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I am a interdisciplinary researcher working on different aspects of ecology in the Fish Ecology and Sustainability team at CIIMAR. I specialize in developing data-driven solutions for coastal and marine ecosystems, with a strong focus on ecosystem services and sustainable natural capital management. My work mainly focuses on understanding, mapping, and modelling coastal and marine ecosystem services to support sustainable natural capital management and informed environmental decision-making. I use ecosystem service modelling and advanced spatial analysis to assess the sustainable use of marine resources and produce information for evidence-based policy and management. I am passionate about leveraging new developments in geospatial technologies and machine learning to improve how we monitor ecosystems and understand global change.
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Identification

Personal identification

Full name
Jacinto Fernando Ribeiro Cunha

Citation names

  • Cunha, Jacinto

Author identifiers

Ciência ID
7713-6342-F31B
ORCID iD
0000-0001-9546-2774

Websites

Knowledge fields

  • Natural sciences - Biological Sciences - Ecology

Languages

Language Speaking Reading Writing Listening Peer-review
Portuguese (Mother tongue)
English Intermediate (B1) Advanced (C1) Intermediate (B1) Advanced (C1) Upper intermediate (B2)
Education
Degree Classification
2019/10/01 - 2025/06/16
Concluded
 Marine Science, Technology and Management (Doutoramento)
Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro Centro de Investigação e de Tecnologias Agro-Ambientais e Biologicas, Portugal
"Marine and Coastal Ecosystem Services: A geospatial approach" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
2018/09/01 - 2019/07/15
Concluded
 Detecção Remota (Pós-Graduação)
Universidade do Porto Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal
 ---
2011
Concluded
 Ecologia, Ambiente e Território (Mestrado)
Universidade do Porto Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal
"Perspetivas de integração da monitorização ecológica de habitats ripícolas na implementação de duas Diretivas Comunitárias (Diretiva Habitats e Diretiva-Quadro da Água)" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
 17
2009
Concluded
 Biologia (Licenciatura)
Universidade do Porto Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal
"n/a" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
 14
Affiliation

Science

Category
Host institution 		Employer
2024/12/13 - Current Contracted Researcher (Research) Universidade do Porto Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental, Portugal
Universidade do Porto Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental, Portugal
2019/01/01 - Current Researcher (Research) Universidade do Porto Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental, Portugal
2019/10/01 - 2025/06/16 Research Trainee (Research) Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro Centro de Investigação e de Tecnologias Agro-Ambientais e Biologicas, Portugal
Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro Centro de Investigação e de Tecnologias Agro-Ambientais e Biologicas, Portugal
(...)
2016/09/01 - 2018/11/07 Researcher (Research) Universidade do Porto Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental, Portugal
Universidade do Porto Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental, Portugal
2015/10/01 - 2016/08/31 Contracted Researcher (Research) Universidade do Porto Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental, Portugal
Universidade do Porto Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental, Portugal
2012/09/01 - 2015/08/31 Researcher (Research) Universidade do Porto Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental, Portugal
Universidade do Porto Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental, Portugal
2012/07/01 - 2012/09/30 Research Trainee (Research) Universidade do Porto Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Portugal
Universidade do Porto Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Portugal
2008/11 - 2009/07/31 Research Trainee (Research) Universidade do Porto Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal
Universidade do Porto Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal
Projects

Grant

Designation Funders
2019/01/01 - Current MarRISK - Adaptação costeira face às mudanças climáticas: conhecer os riscos e aumentar a resiliência
MarRISK/BI-MSc/2018-084
Researcher
Universidade do Porto Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental, Portugal
Ongoing
2016/09/01 - 2018/11/07 MarINFO - Integrated Platform for Marine Data Acquisition and Analysis
MARINFO/BI/2016-030
Research Fellow
Universidade do Porto Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental, Portugal
Concluded
2012/09/01 - 2015/08/31 ECO-IAS: Ecosystem-Level Impacts of an Invasive Alien Species - PTDC/AAC-AMB/116685/2010
PTDC/AAC-AMB/116685/2010
Research Technician Fellow
Universidade do Porto Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental, Portugal
 Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Concluded

