Career synopsis
Luisa Borges was educated at the University of the Azores, Portugal, where she took a degree in Scientific Biology. After teaching biology for nine years, she decided on a career change and took a PhD in Marine Wood Boring Organisms at the University of Portsmouth, UK. She has since been working as a marine biologist on a number of projects and her work has been presented at several scientific meetings, such as congresses, conferences, and invited seminars. In 2015 she founded L3 Scientific Solutions to participate in collaborative research projects and has been sharing her expertise with younger scientists using tailor-made workshops.
Theses
PhD thesis: Biogeography of wood boring organisms in European coastal waters and new approaches to controlling borer attack.
Diploma thesis: Stramonita haemastoma (Gastropoda: Muricidae) an indicator of tributyltin (TBT) pollution in the waters of the harbour and marina of Ponta Delgada (Azores).
Publications
Books
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Borges, Luísa (2023) How To Do More For the Environment With a Little Help from Science: A Guide To Lowering Your Carbon Footprint, Improving Your Health, and Saving Money. You can read a FREE chapter on luisa.borges.com or GET YOUR COPY on any of these Amazon marketplaces amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.de, amazon.es, amazon.ca, amazon.com.br, amazon.ca, amazon.nl, amazon.fr, amazon.au.
Articles in Peer reviewed Journals
- Radulovici, Adriana E., Vieira, Pedro E., Duarte, Sofia, Teixeira, Marcos A.L., Borges, L.M.S., Deagle, Bruce E., Majaneva, Sanna, Redmond, Niamh, Schultz, Jessica A., Costa, Filipe O. (2021) Revision and annotation of DNA barcode records for marine invertebrates: report of the 8th iBOL conference hackathon. Metabarcoding and Metagenomics. 5: 207–217. https://doi.org/10.3897/mbmg.5.67862.
- Van Niekerk, P.B., Marais, B.N., Brischke, C., Borges, L.M.S., Kutnik, M., Niklewski, J. Ansard, D., Humar, M., Cragg, S.M., Militz, H. (2021) Mapping the biotic degradation hazard of wood in Europe –
biophysical background, engineering applications, and climate change-induced prospects. Holzforschung. International Journal of the Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Technology of Wood. https://doi.org/10.1515/hf-2021-0147.
- Borges, L.M.S., Pfeifer, B., Pandur, S., Toubarro, D., Tanase, A.-M., Chiciudean, I., Menzel, M.N., Hoppert, M., Daniel, R., Simões, N., Altermark, B. (2021) A picture is worth a thousand words: novel photographic evidence on the anatomy of the digestive system of three shipworm species (Bivalvia, Teredinidae). Zoomorphology. 140: 469–485. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00435-021-00540-6.
- Borges, L.M.S., Treneman, N.C., Haga, T., Shipway, J.R., Raupach, M.J., Altermark, B., Carlton, J. (2021) Out of taxonomic crypsis: A new trans-arctic cryptic species pair corroborated by phylogenetics and molecular evidence. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 166: 107312. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2021.107312.
- Merckelbach, L.M., Borges, L.M.S. (2020) Make every species count: FastaChar software for rapid determination of molecular diagnostic characters to describe species. Molecular Ecology Resources. 20(6): 1761-1768. https://doi.org/10.1111/1755-0998.13222.
- Leite, B.L., Vieira, P.E., Teixeira, M.A.L., Lobo-Arteaga, J., Hollaz, C., Borges, L.M.S., Duarte, S., Troncoso, J.S., Costa, F.O. (2020) Gap-analysis and annotated reference library for supporting macroinvertebrate metabarcoding in Atlantic Iberia. Regional Studies in Marine Science. 36: 101307. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2020.101307.
- Treu, A., Zimmer, K., Brischke, C., Larnøy, E., Gobakken, L.R., Aloui, F., Cragg, S.M., Flæte, P-O., Humar, M., Westin, M., Borges, L., Williams, J. (2019) Durability and protection of timber structures in marine environments in Europe: an overview. BioResources. 14(4): 10161-10184. DOI: 10.15376/biores.14.4.Treu.
