Erasmus+ at the Institute of Coastal Research (Kustlaboratoriet)
SLU-Aqua, Öregrund, Sweden
I am currently participating in a 3-week scientific research project at the Institute of Coastal Research (Kustlaboratoriet) within the Department of Aquatic Resources (SLU Aqua) as part of an Erasmus+ fellowship. Under the mentorship of Dr. Yvette Limburg, I am focusing on studying the otolith shape of the cod (Gadus morhua), one of the Baltic Sea's most valuable species. This opportunity is made possible through the EU's Erasmus+ program, which aims to support education, training, youth, and sport initiatives across Europe.
American Shad Project
ULPGC, Canaries
Since my research visit in November 2023 at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, under the guidance of Dr. Karin Limburg, I've been diligently working on our fascinating project on the American Shad, Alosa sapidissima, in every spare moment between lectures and student supervision.
Updates on Pablo's histological method for assessing limpet fecundity
ULPGC, Canaries
The photographic documentation, oocyte counts, and measurements from Pablo's thesis project are progressing smoothly. Here's a sneak peek.
LAPACOM in the local news
ULPGC, Canaries
Our LAPACOM project funded by FCT featured in the local news in the Canary Islands (Radio Television Canaria, RTVC)..
Update in our Histological procedure for limpet fecundity determination
ULPGC, Canaries
The histological examination of the gonads from the species Patella aspera and Patella crenata for Pablo's final Degree Thesis is progressing remarkably well. Within just 1 to 2 weeks, we have successfully embedded 57 gonads in paraffin and conducted histological cuts on 15 of them. This accomplishment was made possible by the tremendous support from the Master's student, Alberto Rodríguez Díaz.
LAPACOM's Promotional Marketing
(FCT, EXPL/MAT-APL/0262/2021)
We extend a warm welcome to our newest team member Fabiana Rosano
ULPGC, Canaries
We are delighted to welcome Fabiana Rosano as our new member. During her tenure, which spans 4 months as part of an Erasmus+ Scholarship, she will collaborate with our team. Under the supervision of Dr. Víctor Tuset and myself, she will focus on practical work involving otolith contour analysis and geometric morphometrics in species of the genus Trachurus.
Histological procedure for limpet fecundity determination
ULPGC, Canaries
We initiated the histological procedure to examine the gonads of limpets from the species Patella aspera and Patella crenata, with the aim of assessing their fecundity.
We extend a warm welcome to our newest team member!
ULPGC, Canaries
We are delighted to welcome Rita Santana as our new member. Her degree work focuses on "Intraspecific variability in otoliths of Helicolenus dactilopterus from the NE Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea."
We're back!
ULPGC, Canaries
Today, Olivia resumed capturing and sampling limpets for morphometric analysis and histology, while María has initiated the process of capturing images of the otoliths collected in the recent samplings.
LAPACOM's timeline video and outputs
(FCT, EXPL/MAT-APL/0262/2021)
Preparing for our final fish sampling of the year
ULPGC, Canaries
Today we have 22 individuals of the species Trachurus trachurus for body and otolith shape analysis and for histological analysis.
New image analysis system
ULPGC, Canaries
We have just received our new image analysis system, which is essential for analysing otolith contours.
Fish sampling day
ULPGC, Canaries
Today we sampled 39 individuals of the species Trachurus trachurus for body and otolith shape analysis.
Olivia's practice work
ULPGC, Canaries
Olivia is moving ahead quickly with the practical work for her Master's thesis. She has just taken photographs of the shells of the limpet species Patella aspera and P. crenata (formerly P. candei).
End of my ERASMUS+ @ESF_SUNY
Syracuse (Nueva York)
With the invaluable and meticulous assistance of Dr. Karin Limburg in cleaning the otoliths, we concluded this scientific stay @ESF_SUNY by acquiring 1234 photos of American Shad otoliths captured from Florida to Canada.
ERASMUS+ @ESF_SUNY
Syracuse (Nueva York)
From the 5th to the 14th, Dr. Joana Vasconcelos will be conducting research at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry under the supervision of Dr. Karin Limburg. The primary objective of this study is to gain insights into how populations of the American Shad, Alosa sapidissima, in key large rivers have responded to environmental changes by analyzing the contour of their otoliths. The funding for this research stay was provided by the ERASMUS+ Program.
