Instituto da Conservação da Natureza e das Florestas

Biodiversity monitoring at large spatial and temporal scales is essential for informing conservation policies. The International Waterbird Census (IWC) is one of the longest-running global citizen science monitoring schemes, providing critical information to several international agreements. However, analyzing IWC count data poses statistical challenges, including zero inflation, overdispersion, spatial autocorrelation, and missing data. While various modeling approaches have been used to estimate waterbird population size and trends, their ability to handle these issues and the implications for trend estimates remain unassessed. Using IWC count data from five species in the East Atlantic Flyway, we compared four modeling approaches: TRIM (TRends and Indices for Monitoring data), LORI (Low-Rank Interactions), and two generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs) with simple or optimized parametrizations. We benchmarked their performance in addressing zero inflation, overdispersion, and spatial autocorrelation across different realistic sampling designs (i.e., alternative dataset configurations). Our results highlight significant limitations in commonly used methods. Simple GLMMs, TRIM, and LORI generally failed to mitigate both zero inflation and overdispersion. In contrast, optimized GLMMs improved model convergence and better addressed these issues by selecting appropriate probability distributions. However, no single distribution performed consistently well across species and sampling designs. Spatial structures were effective in reducing spatial autocorrelation in most cases. We recommend a careful species-specific selection of statistical methods when analyzing count data, as inadequate models may misrepresent population trends and thus misguide conservation efforts. Future research should explore the integration of advanced hierarchical and spatio-temporal models to improve inference from large-scale citizen science datasets.

Anthropogenic barriers fragment Portuguese rivers, threatening endemic freshwater fish communities. This study compiled national inventories and peer-reviewed research (2002–2024) to quantify fishway implementation, evolution and typology, while evaluating fish performance from published research. One hundred fishways built between 1950 and 2024 were recorded, half of which were constructed after the implementation of the Water Framework Directive in Portugal (29 Dec 2005), tripling the annual construction rate. Fishways were found to be associated mainly with weirs (46%) and small hydropower plants (44%), with typology being dominated by the pool-type design (67%), nature-like facilities (18%), fish locks and combined systems (6% each), fish lifts (2%) and a single eel pass. Forty scientific contributions addressed fishway effectiveness; three-quarters dealt with pool-type facilities, while 12.5% and 10% focused on nature-like fishways and lifts, respectively. Experimental and field studies highlighted species-specific hydraulic preferences, the benefits of vertical slot and multislot configurations, and the potential of retrofitting fishways with macro-rugosities (i.e., fixed structural elements placed on the bottom) to improve non-salmonid fish passage. However, low attraction efficiency, limited multi-season monitoring and risks of aiding invasive species remain a concern. Research needs are proposed, including the refinement of species-specific hydrodynamic criteria, and the development of standardized efficiency metrics and of selective passage solutions, to advance fishway performance under Mediterranean hydrological constraints.

ContextWhile wetland degradation has caused declines in many species, the Eurasian spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia), a colonial waterbird, is increasing along the East Atlantic Flyway, currently (re)colonising its former breeding range over the past two decades.ObjectivesEvaluate the environmental parameters determining the species distribution in Portugal, and assess whether range expansion can be driven by environmental changes improving conditions locally and/or by population increase, as space limitation in previous colonies due to high productivity may force dispersal and recruiters to new colonies.MethodsNational census of breeding waterbirds was used to develop Ecological Niche Models. We compared rates of change in environmental conditions from 2002 to 2021 between wetlands that were colonised by spoonbills and those that were not.ResultsDistribution of spoonbill colonies was best explained by distance to previous occupied sites. Rates of change in environmental conditions were similar between wetlands that were or not colonised by spoonbills. Thus, range expansion seems to be mostly driven by population growth and occupation of previously empty suitable areas. National protected wetlands, in proximity to active colonies and surrounded by different wetland habitat types, including semi-natural habitats, seem to be the best suited for future colonisation.ConclusionsThis work reenforces the need to identify species’ habitat requirements to support the conservation and management of suitable areas even if those are yet to host the target species, as this allows anticipating range expansion as well as other distribution shifts, and can contribute towards providing resilience to environmental changes.

