Brazilian sandy beaches: characteristics, ecosystem services, impacts, knowledge and priorities

Author(s):Show less -

Antonia Cecília Zacagnini Amaral ^[1] ; Guilherme Nascimento Corte ^[2] ; José Souto Rosa Filho ^[3] ; Marcia Regina Denadai ^[4] ; Leonir André Colling ^[5] ; Carlos Borzone ^[6] ; Valéria Veloso ^[7] ; Elianne Pessoa Omena ^[8] ; Ilana Rosental Zalmon ^[9] ; Cristina de Almeida Rocha-Barreira ^[10] ; Jose Roberto Botelho de Souza ^[11] ; Leonardo Cruz da Rosa ^[12] ; Tito Cesar Marques de Almeida ^[13]

Affiliation:Show less -

^[1] Universidade Estadual de Campinas. Instituto Biologia. Departamento Biologia Animal (Zoologia) - Brasil

^[2] Universidade Estadual de Campinas. Instituto Biologia. Departamento Biologia Animal (Zoologia) - Brasil

^[3] Universidade Federal de Pernambuco. Departamento de Oceanografia. Laboratório de Bentos - Brasil

^[4] Universidade de São Paulo. Instituto Oceanográfico - Brasil

^[5] FURG. Instituto de Oceanografia. Laboratório de Ecologia de Invertebrados Bentônicos - Brasil

^[6] Universidade Federal do Paraná. Centro de Estudos do Mar - Brasil

^[7] UNIRIO. CCBS. Instituto de Biociências - Brasil

^[8] PETROBRAS. CENPES. Fapese - Brasil

^[9] Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro. Laboratório de Ciências Ambientais - Brasil

^[10] Universidade Federal do Ceará. Instituto de Ciências do Mar - Brasil

^[11] Universidade Federal de Pernambuco. Centro de Ciências Biológicas. Departamento de Zoologia - Brasil

^[12] Universidade Federal de Sergipe. Centro de Ciências Agrárias Aplicadas. Departamento de Engenharia de Pesca e Aquicultura - Brasil

^[13] Universidade do Vale do Itajaí. Centro de Ciências da Terra e do Mar. Laboratório de Ecologia de Comunidades - Brasil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Brazilian Journal of Oceanography; v. 64, p. 5-16, 2016-00-00.

Abstract

ABSTRACT Sandy beaches constitute a key ecosystem and provide socioeconomic goods and services, thereby playing an important role in the maintenance of human populations and in biodiversity conservation. Despite the ecological and social importance of these ecosytems, Brazilian sandy beaches are significantly impacted by human interference, chemical and organic pollution and tourism, as well as global climate change. These factors drive the need to better understand the environmental change and its consequences for biota. To promote the implementation of integrated studies to detect the effects of regional and global environmental change on beaches and on other benthic habitats of the Brazilian coast, Brazilian marine researchers have established The Coastal Benthic Habitats Monitoring Network (ReBentos). In order to provide input for sample planning by ReBentos, we have conducted an intensive review of the studies conducted on Brazilian beaches and summarized the current knowledge about this environment. In this paper, we present the results of this review and describe the physical, biological and socioeconomics features of Brazilian beaches. We have used these results, our personal experience and worldwide literature to identify research projects that should be prioritized in the assessment of regional and global change on Brazilian sandy beaches. We trust that this paper will provide insights for future studies and represent a significant step towards the conservation of Brazilian beaches and their biodiversity. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 10/52323-0 - Monitoring network of coastal benthic habitats: ReBentos
• Grantee: Alexander Turra
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Regular Research Grants