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Research Activity
The research unit has an integrative/multidisciplinary
approach to research, that includes:
• use of molecular genetic tools in problems traditionally
tackled by other disciplines like fish taxonomy, fish population
biology and biogeography and even identification of fish larvae
using genetic markers.
• use molecular techniques in behavioural studies, namely
the study of gene expression by real time pcr in different
areas of the brain of fish in different environmental contexts.
• study of behaviour combined with endocrinological
measurements and manipulation in areas such as social conflict,
stress induced by human perturbation in fish.
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Animal
housing facilities
• Three fish rooms with controlled temperature
and photoperiod equipped for keeping stocks of different species
and for behavioural observations.
Behavioural observations
• Three video cameras for recording behaviour.
• Two complete settings of The Observer (Noldus INC.,
The Netherlands) package to register and quantify behavioural
observations.
• Palm-tops for direct recording of observed behaviour,
with the possibility of late data transfer for a PC.
Ecology laboratory
• Lab designated for biological identification and triage,
dissection, anatomy, processing otolith s and microscopic
imagery.
• Field equipment includes: two boats (4.6m semi-rigid
and a 8.4m cabin boat), 6 sets of diving gear (bottles, vests,
regulators), plancton ets, light traps, photographic material,
subaquatic video, subaquatic scooter, DC pulse generator for
freshwater fish sampling.
Molecular Genetics
• Lab designated for DNA extraction, gel elecrophoresis,
restriction-enzyme analysis, and PCR (two thermo-cyclers).
Neuroendocrinology laboratory
• A four-room lab equipped for running the
standard procedures in behavioural neuroendocrinology including:
- hormone assays using radio-immunoassay (RIA) or luminescent-immunoassays
(LIA) for sex steroids (testosterone, 11-ketotestosterone,
estradiol, DHEA, progesterone, 5-alfa-DHT) and for cortisol;
- immunocytochemistry (ICC) techniques using DAB or fluorescent
markers for mapping different peptides/proteins in different
tissues (mainly in the brain);
- RT-PCR and Q-PCR for the study of gene expression of androgen
and estrogen receptors and for aromatase.
-general biochemical procedures including spectrophotometry
techniques for colorimetric determination of biomolecules
(e.g. glucose, proteins, etc.), electrophoresis, preparation
of silastic implants, etc.;
- fish surgery procedures including castration, transcardiac
perfusion for the fixation of brain tissue, peritoneal implanting
of silastic implants for hormone administration or of magnetic
transponders for individual recognition.
Respirometry
• One 8-chamber flow-through respirometer for
the measurement of oxygen consumption with online data acquisition
for a PC.
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Future activities
• a major goal of our Unit is to develop integrative
collaborations with other laboratories that work in the same
area at different zones of the Portuguese coast. Very fruitful
negotiations have been conducted with the associate laboratory
CIMAR and its constituent groups CIIMAR and CCMAR in order
to integrate our Unit in CIMAR. A formal protocol was already
signed involving CIIMAR, CCMAR, CESAM (another associate laboratory
in marine sciences based on Aveiro) and our Unit. This protocol
formalized the creation of the national network on marine
biodiversity. This network will serve to integrate a wide
spectrum of studies including monitoring of inshore communities,
studying the dynamics of coastal ecosystems, investigating
the relationships between climatic and oceanographic conditions
and fluctuations in marine fauna and flora and filling the
gaps of knowledge on marine organisms present in Portuguese
waters. Biogeography, community ecology, phylogeography and
population genetics of marine organisms are examples of broad
areas that may be advanced by this network. Among the applied
aspects of this effort will be research on the effects of
global warming, identification of overexploitation of resources
and detection of habitat’s degradation. The monitoring
program will also help to provide information needed to define
conservation strategies, specifically the implementation of
marine protected areas. The full growth of the network will
involve de combination of conventional survey schemes with
a strong development of the work on molecular genetics.
• continuation on work on the early life history of
fish, particularly on the relationships between larval biology
and recruitments. Obviously, our other historical areas of
activity, namely behaviour and endocrinology, bioacoustics,
social and physiological factors relevant to the study of
behaviour will be continued. The study of the behaviour of
sea birds and their ecology will be integrated as much as
possible with the study of their prey.
• collaboration with the Department of Oceanography
and Fisheries of the University of Azores, on phylogenetic,
phylogeographic and biogeographic work.
• the Integrative behavioural biology research group
is developing a collaboration with IGC – Gulbenkian
Institute of Science. |
