Alberto Teodorico Correia

University of Porto | UP · Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental (CIIMAR)

This study employed an integrated in silico/in vivo approach to predict the human and potential ecological risk of an antiplatelet drug (Clopidogrel: CLO). To achieve these goals, based on the quantitative structure–activity relationship ((Q)SAR) models, physicochemical properties, and potential human risks of CLO were predicted. Moreover, chronic...

Climate changes linked to extreme events pose a threat to freshwater biodiversity, impacting organs, behaviour, and reproduction. Moreover, these changes can be amplified by pollution. Copper sulphate (CuSO4) is used in agriculture and aquaculture, so the copper can reach streams, rivers, and lakes impacting fish. This study evaluated the combined...

This study assessed the occurrence and ecological potential risk of nine selected pharmaceuticals in water samples from the Juquehy River. The river flows continuously to Juquehy Beach, known as “the jewel of the north coast" of São Paulo, Brazil. Samples were collected during Christmas and the New Year (period of December 2023–January 2024), in ad...

The delimitation of fish stocks and how species use habitats are essential keys to develop and to implement fishery resources management and rational sustainable programs. Otolith shape and microchemistry analyses can provide helpful information for defining population units and solving ecological connectivity issues. The black drum, Pogonias courb...

The common snook, Centropomus undecimalis, is a catadromous species that is economically important for the southwest Atlantic artisanal and recreational fisheries. Their complex movement patterns and habitat use preferences are not fully understood in the Brazilian Atlantic waters, raising some issues regarding the rational and sustainable manageme...

Scomber colias is of growing interest as a commercial species, making it one of the most demanding fish on the northwest coasts of Africa (NWA). However, relevant data on the stock structure and connectivity of S. colias along the NWA is scarce. The Eastern Central Atlantic Fisheries Committee (CECAF) assumes the existence of two stocks (a northern...

The study of geometric morphometrics among stocks has proven to be a valuable tool in deline-ating fish spatial distributions and discriminating distinct population units. Variations in fish body morphology can be linked to genetic factors or to phenotypic adaptability in response to envi-ronmental variables. The tub gurnard (Chelidonichthys lucern...

A Quantitative study of Structure Activity Relationship (QSAR) was performed to assess the possible adverse effects of 25 pharmaceuticals commonly found in the Brazilian water compartments and to establish a ranking of environmental concern. The occurrence (O), the persistence (P), the mobility (M), and the toxicity (T) of these compounds in the Br...

In the late seventies, studies on the population structure of Sardinella brasiliensis suggested the existence of two stocks (23°S-25°S and 26°S -28°S) based on distinct regional somatic growth rates and spawning areas. This scenario was recently confirmed by using geochemical signatures of whole otoliths combined with basic biological data from two...

Tub gurnard, Chelidonichthys lucerna (Linnaeus, 1758), is a Mediterranean-Atlantic benthic species usually captured as by-catch by Portuguese traditional fisheries and considered the most important commercial fish species of the family Triglidae. However, to date, little is known about its habitat residency and whether the species can be considered...

The Brazilian mojarra, Eugerres brasilianus, is an economically important species for the artisanal fisheries usually found in the estuarine waters along the southwest Atlantic Ocean. Despite this, knowledge about its population structure is scarce, and no management strategies have been applied to ensure the fisheries sustainability in Brazil. Thu...

Intersex gonads have been observed in thicklip grey mullet Chelon labrosus, inhabiting estuaries with high burdens of xenoestrogens in the Southeast Bay of Biscay, but knowledge of population connectivity among estuaries is lacking for this euryhaline fish species. This study investigates the population structure of C. labrosus using otolith shape...

This study employed computational modelling (in silico) methods, combined with ecotoxicological experiments (in vivo) to predict the persistence/biodegradability, bioaccumulation, mobility, and ecological risks of an antihistamine drug (Loratadine: LOR) in the aquatic compartment. To achieve these goals, four endpoints of the LOR were obtained from...

Previous meristic analysis of the oblique scale counts (OSC) of Mugil liza showed a bimodal pattern within the southern stock, between São Paulo, Brazil (-24oS), and Samborombón Bay, Argentina (-35oS), allowing the identification of two morphotypes (BR1 and BR2). The Brazilian group with lower number of OSC was represented by morphotype 1 (BR1), wh...

The thread herring Opisthonema oglinum (Lesueur, 1818) is a small pelagic fish distributed in the western margin of the Atlantic Ocean from the United States to Argentina. It is a target species of diverse commercial fisheries, including of the Brazilian industrial purse seine fleets that operate in the Southeastern Brazilian Bight. To investigate...

