Indirect effects of large mammalian herbivores on the greenhouse gas emissions in tropical ecosystems

• Grant number: 24/03562-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: August 01, 2024
• End date: July 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Ecosystems Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Mauro Galetti Rodrigues
• Grantee: Daiane Cristina Carreira
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Rio Claro. Rio Claro , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 21/10639-5 - Center for Research on Biodiversity Dynamics and Climate Change, AP.CEPID

Abstract

Climate change significantly impacts the ecology and distribution of numerous species, and one of the main factors contributing to rising temperatures is the emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs), especially carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. It is currently known that domestic animals, along with deforestation and the expansion of pasture areas, are major contributors to most emissions. However, little is known about the influence that large native mammalian herbivores (LMH) have on the dynamics of these emissions. This is because LMH are responsible for numerous ecosystem services that will influence plant community dynamics, especially in tropical forests. Although large wild mammals constitute a small fraction of the total mammalian biomass on the planet, the potential mass extinction of these animals could significantly alter GHG levels, especially considering that more than half of the world's forests are defaunated. The aim of this study is to measure and quantify the effects of LMH on soil and GHG emissions in neotropical ecosystems, given their ability to modify the physical, chemical, and biological structure of the soil. The study will be conducted in natural areas in the Pantanal and Atlantic Forest, using exclusion plots for large herbivores. The effects of LMH will be assessed through observations of soil properties, animal biomass, plant census, and measurements of GHG emissions. It is expected that this study will provide insights into how LMH influence greenhouse gas emissions and how their extinction could contribute to global climate change.