Manuel Augusto Simões Graça

Bachelor's in Biologia at the Universidade de Coimbra (1981) and Ph.D. in Zoology from the University of Sheffield (1990). I am interested in understanding: (1) The general ecology of low-order streams. (2) Factors that govern the transfer of energy and materials from the litter to the consumers: fungi and invertebrates, in what is known as ?brown food web?. Therefore, my research includes chemical changes in decomposing leaves and the ecology of decomposers (aquatic hyphomycetes) and animals that feed on leaf litter (shredders). (3) Finally, I am interested in developing, improving and applying tools to assess environmental quality and the effect of pollutants on the receiving system, particularly the effects of mining in freshwater. As part of this research topic, I am cooperating with regional environmental agencies and the industry. Examples of these three research fields include the following papers/books: 1. Stream ecology Corgo G.B., J. Martinez, S. Santos & M.A.S. Graça (2019) Caddisflies growth and size along an elevation / temperature gradient. Hydrobiologia. 847, 207?216. DOI: 10.1007/s10750-019-04082-3 Graça, M.A.S., M. Callisto, J.E. Barbosa, K.R. Firmiano, J. França & J.F. Gonçalves Jr. 2018.Top-down and bottom-up control of epilithic periphyton in a tropical stream. Freshwater Science, 37: 857-869. https://doi.org/10.1086/700886 2. Brown food webs / Litter decomposition Ferreira, V., A. Figueiredo, M.A.S. Graça, E. Marchante & A. Pereira. (in press). Invasion of temperate deciduous broadleaf forests by N-fixing tree species ? consequences for stream ecosystems. Biological Reviews. Bärlocher F., Graça M.A.S. & M.O. Gessner Ed. (2020). Methods to study litter decomposition. A practical guide (2nd Edition). Springer. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-30515-4 ? (1st Edition: Graça M.A.S., M.O. Gessner & F. Bärlocher Ed. (2005). Methods to study litter decomposition. A practical guide. Springer). 3. Biomonitoring / pollution Bergman M. & M.A.S. Graça 2020. Uranium affects growth, sporulation, biomass and leaf-litter decomposition by aquatic hyphomycetes. Limnetica, 39: 141-154. DOI: 10.23818/limn.39.10 Bergman, M., & M.A.S. Graça. 2020. Bioaccumulation and dispersion of uranium by freshwater organisms. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. 78, 254?266. DOI 10.1007/s00244-019-00677-y Our laboratory has a high international profile with frequent visiting students and scientists from several countries (recently: Brazil, Bolivia, France, Argentina, India and Spain). Example of an ongoing research project: 2018 ? 2021: STEAMECO: Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning Under Climate Change: From The Gene to the Stream. FCT. COMPETE 2020. PI: Cláudia Pascoal, Universidade do Minho, Portugal. Example of an ongoing collaboration with the industry: Environmental monitoring of Oeiras River receiving mine discharges. Grant: SOMINCOR. Research team biomonitoring macroinvertebrates, fish, aquatic plants and algae. In situ ecotoxicology tests, bioaccumulation of heavy metals in fish, molluscs and birds. (PI) I teach Ecology for undergraduates at the University of Coimbra and a course on ?Scientific writing? for post-graduate students at the universities of Coimbra and Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais