1. The role of nocturnal moths within plant-pollinator networks is poorly understood but could be important in the context of declining biodiversity and the ecosystem services they provide.2. For the first time, this study examined the role of moths as pollen vectors in the Mediterranean Biodiversity Hotspot. Light traps were used to sample moths in SW Portugal in 2010. The pollen on moth head parts was collected, identified, and counted to construct a nocturnal pollen-transfer and flower-visitor network.3. A total of 257 moths belonging to 95 species were captured in 11 trapping sessions in 2010; 196 moths (76%) carried pollen and the total number of pollen grains counted and identified was 9064.4. The pollen-transfer network exhibited a high degree of selectivity (H2 0 ) but low robustness when the most-to-least connected plants were made extinct in the network. The flower-visitor network (based on the incidences of interactions by individual moths), however, exhibited high linkage density and was generally more robust to simulated plant or moth extinction.5. Including nocturnal moths in plant-pollinator networks will provide a better understanding of their robustness to species extinctions due to environmental change as well as the impacts on ecosystem structure and functioning. Nocturnal pollen-transfer networks could be developed for identifying key species for targeted conservation.

In 2011, a vertical‐slot fish pass was built at the Coimbra Açude‐Ponte dam (Mondego River, Portugal), approximately 45 km upstream from the river mouth. The performance of this infrastructure for sea lamprey passage was evaluated between 2011 and 2015 using several complementary methodologies, namely radio telemetry [conventional and electromyogram (EMG)], passive integrated transponder (PIT) telemetry and electrofishing surveys. During the study period, the electrofishing revealed a 29‐fold increase in the abundance of larval sea lamprey upstream of the fish pass. Of the 20 radio‐tagged individuals released downstream from the dam, 33% managed to find and successfully surpass the obstacle in less than 2 weeks, reaching the spawning areas located in the upstream stretch of the main river and in one important tributary. Fish pass efficiency was assessed with a PIT antenna installed in the last upstream pool and revealed a 31% efficiency, with differences between and within migratory seasons. Time of day and river flow significantly influenced the attraction efficiency of the fish pass, with lampreys negotiating it mainly during the night period and when discharge was below 50 m3 s−1. Sea lampreys tagged with EMG transmitters took 3 h to negotiate the fish pass, during which high muscular effort was only registered during passage, or passage attempts, of the vertical slots. The use of complementary methodologies provided a comprehensive passage evaluation for sea lamprey, a species for which there is a considerable paucity of valuable data concerning behavioural, physiological and environmental influences on obstacle negotiation. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Essential oils (EOs) from Eucalyptus globulus Labill. ssp. globulus and from Mediterranean autochthonous aromatic plants - Thymus mastichina L., Mentha pulegium L., Rosmarinus officinalis L., Calamintha nepeta (L.) Savi ssp. nepeta, Cistus ladanifer L., Foeniculum vulgare L., Dittrichia viscosa (L.) Greuter ssp. viscosa - were extracted by hydrodistillation and characterized by GC-FID and NMR spectroscopy. EOs were evaluated for antimicrobial properties against several bacterial strains, using diverse methods, namely, the agar disc-diffusion method, the microdilution method, the crystal violet assay and the Live/Dead staining for assessment of biofilm formation. Potential synergy was assessed by a checkerboard method. EOs of R. officinalis and C. ladanifer showed a predominance in monoterpene hydrocarbons (> 60%); EOs of C. nepeta, M. pulegium, T. mastichina, E. globulus and F. vulgare were rich in oxygenated monoterpenes (62 - 96%) whereas EO of D. viscosa was mainly composed of oxygenated sesquiterpenes (54%). All EOs showed antimicrobial activity; M. pulegium and E. globulus generally had the strongest antimicrobial activity. EO of C. nepeta was the most promising in hampering the biofilm formation. The combinations D. viscosa/C. nepeta and E. globulus/T. mastichina were synergistic against Staphylococcus aureus. These results support the notion that EOs from the aromatic plants herein reported should be further explored as potential pharmaceuticals and/or food preservatives.

Juniperus navicularis Gand (= J. oxycedrus L. subsp. transtagana Franco) is an endemic dioecious shrub from the Plio-Plistocene transition sands of the west Portuguese coast line. It grows in sole or mixed stands along with Pinus pinea and P. pinaster and, more rarely, with Quercus lusitanica. In order to reduce fire incidence in these Mediterranean mixed stands, forest management practices of mechanical or chemical treatments, have drastically reduced J. navicularis populations. In addition, the fast expansion of touristic areas along with a low seed germination rate further endangers this species. In this study we developed a protocol for micropropagation of adult J. navicularis. Microcuttings were obtained from lateral and apical twigs of both female and male mature plants, and used as explants. Microcuttings with axillary buds were grown on different media and plant growth regulators combinations. Developmental parameters were evaluated to define the best medium and plant growth regulator concentration for shoot bud induction during the multiplication cycles. Olive Medium and Gupta and Durzan medium, both supplemented with 0.45 lM 6-benzyl-amino-purine, were the most favourable of all combinations tested achieving more than 3 new shoots per explant. The highest rooting (60%) was obtained in microshoots cultured in Olive Medium when supplemented with indole-3-butyric acid at 12.3 lM. With this multiplication protocol, it was possible to obtain more than 500 shoots from the initial 20, after three multiplication cycles in 3 months.

The combined impact of soil tillage intensification and expansion of olive farming is resulting in soil degradation and biodiversity decline. We hypothesized that, instead of tilling, mowing to control the natural vegetation in spring can increase biodiversity and improve soil quality. We compared the effects of natural vegetation mowing (NVM) with those of tillage (NVT) on plant community composition and cover, soil water content and resistance to penetration, and olive yield over an 8-year period, in a Mediterranean rainfed olive orchard. NVM had an average of 28 more species and showed a strong positive correlation with Poaceae and Fabaceae, and also with geophytes and hemicryptophytes. In contrast, NVT was negatively correlated with species richness and diversity, with perennial life forms, and positively correlated with Convolvulaceae. Proportions of grass and straw cover in spring were higher in NVM from the beginning of the study (average difference was about 20%). In autumn, grass cover became higher in NVM than in NVT from year five (13% more) and straw cover from year two (30% more). Olive production did not differ between treatments in any of the years. Soil water was higher in NVM, at both soil depths, particularly in mid-summer and after the first autumn rains (1 to 2%). Soil resistance to penetration was 1 Mpa higher in NVM than in NVT. As compared to conventional tillage, natural vegetation cover mowed in spring seems to be an effective management practice to improve the overall rainfed olive orchard biodiversity and soil quality, without affecting production.