Universidade de Lisboa
Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes
The taxonomic status of common dolphins (Delphinus sp.) remains controversial despite the increased number of studies focusing on its populations. Two species are presently recognized, Delphinus delphis and D. capensis. Apart from a... more
The DNA barcode initiative has gained particular popularity as a promising tool to assist in species identification by using a single mitochondrial gene, cytochrome c oxidase I (COI). In some animal groups, COI barcodes have proved... more
The presentstudyinvestigatesthepatternofdifferentiationofcranialshapeinthreecloselyrelateddelphinid cetaceanspeciesofthecomplex Delphinus–Stenella–Tursiops: Delphinusdelphis, Stenella coeruleoalba and Tursiops truncatus.... more
Here we report the development and characterization of 17 anonymous nuclear markers for cetacean species. These markers were isolated from a genomic library built from a common dolphin (genus Delphinus), and tested across several families... more
The rapid evolution of proteins involved in reproduction has been documented in several animal taxa. This is thought to be the result of forces involved in sexual selection and is expected to be particularly strong in promiscuous mating... more
The phylogenetic relationships of the genus Squalius are believed to be well established based on the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. Here, we inferred the phylogenetic relationships of all species inhabiting most of the western Iberia... more
Identifying which factors shape the distribution of intraspecific genetic diversity is central in evolutionary and conservation biology. In the marine realm, the absence of obvious barriers to dispersal can make this task more difficult.... more
Lineages undergoing rapid radiations provide exceptional opportunities for studying speciation and adaptation, but also represent a challenge for molecular systematics because retention of ancestral polymorphisms and the occurrence of... more
"Climatic oscillations during the Pleistocene have greatly influenced the distribution and connectivity of many organisms, leading to extinctions but also generating biodiversity. While the effects of such changes have been extensively... more
ABSTRACT The genus Delphinus comprises two species and one subspecies: the short-beaked common dolphin, Delphinus delphis (Linnaeus, 1758), distributed in continental shelf and pelagic waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the... more
Geostatistical techniques were used to assess the spatial patterns of spores of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in soils from two contrasting plant communities: a salt marsh containing only arbuscular mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal... more
It is known that vegetation plays an important role in the retention of heavy metals in salt marshes by taking up and accumulating the metals. In this study, we investigated whether arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) increase Cd and Cu... more