Abstract Brown bears (Ursus arctos) were extinct in Portugal by 1843. In the spring of 2019, a male bear was officially confirmed in northern Portugal, and more bears will likely reach the country shortly. We surveyed participants in a workshop held in Bragança in October 2021 to understand the perceptions and attitudes of different stakeholder groups (Administration, Research, Nongovernmental Organizations, and Local Stakeholders) regarding the return of brown bears to Portugal. Results indicate that, generally, participants would feel safe in areas where bears are present, are positive toward the return of brown bears, and see it as an opportunity for local development rather than a threat. Results also indicate a high level of consensus among groups of stakeholders concerning the issues analyzed. These preliminary results provide a baseline for perceptions and attitudes to consider when planning the conservation of brown bears returning to Portugal.

do recorte temporal e que abordem a temtica supracitada.

Na Ética, Espinosa afirma que “desejamos formar uma ideia de homem que seja visto como um modelo da natureza humana” (Spinoza, 2008, p. 267). Em três seções, este trabalho discute o desejo de atingir modelos de formação humana, articulando os domínios ontológico, afetivo e gnosiológico do espinosismo. A primeira apresenta a ontologia de Espinosa, segundo a qual o ser humano não é um ser extraordinário, mas uma coisa finita vulnerável e com uma potência de agir limitada. Na segunda, os gêneros de conhecimento são vistos como maneiras de experimentação e compreensão do mundo que interferem na alteração da potência e no estabelecimento de modelos formativos desejados. Este tópico aborda a relação entre desejo e conhecimento, além dos modos de fruição da potência que se seguem da imaginação, da razão e da intuição. A terceira discute como o conhecimento inadequado leva à formulação de modelos que conduzem à fixação e à impotência. E que o conhecimento adequado não concorda com a imposição de um modelo universal supostamente extraído da razão e apresentado como necessariamente bom para todos, mas privilegia a busca pela ratio, pela proporção, mais compatível com as necessidades de indivíduos e grupos.

Abstract Genetic monitoring of populations currently attracts interest in the context of the Convention on Biological Diversity but needs long-term planning and investments. Genetic diversity has been largely neglected in biodiversity monitoring, and when addressed is treated separately, detached from other conservation issues, such as habitat alteration due to climate change. Genetic monitoring supports the conservation and management of fisheries, game, and threatened populations. It also can contribute to the assessment of predicted and realized impacts of climate change, and their management. We report the first accounting of genetic monitoring efforts among countries in Europe (their ‘genetic monitoring capacity’, GMC) to determine where GMC suggests the combination of national infrastructure, political support and resources for continued and expanded monitoring. Overlaying GMC with areas where species ranges approach current and future climate niche limits (i.e., niche marginality) helps identify whether GMC coincides with anticipated climate change effects on biodiversity. Our analysis suggests that country area extent, financial resources, and conservation policy influence GMC, high values of which inconsistently match joint species patterns of climate niche marginality. Populations at niche margins likely hold genetic diversity that is important to adaptation to changing climate, and our results illuminate the need in Europe for expanded genetic monitoring across the climate gradients occupied by species, a need arguably greatest in southeastern European countries.

A formação de professores é uma temática que vem sendo bastante discutida em nosso país atualmente e desde meados da década de 60 vem sofrendo muitas mudanças assumindo lugar de destaque nas pesquisas acadêmicas. O professor de ciências da natureza é capacitado a atuar prioritariamente na educação básica, e no ensino fundamental como educador para a ciência e o meio ambiente, cujo papel é tornar a aprendizagem das ciências naturais mais significativas apontando caminhos para que o aluno possa construir conceitos que o levem a compreender o mundo e as transformações em sua volta. A formação docente é ampla e composta por diversos saberes construídos ao longo da sua formação (SOARES, et. al. 2023). OBJETIVOS: Conhecer a formação dos professores das ciências da natureza através das experiências pedagógicas e dialógicas entre saberes, conhecimentos e formação. METODOLOGIA: Para o desenvolvimento desse trabalho optou-se por uma pesquisa qualitativa do tipo revisão bibliográfica realizada a partir de estudos e artigos desenvolvidos na área. RESULTADOS: Os resultados indicam que a formação dos professores de ciências da natureza apesar de dicotômicas são muitas vezes positivista onde a aprendizagem se constrói através de experiências que dá sentido à formação através de ações críticas e reflexivas aliando a teoria com a prática, desenvolvendo experiências formativas e de constante aprendizagem. CONCLUSÃO: A pesquisa realizada permitiu entender que a formação e o saber dos professores das Ciências da Natureza é algo em construção, onde a acumulação de experiências dá sentidos à formação através da reedição do exercício crítico e reflexivo da ação, da prática e da identidade pessoal alimentada pelas diversas formas educativas.