Contract

Designation Funders
2015/09/01 - 2016/08/31 CIENTAMOSTRA - Scientific Certification for Conducting Sampling Campaigns
31-04-01-FEP0237
Other
Universidade do Porto Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental, Portugal
 Ministério do Mar
Concluded
Outputs

Publications

Conference abstract
  1. Meyer, Manuel F.; Gonçalves, J. A.; Cunha, Jacinto; Ramos, Sandra; Bio, Ana. "Herb stratum biomass estimation through ultra-high resolution UAS remote sensing". Paper presented in LifeWatch ERIC BEeS Biodiversity and Ecosystem eScience Conference, Sevilha, 2023.
    Accepted • https://doi.org/10.48372/M2SW-MD81
  2. Meyer, Manuel F.; Gonçalves, JA; Cunha, Jacinto; Ramos, Sandra; Bio, Ana. "Assessing invasive dune vegetation through multispectral imagery: a Northern-Portuguese case study on Carpobrotus edulis". Paper presented in LIttoral 2022, Costa da Caparica, 2022.
    Published
  3. Ramos, S; Cunha, Jacinto; Bio, A; Amorim, E; Elliott, M. "Natural protection of the coast: mapping coastal protection service provided by nearshore marine habitats". Paper presented in IMMR 2018 – International Meeting on Marine Research, 2018.
    https://doi:10.3389/conf.FMARS.2018.06.00012
Conference paper
  1. Rodrigues, Sabrina M.; Sousa, Liliana; Silva, Diogo; Cunha, Jacinto; Freitas, Vânia; Almeida, C. Marisa R.; Ramos, Sandra. "Bioavailability and Ingestion of Microplastics by Fish Larvae in the Douro Estuary". 2022.
    10.3390/blsf2022013054
Conference poster
  1. García, Loreto; Cunha, Jacinto; Margarida, P; Sousa, A; Freitas, V; Ana Paula Mucha; Ramos, S.; C. Marisa R. Almeida. "Revegetation with Juncus maritimus as a nature-based Solution for pollution mitigation in estuarine environments". Paper presented in Blue Think Conference CIIMAR, 2025.
  2. Guerra, A; Moreira, A; Barrientos, S; Marta-Almeida, Martinho; Ramos, S.; Cunha, Jacinto; Leitão, Francisco; Martins, Irene. "Food Web Modelling as a Tool for Assessing Ecosystem Services Linked to Coastal Tourism: A Case Study in the Ria Formosa (Algarve)". Paper presented in Blue Think Conference, CIIMAR, 2025.
  3. Sousa, A; García, Loreto; Cunha, Jacinto; Ramos, S.; Freitas, V; C. Marisa R. Almeida. "Saltmarsh plants revegetation potential to phytoremediate metal contamination in estuarine environments.". Paper presented in Young Researchers Meeting of University of Porto, 2025.
  4. Cunha, Jacinto; Cabecinha, Edna; Villasante, Sebastian; Gonçalves, J. A.; balbi, stefano; Elliot, M; Ramos, S.. "The Role of Northern Portugal Saltmarshes as Carbon Reservoirs and their Vulnerability to Sea Level Rise.". Paper presented in Encontro Ciência 2024, 2024.
  5. Meyer, Manuel F.; Gonçalves, José Alberto; Cunha, Jacinto; Ramos, Sandra; Bio, Ana. "Assessing above ground biomass of low stratum vegetation through ultra-high resolution UAS.". Paper presented in Blue Think Conference 2023, 2023.
  6. Meyer, Manuel F.; Gonçalves, J. A.; Cunha, Jacinto; Bio, Ana; Ramos, Sandra. "Plant cover and biomass estimation based on multispectral imagery: an invasive species case study". Paper presented in Ciência 2023 - Encontro com a Ciência em Portugal, 2023.
  7. Cunha, Jacinto; Cabecinha, Edna; Villasante, Sebastian; Balbi, S; Elliott, M; Ramos, S.. "Connecting Regulation and Maintenance Ecosystem Services to the Ecological Infrastructure within a coastal-marine continuum.". Paper presented in Ciência 2023, 2023.
