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A method for semi-automatic landslide detection, with the ability to separate source and run-out areas, is presented in this paper. It combines object-based image analysis and a Support Vector Machine classifier on a GeoEye-1 multispectral image, sensed 3 days after the major damaging landslide event that occurred in Madeira island (20 February 2010), with a pre-event LIDAR Digital Elevation Model. The testing is developed in a 15 km²-wide study area, where 95% of the landslides scars are detected by this supervised approach. The classifier presents a good performance in the delineation of the overall landslide area. In addition, fair results are achieved in the separation of the source from the run-out landslide areas, although in less illuminated slopes this discrimination is less effective than in sunnier east facing-slopes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing energy production through renewable sources is a challenge for islands. This paper investigates the potential of hydropower as a renewable energy source for islands in the Macaronesia region, which includes the Azores, Madeira, Canary Islands, and Cape Verde. Ecological transition towards renewable energy sources is crucial for these islands due to their current dependence on imported fossil fuels and their remoteness. The methodology used in this paper combines a SWOT analysis with a review of relevant literature. The SWOT analysis evaluates the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats associated with hydropower development on each island. The results show that each island has unique characteristics that influence its hydropower potential. The Azores has existing mini-hydropower plants and opportunities for pumped storage systems due to its rainfall and volcanic features. Madeira also utilizes hydropower, including the world's first underground pumped storage plant (UPHS) in Socorridos. However, limitations exist due to the mountainous terrain and competition for water resources. The Canary Islands showcase the success story of El Hierro Island, which significantly increased renewable energy penetration through a wind farm and pumped storage hydropower system. The topography and lack of rainfall on Cape Verde make the development of hydropower a significant challenge and, as a result, the focus has shifted to wind power. The study concludes that hydropower can play a significant role in the ecological transition of these islands. However, careful planning and consideration of environmental factors are necessary to maximize the benefits and minimize the potential drawbacks. The paper emphasizes the importance of islandspecific assessments and exploring opportunities for pumped storage systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

estudo teve por objetivo determinar a composição química, densidade básica e parâmetros morfológicos dos traqueídeos da madeira de Cupressus lusitanica, visando verificar sua adequabilidade para produção de polpa celulósica. Foram utilizadas três árvores, com 16 anos, das quais extraíram-se discos que foram empregados na caracterização química, física e morfológica da madeira. A morfologia dos traqueídeos foi avaliada nos anéis correspondentes as idades 4, 7, 10, 13 e 16 anos. A partir dos parâmetros dos traqueídeos, calcularam-se os indicadores de qualidade da polpa. Foram observados baixos teores de cinzas e extrativos (0,27 e 2,13%, respectivamente), porém alto teor de lignina (32,52%). A densidade básica (0,375 g.cm-3) foi menor que de outras espécies de coníferas utilizadas para produção de celulose. Os traqueídeos apresentaram valores médios de 2,41 mm de comprimento; 31,40 µm de largura; 25,15 µm de diâmetro do lúmen e 3,12 µm de espessura de parede, que tenderam a uma elevação nos valores com o aumento da idade. De maneira geral, a madeira de C. lusitanica apresenta boas características tecnológicas para produção de celulose e papel, especialmente pelos índices morfológicos de qualidade observados. The objective of this study was to determine the chemical composition, basic density and tracheids morphological parameters of the wood of Cupressus lusitanica aiming to verify its suitability for cellulosic pulp production. Discs were collected from three 16-year-old trees to determine chemical, physical and morphological characteristics. The morphology of the tracheids was evaluated in the annual rings corresponding to the ages of 4, 7, 10, 13 and 16 years. The pulp quality parameters were calculated from the tracheid parameters. The chemical composition indicated low ash and extractive contents (0.27 and 2.13%, respectively), but high lignin content (32.52%). The basic density (0.375 g cm-3) was smaller than other species of softwood used for pulp production. The mean values of tracheids dimensions observed were 2.41 mm of length, 31.40 µm of width; 25.15 µm of lumen diameter and 3.12 µm of wall thickness, which tended to increase in values with increasing age. In general, C. lusitanica wood presents good technological characteristics for pulp and paper production, especially for the observed quality morphological index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper discusses the development of Madeira's tourism and its continuous action on aspects of sustainability. Design/methodology/approach: The paper analyses the evolution of tourism in the region in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and how an investment in sustainability and on the certification of the archipelago as a sustainable tourist destination is a key move for stakeholders, in particular residents, companies and tourists. Findings: To return to normality, and thus overcome the 2019 difficulties, Madeira continues to develop promotional activities in various international markets and develop sustainable tourism, supported by practices and policies that optimize the use of environmental resources. In so doing, sociocultural identity and authenticity is secured, while providing socioeconomic benefits for all stakeholders. Originality/value: The approaches and solutions presented are those of the regional Government of Madeira, illustrated by the efforts and decisions that led to the certification of the archipelago as a sustainable tourist destination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Substantial loss of biodiversity and the proliferation of invasive alien species can occur due to land cover anthropogenic transformations on islands. However, the effect of anthropogenic habitat modifications on the distribution of insular freshwater microcrustaceans is unknown. In the present paper, we examine the consequences of human activity on the insular diversity of microcrustaceans in the context of the theories of island biogeography and intermediate disturbances. The samples were collected in Madeira Island at 38 freshwater sampling sites with different anthropopressure. Morphology-based species identification of the copepods and cladocerans was supplemented with genetic analysis (COI) in some species. To estimate the species richness of the island, rarefaction, and extrapolation methods were used. Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) was applied to assess the influence of geospatial and environmental variables on the species distribution. A total of 20 species belonging to six families were identified, of which 16 species are new to Madeira. There was low similarity between the fauna recorded and known previously on the island. The observed species richness was higher than the predictions by the island biogeography models for Madeira. CCA revealed a strong influence of anthropogenic land use on crustaceans. Anthropogenic transformations locally led to the depletion of fauna, but on the island scale they contributed to the increase of species richness including seven putative alien species. An increase in the artificial land cover and a decrease in the forest areas could lead to a further shift in the domination of non-indigenous microcrustaceans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper considers the use of plant lists and related documents in addressing questions about the collection and circulation of plants and plant knowledge. The focus is on plants cultivated in Lisbon's Ajuda botanical garden up to the mid-nineteenth century, and additionally on plants from the island of Madeira. Three plant catalogues, prepared between the early 1770s and mid-1840s, are analysed, together with register books and documents that habitually accompanied plant shipments sent to the garden. The study shows which plants were present in the garden and how the collection evolved, as well as which world regions were represented. In comparing Madeiran plants listed as present in the garden with those documented as being shipped from the island in the late 1790s, the paucity of shared names is striking. On the one hand, this may reflect document loss, while on the other it suggests that Madeiran plants may have been transported from their native range to other European locations by means of complex exchange networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oceanic island floras often exhibit remarkable concentrations of endemic diversity, provide spectacular examples of rapid evolutionary radiations and harbour floras under significant threat due to anthropogenic pressures. They have attracted the interest of biologists for centuries, but their floras continue to yield new taxa and, at a global scale, the extent of their plant diversity remains imperfectly known. Both natural characteristics and historical factors have shaped the development of knowledge of island floras. In this paper, we investigate the approach of Richard Thomas Lowe (1802–1874), to documenting the flora of Madeira island in the North Atlantic. Lowe collected abundantly in Madeira between 1826 and 1873, resulting in several works on Madeira's flora, published from the 1830s. At a time when taxonomic research on island floras was often based on limited collections made during brief expeditions, Lowe's research on the flora, spanning almost half a century, was exceptional. In this study, 2579 herbarium specimens collected by Lowe were georeferenced and used to investigate temporal, spatial and taxonomic patterns in Lowe's collecting activities. We also examine the distribution of specimens by Lowe to other botanists. Some biases are evident in Lowe's collecting efforts, with steep slopes under‐sampled and coastal sites over‐sampled. These reflect constraints imposed by topography and transport links. These limitations aside, Lowe's work on the Madeiran flora was conducted in a systematic manner, resulting in a comprehensive study of the entire flora. His approach was distinctly modern: he gathered and studied all available information in herbaria and in the published and unpublished writings from earlier visitors; his initial fieldwork was conducted widely to gain knowledge of all habitats and their floras; later fieldwork focussed on less‐explored and most promising areas; duplicates were sent to other botanists, facilitating taxonomic exchanges on critical taxa; and his later fieldwork focussed on plant groups where taxonomic problems had been detected. As a result of Lowe's sustained and systematic approach, he is the single most prolific contributor to the study of Madeira's endemic flora. His approach is a model to documenting island floras still relevant today. Areas poorly sampled by Lowe were areas that were difficult to access, which also protected them from anthropic destructive activities and allowed them to serve as refuges for endemic flora. Those areas deserve particular attention in efforts to complete the survey of Madeira's plant diversity, using technological advancements such as drones to prospect areas that are otherwise still largely inaccessible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the degree of persistence in annual Nordic tourist arrivals on the island of Madeira by using data disaggregated by tourism-source countries. For this purpose, the paper adopts methodologies based on the concept of fractional integration. The stability of the fractional differencing parameter across the sample period is also analysed and a brief forecasting exercise is also conducted. The result indicates that the series are highly persistent and only Sweden presents a small degree of mean reverting behaviour. Managerial implications of the main findings are also discussed in the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This special issue on The Nordic Tourists in the Atlantic Islands of Azores, Madeira and Canaries was prepared in 2012, when the economic crisis had started in 2008, with the aim to focus if Nordic tourists' flux in Atlantic Islands was common and persistent along the years, representing an important proportion of the tourists in these islands. Despite its importance, no research has yet analyzed this tourism flux in the Atlantic islands. This special issue focuses on Atlantic islands, aimed at understanding the role of Scandinavian Tourists in Atlantic Islands. The call for papers received 15 papers from which 6 were selected based on their quality. The selected papers were presented in a conference held in Azores by the Regional Observatory of Tourism from Azores to discuss the accepted papers on 29 April May 2012. This special issue contains papers that went through a revision process in the conference, and each paper was revised by two blind reviewers. Some papers had to be revised twice and the final result is presented here. In this introduction, I present a description of Nordic tourism since 2002 in these islands that serve as the subject of the papers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to get insights on a real-life portfolio of events from a demand-centred prospective, based on the identification of factors influencing the degree of attendee's satisfaction, with the ultimate aim of identifying commonalities and prospective cross-leverage strategies among events. Design/methodology/approach: Data from attendees to three major events taking place in Funchal, the capital city of Madeira, were analysed based on multivariate statistics and categorical regression owing to the overwhelming presence of categorical data in the database. The econometric analysis pursued in this paper is based on a sample of 1,830 tourists. Findings: The research demonstrates that the impact of the socio-economic variables and travel arrangements on attendees' satisfaction is rather irrelevant, irrespective of the event under analysis, with cross-cutting factors defining the overall quality of any event (mainly technical aspects such as aesthetical elements, organization and opening hours) determinant in predicting the overall degree of satisfaction. Another key finding relates to the existence of a number of commonalities among events, in terms of tourists' profiles, market orientation, themes and resources laying ground to define ready-to-apply cross-leverage strategies. Research limitations/implications: The analysis concentrated on three major events taking place in the capital city of a peripheral region. The content of the questionnaire co-developed with the destination management organization with order to get access to a large sample of respondents. Practical