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An holistic stochastic-dynamic modelling methodology has been developed in order to predict the ecological status of lotic systems in Northeast Portugal. These procedures focus on the interactions between conceptually isolated key-components, such as some relevant benthic macroinvertebrate metrics and changes in local habitat conditions. The proposed model was preceded by a conventional multivariate statistical treatment performed to discriminate the significant relationships between prevailing biological and environmental variables. Since this statistical analysis is static, the dataset recorded from the field included true gradients of habitat changes. In this way, the factors time and space are implicit in the respective treatment. Such a procedure gives credibility to the parameters included in the dynamic model construction. In order to enhance the importance of monitoring in aquatic systems based on ecological integrity indicators, different biotic metrics were selected from the studied benthic macroinvertebrate communities. The samples of aquatic macroinvertebrate, environmental and physical-chemical data were collected from three watersheds of mountain rivers in Northeast Portugal, between 1983 and 1985. The model validation was based on independent data from another watershed not included in the model construction. Thereafter, the model behaviour was tested facing a "new" scenario, namely ongoing organic pollution disturbances in the region. The results are encouraging since, after the model validation, they seem to demonstrate the reliability of the model (1) to assess the ecological status of running waters from the studied watersheds and (2) to predict the behaviour of key macroinvertebrate metrics, along an ecological gradient from relatively pristine conditions to serious human impacts.

Marine landings in Portugal have decreased at a higher rate than fishing effort in the last 20 years. Identifying the variables driving the quantity and composition of landings is pivotal to understand the dynamics of the fisheries sector, which entails complex social and environmental aspects. In this study, we investigate the main drivers of marine fish landings in continental Portugal between 1989 and 2014. To identify common trends in time series, and quantify the importance of environmental factors, we applied a dynamic factor analysis considering four regions and three types of gear (trawling, purse-seine, and a multi-gear fishery). Our results show the importance of fishing effort as the most relevant factor driving marine landings in Portugal, both at the long and short terms. In addition, the effect of environmental factors such as the winter river discharge and the spring East Atlantic Teleconnection index should not be neglected, probably through mechanisms affecting coastal productivity. We provide a comprehensive amount of information that permits to improve our understanding of the trends of the most important commercial species in Portugal during the period of study.

A growing concern is arising to recognize that ecosystem services (ES) production often requires the integration of non-natural capital with natural capital in a process known as coproduction. Several studies explore co-production in different terrestrial ecosystems, such as agriculture or water delivery, but less attention has been paid to marine ecosystems. Coastal activities such as aquaculture, shellfish harvesting, and small-scale fishing deliver important benefits for seafood provision, but are also inextricably linked to cultural and recreational ES. The degree to which co-production can determine the provision of ES in marine systems has yet not been explored. This paper addresses this key topic with an exploratory analysis of case studies where marine ES are co-produced. We look at five small-scale fisheries that range from intensive semi-aquaculture in Galicia (Spain), to wild harvesting in Northern Portugal, and discuss to what extent co-production influences ES delivery. We find that a direct relationship exists between co-production level and ES delivery in the case of provisioning ES (e.g., fish harvest), but not necessarily in the delivery of other ES. We also find that management practices and property regimes may be affecting trade-offs between co-production and ES.