Authors conclude that the oxidative stress observed in the gills and liver of B. caudomaculatus from the area modified by the mining activity reflected the local anthropogenic impact status.

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The main results of BRC projects was the main focus of the presentation. The meeting took place in Cartagena, Colombia, where Rafael Assis represented the BRC with the work: "A decade of studies on forest recovery after mining in the Eastern Amazon: what have we learned?"

The study evaluated assemblages of insects along an environmental gradient of land use and land cover. Authors report that most taxa were associated with forests, and fewer pasture; no taxa were associated explicitly with the bauxite mining gradient. Results are very promising for future biomonitoring programs.

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Natural regeneration is becoming more frequently used as a method of ecological restoration after mining operations. A BRC study aimed to investigate forest restoration as a function of the exclusive use of natural regeneration. Results indicate a need of introducing early and late secondary successional species to correct the successional trajectory and ensure the ecosystem restoration.

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The bark of the Astronium lecointei Ducke tree, a species native to the Brazilian Amazon, was characterized in relation to anatomical and chemical features for the first time. Based on the potential use of polar extractives, polysaccharides and lignin, bark from A. lecointei is suggested as a valuable resource of raw material for production of high-value products.

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In this new publication involving researchers and students from BRC, the authors suggest that anthropic activities are one of the main drivers of change in the environmental characteristics of streams and the diversity of aquatic insects.

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It was evaluated the abundance of plastics in the gastrointestinal tracts and gills of 14 fish species from 12 streams in eastern Brazilian Amazon. As result, only one individual of a small catfish specie  contained no plastic particles in the gills or in the digestive tracts. The study reinforces the need for further, more systematic research into the biological and behavioral factors that may contribute to the greater vulnerability of some  fish species to contamination by plastics.

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For decades, the controversial method of planting of Crotalaria spp. to attract predatory dragonflies and control insect vectors has been under debate. However, a recent study leaded by BRC researchers elucidate why dragonflies are not attracted by Crotalaria and, thus, cannot not be considered an efficient method for vector control.

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The study investigated one aquatic plant specie (Eichhornia azurea) in Amazon in what regards its capacity of morphological and allometric plasticity in response to plant density. They concluded that such adjustments are important when there is a need for increasing resource uptake. Also, the plasticity observed can help to explain its success across different habitats.

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Recent publication involving researchers from BRC demonstrates that Habitat Integrity Index (HII) is a good alternative for aquatic biomonitoring in Brazilian streams and other Amazonian countries. The study highlights that the use of HII in field surveys is relatively simple and low-cost, as it does not rely upon specific equipments or technical skills, thus simplifying its implementation in biomonitoring programs. ​
 

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Opportunity: Research Fellowship in Ecological Interactions

Researcher is sought for the PVNS-Amazon scholarship (National Senior Visiting Professor Program in the Amazon), in the project “How ecological interactions are influenced by mining activities and their post-exploration environmental restoration efforts in the municipality of Paragominas, a degraded area of the Amazon rainforest Brazilian ”.

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Click here for more details

A new species, Voragocoris weirauchae sp.n., is described based on specimens collected in the Brazilian Amazon, representing the first record of the genus from Brazil. ​The study was recently published in the journal Zootaxa. The article contains the description, photographs of habitus, and scanning electron micrographs of the diagnostic features.

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The article, published in the scientific journal Ecological Indicators, suggest that different aspects of  macrophyte communities should be considered when creating indexes for environmental integrity. Results are highly relevant for management decisions regarding the preservation of Amazonian freshwater ecosystems.

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In a recent published article (PlosOne), researchers from BRC evaluated the adaptive plasticity of threatened mammal species. Among the four studied species, the peccary presented the least ability to survive in more altered environments. The authors reinforce the importance of forest remnants for the survival of endangered mammal species in regions of high anthropogenic pressure, as in the eastern Brazilian Amazon. 

The full article can be accessed by clicking in the figure (left).

The Biological Interactions project, in partnership with the PPGBE (MPEG), offered the course from 16-20 November. Twenty-five participants attended the course, including many postgraduate students from different institutions. The course comprehended analyzes of biological interactions and how they can be applied to contexts related ecology, conservation and restoration of ecosystems. 

The BRC congratulates the organizers and all involved.

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Brazilian newspaper publish a report highlighting the importance of the research consortium on forest recovery of the Hydro mining activities in Paragominas. The report emphasize the different techniques to bring back the vegetation to the areas where bauxite was extracted in order to recompose the biodiversity, as well the program for monitoring the mammals in the region.

Click in the image on left to see the report and watch the video.

The second part of the Field Course in tropical rainforest ecology and biodiversity just ended. What a pity! Students loved the experience of being in Norway. This part of the course comprises two weeks, where students from Brazil and Norway join again, now in Oslo. Activities included DNA extraction and analysis, scientific writing, city tour, and hiking in the mountains. Fortunately, they even managed to see snow!

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Yeah! The jaguar team was in the field this month and successfully managed to capture a jaguar for tagging with GPS collars. The transmitters from the collar will give GPS positions for the instrumented animal every 1.5 hours, for more than a year. The purpose is to monitor the movement, habitat use, and living area of the largest feline in the Americas. Congratulations for everyone involved in this great achievement!!

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On September 2019, in Krasnoyarsk (Russia), Hydro's biologist Victor Barbosa presented a report containing the researches developed by BRC. The work, based on the compilation of the BRC's results, received a prize in the section "International Bauxite, Aluminum and Aluminum Study Committee (ICSOBA)". Congrats Victor!

Congratulations BRC! Thanks to all our efforts, the cooperation is now extended to 2023. There was a fantastic signing ceremony in Belém on Tuesday. Thanks everybody that participated and we are looking forward for new challenges!

The new Norwegian ambassador to Brazil, Nils Martin Gunneng, speaking at the BRC seminar "Amazon biodiversity and Evolution" at MPEG 31 October. The auditorium was full, the presentations interesting, and the potential for expanded cooperation great.

Belém will host two international seminars on October 31st. In the morning, the topic will be biodiversity and in the afternoon, the discussion is about geoscience. Join us! Free registration for both seminars!

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Click in the image on the left to see access the program of the event

BRC has two master thesis in the pipeline. Juliana Santos is surveying about habitat use for herbivorous mammals in a mosaic of degraded land in the eastern Amazon. Ana Ribeiro investigates the distribution and habitat use for the order Carnivora (Mammalia) in a mosaic of degraded land in the eastern Amazon.

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Click on figure in the left for more information about their studies.

We are already testing the equipment for the jaguar project. This is an extension of the camera traps. Some jaguars will be tagged with telemetry collars. The data will contribute for the environmental management and conservation of the wildlife.

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Click on figure in the left for more information.