Climate refugia of endemic anurans in Serra do Mar, Atlantic Forest

• Grant number: 22/05799-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: September 01, 2022
• End date: August 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biology
• Principal Investigator: Ricardo Jannini Sawaya
• Grantee: Marcela Brasil de Castro Godinho
• Supervisor: Ana Carolina Oliveira de Queiroz Carnaval
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas (CCNH). Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC). Ministério da Educação (Brasil). Santo André , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: City University of New York (CUNY), United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 18/15926-0 - Climate change and vulnerability of snake and amphibian species in the Atlantic Forest hotspot, BP.DR

Abstract

The study of geographic patterns of species distribution at different spatial and temporal scales is one of the interests of biogeography. Understanding the spatial distribution of species helps us comprehend biogeographic patterns generated by ecological and evolutionary processes. Multiple aspects impact geographic patterns of species distribution, including i) species interactions, ii) the evolutionary history of the study group, iii) past and/or current climatic conditions and/or iv) physical barriers. This project focuses on the biodiversity impacts of climate change, identifying climate refugia and evaluating different biodiversity components in these areas. We propose to analyze the geographic distribution of the areas that are climatically suitable for multiple species of amphibians in the Serra do Mar range, identifying areas of overlap that function as climatic refugia for local species. Then, we will project the extent of the species, defining climate refugia into future times to estimate how climate refugia will persist under future scenarios of global climate change. Furthermore, we will evaluate the representation of species richness, phylogenetic diversity, and functional diversity in each climate refugia. We will use species distribution models to define the climate refugia, evaluate biodiversity components (species richness, functional diversity and phylogenetic diversity) in each refuge, and utilize projections to future scenarios of climate change to evaluate what happens with the refugees under different emission scenarios. (AU)