- Borges, L.M.S., Merckelbach, L.M. (2018) Lyrodus mersinensis sp. nov. (Bivalvia: Teredinidae) another cryptic species in the Lyrodus pedicellatus (Quatrefages, 1849) complex. Zootaxa. 4442(3): 441-457. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4442.3.6.
- Treneman, N.C., Borges, L.M.S, Shipway, J.R., Raupach, M.J., Altermark, B. & Carlton, J.T. (2018) A molecular phylogeny of wood-borers (Teredinidae) from Japanese Tsunami Marine Debris. Aquatic Invasions. 13(1): 101-112. DOI:https://doi.org/10.3391/ai.2018.13.1.08.
- Treneman, N.C., Carlton, J.T., Borges, L.M.S., Shipway, J.R., Raupach, M.J., Altermark, B. (2018) Species diversity and abundance of shipworms (Mollusca: Bivalvia: Teredinidae) in woody marine debris generated by the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami of 2011. Aquatic Invasions. 13(1): 87-100. DOI:https://doi.org/10.3391/ai.2018.13.1.07.
- Lobo, J., Ferreira, M.S., Antunes, I.C., Teixeira, M.A.L., Borges, L.M.S., Sousa, R., Gomes, P.T., Costa, M.H., Cunha, M.R. & Costa, F.O (2016) Contrasting morphological and DNA barcode suggested species boundaries among shallow-water amphipod fauna from the southern European Atlantic coast. Genome. 60(2): 147-157. DOI:10.1139/gen-2016-0009.
- Williams, J.R., Sawyer, G.S., Cragg, S.M., Icely, J.D., Simm, J., Meaden, M., Borges, L.M.S. & Malyon, G.P. (2016)
Evaluating the potential of lesser used timber species for marine construction. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Construction Materials. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.1680/jcoma.15.00065.
- Sivrikaya, H., Cetin, H., Tumen, I., Borges, L.M.S. (2016)
Performance of copper-azole treated softwoods to marine borers. Maderas. Ciencia y Tecnología. 18(2): 349-360.
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Borges, L.M.S., Hollatz, C., Lobo, J., Cunha, A., Calado, G., Coelho, R., Costa, A.C., Ferreira, M.S.G., Costa, M.H., Costa, F.O. (2016) With a little help from DNA Barcoding: investigating the diversity of Gastropoda from the Portuguese coast. Scientific Reports 6, Article number: 20226 DOI:10.1038/srep20226.
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Weigelt, R., Lippert, H., Borges, L.M.S., Appelqvist, C., Karsten, U., Bastrop, R. (2015) First time DNA barcoding of the common shipworm Teredo navalis Linnaeus 1758 (Mollusca: Bivalvia: Teredinidae): molecular-taxonomic investigation and identification of a widespread wood-borer. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 475: 154-162.
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Borges, L.M.S. (2015) The internal structure of the pallets of Nototeredo norvagica and Psiloteredo megotara (Bivalvia,Teredinidae): implications for subfamilial allocations. Zoomorphology. DOI 10.1007/s00435-015-0277-4.
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Lobo, J., Teixeira, M.A.L., Borges, L.M.S., Ferreira, M.S.G., Hollatz, C., Gomes, P.A., Sousa. R., Ravara, A., Costa, M.H., Costa, F.O. (2015) Starting a DNA barcode reference library for shallow water polychaetes from the southern European Atlantic coast. Molecular Ecology Resources. DOI:10.1111/1755-0998.12441.
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Borges, L.M.S. (2014) Biodegradation of wood exposed in the marine environment: evaluation of the hazard posed by marine wood borers in fifteen European sites. International Biodeterioration and Biodegradation. 96: 97-104.
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Borges, L.M.S, Merckelbach, L.M., Cragg, S.M. (2014) Biogeography of wood boring crustaceans (Isopoda: Limnoriidae) in European coastal waters. PLoS ONE. 9(10): e109593. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0109593.
