Manuel A. Curto

CIBIO Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources | CIBIO

Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding has revolutionized ecological and environmental research by describing communities without relying on direct observations, making it a powerful, non-invasive, and cost-effective tool in biodiversity monitoring. However, implementation of eDNA as a standard protocol in long-term monitoring programs, that have t...

Environmental DNA (eDNA) metagenomics sequences all DNA molecules present in environmental samples and has the potential of identifying virtually any organism from which they are derived. However, due to unacceptable levels of false positives and negatives, this approach is underexplored as a tool for biodiversity monitoring across the tree of life...

Geographic distribution, as well as evolutionary and biogeographic processes and patterns of marine invertebrate benthic species are strongly shaped by dispersal ability during the life cycle. Remote oceanic islands lie at the brink of complex biotic and abiotic interactions which have significantly influenced the biodiversity patterns we see today...

Volcanic oceanic islands are some of the Earth’s most geologically and ecologically dynamic habitats, where continuous volcanic activity and erosion lead to the formation of habitats that drastically change throughout their ontogeny. Shallow-water sandy habitats, specifically, repetitively disappeared and regenerated due to seasonal oceanographic a...

The processes shaping population dynamics of benthic marine invertebrates with nonplanktotrophic larvae are still poorly understood but have seen a renewed interest in applying integrative taxonomic approaches. We used mitochondrial and microsatellite (SSR-GBAS) data to estimate connectivity across islands and seamounts in the central North Atlanti...

This poster is an extension to my first poster. It has more samples (including Summer samples) and also specific primers to detect lampreys were applied.

Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), native to Africa and the Levant, is an important species for both aquaculture and capture fisheries. Despite these attributes, Nile tilapia has been negatively impacted by anthropogenic activities ranging from overfishing and habitat destruction to translocations. These human‐mediated activities have threatened...

To conserve threatened species effectively, it is crucial to map the genetic variation of the remaining populations. Thus, using 15 microsatellites markers, from which 10 were specially developed for this study, we investigated genetic structure and gene flow patterns of Herbertia zebrina Deble, a critically endangered species endemic from grasslan...

The european catfish is the largest freshwater fish in Europe. It was introduced in the Tagus River in Portugal in 2006 and has been establishing ever since. It is a top predator consuming all sorts of native, including endangered species. This works aims to comprehend how its diet differ in different systems: lotic and lentic.

Habitat niches of fish species can exert a strong influence on population structure, even on a small geographical scale. In this scope, Pelasgus thesproticus is a great model species to study connectivity in riverine environments owing to its naturally patchy habitat distribution. Furthermore, it is important to conduct such studies in near-natural...

Background Osyris lanceolata (Hochst. & Steud.) (Santalaceae) is a multipurpose plant highly valued culturally and economically in Africa. However, O. lanceolata populations have rapidly dwindled in East Africa due to overexploitation and this is believed to cause further consequences on the species’ genetic diversity and structure within the regio...

This poster presents preliminary data concerning my master's thesis.

Invasive species pose a significant threat to biodiversity and ecosystem functioning worldwide. However, impact assessment studies on native ecosystems have mostly been conducted during later invasion stages, after the species is well established and the impacts have already occurred. A recent invader in Portuguese freshwater systems is the Europea...

Background Various anthropogenic activities continue to threaten the fish biodiversity of the East African water bodies such as the Victoria Nile. Although the Victoria Nile is a significant source of livelihood for human populations, the biology and ecology of Nile tilapia in this ecosystem remain understudied with little or no information on the...

Based on molecular and morphological evidence, a new species of Micromeria is described for Tenerife, Canary Islands. Micromeria tenensis is endemic to the massif of Teno, occurring between 100–1000 m elevation. It is characterized by having more or less pendulous branches, tomentose stems and leaves, hispid calyx, and calyx apices triangular to la...

Invasive species can trigger profound effects on recipient ecosystems, namely through the food web. Despite being recognized as one of the worst invasive species, little is known about the feeding ecology of the Mozambique tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus. To understand how this invasive species might impact food webs, we applied metabarcod-ing to a...