  8. Cunha, Jacinto; Cardona, F; Bio, A.; Ramos, S.. "Importance of Protection Service Against Erosion and Storm Events Provided by Coastal Ecosystems Under Climate Change Scenarios.". Paper presented in 16th International Conference Littoral22 – Adapt our coast for a sustainable future., 2022.
  9. Cunha, Jacinto; Villasante, Sebastian; Cabecinha, Edna; Ramos, S.. "Ecosystem services ap- proach to assess multiple impacts of human activities on coastal and estuarine habitats". Paper presented in World Ecosystem Services Conference I Ecosystem Services Partnership, 2019.
  10. Silva, D; Santos, D; Cunha, Jacinto; Rodrigues, S; Neves, S; Rocha, E; Freitas, V; Ferreira, M; Ramos, S. "How environmental drivers influence the maturation of an estuarine nursery-dependent species: European flounder.". Paper presented in ECSA 57: Changing estuaries, coasts and shelf systems - Diverse threats and opportunities, 2018.
  11. Ramos, S; Cunha, Jacinto; Bio, A; Amorim, E; Elliott, M. "Natural protection of the coast: mapping coastal protection service provided by nearshore marine habitats". 2018.
  12. Silva, Diogo; Santos, Diana; Cunha, Jacinto; Rodrigues, Sabrina; Neves, Vanessa; Rocha, Eduardo; Freitas, Vânia; Ferreira, Marta; Ramos, Sandra. "Combining Different Bioindices to Determine the Spawning Season in European Flounder". Paper presented in Sociedade Ibérica de Ictiologia (SIBIC): VII Congresso Ibérico de Ictiologia, 2018.
    10.5220/0005136502760281
  13. Rodrigues, S; Almeida CMR; Silva, D; Cunha, Jacinto; Freitas, V; Ramos, S. "Microplastics contamination in an urban estuary: interactions between microplastics and ichthyoplankton in the Douro estuary.". Paper presented in 11º Congreso Ibérico y 8º Iberoamericano de Contaminación y Toxicología Ambiental, 2018.
  14. Ramos, S; Cunha, Jacinto; Mucha, AP; Coimbra, J; Elliott, M. "Linking modelling and empirical data to assess recreational ecosystem services provided by coastal habitats: The case of NW Portugal.". Paper presented in ECSA56 - Coastal systems in transition: From a 'natural' to an 'anthropogenically-modified' state., 2016.
  15. Apresentação, N; Rocha, I; Cunha, Jacinto; Monteiro, M; Séneca, J; Morais, P; Sousa, R; Magalhães, C. "Effect of the invasive species Corbicula fluminea on key N- biogeochemical pathways". Paper presented in Ecsa54 – coastal systems under change: tuning assessment and management tools, 2014.
  16. Cunha, Jacinto; Vieira, CC; Formigo, N; Honrado, J. "Perpectives on efficiency in monitoring networks for riparian habitats in the context of two EU Directives". Paper presented in XVI Congresso da sociedade ibérica de limnologia, 2012.
  17. Costa, MJ; Cunha, Jacinto; Fernandes, J; Vieira N ; Valente, A. "“Fish and roads: an inevitable collision?”". Paper presented in ?” IENE seminar transport infrastructure of the 21st century: connecting people and wildlife, 2009.
  18. Cunha, Jacinto. "Monitoring ichthyofauna of the River Febros after a serious pollution accident: Preliminary Results". Paper presented in Biologia na parede, 2009.
Journal article
  1. Jacinto Cunha; Edna Cabecinha; Sebastian Villasante; Stefano Balbi; Michael Elliott; Sandra Ramos. "Regulation and maintenance ecosystem services in a coastal-marine continuum: Unravelling the underlying ecological structure and functioning". Ecological Indicators (2025): https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2025.114218.
    10.1016/j.ecolind.2025.114218
