Robert Marrs | university Liverpool - Inglaterra

• Grant number: 07/01515-3
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Visiting Researcher Grant - International
• Start date: August 11, 2007
• End date: August 25, 2007
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Applied Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Dalva Maria da Silva Matos
• Grantee: Dalva Maria da Silva Matos
• Visiting researcher: Robert Marrs
• Visiting researcher institution: University of Liverpool, England
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

During his stay here, Professor R. Marrs will be involved in activities related to biological invasions´s projects that are being carried out in a reserve of Cerrado in São Carlos (SP) and areas of Mata Atlântica, in Rio de Janeiro and now in São Paulo (Vale do Ribeira). These projects have the participation of undergraduate and graduate students and their main objectives are obtain information about the following aspects: 1-Biomass production and phenology of P. aquilinum; 2-Soil seed bank in areas of Cerrado dominated by invasive species; 3-Allelopathy of P. aquilinum in relation to native species; 4-plant succession in areas dominated by P. aquilinum;These aspects are going to be discussed during some meetings and during the field trips. These meetings will be held at the Universidade de São Carlos. Field trips are planned to show him how P. aquilinum and grasses are spread in some reserves of Cerrado and Mata Atlântica. We intend to visit our study areas in São Carlos and also, Pé Gigante, Carlos Botelho and Ilha do Cardoso reserves. The occurrence of invasive species (grasses and ferns) within these reserves have been already documented. These visits are the basis for the definition of the cooperative projects and discussion of data already collected. During his visit, our aims will be to have substantial meeting for joint discussions so that knowledge can be transferred between Professor Marrs and the Brazilian scientists in both directions. We then intend to develop some joint projects that could contribute for understanding of biological invasions in both countries, and specifically the training of personnel at the post-graduate level. Some seminars are planned where biological invasions will be the principal theme. Researches and students interested in plant invasions will be welcome to these talks. For post-graduate students, these talks will be counted as short duration course for accreditation. These talks will focus on the population dynamics of invasive species, vegetation succession under the impact of invasive species, the economical costs of biological invasions and finally, strategies for their management. (AU)