Simple Summary The whitemouth croaker Micropogonias furnieri is an important fishery resource on the southwest Atlantic coast. Despite being heavily exploited, there are a few uncertainties regarding the population structure in the transition area between the tropical and warm temperate zones (South Brazilian Bight). In the State of Rio de Janeiro...

Although the most conventional methods to determine the quality of an aquatic ecosystem are aimed to evaluate its physicochemical, microbiological and ecotoxicological characteristics, the monitoring of a large number of environmental variables can represent a high cost for developing countries like Brazil. However, a combined approach using water...

“Wealth by the sea and poverty away from the sea breeze” is a metaphor that mirrors what happens along the Brazilian coastal zone, namely in São Vicente Island, São Paulo, Brazil. Due to the high cost of the properties on this shore, the impoverished population started to migrate to the northern outskirts of the island (away from the tourist beache...

Phenotypic variation of Scomberomorus brasiliensis otoliths was evaluated by testing the null hypothesis of a single stock across the southwestern Atlantic Ocean. Otolith sampling of S. brasiliensis (n = 396) took place between July and October 2019 at nine locations along the Brazilian coast. The shape of each otolith contour was assessed with ell...

The pollution of the surface waters by pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), has attracted worldwide attention, but data regarding their occurrence and potential risks for the aquatic biota on tropical coastal rivers of South America are still scarce. In this context, the occurrence and the preliminary ecological risk assessment of el...

In this study, otolith geochemical signatures (Element:Ca ratios) were used to investigate the long-term spatial shifts of the population structure of Isopisthus parvipinnis, Bigtooth corvina, an economically and ecologically important Brazilian fish species. Two-hundred and ninety-seven juvenile individuals from historical (1975) and contemporary...

The worldwide occurrence of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in aquatic ecosystems is reason for public concern. These emerging micropollutants include a large and diverse group of organic compounds, with continuous input, high environmental persistence and potential threat to biota and human health. The aim of this study was to e...

The blue jack mackerel Trachurus picturatus is one of the most important pelagic fish captured in the Macaronesian islands of the Azores and Madeira. However, in the last years’ landings registered substantial decreases. Fluctuations may be related to oscillations in the cohorts’ recruitment rates, although no information regarding the species move...

Increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels are likely to lower ocean pH values, after its dissolution in seawater. Additionally, pharmaceuticals drugs are environmental stressors due to their intrinsic properties and worldwide occurrence. It is thus of the uttermost importance to assess the combined effects of pH decrease and pharmaceutica...

A new method of fish preservation in refrigerated brine was implemented in 2008 for the Brazilian sardine purse seine fishery, in order to improve the fish quality available to the consumer compared to the traditional ice preserving method. This preservation method shifts increased the autonomy of the vessels, drastically changed the catch composit...

The high population density in coastal zones worldwide results in intense anthropic pressures, such as wastewater discharges and urban surface runoff into marine coastal waters. This condition can be easily observed in the coastal zone of the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Recently, studies showed that the urban surface runoff in Guarujá city (one of...

The Brazilian sardine (Sardinella brasiliensis) supports the most important pelagic fishery in the southeast-south Brazil. The first studies on the population structure of S. brasiliensis suggested the existence of two stocks taking into account distinct regional somatic growth rates and spawning areas. However, subsequent works were unable to conf...

In some Brazilian coastal cities, it is common to observe ‘black tongues’ in beaches, i.e. a mixture of urban runoff and untreated domestic sewage containing pollutants of emerging concern, namely pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs), flowing into the South Atlantic Ocean. Such diffuse loads of pollutants might expose non-target aquati...

The worldwide occurrence of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in aquatic ecosystems is reason for concern, since these emerging micro pollutants, includes a large and diverse group of organic compounds, with continuous input, high environmental persistence and potential threat to biota and human health. The aim of this study was to...

The Brazilian sardine ( Sardinella brasiliensis ) sustains the most important pelagic fishery off Brazilian waters. The present study evaluated the existence of distinct population-units inferred from body geometric morphometrics and otolith shape analyses using two and three-year-old individuals collected in Rio de Janeiro and Santa Catarina, the...

The discharge of domestic sewage is one of the most common types of marine pollution, namely through submarine outfalls. In this study, water and sediments of the coastal submarine sewage outfall in Guarujá, São Paulo, Brazil were assessed during the high (January) and low (April) tourist seasons in 2018. The Canadian Council of Ministers of the En...