implications: Lessons to be learnt in terms of managing a disparate collection of events developed over time in an ad hoc manner. A few examples of cross-leverage strategies are put forward. Originality/value: The analysis and empirical content portrayed in this study contribute to the literature on event portfolio via description of real-life case examples of how to develop competencies based on post-event analysis in a proactive manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the economic relevance of cruise tourism has increased considerably. However, there are still many doubts regarding the real economic value of this industry in a port of call. This paper presents a methodology to estimate the total expenditures carried out in a port of call. The port of Funchal on the island of Madeira was used as a case study, given the great relevance of the cruise tourism industry to this port of call. A combination of several methods, and of secondary and primary data, was used to assess the total expenses of the cruise passengers, crew members, and cruise lines. Results reveal that, although cruise tourism has an important role in the economic development of the island of Madeira nowadays, several strategies should be adopted to increase this relevance. Therefore, the paper ends with some implications for increasing the direct economic value generated by cruise tourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to introduce Madeira’s new tourism strategy and demonstrate how it will lead the region to a new paradigm focused on a culture of service.Design/methodology/approach The paper is based on an analysis of Madeira’s strategic tourism and marketing plan and official regional, national and international information sources.Findings Madeira’s new tourism strategy is based on the reference tripod “Mountain, Sea and Culture”. The new tourism paradigm, it is focused on quality rather than on quantity and more committed on upgrading the product and its offer; is more aligned with environmental, energy and sustainable development concerns for the destination; and is more active, in a direct association between tourism, health and sports.Originality/value This paper presents the perspective and experience of Madeira’s regional government in the management of tourism developmental strategies and shares the solutions implemented in securing and advancing its position as the Best Island Destination in Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the entrepreneurial phenomenon on a remote island to assess the effects of the spatial location on the entrepreneurial process. A qualitative approach was adopted to conduct this research, through a multiple-case study of 8 entrepreneurs from the island of Madeira, an autonomous Portuguese region in the Atlantic. The primary goal of this study is to characterize the entrepreneurial process in remote islands. This study adopts Bygrave's (2009) definition and model of the entrepreneurial process. The findings show that the geographical environment on remote islands influences most phases of the entrepreneurial process. The identification of business opportunities will vary greatly between sectors of activity. Additionally, island-based entrepreneurs were more motivated by push factors, which suggests that the entrepreneurial landscape in remote islands will be populated by necessity entrepreneurs. Moreover, findings also demonstrate that remote island entrepreneurs are more preoccupied with firm survival than they are with growth. Finally, this study also discusses the impact of advances in information technologies on the entrepreneurial process on small and remote islands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of Accessible Tourism recognises that tourism is for everyone and, therefore, everyone should be able to enjoy tourism products and services. This concept not only translates into benefits for tourists, as it provides an improvement in the quality of life of the local population, who benefits from the creation of improved accessibility conditions. Promoting accessibility is a fundamental condition for the full exercise of citizenship rights enshrined in the Portuguese Constitution. Although there is growing awareness of the need to make spaces more accessible, translated into compliance with European guidelines and legal standards, there are still numerous gaps and examples of exclusion. The measures which are necessary to guarantee the enforcement of rights can be operationalised based on examples of good practices. In this sense, this paper analyses good practices of inclusion implemented in the Autonomous Region of Madeira. Even though these measures promote inclusion, it is still verified that they are insufficient to respond to the needs of citizens with disabilities, limitations or incapacity. Even so, it should be noted that Madeira has been increasingly strengthening its offer as an accessible destination, in order to boost demand for the region as an inclusive destination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the Euroworking group on Decision Support Systems (DSS), which belongs to the Euro association was created in Madeira following the Euro Summer Institute on DSS. Researchers involved in this group meet each year in different countries. The several meetings allowed members to present their contributions through several countries. Researchers belonging to this group conduct their work around a central topic: DSS but also do research on other scopes: Electronic commerce; Data-Mining; Data Warehouse or Knowledge Management etc. Faced with rapid changes resulting from Information Technologies, many organizations are enlarging their decision processes.

Tourism is one of the world's largest industries fundamentally arising from mobility as a form of capital. In destination islands that have a delicate ecosystem to maintain, this source of income can become problematic in terms of sustainability. A difficulty in making people aware of this issue is also represented by the fact that such sustainability-related issues (and their causes) are often not "visible" to citizens. To foster awareness about the relationship between sustainability and tourism in well-known destinations, we design a platform that engages users at two levels of participation: i. at the IoT and sensors level, in order to let them becoming providers of big data, deploying and enlarging the pervasive infrastructure; ii. at the (big) data visualization level, with the aim of engaging them in making sense of large volumes of data related to sustainability. This paper presents the design and implementation of a real-world experience where a low-cost collaborative platform made it possible to sense and visualize tourist flows and urban data into a rich interactive map-based visualization, open to the local communities. We deployed our case study in the Madeira archipelago, engaging locals and visitors of the island in two exploratory studies focused on measuring the impact of providing users with meaningful representations of tourism flows and related unperceivable aspects that affect the environmental sustainability. Analysing the findings of the two studies, we discuss the potentiality of using such a system to make sense of big data, fostering awareness about sustainability issues, and we point to future open challenges about citizens' participation in sensing and making sense of big data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the degree of persistence in annual Nordic tourist arrivals on the island of Madeira by using data disaggregated by tourism-source countries. For this purpose, the paper adopts methodologies based