Despite their high abundance and species richness, tilapiines have been compromised by various factors especially overfishing, climate change, and uncontrolled fish transfers and introductions. Fish introductions have negatively impacted native tilapiine populations through competition, predation, hybridization, and introgression compromising their...

The increasing demand for ornamental, cosmetic and pharmaceutical products is driving 20 exploitation of plant species globally. Sub-Saharan Africa comprises unique, and valuable plant resources and 21 is now a target of plant resource depletion. African Sandalwood (Osyris lanceolata), a multipurpose and 22 1.drought tolerant species has seen incre...

The Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) is the second-most economically important fish species in East African countries (EAC), surpassed only by the Nile perch (Lates niloticus). It is the most-farmed freshwater fish species in EAC and the second-most-farmed worldwide. Currently, in EAC, through direct stocking activities and likely indirectly vi...

ABSTRACT Background: As in most bryozoans, taxonomy and systematics of species in the genus Reteporella Busk, 1884 (family Phidoloporidae) has hitherto almost exclusively been based on morphological characters. From the central North Atlantic Azores Archipelago, nine Reteporella species have historically been reported, none of which have as yet bee...

Hybridization between native and nonnative fish species is a major conservation issue, especially in ecosystems with high levels of endemism, such as Iberian streams. To date, hybridization with the invasive bleak Alburnus alburnus has been reported for the Iberian chub Squalius alburnoides and S. pyrenaicus and in scattered locations only. However...

Despite their high abundance and species richness, tilapiines have been compromised by various factors especially overfishing, climate change, and un-controlled fish translocations. Fish translocations have negatively impacted native tilapiine populations through competition, predation, hybridization, and introgression compromising their genetic in...

Background: Various anthropogenic activities continue to threaten the fish biodiversity of the East African water bodies such as the Victoria Nile. Although the Victoria Nile is a significant source of livelihood to human populations, the biology and ecology of Nile tilapia in this ecosystem remain understudied with little or no information on the...

Biological invasions are considered one of the main extinction drivers of native species worldwide. Invasive species have detrimental effects on local ecosystems by means of competition, predation, habitat modification and nutrient cycling, as well as disease spreading. Along with ecological impacts, there are socioeconomic consequences to human po...

Background Microorganisms inhabiting the gut play a significant role in supporting fundamental physiological processes of the host, which contributes to their survival in varied environments. Several studies have shown that altitude affects the composition and diversity of intestinal microbial communities in terrestrial animals. However, little is...

The biological investigation of a population’s shape diversity using digital images is typically reliant on geometrical morphometrics, which is an approach based on user-defined landmarks. In contrast to this traditional approach, the progress in deep learning has led to numerous applications ranging from specimen identification to object detection...

Hybridization between native and exotic species is a major conservation issue. In Iberian rivers, which are simultaneously among the most invaded and diverse ecosystems, harboring a high proportion of endemic fishes, this issue is becoming highly concerning. To date, hybridization has been reported to occur between the invasive bleak Alburnus albur...

The Cruise M150 BIODIAZ provided a unique opportunity to study the ecology, diversity, abundance, and geographical distribution of epibenthos in mid-shelf to bathyal waters around the Azores. Among the target taxa were bryozoans, a globally distributed group of aquatic, colonial, benthic, suspension-feeding invertebrates represented by over 6,500 d...

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.

Background Microorganisms inhabiting the gut play a significant role in supporting fundamental physiological processes of the host, which contributes to their survival in varied environments. Several studies have shown that altitude affects the composition and diversity of intestinal microbial communities in terrestrial animals. However, little is...

An understanding of the genetic diversity and structure of plant species is essential in order to comprehend the degree of biodiversity loss and to develop successful restoration programs. Handroanthus is an important genus that presents one of the most valuable timbers of South America. Handroanthus chrysanthus is an important species distributed...

