Maria Margarida Ribeiro

Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco | IPCB · School of Agriculture (ESACB)

Mediterranean forests are fragile ecosystems vulnerable to recent global warming and reduction of precipitation, and a long-term negative effect is expected on vegetation with increasing drought and in areas burnt by fires. We investigated the spatial distribution of genetic variation of Arbutus unedo in the western Iberia Peninsula, using plastid...

Some 1339 trees from 48 Pinus pinaster stands were characterized by five chloroplast microsatellites, detecting a total of 103 distinct haplotypes. Frequencies for the 16 most abundant haplotypes (p(k) > 0.01) were spatially interpolated over a lattice made by 430 grid points. Fitting of spatially interpolated values on raw haplotype frequencies at...

In marginal lands Opuntia ficus-indica (OFI) could be used as an alternative fruit and forage crop. The plant vigour and the biomass production were evaluated in Portuguese germplasm (15 individuals from 16 ecotypes) by non-destructive methods, 2 years following planting in a marginal soil and dryland conditions. Two Italian cultivars (Gialla and B...

Key message Slash and burn practices affect tropical forests. Our results showed strong introgression between Inga ingoides and Inga edulis in the species contact area. Interspecific hybridization could be sought to improve yield and tolerance to flooding and further increase the economic potential of the poorly drained Amazonian soils and minimize...

Genetic variation in 12 Pinus pinaster (maritime pine) populations spanning most of the distribution range of the species in Portugal was evaluated using six polymorphic chloroplast microsatellite (cpSSR) loci. Thirty-two haplotypes were found. There were indications of very weak differentiation among populations (Weir’s θcoefficient, 0.023), and t...

Climate change’s huge impact on Mediterranean species’ habitat suitability and spatial and temporal distribution in the coming decades is expected. The present work aimed to reconstruct rockrose (Cistus ladanifer L.) historical and future spatial distribution, a typically Mediterranean species with abundant occurrence in North Africa, Iberian Penin...

To date, a variety of species potential distribution mapping approaches have been used, and the agreement in maps produced with different methodological approaches should be assessed. The aims of this study were: (1) to model Maritime pine potential distributions for the present and for the future under two climate change scenarios using the machin...

Climate change is a challenge for forests in the coming decades, with a major impact on species adaptation and distribution. The Mediterranean Basin is one of the most vulnerable hotspots for biodiversity conservation under climate change in the world. This research aimed at studying a Mediterranean species well adapted to the region: the Arbutus u...

Obligate coastline taxa generally occupy very limited areas, especially when there is a close affinity with a specific coast type. Climate change can be a meaningful threat for them, reducing suitable habitat or forcing migration events. Cistus ladanifer subsp. sulcatus is an endemic plant of Portugal, known to occur only in the top of its southwes...

Climate change is already a reality, and habitat loss is affecting relentlessly tree species distributions. The strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo L., Ericaceae) is a Mediterranean evergreen tree used in this article as a case study to evince its expected threatening situation in the upcoming age. This research work seeks to identify the bioclimatic an...

Research Highlights: Modelling species’ distribution and productivity is key to support integrated landscape planning, species’ afforestation, and sustainable forest management. Background and Objectives: Maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Aiton) forests in Portugal were lately affected by wildfires and measures to overcome this situation are needed. Th...

Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni, Asteraceae, is an herbaceous perennial plant native to Paraguay. This species is considered since ancient times a medicinal plant with important bioactive compounds and pharmacologic and food properties, namely diter-penes glycosides. The high natural sweetener potential stevioside and rebaudioside A produced by S. rebaud...

Species ecological envelope maps were obtained for the two main Portuguese wood-production species (Eucalyptus globulus Labill. and Pinus pinaster Aiton) and projected future climate change scenarios. A machine learning approach was used to understand the most influential environmental variables that may explain current species distribution and pro...

Research Highlights: This study assesses the genetic diversity and structure of the ice-cream-bean (Inga edulis Mart.; Fabaceae) in wild and cultivated populations from the Peruvian Amazon. This research also highlights the importance of protecting the biodiversity of the forest in the Peruvian Amazon, to preserve the genetic resources of species a...

Workers around the world spend nearly a quarter of their time at work Occupational health is gaining great importance due to the profound impact on people long term health. The health status of the primary sector workforce is a great unknown for medical geography where health maps and spatial patterns have not been able to explain years of changing...

Nas aves, a área vital de uma espécie compreende as zonas de nidificação e as de alimentação, entre outras, as quais, em muitos casos, são constituídas por biótopos distintos, em particular durante o período reprodutor. O estudo da área vital pode dar indicações sobre as zonas importantes a proteger, tendo em conta que as áreas ocupadas por estas e...

