Changes in the community of aquatic macroinvertebrates in headwater streams caused by changes in cover and land use of the semideciduous forest of the east-central region of São Paulo State

• Grant number: 16/07266-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: November 01, 2016
• End date: January 31, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Ecosystems Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Luiz Antonio Martinelli
• Grantee: Fernanda Gaudio Augusto
• Host Institution: Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura (CENA). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 18/07806-4 - Land-use effects on stream ecosystems: do metals from mining run-off return to land by emergence and dispersion of aquatic insects? A stable isotopes approach, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

In forested headwater streams, the material supply of the riparian zone is extremely important in providing energy and nutrients to the system. Changes in land use end up changing supplies and nutrient flows between aquatic and terrestrial means, and leaves them unprotected. Restoration of streams through the recovery of riparian forests has been used with the aim to reestablish the ecosystem structure and function according to its original features. The absence of monitoring of this areas ends up generating a gap in how this environment is recovering. The aquatic macroinvertebrates are organisms widely used in the monitoring of ecological quality of water, based on the sensitivity of some taxa how much to environmental changes. In this context, the objective of the project is to evaluate the changes in the community of aquatic macroinvertebrates in streams inserted in microbasin with different land use and land cover, evaluating them about the environmental quality and ecological proximity. Will be sampled streams inserted in microbasin with matrices of native forest, agricultural areas and forest restoration having up to 10 years old. Macroinvertebrates will be sampled through the Surber sampler and leaf litter, also will be collected physicochemical parameters of the water. Will be made four campaigns that will happen every six months, seeking to include climate and environmental variability. It will also be used isotopic methodology in order to assess the influence of watershed in the stream and macroinvertebrates. Thus, as the recovery of riparian forests is essential for the rehabilitation and maintenance of the water bodies, is extremely important their monitoring and study in order to a better understanding of the restoration process and its influence on aquatic environments.

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

AUGUSTO, Fernanda Gaudio. Aquatic macroinvertebrates community alteration in headwater streams caused by land use changes in the semideciduous forest of the east-central region of São Paulo state. 2020. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura (CENA/STB) Piracicaba.