Faunal responses to anthropogenic environmental changes: contributions of conservation physiology

• Grant number: 24/13478-0
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• Start date: July 01, 2025
• End date: June 30, 2030
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - Compared Physiology
• Principal Investigator: Fernando Ribeiro Gomes
• Grantee: Fernando Ribeiro Gomes
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• City of the host institution: São Paulo
• Principal investigators: Carlos Arturo Navas Iannini ; Renata Guimarães Moreira Whitton
• Associated researchers: Aline Dal Olio Gomes ; Ariovaldo Pereira da Cruz-Neto ; Barbara Mizumo Tomotani ; Carlos Eduardo Tolussi ; Cristiéle da Silva Ribeiro ; Fabiana Laura Lo Nostro ; Michael Hrncir ; Thais Brianezi Ng
• Associated research grant(s): 25/18449-1 - EMU granted in process: 2024/13478-0: Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) System, AP.EMU
• Associated scholarship(s): 25/15572-7 - Interaction between microplastics and paracetamol under global warming scenarios: effects on the reproductive physiology of Astyanax lacustris, BP.PD; 25/06655-6 - Influence of polyunsaturated fatty acids on the modulation of innate immune and antioxidant system of Astyanax lacustris males exposed to the anti-inflammatory diclofenac, BP.DR; 25/06100-4 - Influence of the combination of carbamazepine and increased temperature on the reproductive physiology of Astyanax lacustris males (Teleostei: Characiformes)., BP.MS; + associated scholarships 25/21649-2 - Impacts of anthropogenic changes on fauna: contributions of Conservation Physiology, BP.TT; 25/06560-5 - Behavioural fever in vertebrate ectotherms: patterns, processes, and ecological implications, BP.PD; 23/10020-0 - Integrating physiological biomarkers to understand the future of sharks in an oceanic refuge with increasing tourism pressure, BP.PD; 20/11583-0 - Effects of carbamazepine, a contaminant of emerging concern, on the physiology of Astyanax lacustris mature females, BP.PD - associated scholarships

Abstract

Anthropogenic environmental changes (AEC), such as climate change, habitat fragmentation and pollution, have been extensively implicated with deleterious ecological metrics, such as population declines, local extinction, and distribution shifts. Moreover, synergisms between these factors add complex cause-and-consequence relationships. In this scenario, a crucial question is when, how and why AEC impacts fauna? This question modulates the theme in this Thematic Project, and is utterly transdisciplinary, but the physiological approach is central to evaluate impacts of AEC in natural populations. Our main question generates specific research problems about how physiological knowledge, when integrated with other biological disciplines contributes to (1) understand mechanisms and processes through which AEC impacts fauna; (2) generate the best proxies for identifying and monitoring AEC impacts; (3) predict AEC impacts; (4) understand why similar AEC impact differentially the species in a community and (5) enable effective evaluation and implementation of conservation policy and management decisions. We will address different strands of these 5 general objectives through research subprojects conducted on different biological systems and models. This proposal offers continuity to research, student advising and other academic activities that originated from previous thematic projects on related topics, including the same PIs. With this project, we expect to (1) generate exciting and relevant studies on ecophysiology and conservation physiology, deriving from different subprojects, and publishing our results in important scientific journals, associated with (2) the formation of highly qualified human resources. We also expect to (3) continue and expand the net of scientific collaborators in Brazil and other countries, as well as (4) promote frequent and immersive symposia of scientific discussion and conviviality of members of the project, in order to increase exchange of experiences, knowledge and skills, and (5) create and offer a graduate discipline on "Conservation Physiology". Moreover, based on previous investment allowing a solid basis in many of the biological systems under investigation in our laboratories, we are now at the point of making greater contributions to the extension of our science to society, considering that some of our subprojects are closer to, or encompass (6) the application of scientific results to contribute to conservation policy and management decisions. Additionally, we are committed to involving the team members in the promotion of scientific dissemination and in the creation and use of scientific education channels. In this context, we aim to (7) create thematic digital books, coordinated by the project's principal investigators with the participation of interested students, aligned with the new outreach-graduate school initiatives at USP. (AU)