The reproductive ecology of the invasive alien species Crepidula fornicata will be studied using histological methods and analysis of the local population structure. This species, native to the Atlantic coast of the USA, is relatively abundant on the Northern coasts of Europe, where it has several environmental and economic impacts. Portugal is the southern limit of its current distribution in Europe, but the presence and dynamics of the species have not yet been described. This study will evaluate if the reproductive characteristics of C. fornicata vary latitudinally and will contribute to understand the invasion process and the current state of its populations in the Ria de Aveiro. The MSc student will do mainly laboratory work, in the Department of Biology, with occasional field trips to collect additional specimens.
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