Delimitation of Araçá Bay ecosystem functions and services

• Grant number: 16/09566-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2016
• End date: February 28, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Oceanography - Biological Oceanography
• Principal Investigator: Alexander Turra
• Grantee: Marina Ribeiro Corrêa
• Host Institution: Instituto Oceanográfico (IO). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 11/50317-5 - Biodiversity and functioning of a subtropical coastal ecosystem: a contribution to integrated management, AP.BTA.TEM

Abstract

The "Araçá Bay", located in São Sebastião (São Paulo), has representative ecosystems of the Southeast region of the Brazilian coast in terms of rocky shores, mangroves and sandy beaches. It is known that all of these have regional economic influence and are responsible to provide several ecosystem-based services, where the environment functions has the potential to directly or indirectly benefit the human population. Among them within the thought structure of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, those which identify services and functions that the environment provides are particularly important to understand the relationship between these aspects and local and regional human welfare. Some of them, such as connectivity among mangroves, have been poorly studied over history, requiring implementation of systematic studies. This project has the following guiding questions: What are the ecosystem functions and services in the "Araçá Bay"? What are the main factors of the relationship between ecological and economic systems in this region? To answer both questions, analysis of first productivity, local hydrodynamic, water quality, and trophic interactions will be carried out, as well as an investigation of the perception of traditional communities about the connectivity of the Araçá and other mangroves, using semi structured questionnaires. This project aims to provide support to the establishment of the relation among function, ecosystem-based services and economical values. (AU)