on the concept of fractional integration. The stability of the fractional differencing parameter across the sample period is also analysed and a brief forecasting exercise is also conducted. The result indicates that the series are highly persistent and only Sweden presents a small degree of mean reverting behaviour. Managerial implications of the main findings are also discussed in the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes recent work on the development of a wireless-based remote monitoring system for household energy consumption and generation in Madeira Island, Portugal. It contains three different main sections: (1) a monitoring system for consumed and produced energy of residencies equipped with photovoltaic (PV) systems, (2) developing a tool to predict the electricity production, (3) and proposing a solution to detect the PV system malfunctions. With the later tool, the user (owner) or the energy management system can monitor its own PV system and make an efficient schedule use of electricity at the consumption side. In addition, currently, the owners of PV systems are notified about a failure in the system only when they receive the bill, whereas using the proposed method conveniently would notify owners prior to bill issue. The artificial neural network was employed as a tool together with the hardware-based monitoring system which allows a daily analysis of the performance of the system. The comparison of the predicted value of the produced electricity with the actual production for each day shows the validity of the method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper works with the modern concept of the geological hotspot track - the building processes and movements of volcanic island chains - applied strategically to one of its illustrative formations, the Madeira Archipelago. By analogy, however, the concept works equally well to describe the important early 19th-century scientific knowledge-building activity that produced Charles Lyell's On the Geology of Some Parts of Madeira (1854). A central section of the paper uncovers the contributions to knowledge of this geology before Lyell's, and in particular, Excursions of Madeira and Porto Santo (1825) by Mr [sic] T. Edward Bowdich. A thorough examination of this text then constitutes an important case study for literal and figurative investigation of geological hotspot tracks. The main argument proposed is that current specialist research forgets its submerged and longer histories to its detriment. Insights contained in older information often supply reminders of the key questions and contributions from the past that provide checks and balances for further developments of a field. By promoting multi-level, multi-stranded and multi-lingual investigation of the history of 19th-century geology in Madeira before Lyell () as central to hotspot track research, this paper marks nodal conditions that constitute advancement in critical knowledge-building within and outside the discipline of geology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we analyse the transition to the labor market of participants in vocational training in Madeira in Portugal. The analysis is in two stages. First, we investigate how the employment status at different dates (1 month, 1 year, and 2 years after the completion of the training program) depends on relevant variables, such as age, gender, education and the content and duration of the training. Second, we use individuals' self-assessment of the effectiveness of the training program along three dimensions: employment, job-related skills and productivity. The respondents score training activities high on every dimension. Moreover, we find that training is more effective among the educated, indicating that vocational training is far from being remedial. We also find that long training programs and training related to tourism are particularly effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Madeira Airport runway has recently been extended with a 1,000 m long structure over the Atlantic Ocean supported by concrete columns. To prevent aircraft from falling down special lateral reinforced concrete safety barriers were designed. In order to study the efficiency of these barriers in accident situations, small-scale models of the runway, safety barriers, and most frequent aircraft were tested at the Structures and Materials Resistance Laboratory of IST (Instituto Superior Técnico), in collaboration with LNEC (the Portuguese National Laboratory of Civil Engineering), the Airbus Company, TAP (Air Portugal), and the Madeira airport authorities (ANAM). The paper presents this study, including an initial evaluation of a set of aircraft accident related statistics from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) databases, the results of the tests performed at the TAP simulator of Airbus A-320, and the preparation and main results of the experimental small-scale tests at IST. It was concluded that, under specific conditions, the designed safety barriers were efficient in preventing aircraft from falling during landing and takeoff accidents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the pay and performance of the managing director (MD) of sports clubs on the island of Madeira, focusing on the role played by the economic performance of the club, together with that played by the structure of the board and the individual characteristics of the manager. If the MD can influence the board structure, agency problems arise, which in turn allows the MD to extract rent and demand remuneration in excess of the equilibrium level. The policy implication is derived. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper estimates a human capital model for sports administrators and compares the results with the social capital model, based on a questionnaire distributed on the island of Madeira in 2001. The study disentangles the relative contributions of the two competing theories of earnings: the human capital and social capital theories, as applied to sports management. We conclude that sports administrators’ earnings are a function of both theories. Policy implications are derived. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renewable energies can benefit the water sector, reducing the cost and the environmental impact of water production. This paper presents a technical and economic assessment of a photovoltaic generation project to supply energy to a grid-connected seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination plant and of an associated battery energy storage system (BESS) using lithium-ion batteries. It examines the case study of the SWRO desalination plant on Porto Santo Island (Madeira, Portugal). The assessment is supplemented by a sensitivity analysis of several variables. The findings indicate that photovoltaic generation in desalination plants results in a lower levelized cost of energy (LCoE) and reduces the consumption of fossil fuel energy from the electrical grid. This can lead to lower desalinated water costs and greenhouse gas emissions. A feasible rated power range was identified for the photovoltaic plant in this case study, taking the internal rate of return, net present value, payback and LCoE into consideration. The results also point to a higher LCoE when a lithium-ion BESS is used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ocean island volcanism provides a unique window into the nature of mantle composition, dynamics and evolution. The four Macaronesian archipelagos-Cape Verde, the Canaries, Madeira and the Azores-are the main magmatic systems of the Central-East Atlantic Ocean with volcanic activity that in some