http://hdl.handle.net/10174/42 2026-05-27T19:00:12Z 2026-05-27T19:00:12Z Cimarelli, Stefano Goglio, Pietro Serpa, Dalila Quagliolo, Carlotta Dorca-Preda, Teodora Sadhu, Abbigel Rai, Kamala Roebeling, Peter Cipolla, Anna Maria Schneider, Anne Smetana, Sergyi Vasconcelos, Marta Kartal, Umut Joensuu, Katri Petrusen, Janos-Istvan Dauget, Sylvie Falchetti-Cartier, Axel Wilkinson, Thomas Iannetta, Peter http://hdl.handle.net/10174/42056 2026-05-27T10:06:42Z 2025-11-25T00:00:00Z

Title: Integrating ecosystem services provided by legumes in agricultural life cycle assessment (LCA): A review of methodologies Authors: Cimarelli, Stefano; Goglio, Pietro; Serpa, Dalila; Quagliolo, Carlotta; Dorca-Preda, Teodora; Sadhu, Abbigel; Rai, Kamala; Roebeling, Peter; Cipolla, Anna Maria; Schneider, Anne; Smetana, Sergyi; Vasconcelos, Marta; Kartal, Umut; Joensuu, Katri; Petrusen, Janos-Istvan; Dauget, Sylvie; Falchetti-Cartier, Axel; Wilkinson, Thomas; Iannetta, Peter Abstract: Agricultural production is endangering agroecosystems health and functioning, compromising the delivery of many ecosystem services (ES) to prioritize provisioning. Legumes’ inclusion in cropping systems appears as a promising solution towards the ecological intensification of agriculture in Europe, providing a multiplicity of ES. Agricultural Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) does not explicitly assess ES; however, the potential benefits offered by an improved representation of agroecosystem processes reveal an urgent need for ES integration into LCA. Through a systematic review of scientific literature, we collected a list of methods applied to assess legumes ES in European conditions. Methods were grouped following the Common International Classification of Ecosystem Services (CICES) and through general ES definitions. At the end of the process, 148 methods were found, of which: 81.8% were associated with Regulation & Maintenance services; 8.1% to Provisioning services; and 10.1% described methods related to the combination of different CICES sections. No methods for Cultural services were found. Most of the methods were based on direct measurements, except for those ES already part of the current LCA frameworks. The Regulation & Maintenance section is the area with the most fragmented knowledge, with some ES presenting well-established methodologies (e.g. climate change buffering and leaching regulation) and others which are currently not fully integrated into LCA, such as biodiversity maintenance, pest control, and pollination. Future research should focus on LCA methodologies for the integration of emerging agriculture-related ES. Achieving more comprehensive LCA is necessary to improve the understanding of legumes’ role in maintaining agroecosystems functionality.

2025-11-25T00:00:00Z Isidoro, Ana Catarina Guimarães, Maria Helena http://hdl.handle.net/10174/42050 2026-05-27T10:05:15Z 2025-04-30T23:00:00Z

Title: An Empirical Experiment of the Theory of Change Game: What Difference Does It Make? Authors: Isidoro, Ana Catarina; Guimarães, Maria Helena Abstract: IntroductionThe Theory of Change (ToC) is a recognized approach in transdisciplinarity to facilitate transformative learning processes. When coupled with a Serious Games (SGs) structure, effective tools for navigating sustainability transitions can be develop. This can be the case for the Theory of Change Game (ToCG) that we use in a particular real-word context. InterventionThis study aimed to track the impact of ToCG versus other tools. A workshop was designed with 23 participants to plan the future of Tertúlias do Montado, a long-term initiative focused on the sustainability of the Montado silvo-pastoral system. MethodIn this experimental setup, participants alternated between the ToCG and two other tools. Discussion content and participant preferences were analyzed, allowing for a comparison between ToCG-based tools and those without ToCG principles. ResultsResults indicate that the ToCG facilitated an in-depth discussion where the societal problem of Montado’s decline, and the initiative’s primary goal were discussed. In the remaining tools these aspects were taken from granted without reflective examination. Additionally, the circular structure of the ToCG encouraged comprehensive discourse, steering participants away from simplistic or immediate solutions to complex problems. All tools received positive evaluations while the ToCG was particularly noted for introducing a novel concept and enabling visual exploration of diverse perspectives. Some participants, however, found its rules ambiguous and noted monotony after multiple rounds. To the best of our knowledge, this experimental design is new as well as its application in a real-world context. Discussion and ConclusionThe distinctiveness of ToCG was evident in the quality of discussions and the resources required for its implementation, especially facilitator training. In contrast, the other tools required minimal preparation and could be applied without specialized facilitation. Therefore, ToCG is particularly valuable in contexts where deep reflection is essential, whereas simpler tools may sufficient in more operational settings.