The increasing demand for ornamental, cosmetic and pharmaceutical products is driving exploitation of plant species globally. Sub-Saharan Africa harbours unique and valuable plant resources and is now a target of plant resource depletion. African Sandalwood (Osyris lanceolata), a multi-purpose and drought-tolerant species, has seen increased exploi...

Background Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) is among the economically most important freshwater fish species in East Africa, and a major source of protein for local consumption. Human induced translocations of non-native stocks for aquaculture and fisheries have been found as a potential threat to the genetic diversity and integ...

Background In the marine realm, dispersal ability is among the major factors shaping the distribution of species. In the Northeast Atlantic Ocean, the Azores Archipelago is home to a multitude of marine invertebrates which, despite their dispersal limitations, maintain gene flow among distant populations, with complex evolutionary and biogeographic...

Visual characteristics are among the most important features for characterizing the phenotype of biological organisms. Color and geometric properties define population phenotype and allow assessing diversity and adaptation to environmental conditions. To analyze geometric properties classical morphometrics relies on biologically relevant landmarks...

Simple Summary: The gut microbiota (all microbes in the intestine) of fishes is known to play an essential role in diverse aspects of their life. The gut microbiota of fish is affected by various environmental parameters, including temperature changes, salinity and diet. This study characterised the microbial composition in gut samples of Nile Tila...

Background Invasive species are increasingly driving biodiversity decline, and knowledge of colonization dynamics, including both drivers and dispersal modes, are important to prevent future invasions. The bee species Megachile sculpturalis (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae), native to East-Asia, was first recognized in Southeast-France in 2008, and has s...

The introduction of new genetic lineages into a population promotes interbreeding or hybridization and can be associated with the loss of genetic adaptation. This may contribute to financial losses for fish farmers following investments into fish strains that do not perform to their expectations. Oreochromis niloticus is one of the tilapiine specie...

Abstract Background The need for enhancing the productivity of fisheries in Africa triggered the introduction of non-native fish, causing dramatic changes to local species. In East Africa, the extensive translocation of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) is one of the major factors in this respect. Using 40 microsatellite loci with SSR-GBS techni...

DNA metabarcoding of environmental samples is based on PCR-amplification of specific loci. However this approach has some inherent limitations, such as biases in relative abundance estimations and the drop out of certain taxa. Shotgun sequencing of bulk DNA present in environmental samples can be a valid solution, since it does not enrich certain r...

Grape phylloxera is one of the most dangerous insect pests for worldwide viticulture. The leaf- and root-galling phylloxerid has been managed by grafting European grapevines onto American rootstock hybrids. Recent reports pinpoint the appearance of host-adapted biotypes, but information about the biomolecular characteristics underlying grape phyllo...

Hedgehogs are among the most abundant species to be found within wildlife shelters and after successful rehabilitation they are frequently translocated. The effects and potential impact of these translocations on gene flow within wild populations are largely unknown. In this study, different wild hedgehog populations were compared with artificially...

Farmers and traders have developed a system of names to refer to different qat (Catha edulis) cultivars, using stem color as the primary trait to differentiate them. In this study, we tested if the named cultivars from Ethiopia, Kenya, and Yemen represent genetic clusters. We also quantified clonal reproduction and tracked the geographic dispersal...

The Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) gut harbors a diverse microbial community; however, their variation across gut regions, lumen and mucosa is not fully elucidated. In this study, gut microbiota of all samples across gut regions and sample types (luminal content and mucosa) were analyzed and compared from two Ethiopian lakes. Microbiota were...

Ailanthus altissima is a common tree species of the European non-native flora. In Eastern Austria, Ailanthus has both a long tradition, dating back to the late 18 th century, and a high frequency of occurrence. Here, we apply molecular markers from the nuclear and chloroplast DNA in order to study the origin, as well as the clo-nal and genetic stru...

Background The need for enhancing the productivity of fisheries in Africa triggered the introduction of non-native fish, causing dramatic changes to local species. In East Africa, the extensive translocation of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) is one of the major factors in this respect. Using 40 microsatellite loci with SSR-GBS techniques, we...