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Borges, L.M.S, Costa, F.O. (2014). New records of marine wood borers (Bivalvia: Teredinidae and Isopoda: Limnoriidae) from São Miguel, Azores, with a discussion of some aspects of their biogeography. Açoreana. Suplemento 10: 109-116.
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Borges, L.M.S, Merckelbach, L., Sampaio, Í, Cragg, S.M. (2014). Diversity, environmental requirements, and biogeography of bivalve wood-borers (Teredinidae) in European coastal waters. Frontiers in Zoology, 11:3.
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Shipway, J.R., Borges, L.M.S., Müller, J., Cragg, S.M. (2014). The broadcast spawning Caribbean shipworm, Teredothyra dominicensis (Bivalvia, Teredinidae), has invaded and become established in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Biological Invasions. 16(10): 2037-2048.
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Borges, L.M.S, Sivrikaya, H., Cragg, S.M. (2014). First records of the warm water shipworm Teredo bartschi (Bivalvia, Teredinidae) in Mersin, southern Turkey and in Olhão, Portugal. Bioinvasions Records, 3(1):25-28.
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Borges, L.M.S., Sivrikaya, H., Le Roux, A., Shipway, R., Cragg, S.M., Costa, F.O. (2012). Investigating the taxonomy and systematics of marine wood borers (Bivalvia: Teredinidae) combining evidence from morphology, DNA barcodes and nuclear locus sequences. Invertebrate Systematics, 26, 572-582.
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Sivrikaya, H., Hafizoğlu, H., Cragg, S.M., Carillo, A., Militz, H., Mai, C., Borges, L.M.S. (2012). Evaluation of wooden materials deteriorated by marine wood boring organisms in the Black Sea. Maderas. Ciencia y Tecnología, 14(1), 79-90.
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Borges, L.M.S., Valente, A.A., Palma, P. & Nunes, L. (2010). Changes in the wood boring community in the Tagus Estuary: a case study. Marine Biodiversity Records, 3, e41.
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Sivrikaya, H., Cragg, S.M., Hafizoğlu, H., Borges, L.M.S. (2009). Variation in resistance to marine borers in commercial timbers from Turkey, as assessed by marine trial and laboratory screening. Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry, 33, 569-576.
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Borges, L.M.S., Cragg, S.M., Busch, S. (2009). A laboratory assay for measuring feeding and mortality of the marine woo-borer Limnoria under forced feeding conditions: a basis for a standard test method. International Biodeterioration and Biodegradation, 63, 289-296.
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Borges, L.M.S., Cragg, S.M, Bergot, J., Williams, J.R., Shayler, B. & Sawyer, G. (2008). Laboratory screening of tropical hardwoods for natural resistance to the marine borer Limnoria quadripunctata with an investigation of the role of leachable and non-leachable factors. Holzforschung, 62, 99-111.
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Rosenbusch, K., Borges, L.M.S., Cragg, S.M., Rapp, A.O. & Pitman, A.J. (2006). A laboratory assessment of the natural durability of the lesser-used species Corynanthe pachyeras Welw. And Glyphae brevis (Sprengel) Monachino against the marine wood borer Limnoria quadripunctata Holthuis. International Biodeterioration and Biodegradation, 57, 71-74.
Articles in conference proceedings
- Chiciudean, I., Mereuta, I., Lascu, I., Borges, L.M.S., Adrian, F., Stoica, I., Tanase, A-M. (2019). Looking for cellulolytic activity in the Black Sea shipworms gill symbionts. Journal of Biotechnology, 305: S43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiotec.2019.05.153.
- Fais, M., Hollatz, C., Lobo, J., Duarte, S., Borges, L.M.S., Costa, F.O. (2016). Compiling a DNA barcode reference library for benthic molluscs of the Southern European Atlantic coast. Frontiers in Marine Science. Conference Abstracts: XIX Iberian Symposium on Marine Biology studies. DOI:10.3389/conf.FMARS.2016.05.00132.
- Vieira, P.E., Gomes, N., Lobo, J., Borges, L., Queiroga, H., Costa, F.O. (2016). A DNA barcode reference library for the superorder Peracarida (Crustacea) from the Southern European Atlantic coast. Frontiers in Marine Science. Conference Abstracts: XIX Iberian Symposium on Marine Biology studies. DOI:10.3389/conf.FMARS.2016.05.00132.
- Costa, F.O., Borges, L.M.S., Hollatz, C., Lobo, J., Cunha, A., Calado, G., Coelho, R., Costa, A.C. Ferreira, M.S.G., Costa, M.H. (2015). Priming a DNA barcode library for marine Gastropoda of the continental Portuguese coast and Azores Islands. Genome 58 (5): 207-207.
- Lobo, J. Teixeira, M.A.L., Borges, L.M.S., Ferreira M.S.G., Hollatz, C., Gomes, P.A., Sousa. R., Ravara, A., Costa, M.H., Costa, F.O. (2015). DNA barcodes of polychaetes (Annelida: Polychaeta) from the southern European Atlantic coast underscores the incipient state of the global reference library for this taxon. Genome 58 (5): 247-248.
- Antunes, I., Ferreira, M.S.G., Lobo, J., Teixeira, M.A.L., Borges, L.M.S., Sousa, R., Gomes, P.A. Costa, M.H., Cunha, M.R., Costa, F.O. (2015). Comparison between morphological and DNA barcode–suggests cryptic species among shallow water amphipod fauna from the southern European Atlantic coast. Genome 58 (5): 187-187.
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Borges, L.M.S., Nunes, L., Valente, A.A. & Palma, P. (2008). Wood boring species present in the Tagus Estuary and the severity of their attack to wooden structures exposed in the area: a case study. International Research Group on Wood Protection, Doc. IRG/WP 08-10664. 18p.
- Sivrikaya, H., Cragg, S.M., Borges, L.M.S. (2008). Variation of commercial timbers from Turkey in resistance to marine borers as assessed by marine trials and laboratory screening. International Research Group on Wood Protection, Doc. IRG/WP 08-10668. 11p.
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Valente, A.A., Nunes, L., Borges, L.M.S., Palma, P., Machado, J.S. (2008). Marine biological degradation: rebuilding a wooden pile’s life history. First International Conference Construction Heritage in Coastal and Marine Environments, Damage, Diagnostic, Maintenance and Rehabilitation (MEDACHS), Lisbon, Portugal. 10p.
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Williams, J.R., Cragg, S.M., Borges, L.M.S., Icely, J.D. (2007). Marine exposure assessment in southern Portugal of the natural resistance of a number of lesser known species of tropical hardwoods to teredinid and limnoriid borers. International Research Group on Wood Protection, Doc. IRG/WP 07- 10614. 14p.
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Borges, L.M.S., Cragg, S.M., van der Zee, M. (2004). Evaluating the potential of modified wood for use in Marine Environments using a short-term laboratory bioassay. International Research Group on Wood Preservation, Doc. IRG/WP 04-10525. 14p.
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Williams, J.R., Cragg, S.M., Borges, L.M.S., Shayler, B. (2004). Evaluating the natural durability of a number of lesser known species of Ghanaian hardwoods using a short term laboratory assay. International Research Group on Wood Preservation, Doc.
IRG/WP 04-10540. 7p.
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Williams, J.R., Cragg, S.M., Borges, L.M.S., Icely, J.D. (2004). Marine exposure assessment of the natural resistance of a number of lesser known species of tropical hardwoods to teredenid borers. International Research Group on Wood Preservation, Doc. IRG/WP 04-10520. 15p.
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Borges, L.M.S., Cragg, S.M., Williams, J.R. (2003). Comparing the resistance of a number of lesser known species of tropical hardwoods to the marine borer Limnoria using a short term laboratory assay. International Research Group on Wood Preservation, Doc. IRG/WP03-10500. 12p.
