoval by Serratia marcescens CCMA1010 in aqueous solution

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Heavy Metals Bioremediation: Cd2+, Pb2+ and Zn2+ bioremoval by Serratia marcescens CCMA1010 in aqueous solution Authors: Ferreira, Gustavo; Schwan, Rosane; Silva, Cristina Abstract: Microorganisms offer cost-effective and sustainable solutions for the bioremediation of toxic metals. S. mar- cescens CCMA1010 was investigated for its growth and metal removal potential in aqueous solution with Cd²⁺, Pb²⁺, and Zn²⁺. The bacterium tolerated all three metals, with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranking of Zn²⁺ > Pb²⁺ > Cd²⁺. Remarkably, Pb²⁺ had minimal impact on growth compared to the control. A brown coloration in Pb²⁺ treatments suggested the bioprecipitation. FTIR analysis confirmed spectral changes linked to sulphate and phosphate groups, supporting the probability of this mechanism. No similar evidence was found for Cd²⁺ or Zn²⁺. The bioremoval experiment was designed to construct a predictive model and identify the optimal conditions for maximum metal uptake (q), using a Rotatable Central Composite Design (RCCD) with 27 exper- imental runs, including factorial points, axial points, and three central points. The statistical modeling (P-value) showed that quadratic models for Cd²⁺ and Pb²⁺ uptake were significant (p < 0.05), with initial metal concen- tration as the main influencing factor. The p-value for Zn²⁺ (q) was not significant (p > 0.05). The F-values indicate that both models (Cd²⁺ and Pb²⁺) were statistically significant, with only a 0.01% and 0.46% probability, respectively, that such high F-values could have occurred due to random noise. Variables such as pH and in- teractions between multiple metals were not statistically significant under the tested conditions. These results highlight S. marcescens CCMA1010 as a promising candidate for heavy metal bioremediation, particularly for lead removal through bioprecipitation pathways.

Addition of silicate rock in the composting of poultry manure: Effects on chemical, enzymatic, and microbial properties

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Addition of silicate rock in the composting of poultry manure: Effects on chemical, enzymatic, and microbial properties Authors: Santos, Sandra; Pylro, Victor; Buttros, Victor; Rigobelo, Everlon; Botelho, Flavia; Peron, Rafael; Ferreira, Gustavo; Doris, Joyce Abstract: Composting is a simple and sustainable technique that produces a nutrient-rich organic amendment. This compost can be further enriched with low-cost materials such as silicate rock (SR) powder, offering several benefits for crops like rice, which has the ability to accumulate silicon in its tissues. This study aimed to evaluate the dynamics of chemical, enzymatic, and microbial parameters during the composting of poultry manure (PM) with the addition of SR, and its subsequent application to two rice cultivars under field conditions. Overall, the main properties that varied during the composting process were nitrogen (N), phosphate (P₂O₅), potassium oxide (K₂O), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and pH. Firmicutes was the most abundant phylum in both treatments, and the addition of SR did not significantly alter the bacterial community composition. Field results showed that fertilization with SR-enriched compost increased the yield of the BRSMG Caçula cultivar, reaching 2.5 t/ha compared to 1.76 t/ha in the treatment without SR

Habitat services for protected flora species in Portugal.

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Habitat services for protected flora species in Portugal. Authors: Xavier, P.; Ribeiro, Sílvia; Espírito-Santo, D.; Pena, S.; Cunha, N. Editors: Cunha, Natália; Magalhães, Manuela Abstract: This study examines the role of biodiversity conservation ecosystem services in enhancing green infrastructure (GI) planning for threatened flora species in mainland Portugal. Using species richness and abundance distribution data from the citizen science Flora-On platform and listed in the Red List of Vascular Plants, the study analyses the spatial distribution of 383 species classified as threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature across 601 grid cells. Correlations to species distribution are assessed with ecological variables, including land use, water, habitat classification, natural vegetation, topography, land morphology, and soil quality. Positive correlations are found with coastal areas, sparse vegetation, and relic vegetation communities. The study maps complementary biodiversity conservation areas and identifies linear connections as blueprints for potential ecological corridors, highlighting regions not previously part of the GI network. Of the newly identified areas, 4% are additional to the original GI, while 7% overlap with existing GI areas. These results suggest that integrating the newly identified areas into landscape planning can enhance habitat connectivity and support the persistence of threatened plant species. This approach underscores the value of citizen-science data in refining national-scale conservation strategies and highlights the importance of prioritising ecological core areas and corridors within the existing GI framework.