Increasing forest wildfires in Portugal remain a growing concern since forests in the Mediterranean region are vulnerable to recent global warming and reduction of precipitation. Therefore, a long-term negative effect is expected on the vegetation, with increasing drought and areas burnt by fires. The strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo L.) is particula...

Representation of the topographic variables used in the Maxent models for the A. unedo habitat suitability predictions. (A) Altitude. (B) Slope. (PDF)

Response curves of the most influential environmental variables to MaxEnt models for strawberry tree in the present. (A) BIO15. (B) Slope. (C) Altitude (dem). (D) BIO2. (E) tmin. (PDF)

Bayesian analysis results. Mutual information analysis from the Bayesian model built for the knowledge of the strawberry tree most influential bioclimatic variables (our unpublished data). (DOCX)

Representation of the seven bioclimatic variables used in the Maxent models for the A. unedo habitat suitability predictions in the different tested scenarios. (A) Present (current climate conditions). (B) Last Glacial Maximum, 22 000 BP. (C) Mid-Holocene, 6 000 BP. (D) Future 2050, RCP 4.5. (E) Future 2070, RCP 4.5. (F) Future 2050, RCP 8.5. (G) F...

Species’ presence geographical coordinates. The dataset with the 318 locations where the species was found present in the region of study, in a 1-Km2 grid level. Longitude (W) and latitude (N) in decimal degrees. (XLSX)

Variables extracted from WorldClim. The climatic variables code, name and dimensions. (DOCX)

In Opuntia spp., the cladode tissues contain many polysaccharides and secondary metabolites that interfere with obtaining high-quality deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), using currently available methods. To circumvent this problem, three commercial kits, three modified versions of the conventional cetyltrimethylammonium bromide method (CTAB) method and...

Growing forests wildfires in Portugal are an increasing concern since forests in the Mediterranean region are vulnerable to recent global warming. Long-term negative effects are expected on the vegetation with the coming increasing drought. The strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo L.) displays potential to be a successfully business-like cultured in seve...

Fruit production, as an elementary chemical characteristic of the fruit, was evaluated in 16 O. ficus-indica Portuguese ecotypes cultivated in a marginal soil without tillage, in the second and third years after plantation. The O. ficus-indica ecotypes were compared with the Italian cultivars ‘Bianca’ and ‘Gialla’. Significant differences were foun...

The Opuntia spp., most likely few individuals, were introduced in the Iberian Peninsula in the beginning of the 16th century, after the discovery of America, spreading afterwards throughout the Mediterranean basin. We analysed for the first time the genetic diversity in a set of 19 Portuguese Opuntia spp. populations from the species O. ficus-indic...

The cork oak (Quercus suber L.) has remarkable ecological, social and economic value in the Mediterranean region. Due to the growing economic interest in cork, human intervention in the plant production and renewal of this species is crucial. Thus, the optimization of the propagation methodologies to produce selected and improved trees for high qua...

The Opuntia spp. has minimal soil and water requirements, and the O. ficus-indica, in particular is sought to be an alternative for the Mediterranean region agricultural economy. The morphology, bioactive compounds and antioxidant properties of fruits were studied in twenty Portuguese ecotypes belonging to four Opuntia species (O. ficus-indica, O....

O medronheiro (Arbutus unedo L.) tem potencial para ser uma cultura de sucesso comercial em várias regiões de Portugal, onde está bem-adaptado ao clima e solos. A espécie tem sido usada pelas populações locais para consumo do fruto em fresco ou processado, sobretudo como aguardente, no entanto continua a ser uma espécie largamente negligenciada, ai...

The strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo L.) has potential to be successfully businesslike-cultured for a broad area in Portugal, but remains largely a neglected crop. This region shows a particular sensitivity to global warming, which brings together the reduction of precipitation rates and, consequently, a long-term negative effect on vegetation. To in...

The absolute (counts) and relative (frequency) frequencies of the fifteen detected haplotypes. Haplotype refers to four chloroplast microsatellites composition respectively: AU1, AU2, AU4 and AU7. (DOCX)

Development of the percentage of burned area (sum of the burned areas/area of the country) and number of wildfires, per year, in the Southern Mediterranean countries, Portugal, Spain, France, Italy and Greece over a 30-year period (1980–2005). (A) Percentage of burned area development. (B) Number of wildfires development. European Commission (2007)...

Sampled populations. Map highlighting the populations’ sampled (black dots) and the A. unedo stand distribution according to the 2006 Portuguese National Forest Inventory: http://www.icnf.pt/portal/florestas/ifn (orange triangles). (TIF)

A espécie Taxus baccata L. é uma gimnospérmica dioica que pertence à família Taxaceae e ao género Taxus. Está amplamente distribuída pela Europa, Ásia e Norte de África. Em Portugal, o teixo é autóctone na Serra da Estrela, na Serra do Gerês, na Serra do Caramulo, nos Açores e na Madeira. A espécie T. baccata é considerada em risco de extinção em P...

The strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo L.) is a native species, water stress and low fertility soils tolerant, actively resistant to wild fires and widely distributed in Portugal. In this study we intend to identify the most suitable habitat to the species in the Center region of Portugal based on the integration of a set of biogeophysical factors.For...

Fifteen strawberry tree natural populations in different ecological conditions were sampled, ca. 30 trees per stand. Our aims were to investigate the genetic structure the species, and to disclose the historical demographic processes shaping the genetic structure. The obtained information will be used in the species improvement and in the design an...

Strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo L.) displays potential to be successfully businesslike cultured in several regions of Portugal and southern Europe, where it is well adapted to climate and soils. In Portugal, this species has been used by local populations for fruit consumption and spirit production, but remains largely a neglected crop. It has diffe...

O medronheiro (Arbutus unedo L.) é uma espécie autóctone em Portugal, com distribuição ubíqua, tolerante à secura estival, a solos de baixa fertilidade e com uma resistência ativa a incêndios florestais. Neste estudo pretendeu-se identificar o habitat mais favorável para a espécie na região Centro com base na integração de um conjunto de fatores bi...

European yew (Taxus baccata L.) is a broadly distributed conifer in Europe, Asia and North Africa. In Portugal is autochthonous in Serra da Estrela, Serra do Gerês, Madeira and Azores. This species is considered an endangered species in Portugal as well as all over Europe, due to wildfires, grazing and invasion by exotic species. The isolation of h...

European yew (Taxus baccata L.) is a broadly distributed conifer in Europe, Asia and North Africa. However, is considered an endangered species, due to wildfires, grazing and invasion by exotic species. In Portugal, T. baccata is autochthonous in Serra da Estrela, Serra do Gerês, Madeira and Azores. The isolation of high-quality genomic DNA suitabl...

The strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo L.) is a native species, water stress and low fertility soils tolerant, actively resistant to wildfires and widely distributed in Portugal. The fruit is used in the spirit production, the main source of income. Red fruits, with antioxidant potential, represent, also, a new market opportunity. The geographical isol...

O medronheiro (Arbutus unedo L.) é uma espécie autóctone, com distribuição ubíqua em Portugal, tolerante ao stress hídrico, a solos de baixa fertilidade e com uma resistência ativa a incêndios florestais. O fruto é utilizado na produção de aguardente, a principal fonte de rendimento, e o seu consumo em fresco (medronho), com potencial antioxidante,...

O desenvolvimento sustentável de uma espécie depende da quantidade de diversidade genética presente nas populações. Sem diversidade genética o perigo de extinção é muito maior. Existem muitas razões para a conservação dos recursos genéticos que incluem, entre outras, uma maior resiliência quando a variabilidade entre e dentro das populações é maior...

The strawberry tree ( Arbutus unedo L.) is an underutilized, drought tolerant, fire resistant species with a south western distribution in Europe, and with ecological and putative socio-economical impact in Portugal and Mediterranean countries. Our aim was to develop an appropriate set of molecular markers to enable genetic diversity to be assessed...

Olea europaea ssp. europaea (Oleaceae) grows in Mediterranean countries. The Galega represents one of the most common Portuguese olive tree cultivars, and is used in five out of the six PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) regions. The fruits are used for olive oil and for fruit canning, besides which the cultivar is drought tolerant. The cultivar...

Global change is the actual environmental paradigm that notably affects forest tree populations. Land use has been radically changed by the introduction of agriculture, which implies an ongoing drastic reduction of forest surfaces in some parts of the globe, particularly in ecosystems with high biodiversity. Climate change will influence forest tre...

Human activity in the Peruvian Amazon causes native vegetation fragmentation into smaller units resulting on the increase of agricultural systems. Understanding the level, the structure and the origin of morphologic within and among populations variation is essential for planning better management strategies aimed at sustainable use and conservatio...

