Integration of marine ecological processes at multiple spatial scales in the Brazilian Coastal Zone

Abstract

Ecological processes can vary in local, regional or broad scale. The question of how local scale studies can be applied to wider scales has been receiving more attention in Science. 'Scaling up' has thus become a major goal of marine ecologists, not only to achieve greater and wider understanding of variation in natural processes, but also to address major environmental problems such as climate change. Over the last decade study of the integration of regional Coastal processes governing primary production (nutrients, light, temperature) with local processes determining benthic dynamics has yielded important advances in understanding of coastal ecology. In the Brazilian coastline, ongoing studies have been addressing the spatial-temporal variability of recruitment of intertidal invertebrates in relation to oceanographic factors and cold front events. Alterations in these factors can impose strong influences on upwelling regions, as Cabo Frio, due changes on the dynamic of the benthic-pelagic coupling. The Biota Araçá Bay project presents an unique opportunity to integrate the plankton system, hydrodynamic factors and benthic system studies in order to better understand how temporal fluctuations of pelagic parameters regulate the recruitment of benthic organisms in local scale. In this application we aim to integrate the benthic-pelagic system in the Araçá Bay to evaluate how changes in the pelagic system regulate the recruitment rate, growth and mortality of barnacles in order to integrated these local data with those from regional ongoing projects. (AU)