Marco F. L. Lemos

Politechnic University of Leiria

Endpoints assessed at the population or community level are most often the result of the sum of effects on individuals, arising from the effects at the cellular and molecular levels. Within this framework, these lower biological level endpoints are more responsive at an early stage of exposure, making them potential toolboxes to be used as early-wa...

Marine biomass is a resource with great potential to fuel a circular bioeconomy addressing the current economic and environmental world crisis, while seaweeds are known to be a great source of bioactive compounds with potential use for human and animal nutrition, novel natural preservatives, phytopharmaceuticals, cosmeceuticals, biopharmaceuticals,...

Crustaceans are amongst the most reported invaders of coastal habitats, and predatory brachyuran crabs one of the most successful marine invasive groups. They hold high tolerance to abiotic stress and their genetic, life- history, and behavioural adaptation mechanisms prompt their invasive conspicuousness. However, there is a generalized ambiguity...

In nature, a multitude of factors influences the fitness of an organism at a given time, which makes single stressor assessments far from ecologically relevant scenarios. This study focused on the effects of water temperature and predation stress on the metabolism and body mass gain of a common intertidal rock pool fish, Gobius paganellus, addressi...

The use of integrative molecular approaches can aid in a comprehensive understanding of the effects of toxicants at different levels of biological organization, also supporting risk assessment. The present study aims to unravel the toxicity mechanisms of a widely used herbicide to the arthropod Folsomia candida exposed in a natural soil, by linking...

Acne vulgaris, a high-prevalence skin condition afflicting people, persists as a significant challenge in the absence of effective treatments and emerging antibiotic resistance. To address this pressing concern, exploration of innovative approaches is of the utmost importance. Asparagopsis armata, an invasive red seaweed renowned for its diverse ar...

The quest for sustainable space exploration and colonization is a challenge in its infancy, which faces scarcity of resources and an inhospitable environment. In recent years, advancements in space biotechnology have emerged as potential solutions to the hurdles of prolonged space habitation. Taking cues from the oceans, this review focuses on the...

Kelp forests are essential marine ecosystems increasingly compromised by human activities. Effective reforestation strategies are urgently needed, and the “green gravel” method is a viable tool already used in some European regions. This study aimed to assess the success of this method using the native Kelp species Laminaria ochroleuca on the Portu...

Marine-derived nutrients and bioactive compounds may offer a myriad of biological benefits, such as anticancer and anti-inflammatory properties, and technological potential, enhancing food quality as additives. Their role in the sustainable development of food technology is fundamental, especially in advancing the knowledge of functional foods and...

Invasive species’ plasticity and latitudinal spread have become an increasing matter of concern in rapidly changing climate. The brush-clawed shore crab (Hemigrapsus takanoi), native along northwestern Pacific shores, has established dense populations in northern European coasts. Detrimental effects in natura have been reported, such as displacemen...

The aquaculture of meagre (Argyrosomus regius), a commercially important fish species, is still under development towards its full potential and optimized production. While its key strengths in fish farming, including high growth rate, efficient feed conversion ratio, superior flesh quality, nutritional value, size, and established husbandry techni...

Simple Summary Lipids, namely fatty acids, are crucial energy sources in fish development, reproduction, and migration, among other processes. In this study, we are interested in identifying the most relevant fatty acids in the liver and plasma throughout the reproductive cycle of farmed brown trout in both sexes. Four reproductive stages along the...

Algae have emerged as fascinating subjects of study due to their vast potential as sources of valuable metabolites with diverse biotechnological applications, including their use as fertilizers, feed, food, and even pharmaceutical precursors. Among the numerous compounds found in algae, lectins have garnered special attention for their unique struc...

Anthropogenic climate change, particularly seawater warming, is expected to drive quick shifts in marine species distribution transforming coastal communities. These shifts in distribution will be particularly noticeable in biogeographical transition zones. The continental Portuguese coast stretches from north to south along 900 km. Despite this sh...

Stemphylium vesicarium is a devasting fungal phytopathogen known to cause brown spot disease in pear trees, being characterized by the emergence of necrotic spots in different parts of the plant. A regular application of synthetic fungicides is commonly done to control this disease, representing high economic costs for the farmers. In addition, the...