Background The need for enhancing the productivity of fisheries in Africa triggered the introduction of non-native fish, causing dramatic changes to local species. In East Africa, the extensive translocation of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) is one of the major factors in this respect. Using 40 microsatellite loci with SSR-GBS techniques, we...

1. Osmia cornuta is a generalist regarding its habitat requirements and is used for pollination in orchards. The species collects pollen from different plant taxa, but pollen richness and pollen quantity in a nest may be affected by land use and landscape structures. 2. The availability of pollen resources for O. cornuta was studied across differen...

Cinchona officinalis L., a tree species endemic to the cloud forests of the northern Tropical Andes, has suffered from historical bark harvesting for extraction of antimalarial compounds and has also experienced recent demographic losses from high rates of deforestation. Most remnant populations are found in severely degraded habitat on the edges o...

Background The need for enhancing the productivity of fisheries in Africa triggered the introduction of non-native fish, causing dramatic changes to local species. In East Africa, the extensive translocation of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) is one of the major factors in this respect. Using 40 microsatellite loci with SSR-GBS techniques, we...

This study seeks to elucidate the long-distance dispersal of marine invertebrates under 26 complex oceanographic settings, the role of seamounts, ocean-currents and periodic climatic changes in the 27 colonization of the Azores. With the major goal of clarifying the Azorean Biogeographical Paradox, several 28 questions will be addressed: 1 - Are th...

Background The need for enhancing the productivity of fisheries in Africa triggered the introduction of non-native fish, causing dramatic changes to local species. In East Africa, the extensive translocation of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) is one of the major factors in this respect. Using 40 microsatellite loci with SSR-GBS techniques, we...

Their geographic isolation and relatively young age make volcanic oceanic islands important for understanding evolutionary and biogeographic processes. While apparently easily reachable for marine planktotrophic organisms, those with short-lived non-planktotrophic larvae are expected to be underrepresented in remote islands such as the Azores Archi...

The colonization of volcanic oceanic islands by marine invertebrates with different dispersal abilities constitutes interesting topics for island biogeographers. In the Azores Archipelago, the so-called “Azorean Biogeographical Paradox” (biogeographic affinities with European/Mediterranean taxa, despite the eastward sea-surface currents) poses some...

Microsatellites play an important role when investigating population and ecological genetics, although high effort in development and genotyping constitute a technical constraint and remains a major bottleneck. Here we use a microsatellite genotyping approach utilizing sequences of amplicons for allele calling (SSR-GBS) based on Illumina that requi...

By applying second‐generation sequencing technologies to microsatellite genotyping, sequence information is produced which can result in high‐resolution population genetics analysis populations and increased replicability between runs and laboratories. In the present study, we establish an approach to study the genetic structure patterns of two Eur...

DNA barcoding constitutes a supplemental genetically based characterization tool for the identification of species. Traditionally, the barcodes are generated with a length of 650 bp using standardized Sanger sequencing, but with the introduction of high-throughput sequencing (HTS) methods new opportunities for sequencing are available. To use HTS f...

Microsatellite markers are still the marker of choice for many research questions in the field of forest genetics. However, the number of available markers is often low for species that have not been studied intensively like the tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima). During the last decade, next-generation sequencing (NGS) has offered advanced techn...

The tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle) is a pioneer broadleaved tree species native to eastern China and Northern Vietnam. After its introduction to other parts of the world, it spread and now grows in a wide secondary range across temperate zones of all five continents (except Antarctica). One of the first areas of introduction i...

Nile tilapia occurs naturally in East Africa where it’s an economically important species. Many of the natural populations of Nile tilapia have been affected by anthropogenic activities including translocations, associated with programmes aimed at enhancing capture fisheries and aquaculture productivity. Using geometric morphometric analyses, we te...

As found in other oceanic islands, the Canary Islands include a large number of single island endemic species, some of which form clades that are broadly distributed within the archipelago. The genus Micromeria (Lamiaceae), for instance, includes groups of morphologically similar but ecologically diverse species on each island, representing a great...