Visit to SLU-Aqua facilities
Uppsala (Sweden)
From the 24th to the 26th, Dr. Joana Vasconcelos visited the SLU-Aqua headquarters in Uppsala. The purpose of this trip was to collaborate on a joint project proposal with the researcher Dr. Yvette Heimbrand.
7th International Otolith Symposium, Viña del Mar, Chile
Poster presented
The seventh edition of the International Otolith Symposium took place in Viña del Mar (Chile) between 9 and 13 October. Two posters were presented on the use of wavelets in the study of otolith contours and species identification.
Another happy day at the lab
Practical work for Bachelor's Theses
Our days in the labs also have their fun moments, as well as a lot of work, of course.
External practicals and Bachelor's thesis
Student Pablo Jesús Angulo Falcón
Today we welcomed Pablo Jesús Angulo Falcón, a student at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. He will be doing his externship and final degree work with supervisor Dr Joana Vasconcelos.
External practicals and Bachelor's thesis
Student María Cirera Díaz
On September 26th, we initiated laboratory practical work as part of the external practicals and final degree project for María Cirera Díaz, a student at the University of Las Palmas of Gran Canaria. She will be working with her supervisor, Dr. Joana Vasconcelos, on the project titled "Application of Morphometry and Shape Analysis in Coastal Stock Identification".
External practicals and Master's thesis
Student Olivia Martínez Ruiz
On 19 September, we began the practical work in the field and laboratory as part of the external practicals and final Master's work of Olivia Martínez Ruiz, a student at the University of Coruña. The student recently joined the University of Las Palmas of Gran Canaria to work with her supervisors, Dr Rodrigo Riera and Dr Joana Vasconcelos.
1st and 2nd Research Master Students (including the ISLANDS MSc)
6-7 September 2023, University of Groningen, Netherland
University of Groningen - Faculty of Spatial Sciences 1st and 2nd Research Master Students (including the ISLANDS MSc) and teaching staff (also from ISLANDS MSc consortium universities: University of Groningen, University of the Aegean, University of Las Palmas of Gran Canaria and University of Iceland).
Presentation on the 1st ISLANDS Conference
6-7 September 2023, University of Groningen, Netherland
On the 7th, Dr. Vasconcelos presented a talk on "The primary sector in touristic islands: the case of artisanal fisheries in Madeira" in the scope of ISLANDS, the international joint research Master programme (Erasmus Mundus) of the University of Groningen, the University of the Aegean, the University of Iceland and the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC). This Conference took place at the University of Groningen between 6-7 September 2023.
1st ISLANDS Conference
6-7 September 2023, University of Groningen, Netherland
In the scope of ISLANDS, a new international joint research Master programme (Erasmus Mundus) of the University of Groningen, the University of the Aegean, the University of Iceland and the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Dr. Joana Vasconcelos and Dr. Rodrigo Riera from the IU-ECOAQUA ULPGC, were invited by Prof. Dr. Dimitris Ballas (Faculty of Spatial Sciences at the University of Groningen), as Keynotes in the 1st ISLANDS Conference. This Conference will take place at the University of Groningen between 6-7 September 2023.
ERASMUS+ FOR TRAINING PURPOSES 2023-2024
ULPGC
On June 2nd, Dr. Vasconcelos has been granted an Erasmus+ scholarship for training purposes by ULPGC. This scholarship will enable Dr. Vasconcelos to undertake a 5-day scientific visit at The State University of New York (SUNY), College of Environmental Science and Forestry in the United States of America. During this visit, she will collaborate with Distinguished Professor Dr. Karin Limburg, a highly esteemed scientist in the field of fisheries ecology. Dr. Limburg boasts an impressive publication record with over 150 papers, an h-index of 45, and more than 41,000 citations (https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3716-8555).
NEW article in Frontiers in Marine Science
LAPACOM Project (FCT)
On May 22nd, the paper on the "Fecundity, an overlooked life-history trait for coastal management of commercial molluscs?" was published online in the Journal Frontiers in Marine Science 10 (doi: 10.3389/fmars.2023.1173629). This work was funded by funded by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) under the Project "Metacommunity dynamics of complex life cycle species in exploited ecosystems" (LAPACOM, EXPL/MAT-APL/0262/2021). Here, we use fecundity of two exploited limpets (Patella ordinaria and P. aspera) to demonstrate its potential as a conservation tool to preserve the harvested populations of both species.
