Urban geotourism of the fossil record (ichnofossils) of Botucatu Formation preserved in the city of Araraquara (SP)

• Grant number: 24/11124-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2024
• End date: November 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Paleozoology
• Principal Investigator: Renato Pirani Ghilardi
• Grantee: Maria Emilia Meyer Kono
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências (FC). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Bauru. Bauru , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 23/01470-2 - Refining the ichnofacies paradigm of eolian environments: comparing units developed in different environments, AP.R

Abstract

Researchers' interest in highlighting the cultural and scientific value of the environment's geodiversity grew at the end of the 20th century. They sought to popularize the science of natural heritage among the community in order to expand the discussion about geological potential. To this end, urban geotourism is projected as a new sector of tourism that allows residents or visitors to delve deeper into the environmental knowledge and history surrounding the city. The branch is based on the concepts of Geodiversity, Geoconservation and Geological Heritage. The Botucatu Formation (Paraná Basin), made up of eolian sandstones, was deposited in a desert paleoenvironment with dunes. Although unfavorable for the preservation of body fossils, there are ichnofossils that allow us to interpret the life that roamed the desert. The municipality of Araraquara, which is located in this sedimentary context, has several records of ichnofossils. The aim of this work is to create a geotourism itinerary with well-preserved ichnofossil records found on the sidewalk in the city of Araraquara. A prospection of pre-catalogued ichnofossils will be carried out, selecting those with the best preservation and locality for the preparation of online material that will include the contextualized record and information about the ichnofossil.