Unraveling the relationship of tilapiculture-sponges-golden mussel in continental waters of the State of São Paulo (SP, Brazil)

• Grant number: 24/20340-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: August 01, 2025
• End date: July 31, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Physiology of Recent Groups
• Principal Investigator: Márcio Reis Custódio
• Grantee: Humberto Freitas de Medeiros Fortunato
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Tilapia farming in Brazilian inland waters has been expanding significantly, especially in the south-central region. At the same time, fish cages have served as a substrate for the invasive species Limnoperna fortunei and sponges, such as Radiospongilla inesi. The golden mussel increases the weight of the cages affecting productivity, while the effect of the sponge-mussel interaction on aquaculture is unknown. To understand the relationship among tilapiculture-sponges-golden mussel, monthly monitoring will be conducted, along with in situ and laboratory experiments over 36 months, in one tilapia farm in the Paranapanema River and another in the Paraná River. The goal of this project is to determine whether sponges positively or negatively impact tilapia productivity. We will assess recruitment and growth rates, filtration and respiration rates of benthic species, as well as competition between them. The sponge metabolome will be identified as well as its interaction with tilapia farming. Also, R. inesi as aquaculture byproduct will be investigated. The project plans to increase scientific knowledge on the ecophysiology of freshwater sponges, develop human resources, promote technological innovation studies with experimentation integrating academia and the third sector, and create mechanisms to bridge the gap between food production and environmental preservation.