The goal of the MEMO team is to develop and use different types of ecological models (e.g., bioenergetics, population dynamics, food web, end-to-end) to improve the holistic understanding of marine ecosystems.
Our research focuses the development of models of individuals, populations, and ecosystems to study the effects of multiple stressors (climate-related factors, plastics, pharmaceuticals, organic pollutants, IAS, etc.) and emergent challenges on marine and coastal systems, throughout different time and spatial scales.
We aim to contribute to whole-system analysis of marine ecosystems, engaging in multidisciplinary teams, and coupling ecological models with other tools (e.g., circulation models, statistical models, GIS, APPs, databases).
Our ultimate goal is to support Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA) and decision-making on the sustainable use of coastal and marine ecosystems in their multiple dimensions, from the ecological to the socio-economic and wellbeing perspective.
Irene Martins (PhD in Ecology) is the Principal Investigator of the Marine Ecosystem team of CIIMAR (MEMO). Her research focuses the development of ecological models of organisms, populations and marine ecosystems, aiming at understanding their dynamics and predict their variations over time and space, induced by several stressors (e.g., climate change, plastics, pharmaceuticals, pollutants, IAS). She is interested in multidisciplinary approaches to marine ecosystems, through the integration of different numerical tools and IT solutions (ecological, hydrodynamic, socio-economic models, GIS, APP, etc.), that can result in valid frameworks to support the sustainable development and preservation of these ecosystems.
With a masters degree in Biology, from the University of Coimbra, I started my journey in ecological modelling with the completion of my masters project (2008-2010), where I developed skills in the development, calibration, and validation of models of population dynamics of estuarine amphipods. Modelling represents for me the opportunity to merge the two areas that fascinate me, Biology and Mathematics, to develop tools for scientific research and specially to support the definition of environmental management strategies.
Alexandre Moreira (BSc Biochemistry, MSc Environmental Toxicology and Contamination) is a PhD student in Biology at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto. His thesis focuses in implementing a hybrid framework, ranging molecular microbiology to ecological, hydrodynamic and biogeochemical modelling, with the goal of contributing to the conservation of seagrass meadows. His PhD results from a collaboration with the National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics in Trieste.
With a PhD in marine ecology (2023, French national Museum of natural History), my research aims to understand marine ecosystems and their dynamics, in particular through food webs. Previously, I have studied the interactions between marine predators (skates, marine mammals) and human activities, including fishing, and their associated ecosystem effects. I am joining the CIIMAR as a post-doc fellowship in the Marine Ecosystem Modelling team as part of the DEEP project
A geographer specialized in public policies with a focus on Human Rights and Culture, Paz is a PhD candidate in Marine Biotechnology and Aquaculture. She has experience in Python programming, remote sensing, satellite image processing, and mastery of the use of ArcGIS. The analytical approach she employs in her research is biogeographical, involving data analysis and processing. Additionally, she possesses knowledge and experience in climate change issues, data modeling associated with species distribution, climate alterations, and the design of programs aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Nature-Based Solutions (NBS).
Yuri Costa is an Adjunct Professor at the Federal University of Recôncavo da Bahia, where he teaches subjects related to oceanography and environmental management. He has an undergraduate degree in oceanography, a master’s degree in ecology and biomonitoring, and a PhD in ecology, the latter dedicated to ecological modeling of the effects of climate change and sea level rise on the distribution of benthic marine invertebrates in estuaries. He has expertise in field data collection, conducting laboratory experiments and collaborating with traditional communities. Yuri is skilled in polychaete taxonomy. He also has experience in map construction and uses programming languages such as R and Python for data analysis and interpretation. His research covers critical issues related to marine ecology and the impacts of environmental change, contributing to the advancement of knowledge in this area.
Azevedo, A., Navarro, L., Cavalheri, T., Santos, H., Martins, I., Ozorio, R.
2023Journal of Fish BiologyA modelling framework to assess multiple metals impacts on marine food webs: Relevance for assessing the ecological implications of deep-sea mining based on a systematic review.
2023Marine Pollution Bulletin 191. 114902Costa, Y., Martins, I., Carvalho, G.C., Barros, F.
2023Ocean & Coastal Management 236, 106490.Pinheiro, M., Martins, I., Raimundo, J., Caetano, M., Neuparth, Santos, M.M.
2023Science of the Total Environment 876: 162557.Costa, Y., Carvalho, G.C., Martins, I., Barros, F.
2022Ecological Informatics 71, 101816.Martins, I., Soares, J., Neuparth, T., Barreiro, A.F., Xavier, C., Antunes, C., Santos, M.M.
2022Toxics, 2022, 10, 46Hill, S.L., Pinkerton, M.H., Ballerini, T., Cavan, E.L., Gurney, L.J., Martins, I., Xavier, J.C.
2021Journal of Marine Systems 220, 103556