Ana M M Gonçalves

University of Coimbra | UC · Department of Life Sciences

Under the current scenario of global warming, it is ecologically relevant to understand how increased temperature influences the combined toxicity of pesticides to aquatic species. Hence, this work aims to: a) determine the temperature effect (15 °C, 20 °C and 25 °C) on the toxicity of two pesticides (oxyfluorfen and Copper (Cu)), on the growth of...

Antibiotics are used to prevent and treat bacterial infections. After a prolonged use of antibiotics, it may happen that bacteria adapt to their presence, developing antibiotic resistance and bringing up health complications. Nowadays, antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest threats to global health and food security; therefore, scientists have...

Seaweeds are a promising source of bioactive compounds for biotechnological applications, with the potential to provide natural alternatives to a wide range of industries. Among bioactive algal molecules, phenolic compounds are synthesized as secondary metabolites. Ecologically, these molecules play a role on plants and seaweeds defense mechanisms,...

In recent decades, pollution levels have increased, mainly as a result of the intensive anthropogenic activities such industrial development, intensive agricultural practices, among others. The impact of metals and organic contaminants is, nowadays, a great concern to the scientific and political communities. Copper compounds are the main sold pest...

Wildfires constitute a source of contamination to both freshwater and marine ecosystems. This study aimed to compare the antioxidant defense response of the freshwater clam Corbicula fluminea and the marine cockle (Cerastoderma edule) to wildfire ash exposure and the concomitant metal body burden. Organisms were exposed to different concentrations...

The present study aims to assess the potential exploitation of marine macroalgae waste using a cascade biorefinery approach. For that, biomass was collected from a northern Portugal beach, two different drying processes were employed (freeze-drying (FD) and sun-drying (SD)) and cascade extractions were conducted to obtain several extracts (fatty ac...

Seaweeds are an abundant source of bioactive compounds and hydrocolloids that can be used in several industries, especially in the food industry. They can be directly consumed as a whole, used as an ingredient, or a source of several compounds that can enrich the nutrient content and sensory experience of foods. The demand for more sustainable pack...

The use of seaweed for therapeutic purposes is ancient, but only in the last decade, with advanced technologies, has it been possible to extract seaweed’s bioactive compounds and test their potential properties. Algal metabolites possess nutritional properties, but they also exhibit antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antiviral activities, which allow...

s have been used since ancient times as soil fertilizer and to turn infer�tile soil into fertile soil. Seaweeds’ research permitted in the last years to profile various species of seaweeds and their valuable compounds for various fields, such as human food, animal feed, biomedical, and pharmaceutical. In this case, with the pressure to turn agri...

Seaweeds have been used since ancient times as soil fertilizer and to turn infer�tile soil into fertile soil. Seaweeds’ research permitted in the last years to profile various species of seaweeds and their valuable compounds for various fields, such as human food, animal feed, biomedical, and pharmaceutical. In this case, with the pressure to turn...

Seaweeds have been explored since pre-historic times as manure and to fertilize coastal areas and turn less fertile soil into fertile soil to sustain important crops for human and animal consumption. With the search for new products, seaweeds are regaining attention because of the restrain and reduction of synthetic products in agriculture. Thus, s...

Effects of ash-associated contaminants on freshwater (Corbicula fluminea) and marine bivalves (Cerastoderma edule). Effects on antioxidant defense response and metal bioaccumulation.

Wildfires are a social and environmental concern to the world due to their many adverse effects, including risk to the public health and security, economic damages in prevention and fight, ecosystems pollution, land usage sustainability, and biodiversity. In the Mediterranean region, these events have increased in the last years. Although several s...

In recent years, an increased interest in marine macroalgae bioactive compounds has been recorded due to their benefits to human health and welfare. Several of their bioactivities have been demonstrated, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, antibacterial and antiviral behavior. However, there still lacks a clear definition rega...

In the last decades, the interest in seaweed has significantly increased. Bioactive compounds from seaweed's currently receive major attention from pharmaceutical companies as they express several interesting biological activities which are beneficial for humans. The structural diversity of seaweed metabolites provides diverse biological activities...

Seaweeds have been used since ancient times as soil fertilizer and to turn infertile soil into fertile soil. Seaweeds’ research permitted in the last years to profile various species of seaweeds and their valuable compounds for various fields, such as human food, animal feed, biomedical, and pharmaceutical. In this case, with the pressure to turn a...

Marine macroalgae are the source of a wide range of compounds that have demonstrated a myriad of potential uses. Sulfated and non-sulfated polysaccharides are some of the major compounds found in these organisms, and they could be applied in many industries due to their diverse potentials. Seaweeds are a valuable source of sulfated polysaccharides,...

