Region: Latin America
F.A. Barbosa(1), G.A.B. da Foseca (1,2), R.B. Cavalcanti(3)
(1) Federal University
of Minas Gerais, P.O.Box 486-3061 Belo Horizonet- MG-Brazil
(2) Conservation International-Brazil, Av. Antonio Abrao Caram, 820/302-31275-000
Belo Horizonte-MG-Brazil
(3) University of Brasilia-Dept of Zoology-Asa Norte, 70910-919, Brasilia, DF,
Brazil
Brazil is arguably the richest country on Earth in biological diversity. The sheer size of the nation, with five highly diverse biomes (Amazonia, Cerrado, Atlantic Forest, Caatinga and the Wetlands (Pantanal), ranging from semi-arid ecosystems to evergreen tropical rain forests, all conspire to make Brazil the top megadiversity countries, possessing c. 10-20% of the total number of known species on Earth. On the other hand, the threats to the integrity of Brazil’s biodiversity do not cease to grow, a dangerous trend given the poor level of knowledge available on the composition, processes and dynamics of its native ecosystems. Given that the investigation of critically-important ecological phenomena, relevant to the use and conservation of biological resources, demands not only descriptive studies but also monitoring of long-term trends, research agencies, universities and government institutions have proposed the establishment of a long-term Ecological Research Program for Brazil, borrowing from the experience of LTER initiatives in other countries and regions.
Network history
The dynamics leading to the creation of the Brazilian LTER were facilitated by a recent initiative within CNPq, represented by the Integrated Ecology Program (IEP), that is boosting ecological research and higher level training of investigators on a more systemic basis, under a specific budget line provided by the federal government. Using a similar approach, the IEP will be concentrating on a common research agenda, composed of five priority themes, and will serve as a support base for the nascent LTER program
The Brazilian LTER consists of an integrated and commonly agreed research agenda, the execution of which concentrated on a network of selected sites representing the various major ecosystems of the country, starting in areas which already host a significant number of programs of ecological investigation, as well as maintain adequate on-the-ground research facilities. It is necessary to recognize the important role played by the North American LTER program, now on its 17th year of activity, and sponsored to a large extent by the United States National Science Foundation (NSF), in the development of the Brazilian LTER network. Under the leadership of James Gosz and his colleagues, several preparatory meetings were held to familiarize Brazilian scientists on the experience, goals and strategies of the LTER approach to ecological investigation.
A coordinating committee put together by the Brazilian National Research Council (CNPq) identified several criteria to be used in the process of site selection to be conducted using, as baseline, a large number of candidate areas distributed throughout the major Brazilian biomes. In addition to the obvious choice of sites with a minimum amount of background studies, adequate field facilities, as well as ongoing, well funded, research programs, including national and international collaborative working links, ideally the network should build a representation component in its general design, meaning a large enough scope of sites to deal with regional and local ecosystem diversity. Unfortunately, this latter criterion is the most difficult to comply with, since the research capacity of the country is heavily concentrated on a limited number of regions, particularly in the southeast. Therefore, it was felt that this has to be seen as a longer-term goal, and the budding LTER should take a more conservative approach to its early phase, focusing on a small number of well-developed sites. Moreover, it was decided that a “bonus point” would be given to sites that were part of the Brazilian protected areas system, meaning they would provide a good level of security for the hosting of long-term research activities.
After an elaborate process of consultation with the scientific community, through several meetings of the committee, together with four larger workshops that took place in Puerto Rico, Panama and Costa Rica, culminating with a final event in Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil, a list of candidate sites was compiled, covering virtually all major Brazilian biomes. The site proposals were accompanied by information of the general ecological setting, past studies and ongoing research programs. From this list a special committee organized by the National Research Council (CNPq) selected 9 sites to initiate the program: one in the Amazon region (two core areas), one in the wetlands of central Brazil (two core areas), one in the cerrados/savannas of central Brazil, two in the southeast, and three in the southern region, including a coastal area and managed forests.
A set of 7 other sites were also selected considering the expansion of the network and the inclusion of important areas for the country (e. g. Caatinga, flooded forests) not selected in the first phase.
