Evaluation of the potential of riparian forest restoration in the structure and functioning of tropical streams

• Grant number: 20/16244-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: October 01, 2021
• End date: February 28, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Applied Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Silvio Frosini de Barros Ferraz
• Grantee: Matheus Eijii Kinchoku Ogasawara
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 23/02918-7 - Evaluation of the potential of riparian forest in the structure and functioning of tropical streams, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

Tropical streams have great importance due to their biodiversity, provision of essential ecosystem services for humans, but also because they are considered one of the ecosystems most threatened by changes in land use and climate. The riparian forest is an important component for the dynamics and functioning of streams, because these forests help to maintain their ecosystem processes, controlling the input of light and organic matter. This study aims to evaluate the performance of restored riparian forests in providing organic matter and shade for streams, according to the restoration time. As a secondary objective, the proposal will evaluate how an increase or decrease of these processes would affect the functioning of the streams. The study will be carried out at the Experimental Station of Forest Sciences of Itatinga (EECFI), from the University of São Paulo. Three types of treatments will be carried out to manipulate the structural complexity of the stream: I. input shading; II. input of large wood and; III. the combined addition of shading and large wood. For evaluation of the effects, the quality of the water will be analyzed, through water samples and oxygen measurement. Additionally, metabolism (gross primary production, aquatic community respiration and net primary production) and biological activity will be measured using two laboratory protocols. In the end, it is hoped that it will be possible to understand how restored riparian forests and the manipulation of the stream's structural complexity can improve and maintain water quality, the ecological processes and its ecosystem functions. (AU)