Direct effect of different concentrations of glyphosate formulation Roundup® on th...
| Grant number: | 14/22952-6 |
| Support type: | Regular Research Grants |
| Duration: | March 01, 2015 - February 28, 2017 |
| Field of knowledge: | Biological Sciences - Botany |
| Principal Investigator: | Ciro Cesar Zanini Branco |
| Grantee: | Ciro Cesar Zanini Branco |
| Home Institution: | Faculdade de Ciências e Letras (FCL-ASSIS). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Assis. Assis , SP, Brazil |
| Assoc. researchers: | Aurélio Fajar Tonetto ; Pitágoras da Conceição Bispo ; Ricardo Cardoso Leite |
Abstract
Despite several observational studies have produced important contributions to knowledge of stream macroalgal ecology, gaps still remain about the relationship of the environment and ecological distribution patterns of these organisms. As an alternative to improve the understanding of the ecology of these algae, experimental investigations began to be conducted in Brazil. Exactly in experimental ecology of tropical stream macroalgae that this research intends to make its main contributions. In this context, two experimental studies are being proposed in order to assess (1) the influences of substrate complexity, hydraulic conditions and physical disturbances and (2) the effects of anthropogenic substances on the establishment and development of stream macroalgae. In the first study, experiments will be carried out simulating the occurrence of physical disturbances on artificial substrates with five different levels of structural complexity and specific hydraulic conditions. The effects of these variables will be assessed considering as response variables richness (number of species) and abundance (percent cover and chlorophyll a content) of macroalgae. In the second study, experiments will be conducted in the laboratory aiming evaluate the effects of different concentrations of glyphosate herbicides on photosynthetic responses of macroalgal species belonging to the phyla Cyanobacteria, Chlorophyta and Rhodophyta. Photosynthetic responses will be evaluated by two techniques: (i) chlorophyll fluorescence and (ii) dissolved oxygen evolution. The research team involved in this proposal is qualified and has previous experience. The expected outcomes of this research include the production of scientific articles, monographs and thesis, the formation of highly qualified human resources and the consolidation of this research line in our research group. (AU)