islands poses significant risk for the population. The recent development of regional seismic networks in these settings has provided an important step forward in mapping the underlying mantle. However, difficulties in resolving the small-scale structure with geophysical techniques persist leading to discrepancies in the interpretation of the mechanisms responsible for volcanism. Here we review results from a number of studies on the seismic mantle structure beneath the Macaronesian archipelagos including seismic tomography, receiver functions, precursors and shear-wave splitting. Several regional models show low-velocity features in the asthenosphere below the islands, a relatively thinned transition zone and complex anisotropic patterns and attribute the volcanism to mantle plumes. This inference is supported by whole-mantle tomography models, which find broad low-velocity anomalies in the lower mantle below the Central-East Atlantic. Other models call for alternative mechanisms associated with shallower mantle upwellings and purely plate tectonism. Thus, there is still no generally accepted mechanism that explains volcanism in the Macaronesia region. Future research requires improvements in the resolving power of seismic techniques to better illuminate the velocity structure at a much higher resolution than the currently achieved and ultimately define the mechanisms controlling the ocean island volcanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper I describe an ongoing project at the Madeira Interactive Technologies Institute (Madeira-ITI) that is concerned with making new discoveries in the field of creative writing through the use of repurposed technological artefacts. Recently the Madeira Story Generator (MStoryG) project has been conducting experiments in collaborative storytelling and exploring new authoring platforms using an analogue Solari Udine split-flap display—an old-style Arrivals board—formerly located at Madeira International Airport. The ‘hacked’ Arrivals board and a mirror software replica Departures board can receive messages via Twitter and Facebook. Using the physical and virtual boards we have looked into phenomena such as the attractive ambiguity of repurposed objects. We have also examined ways of engaging users with public storytelling and enticing them to collaborate and share their stories. In terms of content, we have staged a transatlantic Twitter fiction collaboration between our users (students and researchers at the University of Madeira), the New Orleans Review, and the US-based travel writing website Airplane Reading. In this and future experiments, we aim to discover new ways of engaging audiences and authors in new forms of creative writing and publishing by taking advantage of the possibilities of both old and new media channels. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In this paper, we analyze the effect of tourism experience-related variables on Nordic visitors' interest in Madeira as a potential second home destination, within the framework of the reinvention of classic tourism destinations as attractive residential areas and tourism hot spots. Over time, Madeira has experienced a sharp decline in terms of the numbers of Nordic visitors, which has prompted local experts to discuss alternative paths to re-attract past visitors back to the island. The second home market was considered one of the viable solutions among the several alternatives considered to address problems of declining market shares. In order to assess the conditioning factors of success in this market niche, we applied a questionnaire to a sample of Nordic visitors to assess their interest in the local second home market. The econometric approach retained in this study is based on the randomized response to take into account potential bias in the data. We suggest that Nordic visitors are only marginally interested in Madeira for second home purposes, which does not mean that we are dealing with a hopeless situation. Further development in this sector can only be reached in the medium term based on sustained quality improvements along with long-term strategic thinking focused on developing a feeling of attachment among potential second home owners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Decree-Law no. 115/2010, of October 22 transposed the Directive 2007/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2007 on the assessment and management of flood risks into Portuguese national law establishing a framework for the assessment and management of flood risks. Flash floods and debris events have a long history in the island of Madeira resulting in several adverse impacts on human health, the environment, cultural heritage and economic activity. For this reason and since the catastrophic debris event of 20 February 2010 the establishment of a flood risk management plan in the Autonomous Region of Madeira (ARM) has assumed double importance. The aim of the paper is to present flood risk analysis methods and technical options adopted in the elaboration of flood hazard and flood risk maps as well the flood risk management plan strategy. The hydrographic basin of Socorridos is used as case study to show the principles and stages of the implementation of the Flood Risk Directive (FRD) in the ARM. In spite of some limitations associated with the volcanic mountain island characteristics and the debris events specificities, the flood risk analysis methods used are in harmony with the requirements of the FRD. Another important issue is the flood risk management plan strategy that addresses all aspects of flood risk management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The regional cluster of the Madeira embroidery sector in the political context of 1935 to 1959 provides the basis for an analysis of a common strategy aimed at strengthening the business competitiveness of the industry. The strategy was a government initiative aimed at improving the material welfare of workers and based on the creation of a collective brand. The aim of this paper is to show that the mixed corporatist organisation that managed the initiative was an example of hybrid governance and that the strategy failed because the regulations introduced were not successful in transforming a weak cluster into a strong one. As a result, competition was kept within a circle of low-wage production centres that left Madeira at a disadvantage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the relationship between the image of a destination and demand duration, focusing specifically on Madeira. A seemingly unrelated discrete-choice duration model is adopted, with data from a questionnaire survey undertaken in 2008 on a sample of homeward-bound foreign individuals departing from Madeira's Funchal Airport. The paper discusses the policy implications of the research findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In April 1989 an acoustic experiment was carried out over the abyssal plain south of Madeira in which transmissions were made, for about an hour, at 482, 680, and 740 Hz from a ship steaming at 5 Kn to a receiving array towed by another ship 65 km away traveling on a parallel course at the same speed. The signals arrived by two paths, an upper path trapped in the surface duct and a lower path via the main sound channel. This paper describes the experiment and analyses of the intensity fluctuations in the signal received by the lower path. This allows the authors to investigate the horizontal structure of acoustic intensity fluctuations in the ocean when these are due principally to internal waves. This aspect of such acoustic intensity fluctuations has received little attention