Porto Santo Island Research Articles

Development and assessment of efficacy of an anti-cellulite formulation containing bentonite from Porto Santo Island

Clays are part of the natural resources that have become prominent in cosmetic treatments and wellness. The relevant physical, chemical and thermal properties of bentonite clay from Serra de Dentro, Porto Santo Island, allow its use in cosmetic and therapeutic applications. In this work we developed an anticellulite gel formulation containing 10% of Ivy extract, 10% of Horse Chestnut Extract and 20% of Bentonite clay (Smectitic), dee <180 m, from Porto Santo Island. After physicochemical characterization of the formulation, efficacy tests were performed on volunteers who had gynoid hydrolipodystrophy, commonly referred as cellulite.

Population Genetics of the Three Endemic Land Snails of GenusDiscula(Pulmonata: Hygromiidae) on the Archipelago of Madeira

Abstract: The population structure of three endemic land snail species of the genus Discula (Lowe,1831) on the archipelago of Madeira were studied. Ten allozyme loci were screened in 13 populations (11 from Madeira Island and two from the adjacent Desertas Islands) of D. polymorpha (Lowe, 1831), two populations of D. attrita (Lowe, 1831) and one population of D. calcigena (Lowe, 1831) from Porto Santo Island. All populations, except those from the Desertas, showed high levels of genetic variability. Deviation from Hardy- Weinberg equilibrium due to heterozygote deficiency was detected in all D. polymorpha populations from Madeira and populations of D. attrita. This deficiency was mainly attributed to inbreeding within the populations. No heterozygote deficiency was found in D. calcigena, probably due to the larger population size of this species in the recent past. The FST values were significant in many pairwise comparisons between the populations of D. polymorpha, with the highest values occurring betwe...

Genetic structure of house mouse (Mus musculusLinnaeus 1758) populations in the Atlantic archipelago of the Azores: colonization and dispersal

We analyzed the genetic structure and relationships of house mouse (Mus musculus) populations in the remote Atlantic archipelago of the Azores using nuclear sequences and microsatellites. We typed Btk and Zfy2 to confirm that the subspecies Mus musculus domesticus was the predominant genome in the archipelago. Nineteen microsatellite loci (one per autosome) were typed in a total of 380 individuals from all nine Azorean islands, the neighbouring Madeiran archipelago (Madeira and Porto Santo islands), and mainland Portugal. Levels of heterozygosity were high on the islands, arguing against population bottlenecking. The Azorean house mouse populations were differentiated from the Portuguese and Madeiran populations and no evidence of recent migration between the three was obtained. Within the Azores, the Eastern, Western, and Central island groups tended to act as separate genetic units for house mice, with some exceptions. In particular, there was evidence of recent migration events among islands of the Central island group, whose populations were relatively undifferentiated. Santa Maria had genetically distinctive mice, which may relate to its colonization history. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London

&lt;i&gt;Vicia vulcanorum&lt;/i&gt; (Fabaceae) a new species from the island of Lanzarote (Canary Islands)

Vicia vulcanorum J. Gil & M. L. Gil (Fabaceae), a new species of subg. Cracca (Dumort.) Peterm., sect. Cracca Dumort. is described and illustrated from the island of Lanzarote, Canary Islands, north-west of Africa. It is related to and compared with Vicia cirrhosa C. Sm. ex Webb & Berthel. and Vicia filicaulis Webb & Berthel., two endemic species from the western and central group of the Canary Islands, and Vicia ferreirensis Goyder, an endemic species from Porto Santo Island, Madeira Archipelago.

Wave energy pattern around the Madeira Islands

The objective of the present work is to evaluate the patterns of wave power resources around the Madeira Islands. An analysis of the wave climate in the target area is first carried out based on satellite, buoy and hindcast wave data. As a further step, a SWAN based wave prediction system is validated against remotely sensed data over the entire area of the archipelago and this is subsequently used to evaluate the most relevant patterns from the point of view of the spatial distribution of the wave power. The model simulations, which are focused on the two main islands of the archipelago, made also apparent some nearshore locations where significant concentrations of wave energy usually occur. Corresponding to these energy hot spots, diagrams for the bivariate distributions of the sea states occurrences, defined by the significant wave height and the energy period, are designed and the performances of various types of wave energy converters were assessed. According to these evaluations, the efficiency of the wave energy conversion appears to be highly dependent on the distribution of the wave energy along the sea states. The results of the present work show that Madeira Archipelago, and especially the coastal environment of the Porto Santo Island, may be considered appropriate for an efficient extraction of wave energy.