Aims To assess the genetic patterns of colonisation of metalliferous areas by the pseudometallophyte Cistus ladanifer with AFLP genome scan, to compare those estimates with previous cpSSR results, and to identify loci potentially linked to tolerance to metalliferous soils. Methods Thirty-three populations were screened with AFLP markers. Statistica...

The use of genome scans in parallel with environmental data provides the opportunity to identify molecular markers with environmental relevance. In this work we have analysed 33 populations of the Mediterranean pseudometallophyte Cistus ladanifer L. with AFLP markers. Afterwards we have applied Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) models in order...

• Introduction Tree genetic improvement programs usually lack, in general, pedigree information. Since molecular markers can be used to estimate the level of genetic similarity between individuals, we genotyped a sample of a Portuguese Eucalyptus globulus breeding population - a reference population of 125 individuals - with 16 microsatellites (SSR...

Leyland cypress is a particularly difficult-to-root hybrid and, since hybrids can only be propagated through vegetative propagation, a rooting experiment took place in Portugal (Castelo Branco), in February 2007. The aim was to study the influence of different indole-3- butyric acid (IBA) concentrations, wounding the base of the cutting and rooting...

Cherry laurel is very common as an ornamental plant, due to the large glossy leaves, fast growth, and shade and hedging tolerance. The influence of different indole-3-butiric acid (IBA) concentrations (1,000, 2,500, 5,000 and 7,500 ppm) in cherry laurel vegetative propagation was evaluated in early spring 2007. The data was gathered one month after...

Strawberry tree grows around the Mediterranean basin. The edible fruits are used to make an appreciated spirit called “medronheira”. Based on studies performed in other Ericaceae (Vaccinium) SSRs were used to screen 27 wild-growing strawberry trees from nine different Portuguese locations, selected according to their fruit production Eleven primer...

Founders in tree genetic improvement populations programs usually lack pedigree (degree of coancestry) information. To evaluate the genetic similarity between trees in RAIZ base population we genotyped a sample of 125 Eucalyptus globulus individuals with 16 microsatellites (SSR) - the reference population (RP). Simulated individuals (10^5) were obt...

• Relatedness among parents, variation in clonal fertility and background pollination deviate the realized genetic gain and the gene diversity of open pollinated seed orchard from expectation, in particular in wind pollinated species such as Pinus pinaster Aiton. • This work investigates the genetic variation, the mating system and the pollen conta...

A bacia do Mediterrâneo é caracterizada pelo tradicional desaparecimento da floresta devido à acção do Homem e o impacto humano tem tido influência na alteração da diversidade genética. O pinheiro bravo ocorre em populações fragmentadas na região oeste da bacia do Mediterrâneo e a sua área de distribuição tem sido alterada nos últimos séculos devid...

Pinus pinaster is a conifer native to western Europe and northern Africa. Following on-going breeding programmes, provenance and progeny trials were established in some of the countries of the species' range (France, Portugal and Spain) and quantitative traits were measured: growth, stem form, survival and pest and disease resistance, amongst other...

A fast progress is occurring in molecular biology as a result of the widespread use of microsatellites, followed by a parallel statistical analysis revolution. The foregoing paper reviews some microsatellites proprieties that have made them preferred markers, describes some theoretical mutation models fundamental for improving statistics’ accuracy,...

Maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Ait.) is the first conifer used for reforestation in France and now covers 2.4 million ha of the Iberian Peninsula. In order to preserve the genetic resources of this economically and ecologically important species prior knowledge of the distribution of genetic diversity is needed. In this paper, a genetic diversity st...

We compared the genetic variation of Pinus pinaster populations using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and chloroplast simple-sequence repeat (cpSSR) loci. Populations' levels of diversity within groups were found to be similar with AFLPs, but not with cpSSRs. The high interlocus variance associated with the AFLP loci could account for...

Maritime pine seed-lots from northwestern Iberian regions (Portugal and Galicia) were introduced in the 1950s to the southwest of France (Aquitaine region), and the stands they formed suffered considerable frost damage. In the mid 1980s, a biochemical test was developed to test the putative origin of adult stands in Aquitaine, before seeds could be...

Abies nebrodensis (Lojac.) Mattei (Sicilian fir) is a forest tree species endemic to the mountainous regions of northern Sicily (the Madonie Range) that is currently represented by just one population of 29 individuals. The major questions relating to this species are its unknown origin and its uncertain taxonomic position. According to many author...

Molecular markers in forest species are of great interest to estimate genetic diversity and structure. In this paper, we analysed 47 populations of maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Ait.) using 16 polymorphic loci. From the original set of loci analysed we selected a subset of 8 loci that showed higher polymorphism and potentiality for the identificati...