New photos from the 4th meeting of the LAPACOM Project which took place in Canary Islands between 8 and 12 May 2023.
LAPACOM Project (FCT)
LAPACOM Project workshop at ULPGC
(FCT, EXPL/MAT-APL/0262/2021)
Between May 8th and 12nd, the 4rd meeting and workshop of the Project LAPACOM, funded by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT), is taking place at the Polivalente II building of the Parque Cientifico y Tecnologico of University of Las Palmas of Gran Canaria (ULPGC).
NEW article of LAPACOM Project (FCT)
in Frontiers in Marine Science
On May 2nd, the paper on the "Fecundity, an overlooked life-history trait for coastal management of commercial molluscs?" was accepted for publication in the Journal Frontiers in Marine Science (doi: 10.3389/fmars.2023.1173629). This work was funded by funded by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) under the Project "Metacommunity dynamics of complex life cycle species in exploited ecosystems" (LAPACOM, EXPL/MAT-APL/0262/2021). Here, we use fecundity of two exploited limpets (Patella ordinaria and P. aspera) to demonstrate its potential as a conservation tool to preserve the harvested populations of both species.
3rd Meeting and Workshop of LAPACOM Project
EXPL/MAT-APL/0262/2021 (FCT)
Between March 27th and 31st, the 3rd meeting and workshop of the Project "Metacommunity dynamics of complex life cycle species in exploited ecosystems" (LAPACOM, EXPL/MAT-APL/0262/2021), funded by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT), is taking place at the "NEXO" building of the Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC). Are participating in this meeting, the researchers Dr. Joana Vasconcelos (UMa/ULPGC, Portugal/Spain), Dr. Rodrigo Riera (ULPGC, Spain), Dr. Carlos Melián (EAWAG, Switzerland) and the fellow Eros Geppi (ULPGC, Spain).
Preparing for the
7th International Otolith Symposium
On March 22, researchers Dr. Joana Vasconcelos (BIOCON, ULPGC), Dr. Víctor Tuset (IOCAG, ULPGC), Dr. Alba Jurado-Ruzafa (IEO, CSIC) and Dr. Antoni Lombarte (ICM-CSIC) met at the Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria to prepare the contributions to be presented at the 7th Otolith Symposium. One of these presentations is part of the LAPACOM project (EXPL/MAT-APL/0262/2021) funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT).
LAPACOM's project panel
FCT (EXPL/MAT-APL/0262/2021)
First LAPACOM's project article published online
Following task 2 (Fecundity estimation) of the LAPACOM project approved by FCT (EXPL/MAT-APL/0262/2021), the first scientific article was published online in "Fecundity strategy of the highly exploited limpet Patella ordinaria from an oceanic archipelago".
An experience for curious minds/ UMa experiência para mentes curiosas
With the aim of preparing and carrying out practical activities that mobilize knowledge from Biological Sciences, adapting them to the cognitive level of students and to the programs of the 1st and 2nd Cycles of Basic Education, students of the 3rd year of the Course in Basic Education at the University of Madeira (Curricular Unit Study of the Environment V), demonstrated their activities to students of the 2nd Cycle of the Basic School of the 2nd and 3rd Cycles Horácio Bento de Gouveia (HBG).
ACTIVITY WITHIN THE SUBJECT ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY -
MARE-Madeira
On November 15, the activity "Frequecy of beatings of cirri of barnacles of the spceies Megabalanus azoricus (Crustacea: CIRRIPEDIA) as a function of temperatureE" organized jointly with MARE-Madeira. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Dr. Patrício Ramalhosa in setting up the experience and providing support on the day of the activity.
Poster presented in the Small Pelagic Fish:
New Frontiers in Science and Sustainable Management
Between November 7-11 2022, Dr. Alba Jurado-Ruzafa presented the poster communication "Using Otolith Phenotipic Variability to Infer Potential Population Differences of Scomber colias in the Northeast Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea" in the Small Pelagic Fish: New Frontiers in Science and Sustainable Management in behalf of all co-authors.