Network management
The Brazilian LTER Program (B-LTER) constitutes a collaborative effort among scientists and students working in distinct areas all over the country. A coordinating committee formed by 3 scientists and 2 representatives of the National Research Council is responsible for conducting the major policies for the network. Each research site has a coordinator responsible for the research activities at the site level as well as to make the applications for the planned activities. At present the chairperson of the program is Professor Francisco Barbosa, who is also the coordinator of the State Park of Rio Doce/Caratinga Biological Station site, within the biggest remnant of the Atlantic Forest in the State of Minas Gerais.
The program counts with a special line of support coming from the National Research Council (CNPq). At present, CNPq is providing annually US$1,000,000.00 to support research activities among the selected sites, a modest amount considering the existing infrastructure and needs of each site. Financial support shall also come from other governmental agencies to be disbursed on a competitive basis in order to guaranteeing the program for the next 10 years. Additional financial support is an urgent need of the program together with partnerships to maintain research activities. A recent agreement, under discussion, in order to combine research interests between the Center for Applied Biodiversity Studies-CABS of Conservation International (CI) and the Brazilian LTER program is an example. Furthermore, tentative to develop joint research are under consideration, involving existing programs such as DIVERSITAS, LBA, and others.
The Brazilian program focuses on a common research agenda: (a) Conservation of biodiversity, (b) Pattern and control of primary and secondary productivity, (c) Population dynamics and organization of communities and ecosystems, (d) Nutrient dynamics; and (e) Effects of natural and human disturbance.
Partnerships
Notwithstanding the central coordinating role of the National Research Council-CNPq as the major government agency funding B-LTER Program, it is strongly recognized that additional partnerships need to be established, particularly with other national (Ministry for the Environment, Ministry of Education, Funding Agency for Studies and Projects -Finep) and international agencies and institutions already active in a number of the proposed sites throughout Brazil. A long-term programmatic integration of the Brazilian initiative with those of other countries and regions (e.g., US-LTER, Latin American LTER, among others) will also be pursued, together with the attraction of selected research groups in key countries with a strong tradition in the priority research lines envisioned in the B-LTER.
As referred previously, an agreement between the Center for Applied Biodiversity Studies (CABS) of Conservation International-Washington, DC and CNPq is under discussion and hopefully shall bring technical and financial support to some of the research sites in Brazil. Such cooperation will allow for the intensification of biodiversity assessments, particularly in forested areas, for which a proposed research protocol started to be envisaged during the workshop “Assessing & Monitoring the Status of Biodiversity in Tropical Forest Habitats”, held in Washington, DC in April 1999. Furthermore, an exchange program of visiting scientists is under discussion from which cross-sites research activities are hopped to be scheduled in the near future.
Special activities
Some of the sites within the B-LTER have been conducting activities aiming at local communities, among which environmental education programs deserve special attention. The activities conducted with local fishermen within Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve (still not included within this first set of sites) and those conducted with the join participation of schools and organized groups of some of the municipalities at the surroundings of the Rio Doce State Park (site number 4) are encouraging examples of public outreaches.
Site-level information
A network web site URL was created at the Institute of Biological Sciences of the Federal University of Minas Gerais, and further information can be found at www.icb.ufmg.br/~peld.
More detailed information at site level are as follow
Site 1.1.Manaus
Research topics include collaborative basic studies on vegetation (New York Botanical Garden and DFID-UK); soils (IRD-ORSTOM); forest climate (UK), hydrology (USA), atmosphere (NASA), and fauna (Germany). Monitoring of climatological data for central Amazonia was initiated in 1955 and a data bank since 1970 is available. Tree phenology data tions of plants and animals; gene flow within and inter-populations; phyto-sociology and floristic assessments of forest fragments; evaluation of eco-physiological processes and impacts of deforestation; evaluation of growth/productivity of natural vegetation; nutrient cycling and decomposition; biodiversity assessments (bacteria, yeast, algae, protozoa, rotifers, microcrustaceans benthos and fishes; arthropods and mammals); up-dating and organization of socioeconomic data set; development of socioeconomic indices; environmental education with local schools, industries and municipalities.
International collaborations: Balaton Limnological Institute and University of Veszprem (Hungary); GTZ (Germany); US Fish and Wildlife Service.
Infrastructure: lodging, classroom with slide and overhead projectors, laboratory facilities, forest tracks, boats, telephone/fax. Internet facilities are under installation.