Bentonite from Porto Santo Island, Madeira archipelago: surface properties studied by inverse gas chromatography

AbstractThe present paper shows the importance of Inverse Gas Chromatography (IGC) for the determination of the surface properties of bentonites. These properties are dispersive surface energy, acid-base properties, surface heterogeneity, sorption isotherms, BET surface areas and heat of sorption, using different probe molecules. IGC can contribute to the interpretation, prediction and optimization of the studied materials' properties. The paper focuses on two distinctive bentonite samples from Porto Santo Island, Madeira archipelago. In view of their potential value, achieved through their incorporation in products for dermopharmacy and dermocosmetics, particle size and particle surface properties are of fundamental importance.

Large-scale field acclimatization of Olea maderensis micropropagated plants: morphological and physiological survey

Micropropagation allows large-scale plant multiplication and germplasm preservation, representing an added value in forest breeding strategies to combat desertification and/or protect endangered species. We developed a large-scale micropropagation protocol of Olea maderensis (a native endangered wild olive of Madeira Archipelago) using OMG medium (rich in Fe, Mg and Mn) supplemented with zeatin for elongation and with NAA for rooting. We now describe the performance of micropropagated plants during five-period field acclimatization: (1) in vitro, (2) growth-cabinet, (3) greenhouse, (4) open-greenhouse, and (5) field mountain in Porto Santo Island. One hundred OG4 plants were acclimatized, showing >95% surviving rates. During acclimatization, several physiological parameters were evaluated; water content remained higher in in vitro/greenhouse conditions, decreased in field leaves. Soluble protein contents decreased during the first acclimatization periods increasing thereafter. Membrane permeability slightly increased during the field acclimatization. Chlorophylls content increased in in vitro leaves, while during acclimatization, mostly chl b decreased, increasing chl a/chl b ratio. F0 decreased in first acclimatization periods, increasing thereafter, while the other parameters (Fv; Fm; Fv/Fm) decreased. Nutrient contents decreased in plants transferred to poor field soil conditions, reaching values similar to mother plant leaves. Overall, with the exception of PSII fluorescence, field acclimatized plants had similar values to mother plants, showing a good adjustment to stressful field conditions. This protocol is being used in large-scale micropropagation within a reforestation program, and is an example of R&D technologies with immediate application on protection of endangered ecosystems.

Investigating the multifractality of point precipitation in the Madeira archipelago

Abstract. The purpose of this work is to contribute to a better understanding of the variability of precipitation in the Madeira archipelago. This archipelago is located in the Atlantic subtropical belt under the direct influence of the Azores high pressure system. It is formed by Madeira Island (728 km2) and Porto Santo Island (42 km2) and by two other groups of very small inhabited islands. The complex topography of the islands in the Madeira archipelago and their small size play a crucial role in the local precipitation regime, which is marked by high spatial variability. This paper explores the invariance of properties manifested across scales and determines the fractal and multifractal behaviour observed in the temporal structure of precipitation using daily and 10-min time series from several locations scattered over the main islands. The period covered by the precipitation records is 34 years for the daily data and almost 4 months for the 10-min data. The results show that the temporal structure of precipitation in the Madeira Archipelago exhibits scale-invariant and multifractal properties. The empirical exponent functions describing the scaling statistical properties of the precipitation intensity were characterized using multifractal parameters; these parameters are increasing our awareness of the dynamics of this process in these islands.

Comparison of portuguese soils from different geographical regions using physicochemical, biological and biochemical parameters

