Analysis of microbial diversity in water from important rivers in the scallop farming system in Ilha Grande Bay, Rio de Janeiro

• Grant number: 24/17683-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Program to Stimulate Scientific Vocations
• Start date: January 13, 2025
• End date: February 24, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Molecular Genetics and Genetics of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Fabiano Lopes Thompson
• Grantee: Mayllon Emmanoel Pequeno Santos Silva
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ). Ministério da Educação (Brasil)

Abstract

Mariculture is fundamental to ensuring food survive and security in the world. Only 5% of aquaculture production in Brazil comes from mariculture (<50 thousand tons). Therefore, Brazil, with its large coastal region and favorable environment, is very far from reaching its potential in the development of mariculture and foreign exchange generation. The State of Rio de Janeiro (ERJ) has very low marine aquaculture production, although there are favorable conditions for the development of sustainable mariculture. Mariculture in Ilha Grande Bay (BIG) has suffered significant losses in recent years due to outbreaks of scallop mortality. The causes of the drop in productivity are still unknown, but they reduce production by 90% in many mariculture enterprises. In this context, this project proposes i. analyze the taxonomic diversity of the water microbiome of important rivers in the BIG cultivation system; ii. analyze the biogeochemical parameters of water from important rivers in the BIG. Omics approaches, cell biology, biogeochemical and microbiological analyzes will be employed to achieve the objectives. The team has a previous history of working together, having developed relevant studies in the context of the proposal (> 300 published articles; H index> 100). The project will contribute to improving the productivity of mariculture, which can have a social and economic impact on the ERJ.