Site 4.2. Caratinga Biological Station
Research topics: ecology and behavior of Brachyteles arachnoides hypoxanthus the biggest primate of South America; studies of other mammals (Felis geoffroyi, F. yaguaoundi) have also initiated.
Infrastructure: lodging and tracks.
Site 5. National Park Restinga de Jurubatiba
Research topics: Plankton ecology; Phytosociology and eco-physiology of restinga vegetation; insect population dynamics; fish ecology; environmental education program involving local schools and industries.
International collaborations: Institut fur Gewaesserroekologie und Binnenfischerei (Germany); University of Lund (Sweden), University of Minnesota.
Infrastructure: lodging, classroom, small library, laboratory, internet facilities, and kitchen.
Site 6. Flooded areas of the upper Paraná river
Research topics: ecology of flooded areas and ecology of reservoirs, considering mainly: heavy metals; aquatic macrophytes; plankton, fishes, biodiversity assessments (birds, small mammals) and socioeconomic aspects of the occupation of the floodplains.
International cooperation: University of Glasgow, Texas A & M University, Mississipi State University and University of Lodz (Poland).
Infrastructure: lodging well equipped laboratories, boats including a boat-laboratory, kitchen, permanent supporting staff (pilot, fishermen, mechanics).
Site 7 Taim Hydrological System (subtropical wetlands)
The system is located in between the Atlantic ocean and Mirim lagoon, in the south of the State of Rio Grande do Sul (32(20'-33(00' S; 52(20'-52(45’W), with an area of 2254 km2.
Furthermore, this system includes the Taim Ecological Station with an area of 33,935 ha containing wetlands/swamps, sand beaches, dunes, lakes and forest fragments.
Research topics: hydrology/hydrodynamics; plankton, benthon and aquatic macrophytes; environmental education.
Infrastructure: lodging, boats
Site 8. Patos Lagoon Estuary and Adjacent Coast
Research topics: Circulation of estuarine and coastal waters; remote sensing and GIS methods in coastal environments; suspended matter dynamics; meteorological and physico-chemical factors and phytoplankton composition and biomass to monitor eutrophication; effect of UV radiation on selection and production of phytoplankton and on microbial degradation of POM and detritus production; population dynamics of coastal plants; effect of biological interactions and environmental stress on structure and function of intertidal plant communities; ecology of fish eggs and larvae; ecology of benthic invertebrates; structure and vegetation ecology of southern Brazilian coastal foredune; experimental restoration of coastal foredune vegetation.
International cooperation: University of Maryland, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Brow University, University of South Carolina, NASA, South Atlantic Climate Change Consortium (IAI-NSF/CRN), Canadian Center of Remote Sensing, University of East Anglia, UK, University of Copenhagen, Universität Kiel, Germany, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission COI, France, Lund University, Sweden, University of Kalmahr, Sweden, Universidad de la Republica, Uruguay, Instituto Nacional da Pesca, Uruguay, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Argentina
Site 9. Ecosilvibras (Sustainable Management and Conservation of forest ecosystems.
The ECOSILVIBRAS research site is composed of seven Ecological Research Plots, as follow: São João do Triunfo Experimental Station (25o 41’S; 50o 9’W), Reata Farm (20 o 20’S; 46 o 40’W), São Francisco de Paula National Forest (29 o 23’S; 50 o 23’W), Experimental area at Jari project (00o 55’S; 52 o 20’W), Gralha Azul Farm (25 o 43’S; 49 o 12’W), Araucaria State Park (26 o 17’S; 51 o 20’W), and São Francisco Farm (25 o 45’S; 49 o 05’W).
The seven experimental plots comprise various forest ecosystems (alluvial Araucaria subtropical forest, mountain Araucaria subtropical forest, hill dense tropical rain forest, plateau dense tropical rain forest, seasonal subtropical semi-deciduous forest, and transitional ecosystems (mixed forest plantations).
• Research topics: forest photo-interpretation, remote sensing and photographic mono-restitution; continuous monitoring of precipitation, temperature, humidity, wind, light condition; pollution monitoring of SO2, NH3, smog index; identification and description of rock outcrops and geological mapping; and use occupation; primary and secondary productivity; nutrient dynamics; litter composition; logging effects; forest regeneration.
Infrastructure: the project counts on the existing laboratory facilities of the Institutions involved in the project (Federal University of Paraná, Federal University of Santa Maria, and Catholic State University of Paraná).