until now. The experimental results are compared with theoretical predictions based on the parabolic moment equations for propagation and scattering in randomly irregular media, and on the standard Garrett–Munk model for ocean internal waves. The experimental results and theoretical predictions agree quite well but the comparison also raises some new questions, in particular, about the correlation of intensity fluctuations as the acoustic transmission frequency is varied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The siphonostomatoid family Asterocheridae Giesbrecht, 1899 uses a wide range of host phyla, mainly due to the host diversity of two genera - Asterocheres Boeck, 1859 and Orecturus Humes, 1992. In the present paper, two new asterocherid species from the eastern Atlantic are described and compared with their congeners. One of these species belongs to the genus Asterocheres, A. madeirensis, and was found associated with the sponge Petrosia ficiformis (Poiret, 1789) in Madeira Island. This sponge occurs both in the Mediterranean and on nearby Atlantic coasts, although currently there are no records of the presence of symbiotic asterocherids for its Mediterranean populations. The second new species, Orecturus canariensis, is the first record of the genus on the eastern Atlantic coasts and was found in association with the gorgonian Villogorgia bebrycoides (Koch, 1887) in the Canary Islands. The diagnosis of the genus Orecturus is slightly modified to include some features shown by this new species and some of its plesimorphic and derived characteristics compared with the remaining asterocherid genera. Although the gorgonian Paramuricea grayi (Johnson, 1861) occurs in the same ecological assemblages as the infested colonies of V. bebrycoides, no specimens of asterocherid copepods were found on Paramuricea colonies. Therefore, O. canariensis may be a monoxenous symbiont. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zircon from four plutons of peralkaline granites and quartz-bearing syenites, differing in geotectonic positions, petrological and mineralogical compositions, and contents of volatile and trace elements, was studied using SEM, CL, and EPMA with the intention to define typical textural and chemical features of zircon from peralkaline rocks. In strongly peralkaline Na-pyroxene-bearing rocks represented by the Khan Bogd and Khalzan Buregte plutons (Mongolia), the primary zircon is scarce or missing. Most zircon grains are secondary, originating in hydrothermal stage from primary Zr silicates. They often form globular or radial aggregates. Chemical compositions of zircon in these rocks typically show high contents of Y, moderate contents of REE (thus high Y/Yb values) together with low contents of U and Th and low analytical totals. In mildly peralkaline mica-bearing rocks represented by Ivigtut stock (Groenland) and Madeira pluton (Brazil), the exclusive primary Zr mineral is zircon, mostly of orthomagmatic origin. Its analytical totals approach 100 wt%, enrichment in HREE, resulting in low Y/Yb values, is typical. Zircon populations from two types of peralkaline granitoids can be distinguished from each other and from zircon from S-type granites based on combination of the Zr/Hf, Y/Yb, and U/Th values, or on the Y-Hf-P ternary diagram. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The history of science in islands is not a well worked out discipline. This article offers the first thorough historical account of astronomical activities at Madeira, from the discovery of the uninhabited island in the fifteenth century (600 years ago), through its establishment as an astronomical observatory (300 years ago) and up to the recent past. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The globally threatened European eel (Anguilla anguilla) is the only freshwater fish native to Macaronesia. Despite being a keystone species to freshwater habitats, little is known about its population, environmental associations and conservation requirements in oceanic islands.The density and geographical‐related factors influencing the distribution of A. anguilla in the subtropical Archipelago of Madeira (Portugal) were examined. Data on the species occurrence was initially collected using an online survey addressed to citizens. Eels were then sampled through electrofishing in 31 sampling sites along 11 streams on Madeira Island, and eel‐habitat associations were investigated using LMMs and GLMMs. One stream was also sampled in Porto Santo Island.The presence of A. anguilla was confirmed in the two islands of the archipelago with streams (Madeira and Porto Santo). Eels are distributed throughout Madeira Island, being more abundant – particularly small size individual– at lower altitudes (mostly below 150 m). The number of weirs was an important predictor of eel density, suggesting that these flood‐control structures limit their upstream migration.This study represents a pioneer sampling effort of the European eel in Madeira and results provide much‐needed baseline information on the species distribution and related environmental factors in oceanic islands. While most eel research has historically focused on mainland habitats where dams pose a significant threat to eel habitats, our study underscores the critical importance of addressing smaller, often overlooked barriers that may also cause habitat fragmentation.The European eel is a panmictic species, thus, the conservation of the Macaronesian subpopulations can have substantial benefits for its global recovery. A comprehensive investigation of the impact of man‐made obstacles on eel habitat is still needed. Similarly, other common threats such as interactions with non‐indigenous species and infection by Anguillicola crassus should be a research priority in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rarest seal and the world's most endangered pinniped species, the Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus), has a small and isolated population in the Madeira Archipelago (Portugal). This species tends to be extremely wary of humans and, therefore, very difficult to approach and study.Passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) is a non‐invasive, cost‐effective tool that can be a valuable complement for the traditional monitoring methods, providing insight for effective conservation of the seal in the Madeira Archipelago.In this pilot study, custom‐designed autonomous underwater recorders were deployed in two marine protected areas (Garajau Partial Nature Reserve and the Desertas Islands Nature Reserve) to assess the potential of PAM to detect and monitor this elusive and endangered species in the Madeira Archipelago.Two call types putatively produced by M. monachus were detected in a subsample of audio files recorded over a 3‐month acoustic deployment; these call types share similarities with the /growl/ and /hiccup/ recently described for M. monachus in a Mediterranean population. The most common sound type detected was the low‐frequency growl. No obvious pattern was found in the abundance of sounds according to sampling date, and no significant difference was found in the abundance of sounds in different periods of the day.The ability to detect the species' underwater vocalizations with PAM opens the possibility of future monitoring plans based on data obtained from audio recordings. These data can provide relevant information for conservation, namely, on the presence and abundance of the seals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To be successfully established on oceanic islands, native ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) have to migrate from the mainland