  2. Jacinto Cunha; Michael Elliott; Sebastian Villasante; Stefano Balbi; Edna Cabecinha; Sandra Ramos. "Assessing cumulative risks to coastal and marine habitats under management and climate change scenarios: The case of northern Portugal". Ocean & Coastal Management (2025): https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2025.107756.
    10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2025.107756
  3. Cunha, Jacinto; Cabecinha, Edna; Villasante, Sebastian; Gonçalves, José A.; Balbi, Stefano; Elliott, Michael; Ramos, Sandra. "Quantifying the role of saltmarsh as a vulnerable carbon sink: A case study from Northern Portugal". Science of The Total Environment 923 (2024): 171443. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171443.
    10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171443
  4. Freitas, Vânia; Santos, Diana; Silva, Diogo M.; Cunha, Jacinto; Rodrigues, Sabrina M.; Neves, Vanessa; Rocha, Eduardo; Martinho, Filipe; Ramos, Sandra. "Spatial and temporal patterns of gonadal maturation and spawning in European flounder Platichthys flesus at its southern continental edge". Fisheries Research 269 (2024): 106864. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fishres.2023.106864.
    10.1016/j.fishres.2023.106864
  5. Jacinto Cunha; Edna Cabecinha; Sebastian Villasante; Stefano Balbi; Michael Elliott; Sandra Ramos. "Defining hotspots and coldspots of regulating and maintenance ecosystem services is key to effective marine management – An assessment of a coastal-open sea gradient, Portugal". Ocean & Coastal Management (2023): https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2023.106876.
    10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2023.106876
  6. Rodrigues, Sabrina M.; Silva, Diogo; Cunha, Jacinto; Pereira, Rúben; Freitas, Vânia; Ramos, Sandra. "Environmental influences, particularly river flow alteration, on larval fish assemblages in the Douro Estuary, Portugal". Regional Studies in Marine Science (2022): 102617. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2022.102617.
    Published • 10.1016/j.rsma.2022.102617
  7. Cunha, Jacinto; Cardona, Fábio Santos; Bio, Ana; Ramos, Sandra. "Importance of Protection Service Against Erosion and Storm Events Provided by Coastal Ecosystems Under Climate Change Scenarios". Frontiers in Marine Science 8 (2021): http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.726145.
    Published • 10.3389/fmars.2021.726145
  8. Rodrigues, S.M.; Almeida, C. Marisa R.; Silva, D.; Cunha, J.; Antunes, C.; Freitas, V.; Ramos, S.. "Microplastic contamination in an urban estuary: Abundance and distribution of microplastics and fish larvae in the Douro estuary". Science of The Total Environment 659 (2019): 1071-1081. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.12.273.
    10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.12.273
  9. Cunha, Jacinto. "Linking modelling and empirical data to assess recreation services provided by coastal habitats: The case of NW Portugal". Ocean & Coastal Management (2018):
    10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2017.12.022
Thesis / Dissertation
  1. "Marine and Coastal Ecosystem Services: A Geospatial Approach". PhD, 2025.
  2. Cunha, Jacinto. "“Prospects for the integration of riparian habitats ecological monitoring in the implementation of two EU Directives – Habitat and Water Framework Directives”.". Master, Universidade do Porto Faculdade de Ciências, 2011.
Activities