Brachionus plicatilis is a cosmopolitan rotifer used as a model organism in several research areas and as live food in aquaculture. Being a species complex, responses to stressors vary even among strains of the same species and, thus, the responses of one species are not representative of the whole complex. This study aimed to address the effects o...

The growth of human populations has been driving an unprecedent and widespread increase in marine traffic, posing a real threat to marine biodiversity. Even though we are now aware of the negative effects of shipping noise exposure on fish, information about the impact on their early life stages continues to lack. Meagre (Argyrosomus regius) is a v...

Fungal infections cause losses amounting to between 20 and 25% of the fruit industry’s total outcome, with an escalating impact on agriculture in the last decades. As seaweeds have long demonstrated relevant antimicrobial properties against a wide variety of microorganisms, extracts from Asparagopsis armata, Codium sp., Fucus vesiculosus, and Sarga...

Top predators such as most shark species are extremely vulnerable to amassing high concentrations of contaminants, but not much is known about the effects that the contaminant body burden imparts on these animals. Species like the blue shark (Prionace glauca) are very relevant in this regard, as they have high ecological and socioeconomic value, an...

Anthropogenic climate change, particularly seawater warming, is expected to drive quick shifts in marine species distribution transforming coastal communities. These shifts in distribution will be particularly noticeable in biogeographical transition zones. The continental Portuguese coast stretches from north to south along 900 Km. Despite this sh...

Plant bacterial pathogens can be devastating and compromise entire crops of fruit and vegetables worldwide. The consequences of bacterial plant infections represent not only relevant economical losses, but also the reduction of food availability. Synthetic bactericides have been the most used tool to control bacterial diseases, representing an expe...

Effects assessed at higher levels of biological organization (populations and communities) are the consequence of the sum of effects on individuals, which usually result from impacts at cellular and molecular levels. Given this rationale, these lower levels of biological organization are more responsive at an early stage, making them potential reso...

Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (SDS) is an anionic surfactant, extensively used in detergents, household and personal care products, as well as in industrial processes. The present study aimed to disclose the potential toxicological effects of SDS exposure under environmentally relevant concentrations (0, 0.1, 1, 3, and 10 mg L−1) on the physiology and bio...

The rotifer Brachionus plicatilis is an important species for aquaculture, due to its use as food for bivalves, and fish and crustaceans larvae in hatcheries. However, being a species complex, it has become increasingly important to catalogue and describe the species and biotypes that constitute this complex. Therefore, the purpose of this study wa...

Chemical pollution is a major threat to marine ecosystems, and top predators such as most shark species are extremely vulnerable to being exposed and accumulating contaminants such as metals and persistent organic pollutants (POPs). This work aimed to study the degree, composition, and the sources of contamination in the blue shark (Prionace glauca...

Emerging pollutants impose a high degree of stress on marine ecosystems, compromising valuable resources, the planet and human health. Pharmaceutical residues often reach marine ecosystems, and their input is directly related to human activities. Fluoxetine is an antidepressant, and one of the most prescribed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors...

This work focuses on understanding the action of a novel seaweed extract with anti-browning functionality in fresh-cut apples. Organic fresh-cut apples were coated by immersion in an aqueous Codium tomentosum seaweed extract (0.5 % w/v), packaged under ambient atmospheric conditions in plastic bags, and stored at 4 ˚C for 15 days. Browning-related...

Blue shark score among the most abundant, widely distributed and worldwide consumed elasmobranchs. In this work contents of PCBs, PCDD/Fs and PBDEs were studied by means of GC-HRMS in muscle and liver of sixty blue sharks from the North East Atlantic sampled in 2019. Concentrations relatively similar were found for PCBs and PCDD/Fs in comparison wi...

Present-day COVID-19 pandemic led to the increasing daily use of antimicrobials worldwide. Triclosan is a manmade disinfectant chemical used in several of consumer healthcare products, thus being frequently detected in surface waters. In the present work, we aimed to evaluate triclosan effect on diatom cell photophysiology, fatty acid profiles and...

The use of glyphosate-based herbicides (GBH) worldwide has increased exponentially over the last two decades increasing the environmental risk to marine and coastal habitats. The present study investigated the effects of a GBH at environmentally relevant concentrations (0, 10, 50, 100, 250, and 500 μg L−1), on the physiology and biochemistry (photo...