or from nearby islands, crossing the ocean barriers, to find a suitable habitat. Despite the general interest on oceanic islands biotas, nothing is known about the deep-time migration and settling of native ants in these insular ecosystems. Palaeoentomological studies on oceanic islands that could provide palaeobiological information on Formicidae are scarce. Here, we describe and illustrate the first fossil of an ant from the Macaronesian archipelagos (Atlantic Ocean), based on a partial forewing found within 1.3 Ma (Calabrian, Pleistocene) lacustrine sediments from Madeira Island, Portugal. Although unidentifiable beyond the family level, this fossil record provides a minimum age for the presence of ants in the Madeira archipelago. Palaeoecologically, this record indicates the presence of suitable habitats for ants during the early Pleistocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a detailed analysis of the local housing strategies (ELH) in the Municipality of Machico, Madeira, examining the diagnosis of housing needs, proposed solutions, and projected goals for the future. In addition to addressing the rehabilitation of private and public housing and the increase in housing supply, the study also explores how ELH relate to the new generation of housing policies and the public support program for promoting housing solutions for vulnerable people. It is important to note that the implementation of ELH in Machico also has a positive impact on the local landscape and climate resilience, promoting the conservation of important forest areas for the production and management of natural resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores practical applications of bivariate modelling via copulas of two likely dependent random variables, i.e., of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) coupled with extreme rainfall on the small island of Madeira, Portugal. Madeira, due to its small size (∼740 km 2 ), very pronounced mountain landscape, and location in the North Atlantic, experiences a wide range of rainfall regimes, or microclimates, which hamper the analyses of extreme rainfall. Previous studies showed that the influence of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) on extreme rainfall is at its largest in the North Atlantic sector, with the likelihood of increased rainfall events from December through February, particularly during negative NAO phases. Thus, a copula-based approach was adopted for teleconnection, aiming at assigning return periods of daily values of an NAO index (NAOI) coupled with extreme daily rainfalls—for the period from December 1967 to February 2017—at six representative rain gauges of the island. The results show that (i) bivariate copulas describing the dependence characteristics of the underlying joint distributions may provide useful analytical expressions of the return periods of the coupled previous NAOI and extreme rainfall and (ii) that recent years show signs of increasing climate variability with more anomalous daily negative NAOI along with higher extreme rainfall events. These findings highlight the importance of multivariate modelling for teleconnections of prominent patterns of climate variability, such as the NAO, to extreme rainfall in North Atlantic regions, especially in small islands that are highly vulnerable to the effects of abrupt climate variability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A recently published phylogenetic analysis strongly supports the inclusion of Spergula fallax (Lowe) E. H. L. Krause in the genus Spergularia (Pers.) J. Presl & C. Presl ( Caryophyllaceae), where it was originally described. This species of spurrey, which occurs across North Africa, the Middle East and N India, has also been named Arenaria flaccida Roxb., which is a later homonym and therefore illegitimate. Stipularia flaccida Madden is an overlooked replacement name for A. flaccida and is the earliest legitimate name for the species. The new combination Spergularia flaccida (Madden) I. M. Turner is proposed here. In addition, lectotypes are designated for A. flaccida and its taxonomic synonyms Lepigonum eximium Kindb., Spergula flaccida f. purpurascens Maire & Sauvage, Spergula pentandra var. intermedia Boiss. and Spergularia fallax Lowe. Citation: Turner I. M. 2017: From India to Madeira and back again: a new combination for a wide-ranging Spergularia ( Caryophyllaceae). - Willdenowia 47: 213-216. doi: Version of record first published online on 9 November 2017 ahead of inclusion in December 2017 issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On 17 April 2019, a coach with tourists from Germany crashed in Madeira, requiring repatriation by the German Air Force. The Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) concept was the central component of patient care. Data in Madeira were collected through a structured interview. The analysis of the Aeromedical Evacuation was based on intensive care transport records. In Germany, all available medical data sheets were reviewed for data collection. Quality of life (HRQoL) was evaluated by the 12-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12). Twenty-eight prehospital patients were transported to the Level III Trauma Center in Funchal (Madeira). Five operative procedures were performed. Fifteen patients were eligible for Aeromedical Evacuation (AE). In the second hospital phase in Germany, in total 82 radiological images and 9 operations were performed. Hospital stay lasted 11 days (median, IQR 10–18). Median follow-up (14 of 15 patients) was 16 months (IQR 16–21). Eighty percent (8 out of 10) showed an increased risk for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Six key findings were identified in this study: divergent injury classification, impact of AE mission on health status, lack of communication, need of PTSD prophylaxis, patient identification, and media coverage. Those findings may improve AE missions in the future, e.g., when required after armed conflicts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Around 60 % of all bat species occur in islands, and nearly one in four is an insular endemic. Bats are often the only native terrestrial mammals in oceanic islands, and despite increasing anthropogenic pressures, little is known about the distribution, natural history, and population status of most insular bat populations. The sub-tropical archipelago of Madeira is composed of the volcanic islands of Madeira, Porto Santo, and Desertas and is home to the Macaronesian endemic Pipistrellus maderensis, to the endemic subspecies Nyctalus leisleri verrucosus, and to Plecotus austriacus. Pipistrellus maderensis is known to both Madeira and Porto Santo, whereas the other two species have only been recorded in the former. However, no bats have been recorded in Porto Santo for over 15 years, raising fears that bats are probably extinct in the island. In July 2021, we conducted an island-wide acoustic survey using AudioMoth passive acoustic recorders, leading to the detection of Pipistrellus maderensis in 28 out of the 46 sampling sites (60 %). The species' activity was strongly associated with artificial water sources, and genetic samples from six captured individuals revealed that the populations of Pipistrellus maderensis in Porto Santo and Madeira have a close phylogenetic affinity. Furthermore, using DNA metabarcoding, we found that the species feeds on a wide variety of insects, including several economically important pest species and disease vectors. These findings emphasise the need to target more conservation and research efforts towards extant island bat populations and the potential ecosystem services they