As a way of getting a comprehensive assessment of soil quality it is necessary to gather information on several appropriate soil parameters as well as also to perceive their spatial variation between geographic regions. The present work aimed to characterize and compare soil samples from different geographical regions and vegetation covers in the Portuguese territory through the use of physicochemical, biological and biochemical parameters. The study also intended to ascertain if those parameters are sensitive tools that consistently respond to geographical variations. Physical and chemical (soil organic matter contents, moisture, pH and conductivity), biological (macroarthropod es and diversity) and biochemical (potential nitrification, dehydrogenase and acid phosphatase activities) soil parameters were determined for three different regions of Portugal. Several sub-areas were chosen within each region, in order to include main vegetation patches. At each sampling sub-area, 5 traps were randomly set up for the collection of macroarthropods. For each sampling location, diversity descriptors of soil macrofauna were calculated: species richness, β diversity, the Shannon diversity (H′) and Pielou evenness (J′) indices. A principal component analysis (PCA) was used to plot the different sampling locations based on physical and chemical parameters; a canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) was performed to analyse the relationships between soil fauna and environmental variables (physicochemical parameters and enzyme activities) and a partial canonical correspondence analysis (pCCA), with vegetation patches as covariables, was carried out to perceive their contribution to the variation in macroarthropod distribution. Physical and chemical parameters discriminated soils from the different geographic regions in the PCA. Nevertheless, a CCA of environmental variables (physical and chemical properties, dehydrogenase activity, acid phosphatase activity and potential nitrification) and soil macroarthropod catches only discriminated continental soils (Arouca and S. Domingos Mine) from insular ones (Porto Santo Island). The former were correlated with high dehydrogenase activity (DHA) and potential nitrification values, while soils from the Porto Santo Island were particularly correlated with high pH values and low moisture percentages. However, in spite of the extreme conditions, Porto Santo sampling sub-areas presented a great diversity of macroarthropods, especially when compared to the S. Domingos Mine. The pCCA showed that the different vegetation patches only explained 15% of the variation in edaphic species distribution. Even though physical and chemical parameters were sufficient to discriminate the different geographical regions included in this study, biochemical and biological parameters grouped continental regions, discriminating them from the insular one. According to the CCA triplot, it was evident that the sampling sub-areas from the island were negatively correlated with soil moisture, suggesting that this was probably the main factor for the suppression of the microbial parameters in the island. On the other hand, the location of the S. Domingos mine area, in a metallogenetic province — the Iberian Pyrite Belt — may have contributed to the dominance of taxa more adapted to higher background levels of heavy metals. In order to perceive geographical variation among different regions, more information is needed regarding different vegetation covers and the chemical composition of their corresponding litter, as well as about other soil chemical parameters. The data gathered in this study will help to distinguish variation in soil biological and biochemical parameters induced by abiotic conditions from the one promoted by anthropogenic disturbances.

Spatial and temporal distribution of litter arthropods in different vegetation covers of Porto Santo Island (Madeira Archipelago, Portugal)

The main objective of this study is to assess the soil diversity and temporal and spatial distribution of litter macro-arthropods, captured with pitfall traps, on different vegetation covers from Porto Santo Island (Portugal) with different soil physical and chemical characteristics. The PCA clearly separated sampling areas geographically more exposed to winds and solar radiation, from the others that were not. In this analysis, seasons seemed to have no influence on this distribution. Non-exposed areas were characterized by high soil temperatures, water and organic matter contents. Among these areas, those that were covered by Pinus halepensis and Eucalyptus ficifolia showed the highest C/N ratios in winter, which may be explained by likely inhibitory effects of phenolic compounds of the leaves of both species on the decomposition process. The highest number of organisms was recorded on the exposed areas. Variance partitioning using CCA showed that the different vegetation covers and environmental variables explained 19% and 30%, respectively, of the variance in macro-arthropods distribution. Four environmental variables (exposure, temperature, C/N ratio and exchangeable K) were positively correlated with the taxa abundance matrix. The results showed that non-exposed areas with E. ficifolia and Cupressus macrocarpa seemed to favour the establishment of a high diversity of taxa, especially in the summer, when soil conditions tend to be extreme.

SEXUAL PERFORMANCE OF MASS REARED AND WILD MEDITERRANEAN FRUIT FLIES (DIPTERA: TEPHRITIDAE) FROM VARIOUS ORIGINS OF THE MADEIRA ISLANDS

Abstract The success of Mediterranean fruit fly (medfly) Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) control programs integrating the sterile insect technique (SIT) is based on the capacity of released the sterile males to compete in the field for mates. The Islands of Madeira are composed of 2 populated islands (Madeira and Porto Santo) where the medfly is present. To evaluate the compatibility and sexual performance of sterile flies we conducted a series of field cage tests. At same time, the process of laboratory domestication was evaluated. 3 wild populations, one semi-wild strain, and 1 mass reared strain were evaluated: the wild populations of (1) Madeira Island (north coast), (2) Madeira Island (south coast), and (3) Porto Santo Island; (4) the semi-wild population after 7 to 10 generations of domestication in the laboratory (respectively, for first and second experiment); and (5) the genetic sexing strain in use at Madeira medfly facility (VIENNA 7mix2000). Field cage experiments showed that populations of all...

Two energy system analysis models: A comparison of methodologies and results

This paper presents a comparative study of two energy system analysis models both designed for the purpose of analysing electricity systems with a substantial share of fluctuating renewable energy. The first model (EnergyPLAN) has been designed for national and regional analyses. It has been used in the design of strategies for integration of wind power and other fluctuating renewable energy sources into the future energy supply. The model has been used for investigating new operation strategies and investments in flexibility in order to utilize wind power and avoid excess production. The other model (H2RES) has been designed for simulating the integration of renewable sources and hydrogen into island energy systems. The H2RES model can use wind, solar and hydro as renewable energy sources and diesel blocks as backup. The latest version of the H2RES model has an integrated grid connection with the mainland. The H2RES model was tested on the power system of Porto Santo Island, Madeira, Portugal, Corvo and Graciosa Islands, Azores Islands, Portugal and Sal Island, Cape Verde. This paper presents the results of using the two different models on the same case, the island of Mljet, Croatia. The paper compares methodologies and results with the purpose of identifying mutual benefits and improvements of both models.