Fungal phytopathogens represent a continuous growing problem being responsible for catastrophic product and economic losses. These microorganisms are related with 80% of plant diseases and can reach a wide range of plants with nutritional importance for human feeding, reducing their availability. The current and most effective control methodology i...

Aurantiochytrium sp. is an emerging alternative source of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and squalene, playing an important role in the phasing out of traditional fish sources for these compounds. Novel lipid extraction techniques with a focus on sustainability and low environmental footprint are being developed fo...

Bioindicator species are increasingly valuable in environmental pollution monitoring, and elasmobranch species include many suitable candidates for that role. By measuring contaminants and employing biomarkers of effect in relevant elasmobranch species, scientists may gain important insights about the impacts of pollution in marine ecosystems. This...

Anthropogenic noise is a growing threat to marine organisms, including fish. Yet very few studies have addressed the impact of anthropogenic noise on fish reproduction, especially in situ. In this study, we investigated the impacts of boat noise exposure in the reproductive success of wild Lusitanian toadfish (Halobatrachus didactylus), a species t...

The similarities of electrospun fibers with the skin extracellular matrix (ECM) make them promising structures for advanced wound dressings. Moreover, infection and resistance in wounds are a major health concern that may be reduced with antibacterial wound dressings. In this work, a multifunctional wound dressing was developed based on gelatin/chi...

Marine macroalgae have been increasingly targeted as a source of bioactive compounds to be used in several areas, namely as biopesticides. When using invasive species, such as Asparagopsis armata, for this purpose, there is a two-folded opportunity by acquiring these biomolecules from a low-cost resource, while by harvesting it, one can control its...

While Aurantiochytrium sp. is an increasingly popular source of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), its extraction generates high amounts of waste, including the spent, defatted residue. The composition and bioactivities of this by-product could prove to be a major part of the sustainable valorisation of this organism within the framework of a cir...

Global warming and the subsequent increase in the frequency of temperature anomalies are expected to affect marine and estuarine species’ population dynamics, latitudinal distribution, and fitness, allowing non-native opportunistic species to invade and thrive in new geographical areas. Bivalves represent a significant percentage of the benthic bio...

Sulfoxaflor is an insecticide belonging to the recent sulfoximine class, acting as a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChRs) agonist. There are few studies regarding sulfoxaflor’s toxicity to non-target organisms. The present study aimed to investigate the acute and sub-lethal effects of sulfoxaflor on Carcinus maenas by addressing survival, beha...

Fungal phytopathogens are a growing problem all over the world; their propagation causes significant crop losses, affecting the quality of fruits and vegetables, diminishing the availability of food, leading to the loss of billions of euros every year. To control fungal diseases, the use of synthetic chemical fungicides is widely applied; these sub...

Polysaccharides are complex macromolecules long regarded as energetic storage resources or as components of plant and fungal cell walls. They have also been described as plant mucilages or microbial exopolysaccharides. The development of glycosciences has led to a partial and difficult deciphering of their other biological functions in living organ...

Acne vulgaris (AV) is a chronic skin disease of the pilosebaceous unit affecting both adolescents and adults. Its pathophysiology includes processes of inflammation, increased keratinization, sebum production, hormonal dysregulation, and bacterial Cutibacterium acnes proliferation. Common AV has been treated with antibiotics since the 1960s, but st...

The assessment of contaminant exposure in marine organisms often focuses on the most toxic chemical elements from upper trophic level species. Information on mid-trophic level species and particularly on potentially less harmful elements is lacking. Additionally, microplastics have been considered emergent contaminants in aquatic environments which...

Marine traffic is the most common and chronic source of ocean noise pollution. Despite the evidence of detrimental effects of noise exposure on fish, knowledge about the effects on the critical early life stages - embryos and larvae - is still scarce. Here, we take a natural habitat-based approach to examine potential impacts of boat noise exposure...

Metals are persistent worldwide being harmful for diverse organisms and having complex and combined effects with other contaminants in the environment. Sea turtles accumulate these contaminants being considered good bioindicator species for marine pollution. However, very little is known on how this is affecting these charismatic animals. São Tomé...

