Effect of different land uses on the functional and taxonomic beta diversity of the zooplankton community

• Grant number: 23/10840-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: August 01, 2024
• End date: July 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Ecosystems Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Maria Stela Maioli Castilho Noll
• Grantee: Pedro Henrique Ribeiro Morari
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas (IBILCE). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de São José do Rio Preto. São José do Rio Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The loss of vegetation for the implementation of agropastoral systems and urbanization has generated numerous consequences for biodiversity. Several studies in lotic environments have shown that the removal of riparian vegetation negatively affects river communities. However, this effect is still not well understood for communities in lentic environments, one of which is zooplanktonic. Assessments on the beta diversity of a given community can be a way to verify environmental impacts, as it provides information on differences in taxonomic and functional composition between different habitats. This project aims to verify the effect of different types of land use around reservoirs on the taxonomic and functional beta diversity of the zooplankton community. To achieve the objective, samples of the zooplankton community from 13 reservoirs with different types of land use in their surroundings, located in the northwest region of São Paulo, will be used, as well as their environmental variables. The species were previously identified and counted, requiring the classification of functional traits. The percentage of pasture, urbanization, agriculture and vegetation cover were calculated in a buffer of 200 meters, where the CDI (Catchment Disturbance Index) will be calculated, categorizing the reservoirs in low, medium and high environmental impact. For statistical analysis, LCDB-t, LCDB-f and SCBD indices will be generated, which will be modeled as a function of environmental variables, CDI values and proposed categories. The models chosen will be those with the lowest AIC value, significant p values (p<0.05) and the highest R2 value. From the results obtained, it will be possible to point out which levels of deforestation interfere with the taxonomic and functional diversity of zooplankton communities in lentic environments.