Along the coast of the State of São Paulo, Brazil, urban channels introduce a complex mixture of pollutants into the South Atlantic Ocean, that may cause deleterious effects to the aquatic biota. The objective of this study was to analyse, for the first time, the mutagenicity (Ames Salmonella/microsome test) and ecotoxicity (acute and chronic tests...

The aim of this study was to screen and quantify 23 pharmaceutical compounds (including illicit drugs), at two sampling points near the diffusers of the Guarujá submarine outfall, State of São Paulo, Brazil. Samples were collected in triplicate during the high (January 2018) and low (April 2018) seasons at two different water column depths (surface...

Due to their wide use, pharmaceuticals can be discarded, metabolized and excreted into the environment, potentially affecting aquatic organisms. Lipid-regulating drugs are among the most prescribed medications around the world, to control human cholesterol levels, in more than 20 million patients. Despite this massive use of lipid-regulating drugs,...

The occurrence of pharmaceuticals and illicit drugs in water resources is widely documented in Europe, North America and Asia. However, in South America, these studies are still incipient. The objective of this study was to screen and identify the presence of pharmaceuticals of various therapeutic classes, including illicit drugs such as cocaine an...

Atlantic chub mackerel (Scomber colias) is one of the main small pelagic fish resources in the North-East (NE) Atlantic. At present, for fisheries management purposes, a single stock of this species in the NE Atlantic is considered. Over the last years, fishing pressure has greatly increased in this species, but the information regarding its popula...

Due to their widespread use, pharmaceuticals can be metabolized, excreted and ultimately discarded in the environment, thereby affecting aquatic organisms. Lipidregulating drugs are one of the most prescribed medications around the world, controlling human cholesterol levels, in more than 20 million patients. Despite this growing use of lipid-regul...

Cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO2-NP) have already been detected in the aquatic compartment, however, the evaluation of potential ecotoxicological effects on biota are scarce. The present study aimed to assess the toxic effects of CeO2-NP in Oncorhynchus mykiss in different organs/tissues (gills, liver and kidney) after acute exposure (96h) at three...

Geometric morphometrics analysis provides evidence from the adaptive character of fish to the aquatic environment resulting from an evolutionary process. Thus, phenotypic variations among individuals are primarily due to heritability of genetic factors modulated by the surrounding environment. Analyses of body morphometry can provide important info...

Phenotypic variation in fish can indicate exposure to different environmental conditions, affecting species growth and maturation rates and/or be a consequence of genetic factors that allow fish adaptation to different environments. Understanding population structure and dynamics is extremely important for the establishment of sustainable fisheries...

The Atlantic chub mackerel (Scomber colias) is an important commercial fish species of the North-East Atlantic. Two-year old individuals collected between January and April of 2018 at six sampling locations (45 fish per site) of the NE Atlantic (Azores, Madeira, Canaries and Portugal mainland - Matosinhos, Sesimbra and Portimão) were used for body...

A Baía de Camamu pode também ser dimensionada através do seu potencial ambiental, patrimônio social e diversidade cultural. Todavia, mesmo com tais riquezas, essa região é pobre de estudos e produções científicas, sobretudo quando o tema está associado à pesca artesanal ou de subsistência. Essa ausência de produção de informações favorece o congela...

This study evaluated the water quality of the urban runoff flowing into the public beaches and recreational waters of Guarujá, São Paulo State, Brazil. Monthly samples were obtained from October 2017 to August 2018 in four beaches: Tombo (Blue Flag certification), Enseada (high-used by tourist), Perequê (fishing community) and Iporanga (conservatio...

The hereby study was conducted to assess the chronic biological effects of potentially contaminated sediments collected at the Zarzis area, Tunisia, on the marine mussel species (Mytilus spp.). Useful information can be provided through the analysis of biomarkers that allow inferring about the presence of pollutants and their adverse effects, contr...

The Atlantic mackerel, Scomber scombrus, is an economically important and widely distributed fish species in the North Atlantic, currently considered to comprise two stocks: the North-West Atlantic (NWA) and the North-East Atlantic (NEA). Each stock is composed of different spawning components which involve temporal and spatial movements driven by...

Isopisthus parvipinnis, commonly known as “bigtooth corvina”, is a marine estuarine-dependent fish captured in the southeast and south Brazilian coast as bycatch of the shrimp fishery. This work used the sagittae morphology as a tool to primarily study the population structure of I. parvipinnis between São Paulo and Santa Catarina states (23ºS to 2...

Alterations of the physical-chemical properties of the oceans due to anthropogenic activities are, at present, one of the most concerning environmental issues studied by researchers. One of these issues is ocean acidification, mainly caused by overproduction and release of carbon dioxide (CO2) from anthropogenic sources. Another component of enviro...