An experience for curious minds/ UMa experiência para mentes curiosas
With the aim of preparing and carrying out practical activities that mobilize knowledge from Biological Sciences, adapting them to the cognitive level of students and to the programs of the 1st and 2nd Cycles of Basic Education, students of the 3rd year of the Course in Basic Education at the University of Madeira (Curricular Unit Study of the Environment V), will demonstrate their activities to students of the 2nd Cycle of the Basic School of the 2nd and 3rd Cycles Horácio Bento de Gouveia (HBG).
Field work
Biosystematics
As part of the Biosystematics subject of the 1st year of the Biology Course at the University of Madeira, the students went to the Lota do Funchal (Regional Directorate of Fisheries) where they took photographs of fish of different species to analyze their body shape.
Field work
Zoology I
As part of the Zoology I course unit, some fieldwork was carried out on October 12th. In this activity, Dr. Rodrigo Riera, Professor at the Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and partner in the LAPACOM Project gave a small lecture and showed how to sample epifauna from algae.
Virtual
International Sclerochronology Conference
The International Sclerochronology Conference (vISC) takes place between the 13th and 15th of September, with a special focus on community networking and early-career research. On the 13th, Dr. Vasconcelos presented a lightning talk and a poster with the preliminary results of an ongoing study on "WHO IS WHO? OTOLITH SHAPE ANALYSIS TO DIFFERENTIATE TWO EXTERNALLY IDENTICAL SCABBARDFISH (APHANOPUS SPP.)."
LAPACOM's
Workshop at EAWAG
The second meeting of the project LAPACOM was held in the EAWAG headquarters in Horw (Lucerne, Switzerland) during August. This meeting concurred with a workshop organized by Dr. C. Melián from EAWAG. Several researchers participated in this event, Dr. Joana Vasconcelos (UMa), Dr. Rodrigo Riera (ULPGC), Dr. Ali Vahdati (University of Zurich) and Dr. Victor M. Eguíluz (IFISC (CSIC-UIB).
IS-AR-FIS
International Symposium
Between 6-8 July 2022, Dr Joana Vasconcelos (Universisity of Madeira) and Dr. Rodrigo Riera (Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria) attended the International Symposium on Artisanal and Recreational Fishing in Islands Systems: Assessment, Vulnerabilities and Management (ISARFIS) to present some of the preliminary results on the fecundity of the limpet P. ordinaria, an issue included in a broader study that explores complex life cycles in metacommunities in order to predict future scenarios in human-exploited and fragmented ecosystems (LAPACOM Project, FCT).
OPEN CALL for a Research Grant
BI/EXPL/MAT-APL/0262/2021/2022
Open call for the attribution of 1 Research Grant, to a student accepted in a master's degree, within the scope of the LAPACOM project that is financed by the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT, I.P.) through national funds.
OPEN CALL for a Scientific Initiation Scholarship
BII/LAPACOM/2022
Open call for the attribution of a Scientific Initiation Scholarship, for undergraduate students, within the scope of the LAPACOM Project, financed by the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT, I.P.), through national funds.
“A day in the life of a Researcher”
Horácio Bento de Gouveia School
Lecture “A day in the life of a Researcher” at the Horácio Bento de Gouveia School (Funchal, Madeira, Portugal), within the scientific outreach activities foreseen in the R&D Project approved by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), “Metacommunity dynamics of complex life cycle species in exploited ecosystems” (EXPL/MAT-APL/0262/2021). The invited speakers of this lecture were Dr. Rodrigo Riera (ULPGC), Dr. Carlos Melian (EAWAG) and Dr. Ali Vahdati (University of Zurich).
Senior lectures
LAPACOM project
On the January 26th, at the University of Madeira (Edifício da Penteada), a series of lectures were given by researchers of the project entitled “Dynamics of metacommunities of species with complex life cycles in explored ecosystems (LAPACOM, EXPL/MAT-APL/0262/2021)”.
1st Kick-off
Meeting of the LAPACOM project
The 1st Kick-off meeting of the LAPACOM project supported by the Portuguese national funds through Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia I.P. (FCT, EXPL/MAT-APL/0262/2021), is taking place between 24 and 28/01/2022 at the University of Madeira with representatives of the Institutions participating in the project, namely, Dr. Rodrigo Riera (ULPGC, Spain, Co-PI), Dr. Carlos Melián (EAWAG, Switzerland), Dr. Ali Vahdati (University of Zurich) and Dr. Ricardo Sousa (Regional Directorate for the Sea).
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