Influence of exchange cations on the catalytic conversion of limonene over Serra de Dentro (SD) and SAz-1 clays: Correlations between acidity and catalytic activity/selectivity

A bentonite collected at Serra de Dentro (SD), Porto Santo Island, Portugal, and the source clay SAz-1 (Cheto, Arizona) were ion-exchanged with different cations (Al 3+, Ni 2+, Cr 3+ and Na +). Variable temperature diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (VT-DRIFTS) of pyridine treated samples, thermal desorption of cyclohexylamine and real time mass spectrometry of the evolved gases were used to evaluate the acidic properties of the prepared catalysts. The catalytic activity of these ion-exchanged clays was tested in the acid-catalysed conversion of limonene at 150 °C, to yield isomerization products (terpinolene, α-terpinene, γ-terpinene and isoterpinolene), disproportionation products ( p-cymene and p-menthenes) and high molecular-weight compounds. The possibility of increasing the selectivity toward p-cymene, over a catalyst with substantial Lewis acid character, was particularly envisaged. Catalysts derived from SD were significantly more active than their SAz-1 counterparts. This was mainly attributed to the greater inherent acidity, to the higher structural iron content (providing dehydrogenation activity) and to the higher nitrogen surface area of the starting SD clays. Within the M n+ -SD series, the order of activity decreased as Ni 2+ > Al 3+ > Cr 3+ > Na +. A direct comparison between Al 3+-SD (with maximized Brönsted acidity) and Ni 2+-SD (with predominant Lewis acid character) provided no support for enhanced p-cymene production over Lewis acid sites.

Simulation and Optimization of Medium-Sized Seawater Reverse Osmosis Processes with Spiral-Wound Modules

A numerical model is presented for a two-stage seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination unit with spiral-wound modules. The model, which is based on the mass and momentum transport equations, takes into consideration the longitudinal variation of the velocity, the pressure, and the salt concentration in the membrane modules. This model was calibrated with the field data of a 600 m3/day SWRO unit of the desalination plant of Porto Santo Island (Portugal) and was used to optimize the module configuration and the operating conditions of a medium-sized SWRO with spiral-wound modules. For a typical reverse osmosis (RO) plant with a capacity of 1000 m3/day, with a single stage and four membrane modules (FilmTec SW30HR-380) per pressure vessel, operating at a feed pressure of 6.0 MPa and with an inlet feed velocity of 0.12 m/s, the water recovery rate is 33%, the energy consumption is 4.28 kWh/m3, and the specific water cost is 81.4 eurocent/m3. The water cost can be reduced to 66.7 eurocent/m3, for a two-stage SWRO unit operating at a 56.7% water recovery rate, with seven membrane modules per pressure vessel, operating at transmembrane pressures of 7.2 and 8.0 MPa and inlet feed velocities of 0.23 and 0.20 m/s, in the first and second stages, respectively.

Internal structure and evolution of a volcanic rift system in the eastern North Atlantic: the Desertas rift zone, Madeira archipelago