Seaweeds have been explored since pre-historic times as manure and to fertilize coastal areas and turn less fertile soil into fertile soil to sustain important crops for human and animal consumption. With the search for new products, seaweeds are regaining attention because of the restrain and reduction of synthetic products in agriculture. Thus, s...

Plankton is strongly influenced by climate features, chemical stressors, and hydrological conditions. Their sensitivity to these fluctuations results in communities that are continuously changing and adapting to environmental factors as well as to changes in available resources. The organisms that constitute plankton are subdivided into phytoplankt...

Physiological changes were explored in fatty acids (FA) and carbohydrate (CHO) composition in the shredder Calamoceras marsupus larvae (Trichoptera) and leaf litter (C. marsupus food) exposed to copper and uranium under natural and experimental conditions. We measured FA and CHO content in leaf litter and larvae specimens from reference and impacte...

Fatty acids are molecules with important physiological functions, proved to be good bioindicators of the presence of natural and chemical stressors and so used as early warning signals. Indeed, biochemical analyzes, such as fatty acids, are an important tool in water body management and water quality analysis, allowing detecting molecular changes i...

In modern times, seaweeds have become widely involved in several biotechnological applications due to the variety of their constituent bioactive compounds. The consumption of seaweeds dates to ancient times; however, only from the last few decades of research can we explain the mechanisms of action and the potential of seaweed-derived bioactive com...

World aquaculture food production rises every year, amounting, by 2018, to another all-time record of 82.1 million tonnes of farmed seafood, with Asia leading global production. In Europe, although coastal countries present historical fishing habits, aquaculture is in true expansion. Norway, the leading European producer, is the eighth main produce...

Although dating back thousands of years, aquaculture has only recently experienced great development worldwide. It is unclear when aquaculture practices began, but findings over the years suggest the activity has existed for centuries. The first steps in this production may date back to the Neolithic age, around 4000 B.C., focusing on trapping aqua...

Recently, there has been increased interest in the development of novel antimicrobial compounds for utilization in a variety of sectors, including pharmaceutical, biomedical, textile, and food. The use, overuse, and misuse of synthetic compounds or derivatives have led to an increase of pathogenic microorganisms gaining resistance to the traditiona...

Recently, there has been increased interest in the development of novel antimicrobial compounds for utilization in a variety of sectors, including pharmaceutical , biomedical, textile, and food. The use, overuse, and misuse of synthetic compounds or derivatives have led to an increase of pathogenic microorganisms gaining resistance to the tradition...

Seaweeds have been consumed worldwide throughout coastal areas since the start of human civilization. During the last decades, the interest in seaweed consumption as a nutraceutical or functional food has witnessed an upsurge, concurrently research has evolved, and consumer awareness rose. Red macroalgae (phylum Rhodophyta) can be directly consumed...

Because the world’s population is increasing, science-based policies are needed to promote sustainable global development. It is important to maintain and restore the environment and help human society overcome the risks from industrialization and unsustainable exponential growth. In recent years, many studies have highlighted that macroalgae repre...

Urban habitats offer spatially and temporally predictable anthropogenic food sources for opportunistic species, such as several species of gulls that are known to exploit urban areas and take advantage of accessible and diverse food sources, reducing foraging time and energy expenditure. However, human-derived food may have a poorer nutritional qua...

Nowadays, seaweeds are widely involved in biotechnological applications. Due to the variety of bioactive compounds in their composition, species of phylum Ochrophyta, class Phae-ophyceae, phylum Rhodophyta and Chlorophyta are valuable for the food, cosmetic, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries. Seaweeds have been consumed as whole food sinc...

There is a need to find new possible raw food sources with interesting nutritional values. One of the most unexploited sources are seaweeds. Thus, Ulva sp. is a green edible seaweed that shows a high growth rate in nature and can support drastic abiotic changes, such as temperature and salinity. This work aims to determine the main nutritional comp...

Citation: García-Poza, S.; Morais, T.; Leandro, A.; Cotas, J.; Marques, J.C.; Pereira, L.; Gonçalves, A.M.M. A Comparative Study of the Fatty Acids and Monosaccharides of Wild and Cultivated Ulva sp. J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2022, 10, 233. https://doi.

Impacts of nanoplastics (NPPs) on leaf decomposers and food quality were assessed. • NPPs (0-25 µg L-1) impacted leaf mass loss, fungal sporulation and abundance. • NPPs (100 nm) had a pronounced impact on food quality. • Food quality did not impact the feeding behaviour of invertebrates. • Basal trophic levels are more impacted by low concentratio...

Seaweeds are a source of several compounds with bioactive properties. The research about these compounds has been increasing mainly to develop edible and biodegradable films to extend shelf life of food products maintaining the safety and preserving the quality of raw and pre-cooked food products, while reducing food and packaging waste. Therefore,...