In recent decades, the management of urban surface runoff in coastal regions has become a global priority. However, in Brazil, whose coastline is 8,500 km, these actions are still scarce. This study aimed to characterise, for the first time, the structure of the benthic assemblages near urban drainage channels, whose waters flow permanently to four...

Along the coastal zone of the State of São Paulo, Brazil, diffuse discharges that flow directly to tourist beaches are responsible for introducing various pathogens into recreational waters. The objective of this study was to analyze, for the first time, the presence of protozoa (Cryptosporidium ssp and Giardia ssp), as well as human mastadenovirus...

Otolith fingerprinting was used to test the hypotheses that estuarine systems are effective juvenile habitats for Chaetodipterus faber in the Southwest Atlantic Ocean, and that this species displays seasonal migrations between estuarine and marine environments. Adult C. faber were collected in euhaline environments from five Brazilian states (Espír...

The use of pharmaceutical drugs has systematically increased, for both human and veterinary medicines, resulting in their environmental presence and exertion of effects on non-target aquatic organisms. Diclofenac (DCF) is used as analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic drug, frequently found in the aquatic compartment. In the present work the...

Coastal marine areas are highly vulnerable to the exposure to various types of stressors and impact of chemical pollution resulting from increasing anthropogenic activities, namely pollution by metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). To assess ecosystem quality and functions, biomarkers can provide information about the presence and adv...

Coastal marine areas are highly vulnerable to the exposure to various types of stressors and impact of chemical pollution resulting from increasing anthropogenic activities, namely pollution by metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). To assess ecosystem quality and functions, biomarkers can provide information about the presence and adv...

The tub gurnard, Chelidonichthys lucerna, is considered the most important commercial fish species of the family Triglidae captured by the Portuguese traditional fisheries. However, the data available about its population structure, movement patterns and habitat connectivity is, at present, scarce. In this study, otolith chemistry and shape analyse...

Toxicity caused by exposure to pollutants from marine sediments is a consequence of the interaction between biota and xenobiotics most frequently released by anthropogenic activities. The present work intended to characterize the toxicity of natural sediments putatively impacted by distinct human activities, collected at several sites located in th...

Pharmaceuticals are important environmental stressors since they have a worldwide use, are usually released in the aquatic compartment without adequate treatment, and because of their intrinsic properties they may affect several non-target organisms. Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), the active substance of Aspirin®, is a non-steroidal antiinflammatory d...

Due to their worldwide use and environmental persistence, antibiotics are frequently detected in various aquatic compartments. Their toxic properties raise environmental concerns to non-target organisms. Histopathology data is frequently applied in ecotoxicology studies to assess the effects of different classes of environmental stressors in fish,...

Blue jack mackerel Trachurus picturatus collected at six sampling locations of the north‐east Atlantic Ocean (Azores, Madeira, Canaries, and Matosinhos, Peniche and Portimão, mainland Portugal) and one location in the Mediterranean (Sicily), were used to examine the genetic structure of this species. Three mitochondrial gene regions (cytochrome c o...

The Atlantic spadefish, Chaetodipterus faber, is an economically important species along the Southwest Atlantic Ocean, especially in the southeastern-south Brazil. Despite this, knowledge about stock structure is scarce and, at present, is no formal management strategy to ensure the long-term sustainability of the C. faber fishery in Brazil. In ord...

Cerium dioxide nanoparticles (CeO2-NPs) have a variety of uses, especially in the production of solar panels, oxygen pumps, gas sensors, computer chips and catalytic converters. Despite their worldwide use, the few published studies demonstrate that metallic nanoparticles, in general, are still not properly characterized in terms of their potencial...

To promote marine conservation and sustainable resources use it is highly important to understand reef fish population structure and dynamics. The sergeant major, Abudefduf saxatilis, is a common and abundant fish usually found in the Brazilian coasts, being considered a keystone-species for structuring benthic communities on reef habitats in the A...

This is the first study to investigate the age, growth and reproductive biology of the Atlantic spadefish Chaetodipterus faber in southern Brazil. A total of 625 individuals [total length (TL) ranging from 7 mm to 510 mm] were sampled at the Paranaguá Estuarine Complex (PEC) and adjacent coastal areas over a year (August 2015 to July 2016). Age est...

During the last decades, the presence of antibiotics in different aquatic compartments has raised increasing interest and concern, since these compounds are usually persistent and bioactive pseudo pollutants. Erythromycin (ERY) is a macrolide antibiotic, prescribed for human and veterinary medicines but also used in aquaculture and livestock produc...