DigitUMa

University of Madeira Institutional Repository

Bem-vindo ao Repositório Digital da UNIVERSIDADE DA MADEIRA.

O Repositório da Universidade da Madeira (UMa), conhecido pelo acrónimo DigitUMa, tem como objetivo a disponibilização, em regime de livre acesso e texto integral, de toda a produção científica realizada pelos docentes, investigadores da UMa, discentes dos 2º e 3º ciclos e pelos funcionários.

O Repositório Institucional, DigitUMa, assenta na política de Acesso Aberto à informação e conhecimento científicos.

Email antonio.freitas@staff.uma.pt

Recent Submissions

Porto Santo era a minha segunda pele: Os Profetas, de Alice Vieira

Publication . Moniz, Ana Isabel

2024-07Journal article

Open access

Apontamentos sobre a evolução da biografia na antiguidade clássica

Publication . Pinheiro, Joaquim; Pinheiro, Joaquim José; Brandão, J. L.; Teixeira, C.; Faversani, F.; Rodrigues, A.

Durante a Antiguidade Clássica, a narrativa de vidas passou por várias fases e desenvolveu‑se em âmbitos muitos diversos, mantendo uma relação próxima com a historiografia. Em forma de síntese, procuraremos identificar os vários momentos dessa evolução e caracterizar os temas principais do género biográfico.

2024Book part

Open access

Endless forms most wonderful: four new cavernicolous planthopper species (Hemiptera, Fulgoromorpha, Cixiidae and Meenoplidae) from the Canary Islands

Publication . Hoch, Hannelore; López, Heriberto; Naranjo, Manuel; Aguín-Pombo, Dora; Oromí, Pedro; Aguin-Pombo, Dora

The Canary Islands harbour a rich and diverse fauna of obligate subterranean arthropods (i.e. troglobionts). Among the insect taxa which have repeatedly undergone the evolutionary switch from life on the surface to underground environments are the Fulgoromorpha, or planthoppers: Cixiidae and Meenoplidae. Previously, a total of 13 troglobitic planthopper species have been described from El Hierro, La Palma, Tenerife and Gran Canaria. Here we describe three new troglobitic cixiid species: Cixius palmirandussp. nov. from La Palma, Cixius theseussp. nov. from El Hierro and Tachycixius gomerobscurussp. nov. from La Gomera, and one new meenoplid species: Meenoplus skotinophilussp. nov. from El Hierro. Tachycixius gomerobscurussp. nov. is the first record of a subterranean adapted Fulgoromorpha on La Gomera. With now 17 documented species of strictly hypogean planthoppers, the Canary Islands hold the highest number of subterranean planthoppers of any region worldwide, representing ca. ¼ of all known species. We provide a key to all subterranean planthopper species known from the Canary Islands as well as information on their habitat, distribution, ecological classification and conservation status. As all highly specialized, narrow range troglobitic planthopper species must be regarded as vulnerable, if not endangered, climate change poses a major risk of extinction. We hypothesize on island colonization and subterranean speciation underlying taxonomic diversity and high endemicity. We conclude that the currently observed zoogeographic patterns imply the existence of an ancient fauna which is now extinct.

2025-03-28Journal article

Open access

True parthenogenesis and female-biased sex ratios in Cicadomorpha and Fulgoromorpha (Hemiptera, Auchenorrhyncha)

Publication . Aguín-Pombo, Dora; Kuznetsova, Valentina G.; Aguin-Pombo, Dora

Insects are renowned for their remarkable diversity of reproductive modes. Among these, the largest non-holometabolous order, Hemiptera, stands out with one of the most diversified arrays of parthenogenesis modes observed among insects. Although there are extensive reviews on reproduction without fertilization in some hemipteran higher taxa, no such analysis has been conducted for the large suborders Fulgoromorpha (planthoppers) and Cicadomorpha (leafhoppers). In both groups, there are species that reproduce by true parthenogenesis, specifically thelytoky, and in Fulgoromorpha, there are species that reproduce by pseudogamy or, more specifically, sperm-dependent parthenogenesis. In this review paper, we give and discuss the only currently known examples of true parthenogenesis in Fulgoromorpha and Cicadomorpha, mainly from the planthopper family Delphacidae and the leafhopper family Cicadellidae. We analyze patterns of distribution, ecology, mating behavior, acoustic communication, and cytogenetic and genetic diversity of parthenoforms and discuss hypotheses about the origin of parthenogenesis in each case. We also highlight examples in which natural populations show a shift in sex ratio toward females and discuss possible causes of this phenomenon, primarily the influence of endosymbiotic bacteria capable of altering the reproductive strategies of the hosts. Our review is mainly based on studies in which the authors have participated.

2023-10-17Journal article

Open access

Empoasca fabalis DeLong (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) in European sweet potatoes: records, leaf damage, and Auchenorrhyncha insights

Publication . Aguin-Pombo, Dora; Boavida, Conceição; Valdiviesso, Teresa; Trindade, Cândida S.; Backus, Elaine; Mateus, Célia; Aguin-Pombo, Dora

AbstractThe recent surge in sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) cultivation in Europe prompted an investigation into associated entomofauna within Portugal's southwestern region, known for its longstanding sweet potato production. This study aimed to assess entomofauna associated with this culture.Insect sampling was conducted by leaf and sweep net across three regional sites during 2018 and 2019 revealing the presence of Empoasca fabalis. Histological examination of sweet potato leaves affected by E. fabalis feeding unveiled significant damage, including the emergence of whitish spots (termed “stipples”) and subsequent necrotic spots. Comparative analysis between infested and undamaged control leaves revealed significant damage, involving mesophyll cell content deprivation and cellular disruption. This study describes, for the first time, the histological nature of the necrotic damage and suggests that E. fabalis primarily acts as a stippler on sweet potatoes, mainly targeting mesophyll cells with limited consumption of vascular tissue. The invasive behaviour and wide host range of E. fabalis pose a threat to sweet potato cultivation. These findings emphasize the need for monitoring to address the potential impact of E. fabalis on Europe’s agricultural ecosystem and native vegetation.In addition, six other Auchenorrhyncha species were identified during this study, including four crucial vectors of plant diseases: Laodelphax striatellus, Psammotettix alienus, Anaceratagallia glabra, Austroagallia sinuata, together with Empoasca solani and E. alsiosa. These results emphasise the importance of managing these insects in sweet potato cultivation.

2024-07-31Journal article

Open access