The harvesting and the consumption of seaweeds (marine macroalgae) has been known for centuries. There are ancient records of their use in Asian countries, nevertheless in recent years they have become popular and commercialized in Europe, as well in the American continent. Harvesting and aquaculture have increased seaweed feedstock and consequentl...

The genus Gigartina belongs to the phylum Rhodophyta and is considered an edible seaweed. This genus is characterized by worldwide distribution, mainly in the Northeast and Southeast Atlantic and Southeast Asia. Gigartina sp. has the particularity of producing different types of carrageenans, depending on the stage of the life cycle, having a high...

The interest in macroalgae has been growing worldwide in the recent years, due to the new discoveries regarding the numerous health benefits they provide to consumers, namely anti-viral, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties that enhance resistance and ability to combat disease to consumers, granted by algae’s bioactive molecules. In the...

World population is expected to reach 9.7 billion people by 2050. Depletion of food resources is estimated to occur due to the consequences of climate changes in crops and loss of arable soil. Sustainability in food resources management is pivotal to guarantee nutritious food supply. Seaweeds are, historically, a food source. Currently, they are ga...

Plants, animals and humans have several defense mechanisms against their infecting pathogens. Some biological molecules mimicking pathogen effectors’ mode-of-action are defined as “immune system elicitors” and reside in marine organisms, especially in seaweeds. Elicitor perception triggers various signaling pathways conducting to circumvent multipl...

Synthetic or semi-synthetic organic polymers (known as plastics) are widely used, due to their low price and easy manufacture. Over the years, glass, wood, and other materials (e.g. metal) have been replaced by plastic in many applications. Nowadays, plastics play a significant role in many “short-term” disposable applications, such as product pack...

Cultivated seaweeds do not compete with food crops for arable land or freshwater, so this marine-based crop could provide an alternative source for the sustainable production of food, fuel, and natural compounds, without the usage of fertilizers or pesticides. However, increasing the global production of seaweeds requires an understanding of the cr...

The scientific community is focused on the quest of novel types of fuels, due to the harmful impacts of fossil fuels in the environment. Currently, microalgae-based biofuel market is not the most feasible from an economic point of view. However, the companies in this segment are developing new technologies to improve biofuel production, mainly with...

Seaweeds are an abundant source of bioactive compounds and hydrocolloids that can be used in several industries, especially in the food industry. They can be directly consumed as a whole, used as an ingredient, or a source of several compounds that can enrich the nutrient content and sensory experience of foods. The demand for more sustainable pack...

The use of seaweeds in wastewater treatment (WWT) is increasing around the world, being one of the most employed biotic systems to reduce the nutrient eutrophication pressure caused by wastewater. However, the physicochemical characteristics of the seaweeds used in the WWT limit their commercialization. Consequently, this biomass is mainly discharg...

Seaweeds have been incorporated in the daily diet of several human cultures since ancient times, due to their nutritional characteristics and healthy properties. The brown seaweeds Undaria pinnatifida, Saccharina latissima, Sacchoriza polyschides, and Laminaria ochroleuca were collected in the Viana do Castelo (Portugal) bay to assess their proxima...

Seaweeds are gaining momentum as novel and functional food and feed products. From whole consumption to small bioactive compounds, seaweeds have remarkable flexibility in their applicability, ranging from food production to fertilizers or usages in chemical industries. Regarding food production, there is an increasing interest in the development of...

Citation: Monteiro, P.; Lomartire, S.; Cotas, J.; Pacheco, D.; Marques, J.C.; Pereira, L.; Gonçalves, A.M.M. Seaweeds as a Fermentation Substrate: A Challenge for the Food Processing Industry. Processes 2021, 9, 1953. https://doi.org/10.3390/ pr9111953 Academic Editors: Tiane Finimundy, Taofiq Oludemi and Filipa S. Reis

Marine biota is a great source of ecosystem services. Recently, the involvement of marine organisms in biotechnological applications has been discovered and become useful for the development of alternative and healthy food, natural medicine and cosmetics. The most known ecosystem service is the provision of seafood; however, fishery management has...

Macroalgae are a biological group that has mainly been used in Asian countries; however, the interest shown by Western society is recent, its application in the industrial sector having increased in the last few decades. Seaweeds are filled with properties which are beneficial to our health. To use them as food and enhance these properties, heat ha...

Macroalgae are a biological group that has mainly been used in Asian countries; however, the interest shown byWestern society is recent, its application in the industrial sector having increased in the last few decades. Seaweeds are filled with properties which are beneficial to our health. To use them as food and enhance these properties, heat has...

The exponential increase of the human population demands the overuse of fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture practices to suppress food production needs. The excessive use of these chemicals (fertilizers and pesticides) can comport deleterious effects to the ecosystems, including aquatic systems and communities. Oxyfluorfen is a fluorine-based...

Currently, seaweeds are gaining major attention due to the benefits they give to our health. Recent studies demonstrate the high nutritional value of seaweeds and the powerful properties that seaweeds’ bioactive compounds provide. Species of class Phaeophyceae, phylum Rhodophyta and Chlorophyta possess unique compounds with several properties that...

Currently, the high food demand led to a mass agriculture practices, whereas crop productivity is one of the major concerns for the producers. However, the intensification of the use of synthetic fertilizers has led to serious harmful impacts for human health and for the environment. The quest for novel and natural agricultural products is a curren...

Undaria pinnatifida is a non-native seaweed in Portugal that inhabits the coastal sites left by the native kelps, because of climate change. Native kelps in Portugal have migrated to the north, leaving the southern and the central region. This species is an edible seaweed, commonly known as wakame and is frequently used in at Asiatic food dishes. C...

Seaweeds have a great variety of compounds with different properties and benefits to human health. Marine macroalgae provide a high nutritional value along with low caloric value, poor in fat, and with the presence of polysaccharides that behave as fibers with no calories. This is not widespread, but some macroalgae and by-products are used in vari...

The overexploitation of terrestrial habitats, combined with the ever-growing demand for food, has led to the search for alternative food sources. The importance of seaweeds as food sources has been growing, and their potential as sources of fatty acids (FA) make seaweeds an interesting feedstock for the food and nutraceutical industries. The aim of...

Bivalves are widely distributed through diverse habitats, including estuaries and coastal lagoons which are extremely productive ecosystems, and play important roles in trophic webs and in ecosystems’ biological processes. Bivalves, as well as other marine resources, have been a part of the humans’ diet since mankind started fishing. These resource...

Seaweeds are a potential source of bioactive compounds that are useful for biotechnological applications and can be employed in different industrial areas in order to replace synthetic compounds with components of natural origin. Diverse studies demonstrate that there is a solid ground for the exploitation of seaweed bioactive compounds in order to...

Seaweeds have been a food source since ancient times (600 BC) and are still widely used in Asia, mainly in traditional Chinese medicine and Japanese folk medicine. Nowadays, seaweed compounds and extracts have been gaining interest from the biomedical and pharmaceutical market sectors. Seaweeds have been referenced as feasible solutions in findi...

The quality of aquatic systems is threated by the huge amount of chemicals dispersed in the environment. Anthropogenic activities are one of the main causes of pollution by metals, water sewage, pesticides, pharmaceutical drugs and other contaminants. These substances have consequences on the environment bringing abiotic and biotic deterioration. G...

The toxic effects associated to pesticides have been for long a concern in terms of environmental and human safety. The recognition of the limitations of numerous, if not all, pesticides in terms of species-specificity, toxicity level, persistency in the environment, influencing its runoff and transport ability, among other characteristics, have be...

The lack of specificity of pesticides used for control of various organisms, even if efforts have been made to design formulations more species-specific, produce harmful effects on non-target organisms. Oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation are amongst the main known effects induced by pesticide exposure, besides eventual lethal toxicity, endange...

The availability of anthropogenic food subsidies has promoted an increase in gener- alist opportunistic gull species, which currently breed and forage on predictable anthropogenic resources (e.g. landfills). Here we investigated whether marine resources are still important to urban-dwelling gulls. We studied 4 natural and 2 urban yellow-legged gull...

The effects of growing urbanization have caused an increase in human-wildlife interactions in urban areas. Human-gull conflicts have been particularly studied during the breeding season when gulls cause an obvious nuisance in urban areas. However, with many gulls being present in urban areas throughout the year, stakeholders need knowledge of seaso...

Calliblepharis jubata is an edible red seaweed and a carrageenan primary producer, considered native in Figueira da Foz (Portugal). C. jubata has the particularity of producing only one kind of carrageenan, the iota fraction. However, this seaweed is not yet valuable for the food industry or even for human consumption. In this work, we characterize...

The effects of the abiotic inducers β-glucan, extracted from Shiitake (Lentinula edodes), BFIICaB ® (Kappaphycus alvarezii) and BKPSGII ® (K. alvarezii X Sargassum sp.) on tomato plants infected with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (FOL) were evaluated through the activity of enzymes related to the induction of resistance at 5 and 10 days aft...

Seaweeds (marine macroalgae) are autotrophic organisms capable of producing many compounds of interest. For a long time, seaweeds have been seen as a great nutritional resource, primarily in Asian countries to later gain importance in Europe and South America, as well as in North America and Australia. It has been reported that edible seaweeds are...

Marine macroalgae or seaweeds are multicellular, macroscopic, eukaryotic and autotrophic organisms that are at the base of marine food chains. Seaweeds are constituted by macromolecules (proteins, lipids and carbohydrates) and secondary metabolites, such as essential minerals, vitamins and pigments, crucial in the metabolism. Generally, seaweeds ha...