Publications by authors named "Alexandra Meira"
Article Synopsis
- Predation significantly affects ecological communities, with bivalves serving as key players due to their roles in ecosystems, food webs, and commerce.
- A comprehensive review of 52 years of research compiled data from 1334 studies across 75 countries, highlighting the dominance of Mytilidae and crustaceans among the studied bivalves and predators, respectively.
- The majority of research focused on marine environments, revealing a stark contrast in native vs. non-native species in freshwater ecosystems, while various methods were used to analyze predation effects based on species traits and environmental factors.
Europe has a long history of human pressure on freshwater ecosystems. As pressure continues to grow and new threats emerge, there is an urgent need for conservation of freshwater biodiversity and its ecosystem services. However, whilst some taxonomic groups, mainly vertebrates, have received a disproportionate amount of attention and funds, other groups remain largely off the public and scientific radar.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- Freshwater bivalves are declining globally, significantly impacted by invasive alien species (IAS), particularly two crayfish species studied for their predation on both native and non-native bivalves.
- In controlled experiments and natural observations, native bivalves were found to be preyed upon by these crayfish, with Anodonta anatina being the most affected, while Corbicula fluminea remained untouched.
- The study also revealed aggressive interactions between the crayfish species, with Procambarus clarkii displaying dominance over Pacifastacus leniusculus, indicating that these invasives may not only increase bivalve mortality but also hinder their overall fitness, raising concerns for conservation efforts.
Ability of women to self-classify into the Robson ten-group classification system.
Int J Gynaecol Obstet
November 2018
Objective: Recent guidelines from WHO and the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) state that the Robson ten-group classification system (TGCS) should be universally applied to pregnant women. Such information might enable women to make an informed decision about the place and mode of delivery. We assessed whether women could self-classify correctly according to the TGCS.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF