Verónica Ferreira in 90 segundos de ciência

Verónica Ferreira, a researcher at MARE, participated in the radio programme ‘90 seconds of science’ on Antena 1. 90 Seconds of Science is a project by the António Xavier Institute of Chemical and Biological Technology (ITQB NOVA), the Faculty of Social and Human Sciences (FCSH NOVA), both part of the Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, and Antena 1, with the support of the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT). 

In episode no. 2062, broadcast on 22 July, Verónica Ferreira spoke about how she is studying the impact of acacia trees on the riparian ecosystems of the Serra da Lousã.

The invasion of the Serra da Lousã by acacias has intensified over the last two decades, raising questions about the impacts of this replacement of the native forest — dominated by chestnut and oak trees — by exotic Australian species such as the ‘mimosa’. It was precisely this issue that motivated Verónica Ferreira's team to investigate the effects of this change on the region's rivers and streams.

To this end, streams located in areas of native forest and others invaded by acacia trees were selected, comparing the production of plant debris, which is essential for aquatic food chains. In addition, water quality was assessed through the concentrations of nutrients present, while aquatic communities — from microorganisms and fungi to macroinvertebrates living on the riverbed — were carefully studied.

Special focus was given to the process of plant debris decomposition, which is fundamental to sustaining aquatic food webs. As Verónica Ferreira explains, understanding this mechanism is crucial to assessing the functioning of the ecosystem.

The challenge now is to determine whether the changes observed in debris production, water quality, aquatic biodiversity, and ecosystem balance influence the services that these streams provide to local communities, both in terms of water quantity and quality.

Find out everything in the episode HERE