Paula Chainho in the 90 seconds of science

Paula Chainho, professor of CIÊNCIAS and researcher at MARE, took part in the 1984 episode of the radio program “90 seconds of science” on Antena 1, broadcast on April 3. 90 Segundos de Ciência is a project of the António Xavier Institute of Chemical and Biological Technology - ITQB NOVA, the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities - FCSH NOVA, both of Universidade Nova de Lisboa, and Antena 1, with the support of the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) 

The introduction of exotic species into Portuguese ecosystems is becoming a significant environmental problem. In Portugal, the rate of new introductions of marine and estuarine species is currently around two per year, a figure that highlights the urgency of monitoring and understanding these processes.

Paula Chainho warns of the scale of the problem: “The issue of invasive species or biological invasions is an increasingly pressing problem in the sense that the rates of new introductions are growing.”

One of the examples mentioned in this episode is the blue crab (Callinectes sapidus), which was identified in the Tagus estuary in the 1970s and has been expanding, now also being found in the Algarve and the Mira estuary. "This crab is causing huge impacts, for example in Italy, on aquacultures, because it simply feeds on the clams produced in aquaculture. We don't have any visible impacts here yet, but they will probably arrive," explains the researcher.

Another relevant case is the weakfish (Cynoscion regalis), a species native to America that has spread from the Algarve to the north. “We already have a population completely installed in the Tagus estuary and it is clearly a voracious competitor in relation to other species, because it feeds on zooplankton, but also on fish such as sea bream, anchovies and anchovies, thus competing with native species,” adds Paula Chainho.

The growing presence of invasive species in Portuguese marine and estuarine ecosystems underlines the urgent need for effective research and management. The work of scientists is essential to protect the country's biodiversity and natural resources.

To listen to the episode click HERE

Text by Vera Sequeira