Our research is mainly focused on biological and physical-chemical processes in transitional waters, from freshwater catchments to coastal marine

Molecular determinants and regulatory mechanisms (transcription and post transcription regulation, alternative and trans-splicing events, RNA editing, epigenetics) affecting gene expression during onset of skeletogenesis and maintenance of bone and cartilage integrity throughout life.
 

We are a team of young researchers using data science to aid biodiversity conservation and management, in line with the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Our research employs cutting-edge technologies, such as machine learning, artificial intelligence, and big-data computational frameworks, to unravel the underlying mechanisms driving biodiversity and to forecast global distribution patterns, ranging from genes to entire ecosystems, and from past climate fluctuations to future climate change scenarios. Our analyses consider anthropogenic impacts, such as climate change, habitat degradation, overexploitation and the introduction of invasive species. We share our data under the FAIR principle (easy to find, access and reuse) to citizens, managers, and policymakers so that they can make informed decisions on the best strategies for protecting, conserving, and managing biodiversity. We believe our work is crucial for ensuring a sustainable future for both human society and the natural world.

The team BEE (Biogeographical Ecology and Evolution) studies patterns and processes mediating population biology from ecological to evolutionary scales.

The Marine Biotechnology research group is currently ongoing active research in different fields of microalgal biotechnology, as well as in the exploitation of different marine organisms as sources of novel bioactive compounds.

We conduct research on ethology and welfare of aquatic animals. Other activities include developing an open-access database on the welfare of farmed fish, providing consultancy services for fish farms and organizing training actions at scientific and industry levels.

The main objectives of the group are to contribute to the improved management and sustainable exploitation of the multi-species resources of the Algarve coastal waters.

We are engaged in the smart and sustainable exploitation of marine resources, including micro- and macroalgae, seagrasses, marine invertebrates and also coastal plants (halophytes).