InDeGrass
Sobre o projeto
The induction of anti-herbivory defences, widely documented in terrestrial plants and seaweeds, was yet unexplored in seagrasses. At the Ramalhete station (CCMAR), we conducted a rigorous assessment on the ability of seagrass species within the Ria Formosa lagoon to induce anti-feeding defences in response to direct grazing by different species of their associated mesoherbivores. As a result, we reported, for the first time, the induction of chemical defences in seagrasses that prevented further herbivore attacks, but such induction was dependent on the identity of both, seagrass and grazer. Within this project, we also explored the identity of compounds acting as anti-herbivory defences in seagrasses.
Induction of anti-herbivory defenses in seagrasses
Atividades
PI: Begoña Martínez-Crego; International collaborators: Florian Weinberger (GEOMAR, Germany), Markus Molis (AWI, Germany)
Project assistants: 2 Postgraduate Research Fellowships (Silvia Albano, Laura Stoltenberg)
Bachelor’s degree project by Alexandra Ueber (2014) entitled “Induction of anti-herbivory defences in seagrasses”. Degree in Biological Sciences, University of Rostock (Germany). Supervisor: M Molis (AWI, Germany), co-supervisor: B Martínez-Crego (CCMAR).
EMBC+ Internships by Coco Koedooder, Laura Schmoock, Gemma Martínez, and Eduardo Gómez (4 students). EMBC+ The International Master of Science in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation (2015), International Consortium of Universities (University of Algarve). Supervisor: B Martínez-Crego.
Communications in international congresses:
2015. Martínez-Crego B, Weinberger F, Santos R. Anti-herbivory chemical metabolites in the seagrass Cymodocea nodosa. ASLO Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Granada, Spain, February 22nd to 27th (oral presentation).
2014. Martínez-Crego B, Arteaga P, Santos R. Studying trophic interactions in seagrass ecosystems. COST Conference on `Seagrasses in Europe: Threats, Responses and Management’, COST Action ES0906, Olhão, Portugal, March 4-6 (oral presentation).
2014. Martínez-Crego B, Arteaga P, Ueber A. Engelen A, Santos R, Molis M. Screening for inducible defences in seagrass-herbivore interactions. 1st Mares Conference: Marine Ecosystems Health and Conservation, Olhâo, Portugal, November 17-21 (poster).
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Publicações
Membros do CCMAR
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