Argan oil is rich in long-chain unsaturated fatty acids (FA), mostly oleic and linoleic, and natural antioxidants. This study addresses the production of low-calorie structured lipids by acidolysis reaction, in a solvent-free system, between caprylic (C8:0; system I) or capric (C10:0; system II) acids and argan oil, used as triacylglycerol (TAG) so...

The use of plastics has been increasing dramatically in the last decades, and consequently plastics and microplastics have been considered emergent contaminants in aquatic environments. The occurrence of microplastics has been reported in several marine species worldwide, however species from mid-trophic chains have not been extensively studied. Th...

Multidisciplinary approaches are essential to diligently assess environmental health status of ecosystems. In this study, year-round chemical elements’ exposure and impacts were assessed on the wide-ranging Cory’s shearwater Calonectris borealis breeding in Berlenga Island, offshore Portugal, North Atlantic Ocean. The aim was to identify potential...

Nowadays there is an emerging demand for new wound healings therapeutics, especially with antimicrobial activities since the increasing bacteria’s resistance to antibiotics are responsible for wounds infection persistence and consequently, long-term hospital stays . Electrospun fibers have been contributed for the progress in the wound care field d...

Background Seaweeds are promising substrates for biotransformation via fermentation, something that has been primarily utilized by the field of biofuels but focused less attention from other fields of research.. Considering that the fermentation of abundant land resources has become an important means by which new added-value compounds can be obtai...

One of the most landed sharks in Portuguese fisheries is the lesser-spotted dogfish (Scyliorhinus canicula), which is ever-present in Portuguese fish markets and consumed as cheap fish protein source. The focus of this study was to evaluate element contamination in consumed tissues of Atlantic S. canicula, with the intent of safeguarding possible p...

Tributyltin (TBT) is an organotin chemical mainly used as biocide in marine antifouling paints. Despite the restrictions and prohibitions on its use, TBT is still an environmental problem due to its extensive application and subsequent release into the environment, being regarded as one of the most toxic chemicals released into the marine ecosystem...

Blue biotechnology plays a major role in converting marine biomass into societal value; therefore, it is a key pillar for many marine economy developmental frameworks and sustainability strategies, such as the Blue Growth Strategy, diverse Sea Basin Strategies (e [...]

Biological invasions represent a threat to ecosystems, through competition and habitat destruction, which may result in significant changes of the invaded community. Asparagopsis armata Harvey 1855 is a red macroalgae (Rodophyta) globally recognized as an invasive species. It is found from the intertidal to shallow subtidal areas, on rock or epiphy...

Multidisciplinary approaches are essential to diligently assess environmental health status of ecosystems. In this study, year-round chemical elements' exposure and impacts were assessed on the wide-ranging Cory's shearwater Calonectris borealis breeding in Berlenga Island, offshore Portugal, North Atlantic Ocean. The aim was to identify potential...

Worldwide anthropogenic activities result in the production and release of potentially damaging toxic pollutants into ecosystems, thereby jeopardizing their health and continuity. Research stud-ies and biomonitoring programs attend to this emerging problematic by applying and developing statistically relevant indexes that integrate complex biomarke...

Worldwide anthropogenic activities result in the production and release of poten-tially damaging toxic pollutants into ecosystems, thereby jeopardizing their health and continuity. Research studies and biomonitoring programs attend to this emerging problematic by applying and developing statistically relevant indexes that integrate complex biomarke...

Brown seaweeds are recognized sources of compounds with a wide range of properties and applications. Within these compounds, phlorotannins are known to possess several bioactivities (e.g., antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial) with potential to improve wound healing. To obtain phlorotannins enriched extracts from Undaria pinnatifida, a...

The seaweed Asparagopsis armata exhibits a strong invasive behavior, producing halogenated compounds with effective biological effects. This study addresses the biochemical responses to sublethal concentrations of A. armata exudate on the marine snail Gibbula umbilicalis whole body and the shrimp Palaemon elegans eyes and hepatopancreas. Antioxidan...

Invasive macroalgae represent one of the major threats to marine biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and structure, as well as being important drivers of ecosystem services depletion. Many such species have become well established along the west coast of the Iberian Peninsula. However, the lack of information about the distribution of the invaders...