The three elongated Desertas Islands form the top of a 60-km-long NW–SE-striking submarine ridge southeast of Madeira (NE Atlantic). The alignment of eruptive centres and parallel dyke swarms indicates that the islands represent a deeply eroded volcanic rift zone. Detailed field studies combined with 40Ar/ 39Ar age determinations and geochemical analyses reveal the internal structure and evolution of this rift, which may serve as a type example of North Atlantic rift zones. The northern rift end is composed mainly of lava flows up to several meter thickness and few scoria. The central part is characterised by a 100- to 200-m-thick basal sequence of tuff as a result of explosive eruptions due to magma–sea water interaction during the early subaerial stage. These layers are overlain by subhorizontal lava flows reflecting the change from dominantly explosive to more effusive volcanism during island growth. The southern part is dominated by a basal tuff sequence, scoria and cinder cones, minor lava flows and sills up to 30 m in thickness. In general, bomb- and scoria-rich deposits, dykes and sills increase in frequency towards the south. In contrast to rift systems of Hawaiian volcanoes such as Kilauea, we did not find any volcanological or petrological indication of a central caldera underlain by a shallow magma reservoir feeding the rift. 40Ar/ 39Ar ages show that subaerial Desertas volcanism lasted from >5.1 to 1.9 Ma overlapping with the shield-building phases of Madeira island. Desertas lavas show no temporal or spatial variation in chemistry, except for samples from the top of the islands, erupted between ∼3.4 and 2 Ma, which are strongly REE and Y enriched. We suggest that the Desertas ridge represents a discrete volcano that became interconnected with Madeira by growth to the north–northeast. Major volcanic centres may have been located at the southern end of the ridge and/or near its central part. A conceivable explanation for the formation of the elongated Desertas rift is a local gravitative stress field causing preferred extension between the Madeira and Desertas edifices as they progressively overlapped. Our model thus emphasises the importance of edifice amalgamation and gravitative stress in the evolution of large volcanoes and their rift zones. The initiation of Desertas volcanism could be the result of a weak pulsating mantle plume and irregular motion of the African plate, combined with flexural stresses within the lithosphere due to the loads of Madeira and Porto Santo islands. Cessation of volcanism coincides with the exclusive occurrence of Y- and REE-enriched lavas that may be related to sediment assimilation. Our results indicate that models for Hawaiian rifts cannot necessarily be transferred to hotspot volcanoes associated with weak plumes and/or irregular plate motion.

Genetic profile of the madeira archipelag

Allele and haplotype frequencies of 17 chromosome STR loci, 15 of them included in the kit PowerPlex 16 System from Promega, were determined in a sample of unrelated males from Madeira and Porto Santo Islands. PowerPlex 16 includes STRs not studied before in the Madeira population. The-kit includes two new allele markers (Penta D and Penta E), which proved to be extremely useful for paternity testing (PD = 0.952 and 0.977, respectively). The study revealed that the Madeira population does not differ from that of the north Portugal. Nevertheless, some loci presented alleles found in sub-Saharan and North European populations which were not reported so far in Portugal.

Y-chromosome STR haplotypes in the Madeira archipelago population

Allele and haplotype frequencies of seven Y-chromosome STR loci were determined from a sample of 95 and 16 unrelated males from Madeira and Porto Santo Islands, respectively.

Long-Term Observations of Cloud Liquid, Water Vapor, and Cloud-Base Temperature in the North Atlantic Ocean

Abstract Measurements of precipitable water vapor, cloud liquid, and cloud-base temperature made at Porto Santo Island, Madeira Archipelago, are presented. The observations were made continuously over a 1-yr period from July 1992 to June 1993. Instrumentation consisted of a 20- and 31-GHz ground-based microwave radiometer for measurement of water vapor and cloud liquid, and a 10.7-μm infrared radiometer for measurement of cloud-base temperature. A statistical summary of the data is presented for clear and cloudy conditions, considered both separately and combined. The mean and variance of precipitable water vapor are smaller during clear than during cloudy periods. Values of water vapor during the winter are 26% smaller than during summer months. The mean decorrelation time of precipitable water vapor is generally found to be less than 12 h.

Temporal variability of precipitable water vapor in the North Atlantic

Radiometric measurements of precipitable water vapor were made at Porto Santo Island, Madeira, Portugal, over a one-year period. Temporal variability of the precipitable water vapor is estimated using structure functions. The power law index of the structure functions is compared to values predicted by a statistical model of water vapor fluctuations.

The 40Ar/39Ar age dating of the Madeira Archipelago and hotspot track (eastern North Atlantic)

The 40Ar/39Ar ages for 35 volcanic rocks and 14C ages for two charcoal samples from the Madeira Archipelago and Ampère Seamount (eastern North Atlantic) are presented. The volcanic evolution of Madeira can be divided into a voluminous shield stage (&gt;4.6–0.7 Ma) and a subsequent low‐volume posterosional stage (&lt;0.7–0 Ma). Volcanism during the shield stage originated from a two‐armed rift system, composed of the E–W oriented Madeira rift arm and the N–S oriented Desertas rift arm. Average growth rates for the submarine (5500 km3/Ma) and subaerial (100–150 km3/Ma) shield stages on Madeira are among the lowest found for ocean island volcanoes. It is proposed that Madeira represents the present location of a &gt;70 Myr old hotspot which formed Porto Santo Island (11.1–14.3 Ma), Seine, Ampère (31 Ma), Corral Patch and Ormond (65–67 Ma [Féraud et al., 1982, 1986]) Seamounts, and the Serra de Monchique (70–72 Ma [McIntyre and Berger, 1982]) complex in southern Portugal. Age and spatial relationships result in a calculated absolute African plate motion above the hotspot of 1.2 cm/yr around a rotation pole located at 43°36′N/ 24°33′W.