Region: Latin America
Carlos M. Martinez and
Daniel Conde
Facultad de Ciencias, University of the Republic
Igua 4225, 11400 Montevideo, Uruguay
The participation of Uruguay in the ILTER Program is recent. After a first planning meeting held at Montevideo in December 1997, two working groups were established: the Information Management Group and the Research Group, both composed of representatives of different institutions involved in long-term ecological research. This report summarizes the status of the program, the description of the proposed sites, and updated information concerning the activities.
Description of program, objectives, and core areas
The IELDU (Investigaciones Ecológicas de Larga Duración - Uruguay) has defined the following general objectives and core areas.
The core areas for research across sites are:
- Pattern and control of primary production,
- Spatial and temporal distribution of populations selected to represent trophic structure,
- Pattern and control of organic matter accumulation in surface layers and sediments,
- Patterns of inorganic inputs and movements of nutrients through soils, groundwater and surface waters,
- Patterns and frequency of site disturbance, and
- Biodiversity
The criteria for site selection were :
- biome representation
- inter-institutional relationships
- ecosystem services
- ecosystem monitoring value
Additionally, the existence of protected areas, the possibility to include coastal areas, and the presence of research teams were also considered.
Site characteristics
The IELDU Program in Uruguay has defined a site (Coastal Lagoons System) constituted by the Atlantic coastal lagoons, and the associated coastal areas and islands. As the specific research activities are regulated by different institutions, the IELDU Program focuses its activities in the promotion of monitoring work, helping in the establishment of databases, and the implementation of appropriate technology for information conservation and exchange. Three main sub-sites were proposed:
Sub site 1 (name/location/infrastructure): José Ignacio, Garzón and Rocha Wetlands. PROBIDES Regional Station (2 laboratories, accommodation, computer facilities); Puerto de los Botes Station, (Faculty of Sciences) 1 laboratory, sampling equipment to measure limnological variables, a permanent meteorological station.
Sub site 2 (name/location/infrastructure): Laguna Negra. PROBIDES Regional Station, Biological Station of Potrerillo, San Miguel and Santa Teresa National Parks
Sub-site 3 (name/location/infrastructure): Laguna de Castillos. Laguna de Castillos Natural Refuge, Forestry Reserve, and two Base Station (Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries).
* Principal contact/Institution: Dr. Carlos M. Martínez, Marine and Atmospherics Sciences Program, Faculty of Sciences, University of the Republic. E-mail: carmar@glaucus.fcien.edu.uy.
* Latitude, longitude, elevation, size: 33(30' - 38(00' S and 53(28'-54(52' W; 10 - 200m, approximately 400000 ha
* General description/ principal biome and main communities: Oceanic coast and islands, Sand dunes, Coastal Lagoons, Wetlands, Thorn shrubs, Coastal forest, Hilly forest, Flooding forest, Ombú forest, Deciduous forest, Grassland, Palm brake, Plantation (forestry and rice), Range management.
* Legal situation: Biosphere Reserve “Bañados del Este”; including Lagoons National Park, Potrerillo Biological Station, Reserve and Protected Areas of San Miguel and Santa Teresa, Islas Costeras National Park, Natural Monument of Dunas and Atlantic Coast, Cabo Polonio and Aguas Dulces Forest Reserves, Fauna Refuge of Laguna de Castillos.
* Research topics: Definition of ecosystems with value for ecological monitoring; Land-stream interactions; Long-term monitoring of main ecosystems; Biodiversity and ecosystem function; Patterns of land cover changes; Bird migration monitoring; Lagoon biogeochemistry; Long-term monitoring of interface natural-productive systems; Forest hydrology and management; Distribution of animal population.
* History of site/type of data: Ombú forest dynamic; Other natural forests, litterfall production, entomological fauna, fungi; Forestry systems, mycorrhizal associations; Forestry management; Fauna monitoring; Sea lion population dynamics (Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries, since 1942 and Faculty of Sciences); Fish population dynamics and fishing management (National Institute of Fisheries - PROBIDES, 1985); Vegetation composition (Botanical Garden of Montevideo, 1986); Primary production in Coastal Lagoons (Faculty of Sciences, 1988); Organic pollution in Laguna de Rocha (Faculty of Sciences, 1991); Productivity of flooding forest (Faculty of Sciences, 1992); Maps of geology, geomorphology, soils, vegetation, aerial photography (PROBIDES, 1993); Structure and function of Coastal Forest, Vegetation cover changes, above and belowground biomass, nutrient cycling (Faculty of Sciences - PROBIDES , 1997).
* Infrastructure: PROBIDES Regional Station (2 laboratories, accommodation, computer facilities); Puerto de los Botes Station, (Faculty of Sciences) 1 laboratory, sampling equipment to measure limnological variables.
* Interintitutional relationships: PROBIDES, University of the Republic, Governmental Environmental Secretary, National Institute of Fisheries, MaB-Unesco Program, Municipal Government; Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries, Botanical Garden of Montevideo; Ministry of Transport and Public Works.
Information management
A Working Group on Information Management and Interconnectivity is in charge of the communications between research teams, the preparation of databases and the technical assistance. A web site is under operation (http://glaucus.fcien.edu.uy/pcmya/ieldu). A IELDU Information Node was established, related with a general Information Node (Glaucus Program: http://glaucus.fcien.edu.uy/pcmya/glaucus/). A presentation was made at a Workshop held in the PROBIDES station, focusing the main aspects of ecological monitoring. The Section of Limnology of the Faculty of Sciences maintains a meteorological station in the area, and the data will be accessed through the IELD Information node. A first version of a database of documents (scientific papers, reports and publications) was completed, and a search engine is being implemented in the web page.
Cross-site Research
The proposed sites are establishing common research plans for some specific objectives. As an example, vegetation cover change, biogeochemistry and ecosystem response to climatic fluctuations, including climate change. Particular interest is devoted to primary productivity, and the assessment of ecosystem health based on biogeochemical indicators, using the LOICZ methodology.
Application of LTER Research
The IELDU Program objectives are devoted to the establishment of the scientific basis for Natural Resources Management. From this, the structure of the initiative privilegiate the inter-institutional work, in order to integrate scientists, technicians and decisions makers. A second important application is to promote and develop educational activities at different levels, particularly the Master Degree Program in Environmental Sciences of the Faculty of Sciences. A recent proposal for integrated management of the area covered by PROBIDES is under consideration, and the impact of scientific research is one of the key factors for a better understanding of the time and space scales involved. In this direction, a more environmental, rather than exclusively ecological, approach is being developed, in order to include the socioeconomic system. The database under development is also dedicated to facilitate the access to data and information products relevant to specific management issues, and taking into consideration participatory methodologies for the evaluation of decision scenarios.
Partnerships
Up to date, several institutions participate in the planning process: Faculty of Sciences, through different laboratories; Secretary of Environment; PROBIDES; National Institute of Fisheries; MaB-UNESCO Program; Municipal Governments; Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries; Botanical Garden of Montevideo; Ministry of Transport and Public Works; Antarctic Institute of Uruguay.
Collaboration among networks
It has been decided the development of a special collaborative effort with the Latin-American ILTER network, and the established research networks related with Global Change and ecological research. Actually, inter-site research between Brazil and Uruguay is under consideration. This coordination effort is based on the current relationships between the participant institutions, especially from the University, with colleagues of Brazil and Argentina. From this, and the existing framework of cooperation between the universities of the region, the University of the Republic is playing a relevant role.