The Asian green mussel, Perna viridis , is a globally successful invasive bivalve first recorded in the South Atlantic in 2018. Here, we report and characterize the establishment of P. viridis in the Canal do Itajurú, a coastal channel connecting the hypersaline Araruama Lagoon to the Atlantic Ocean in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. We assessed its spatial distribution, substrate association, and morphometric variation to evaluate lo...

Species in the Asteraceae , either cultivated or wild, are strongly affected by downy mildews. Despite its importance, the broad species concept used for decades and the lack of molecular data for the genera Plasmopara and Bremia have obscured the true diversity and distribution of downy mildew-causing species in Asteraceae . Given the great relevance of downy mildew-causing oomycetes in Asteraceae , the objective of this stud...

This study investigated whether the genus Luffa could act as a sporulation inducer for Macrophomina euphorbiicola , with the aim of providing a morphological description and proposing a taxonomic amendment for the species. In a greenhouse, Luffa cylindrica was inoculated with M. euphorbiicola to induce the formation of pycnidia and conidia. Previously, M. euphorbiicola had been described only using molecular methods. Eighty da...

This study evaluated the effect of N-acetylcysteine ​​on oxidative biochemistry and bone damage during the development of ligature-induced experimental periodontitis in rats. The rats were divided into three groups (n = 8/group): control, experimental periodontitis (EP), or experimental periodontitis plus daily N-acetylcysteine administration (EP + NA) (100 mg/kg/day). Periodontitis was induced by bilateral silk ligatures on t...

Abandoned mines are among the main sources of long-term soil contamination, often leaving behind persistent concentrations of potentially toxic elements (PTE) that pose environmental and health risks. Ribeiro da Serra Sb–Au mine, in Portugal, active from 1858 to 1890, has left a significant environmental legacy. This study mapped the spatial distribution of mine processing residues, elemental characterisation distinguishing be...

Background and aims In grass-based forage systems, integrating legumes can stimulate soil microbial communities, strengthen biogeochemical cycling, and reduce reliance on synthetic nitrogen inputs. However, soil responses may vary according to the grass cultivar. Cenchrus purpureus (Schumach.) Morrone cultivars contrasting in plant height, Mercker (tall) and Mott (dwarf), were evaluated under nitrogen-fertilised monoculture (3...

Marine primary production, converting approximately 50 Gt of inorganic carbon into organic carbon per year, is an important component of the global carbon cycle, and a major determinant of past, present and future climate. Large-scale, long-term estimates of marine primary production rely primarily on two types of models: satellite-based models that make extensive use of remote-sensing data, and ecosystem models providing nume...

Drought is a major constraint to plant growth and productivity, and rising atmospheric CO₂ concentrations are expected to modify plant responses to water limitation. However, how CO₂ enrichment reshapes the physiological, metabolic, and molecular regulation of specialized metabolite production under drought remains poorly understood. Here, we investigated the combined effects of elevated CO₂ (e[CO₂]) and drought on plant morph...

The predatory exploitation of the juçara palm ( Euterpe edulis Martius) for the extraction of hearts of palm has caused its inclusion on the list of endangered species, which reduces the seed bank with incalculable ecological losses. This study aimed to analyze genotypes of E. edulis from the Brazilian states of Espírito Santo and Minas Gerais grown at different altitudes and select the best individuals regarding the physical...

The purpose of this research was to assess the effectiveness of a combination of monoterpenes (thymol and carvacrol) in treating juvenile Nile tilapia ( Oreochromis niloticus ) infected with Edwardsiella tarda as a potential substitute for the antibiotic oxytetracycline. The study utilised different concentrations of the monoterpenes blend (MTs): 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8 g kg −1 of feed. A negative control group received a diet withou...

Aquaculture is a rapidly growing industry that supplies fish for global consumption. However, the intensive production practices have resulted in disease outbreaks, largely driven by the misuse of antibiotics. Natural alternatives, such as monoterpenes, which are biocompounds derived from essential oils obtained from plants like thyme and oregano, are being investigated for their antimicrobial properties. Research has shown th...