Oral presentation

Presentation title Event name
Host (Event location)
2025/10/19 Identifying coastal tourism-related ecosystem services most vulnerable to climate change using food web modelling The International Society for Ecological Modelling Global Conference 2025
The International Society for Ecological Modelling Global Conference (Kashiwa-No-Ha, Japan)
2024/10/23 Proyecto CAPTA: Neutralidad climática: papel del Carbono Azul en la costa de Portugal y Galicia. VI Congresso transfonterizo sobre cambio clim’atico y litoral
FICOBA (Irun, Spain)
2024/09/10 Quantifying the role of saltmarsh as a vulnerable carbon sink: A case study from Northern Portugal. Blue Think Conference
CIIMAR (Matosinhos, Portugal)
2023/05/22 Herb stratum biomass estimation through ultra-high resolution UAS remote sensing. The LifeWatch ERIC Biodiversity & Ecosystem eScience Conference
LifeWatch ERIC (Seville, Spain)
2022/10/10 Assessment of key areas of Regulation and Maintenance Ecosystem Services supply along a coastal – sea gradient. 4th Ecosystem Service Parternishp Europe Conference.
ESP (Heraklion, Greece)
2022/09/12 Assessing invasive dune vegetation through multispectral imagery: a Northern-Portuguese case study on Carpobrotus edulis. 16th International Conference Littoral22 – Adapt our coast for a sustainable future
NOVA FCT (Coasta da Caparica, Portugal)
2022/09/05 Assessment of key areas of Regulation and Maintenance Ecosystem Services supply along a coastal – sea gradient. ECSA 59. Using the best scientific knowledge for the sustainable management of estuaries and coastal seas.
AZTI (San Sebastian, Spain)
2021/11/26 Assessing Regulation and Maintenance Ecosystem Services along a coast-sea gradient in NW of Portugal EliteSci
Universidade de Tras-os-Montes e Alto Douro (Vila Real, Portugal)
2021/09/06 Influence of natural and anthropogenic factors on larval fish assemblages in the Douro estuary (NW Portugal). ECSA 58 - EMECS 13 Estuaries and coastal seas in the Anthropocene - Structure, functions, services and management.
University of Hull (Hull, United Kingdom)
2021/06/07 Assessing Regulation and Maintenance Ecosystem Services capacity along a coast-sea gradient in NW of Portugal ESP Europe conference
ESP (Estonia)
2018/09 The Ecosystem Services approach to support local management of coastal areas: A case study of NW Portugal . ECSA 57: Changing estuaries, coasts and shelf systems - Diverse threats and opportunities
ECSA (Perth, Australia)
2016/09 Empowering local fishermen communities to actively participate in scientific sampling surveys- a synergy between science and fisheries. ECSA56 - Coastal systems in transition: From a 'natural' to an 'anthropogenically-modified' state.
(Bremen, Germany)
2015/06 “Top-down regulation of estuarine phytoplankton by an invasive bivalve” Conference Trends in Biodiversity and Evolution 2015 – Global Biodiversity Change: From Genes to Ecosystems
CIBIO (Vairão, Portugal)
2014/11 Can Corbicula fluminea (Bivalvia: Corbiculidae) exert a significant top-down regulation on estuarine phytoplankton? NEOBIOTA
(Antalya, Turkey)
2014/11 Effects of the invasive clam Corbicula fluminea in the nitrogen cycle processes and communities” VII Simpósio Ibérico do Rio Minho
Aquamuseu do Rio Minho (Vila Nova de Cerveira, Portugal)

Event organisation

Event name
Type of event (Role) 		Institution / Organization
2019/01/21 - 2019/01/21 Workshop “Serviços dos Ecossistemas: O Papel das Dunas na Proteção Costeira" (2019/01/21 - 2019/01/21)
Workshop (Member of the Organising Committee)

Event participation

Activity description
Type of event 		Event name
Institution / Organization
2023/09/17 - 2023/09/17 CIIMAR Open Day 2023
Exhibition
 "CIIMAR' Open Day"
Universidade do Porto Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental, Portugal

Course / Discipline taught

Academic session Degree Subject (Type) Institution / Organization
2016 - 2016 “Ecosystem Services and Natural Capital”. Ecosystem Services (Outros) Universidade do Porto Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental, Portugal