provide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A survey of the lichen family Graphidaceae in Macaronesia (Madeira, the Canary Islands, and the Azores) is presented, with detailed treatments for the genera Allographa, Fissurina, and Graphis. All other species are listed and new records provided. A key to all Graphicacy known from Macaronesia, except the thelotremoid species, is presented. The following species are newly described: Fissurina azorica, Fissurina elaiocarpoides, Fissurina nigrolabiata, and Topeliopsis juniperina. Many species are newly recorded for one or more islands of the three archipelagos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using integrative taxonomy, we describe Macrobiotus kosmali sp. nov. from Ribeira Brava, Madeira (Portugal). Based on morphological and morphometric data from both phase contrast light microscopy (PCM), as well as, from scanning electron microscopy (SEM), description of the new species is provided. Additionally, four DNA markers, three nuclear (18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, ITS-2) and one mitochondrial (COI) were used to calculate the p-distances between Macrobiotus kosmali sp. nov. and other species of the genus Macrobiotus. The uncorrected genetic distances indicated that the new species is the most similar to its four congeners, namely Mac. cf. recens and morphologically, new species is most similar to Mac. dariae, Mac. glebkai, Mac. noemiae, Mac. recens, Mac. rybaki and Mac. scoticus, but differs from them mainly in details of its egg chorion and egg processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Distinguishing ecological and evolutionary processes that structure assemblages can provide a comprehensive vision of the variation in species turnover in heterogeneous regions. However, the causes of spatial variation in organism assemblies in most of the Amazon still require further studies. In view of this, our objective was to determine the relative roles of species interactions, categorical and continuous environmental filters and isolation by distance in the taxonomic and functional composition of lizard assemblages. Location: Amazonian rainforest. Taxon: Lacertilia. Methods: We sampled 14 sites along 880 km in the Madeira‐Purus interfluvial region, central‐south‐western Amazonia. We used multiple linear models applied to distance matrices, spatial correlograms and partitioned variance to distinguish the effects of geographical distances from environmental distances on lizard assemblages. Additionally, to better understand the effects of environmental gradients and forest type on species traits, we used a combination of RLQ and fourth‐corner analysis. Results: Variance in taxonomic distance was mainly explained by a continuous environmental gradient that selects different species. Although we found no evidence of overdispersion or clustering of traits, functional distance was mainly explained by forest type and precipitation. The weak effect of geographical distance on lizard assemblages suggests that different environmental conditions have selected distinct subsets of species and functional traits. Main Conclusions: We showed that the structural heterogeneity along an environmental gradient in Amazonia has a significant impact on the taxonomic and functional composition of lizard assemblages. Environmental filtering along the interfluvial region has caused species turnover and determined differences in the functional characteristics found between assemblages in dense and open forests. These results are relevant for conservation since local species or trait subsets change across the landscape and are therefore irreplaceable in the case of local extinction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pombo, J.; Rodrigues, A., and Lapa, N., 2020. Geotechnical characterization of marine unconsolidated sediments for cable routing between the islands of Madeira and Porto Santo. In: Malvárez, G. and Navas, F. (eds.), Global Coastal Issues of 2020. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 95, pp. 1245–1251. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. The national economic sustainability strategy encourages the use of oceanic territory and resources for the reduction of dependency on fossil fuels. Submarine cables are subject to several risks, especially those associated with the seafloor stability processes, which are not described by the normal characterization of the marine sedimentary layer. As such, to ensure the safety and economic success of any new project it is essential to know the properties of the seabed, in particular, the geotechnical ones. Only in this way it will be possible to estimate and mitigate the natural hazards effects (e.g. submarine movements and landslides) or excessive burial of the electric power cable that could compromise the integrity of the infrastructure. If unavoidable, protection actions and measures should be taken, when submarine cables cross any rocky area, or highest slope area. In this paper, we will present the results of the geotechnical characterization of the marine soils along a corridor between Madeira and Porto Santo Islands. Unconsolidated sediments were collected in both islands and results of laboratory analysis (grain size, water content, carbonate content, Atterberg limits and triaxial tests) indicate the occurrence of frequent downslope mass movements in both islands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mid-plate upward mantle flow is a key component of global mantle convection, but its patterns are poorly constrained. Seismic anisotropy is the most direct way to infer mantle flow as well as melt distribution, yet the convection patterns associated with plume-like mantle upwelling are understudied due to limited seismic data coverage. Here, we investigate seismic anisotropy beneath the Madeira and Canary hotspots using a dense set of shear wave splitting observations and combining teleseismic and local events recorded by three-component broad-band and short-period seismic stations. Using a total of 26 stations in the Madeira archipelago and 43 stations around the Canary Islands, we obtain 655 high-quality measurements that reveal heterogeneous flow patterns. Although local event results are sparse around most islands, we can observe a small average of S -wave splitting times of 0.16 ± 0.01 s, which significantly increase with source depth beneath El Hierro (>20 km) and Tenerife (>38 km) up to 0.58 ± 0.01 and 0.47 ± 0.05 s. This suggests an influence of melt pocket orientation in magma reservoirs developed at uppermost-mantle depths. Likewise, anisotropy increases significantly beneath the islands with shield stage volcanism (up to 9.81 ± 1.78 per cent at El Hierro, western Canaries, against values up to 1.76 ± 0.73 per cent at Lanzarote, eastern Canaries). On average, teleseismic SKS -wave splitting delay times are large (2.19 ± 0.05 s), indicating sublithospheric mantle flow as the primary source for anisotropy in the region. In the Canaries, the western islands show significantly smaller average SKS delay times (1.93 ± 0.07 s) than the eastern ones (2.25 ± 0.11 s), which could be explained by destructive interference above the mantle upwelling. Despite complex patterns of fast polarization directions throughout both regions, some azimuthal pattern across close stations can be observed and related to present-day mantle flow and anisotropy frozen in the lithosphere since before 60 Ma. Additionally, we infer that the current presence of a mantle plume beneath the archipelagos leads to the associated complex, small-scale heterogeneous anisotropy observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]