Establishing marine species equipped with efficient biomarkers of trace element stress is a major requirement for the assessment of trace element contamination in marine ecosystems. This study investigates PS II overall activity and efficiency during light harvesting, electron transport chain (ETC) behaviour, OJIP-transient light curves, and pigment profiles, in the model marine diatom species Phaeodactylum tri...
Mercury naturally contaminated environments, like Deception Island (Antarctica), are field labs to study the physiological consequences of chronic Hg-exposure at the community level. Deception Island volcanic vents lead to a continuous chronic exposure of the phytoplanktonic communities to potentially toxic Hg concentrations. Comparing Hg-contaminated areas (Fumarolas Bay - FB, Gabriel de Castilla station - GdC...
Global warming is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme thermal events, with inevitable consequences for marine ecosystems and organisms. Phytoplankton is at the base of marine food webs and diatoms are major contributors to global primary production. Therefore, environmental changes, such as heat, influencing growth, physiology and biochemical composition of diatoms, impact other organisms at highe...
This work reports changes on cell number, growth rate, trace element content, chlorophyll a (Chl a) and carotenoid concentrations, and laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) spectra of Phaeodactylum tricornutum exposed to Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Hg, Pb, and a mixture of all elements combined (Mix). The total levels of trace elements associated with the cells were significantly higher in the exposed than in control ones. ...
Purpose – The aim of this paper is to contribute to the understanding of backpackers’s evaluation of service quality provided by hostels by developing a battery of items to assess perceptions of the overall hostel experience. Design/methodology/approach – Scale development took a mixed approach that combines qualitative and quantitative research. First, the authors performed a content analysis of reviews provid...
The aim of this paper is to assess whether the importance of different characteristics of the overall hostel guests’ experience vary according to the age, gender and nationality of backpackers’. This research took a two-step approach, combining both qualitative and quantitative methods. An interview with a hostel manager and a content analysis of hostel booking websites were carried out in order to identify the...