Biological invasions in riparian habitats: impacts on biological diversity and ecosystem services

Abstract

Invasive species can alter ecosystems through changes on the environment and ecological processes of the community. In Brazil, the concern over the issue is recent and decisions relating to the control of invasive species are taken without previous scientific knowledge. The aim of this project is to identify the ecological characteristics that allow Hedychium coronarium invade and consequently disturb the biodiversity and ecosystem services. H. coronarium is native from tropical Asia and because of its rapid growth and dispersion, it is considered invasive in different regions of the planet. The experiments will be conducted at 5 different sites in the region of São Carlos. We'll assess 1) the development of H. coronarium under different environmental conditions; 2) the physical and chemical influence of this species on the regeneration of native plants; 3) possible impacts on ecosystem services, taking into account diversity, water infiltration in the soil and depth of the water table, nutrient cycling, the use of this species as a food resource for capybaras, potential reservoirs of Rocky Mountain spotted fever when they carry contaminated ticks on their body. From the results we will develop models that can help predict how an invasive species can influence the diversity and ecosystem services, including epidemiology and public health, support policy management and control of invasive species through the development of protocols for the diagnosis of an invasion the susceptibility of the environment and the direct and indirect impacts; presentation of at least 6 papers in scientific events, publication of at least 4 papers and supervision of 4 graduate, 2 MSc and 4 PhD students. (AU)