GUARAGUAÇU PROJECT
We are involved in a long-term ecological project, called “Projeto Guaraguaçu”. Projeto Guaraguaçu started in 2014 and has the overall goal to make a comprehensive monitoring of Guaraguaçu River, a major river in the coastal floodplain basin. There is available data since 2016 of macrophyte species and their functional traits, phytoplankton species, fish species and some abiotic features. Please contact us and see the website if you want to use the data for scientific research, or to see our published documents related to this project. We are also sampling zooplankton, macroinvertebrates, fish parasites and fish diet. All samplings are carried out at the same georeferenced sampling sites. We also monitor the invasive tropical signal grass Urochloa arrecta (Hack. ex t. Durand & Schinz) Morrone & Zuloaga. We have georeferenced data since 2018 of most U. arrecta beds, with an estimation of the beds size. We are now involved in a large international project, together with researchers from Norway, France, Germany and South Africa, called MadMacs: Massive Development of Macrophytes (https://www.niva.no/en/projectweb/madmacs), in which ecological and socio-economical aspects of this tropical signal grass invasion will be evaluated as well and the costs and benefits of its control.
PELD/GUAR: Long-Term Ecological Research in Guaraguaçu River, a World Heritage Site
The PELD Guaraguaçu project proposes long-term ecological and socio-environmental monitoring of the Guaraguaçu River, one of the main river systems of the coastal plain of Paraná, Brazil. The initiative is grounded in transdisciplinary approaches and the One Health perspective, integrating data on biodiversity, environmental quality, ecosystem services, and the relationship between human communities and the aquatic ecosystem. The project will have a direct impact on the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), by investigating ecosystem contamination and public health risks related to water use, the project contributes to disease prevention and the promotion of health among local populations, including Indigenous and traditional communities; SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), by monitoring water quality and the river’s capacity to dilute pollutants, the project strengthens sustainable water resource management and contributes to regional water security; SDG 14 (Life Below Water), by investigating aquatic biodiversity and the connectivity between the river and the marine environment, the research promotes the conservation of coastal and estuarine ecosystems, which are essential for fisheries, ecological regulation, and biodiversity; SDG 15 (Life on Land), by studying riparian vegetation, conservation areas, and land use, the project contributes to the protection of terrestrial ecosystems and the recovery of degraded areas; SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), through the involvement of an international network of researchers from renowned institutions in five countries, promoting scientific cooperation and knowledge exchange across hemispheres and cultures, while strengthening local and global capacities. With a focus on applied science, social inclusion, and environmental conservation, the project aims to support public policies and mitigation strategies in the face of anthropogenic pressures and climate change affecting the Guaraguaçu River system.