2025-04-30T23:00:00Z Santos, Rita Lourenço, Rui Fonseca, Isabel Louro, Mariana Barros, Sílvia Casero, María Brandão, Ricardo Lopes, Ana F. Ferreira, Mariana R Gomes, Jacinto http://hdl.handle.net/10174/42045 2026-05-27T10:03:47Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Molecular Survey of Hemosporidian Parasites in Owls in Mainland Portugal Authors: Santos, Rita; Lourenço, Rui; Fonseca, Isabel; Louro, Mariana; Barros, Sílvia; Casero, María; Brandão, Ricardo; Lopes, Ana F.; Ferreira, Mariana R; Gomes, Jacinto Abstract: Owls play an important role as avian hosts for hemosporidians via overlap in habitat use and activity with these arthropod vectors, thereby resulting in susceptibility to morbidity and, in some cases, mortality upon infection. This study analyzed the hemosporidians in tissues collected from individual dead owls (n=240) in various regions of mainland Portugal; the owls were primarily obtained from wildlife rehabilitation centers (WRCs). Hemosporidian species were detected using nested PCRs, targeting the cytochrome b gene of the mitochondria. For species and lineage identification, 19 positive PCR samples were selected and sequenced by the Sanger method. In total, 51% (n=122) of the 240 owl samples tested positive for at least one hemosporidian species: 31% (n=75) were positive for Haemoproteus-Plasmodium spp., whereas 44% (n=106) were positive for Leucocytozoon spp. Only 7% (n=16) were positive for Haemoproteus-Plasmodium spp. alone and 20% (n=47) for Leucocytozoon spp. alone, whereas 25% (n=59) of owls had mixed infections. Owl species, age, and geographic region of collected samples were significantly associated with hemosporidian prevalence: Eurasian Eagle-Owls (Bubo bubo), adults, and individuals from the Alentejo region presented higher prevalences than other species, ages, and geographic regions. Our findings highlight the potential impact of hemosporidians on owl conservation, particularly their effect on species currently threatened with extinction and the possible repercussions on reintroduction or translocation projects. This study emphasizes the role of WRCs in disease surveillance and suggests the importance of considering prophylactic measures in these settings. Given the high prevalence of hemosporidians, further studies involving live owls, both wild and captive, are encouraged, along with integrating clinical and hematologic data.

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z Carvalho, P. D. Souza, A. H. Cattaneo, L. Moreira, R. Batista, E. O. Randi, F. Belli, R. S. Consentini, C. E. C. Ross, P. J. Bó, G. A. Baruselli, P. S. Santos, V. G. http://hdl.handle.net/10174/42044 2026-05-27T10:03:31Z 2026-06-30T23:00:00Z

Title: Effect of recombinant equine chorionic gonadotropin on fertility of lactating dairy cows Authors: Carvalho, P. D.; Souza, A. H.; Cattaneo, L.; Moreira, R.; Batista, E. O.; Randi, F.; Belli, R. S.; Consentini, C. E. C.; Ross, P. J.; Bó, G. A.; Baruselli, P. S.; Santos, V. G. Editors: Price, Christopher Abstract: Two experiments evaluated the effect of recombinant equine chorionic gonadotropin (reCG) on pregnancies per AI (P/AI) in lactating dairy cows. In Experiment 1, cows (n = 797) received a progesterone (P4)-insert and estradiol benzoate (EB) on Day0. Seven days later, P4-insert was removed and cows received prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) and estradiol cypionate (ECP). Timed-AI was performed on Day9. On Day7, cows were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups: 1) Control, 2) 140 IU of reCG (reCG), or 3) 400 IU of serum-based eCG (seCG). The P/AI were greater for cows treated with eCG (27.8% vs. 37.2% vs. 36.8%, for Control, reCG, and seCG, respectively). In Experiment 2, cows (n = 591) received EB, double dose of GnRH, and a P4-insert on Day0. Seven days later, P4-insert was removed, and cows received PGF2α and ECP. On Day8, cows received a second PGF2α. On Day9, cows received GnRH and Timed-AI. On Day0, cows were randomly assigned to a 2x3 factorial arrangement of treatments to test the effects of 1) P4 load (0.75g vs. 2.0g of P4) in the P4-insert, and 2) dose of reCG on Day7 (Control vs. 105 IU of reCG vs. 140 IU of reCG). The P/AI was not affected by level of P4 (41.4% vs. 41.7%, for 0.75g and 2.0g of P4, respectively). Cows treated with reCG had more P/AI than Control cows (34.1% vs. 45.2% vs. 42.0%, for Control, 105reCG, and 140reCG, respectively). In conclusion, use of reCG increased P/AI in pasture and confined-based dairy cows, and is a viable alternative to seCG.

2026-06-30T23:00:00Z