Comunicar Ciência: Reporting of the activities carried out by the Movement Ecology Laboratory (ECO MOVE/USP).

Abstract

Dissemination is an essential activity to make scientific knowledge and its applications accessible to society, contributing to the public's interest in science and fostering transparency in these spaces. Scientific journalism becomes crucial for effective communication, mediating dialogues between science, politics, and society. This project aims to produce journalistic material on major Ecology and Conservation themes within Biology, with a focus on the Research Project "Use of new bio-tracking and analytical tools for the study of movement ecology and bird conservation in the Caatinga," linked to the FAPESP Young Researchers Program. The research explores topics related to the biology, ecology, and conservation of frugivorous and obligate-scavenging birds in the Caatinga, applied to the theory of Movement Ecology. Dissemination will occur through the Movement Ecology Laboratory website at the Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, and the project's own communication channels, aiming to democratize access to scientific information. Movement Ecology studies patterns, mechanisms, and consequences of species movement, driven by multiple spatial and temporal processes that strongly influence population and community dynamics. The study addresses the movement of Lear's Macaw, an endemic species of the Caatinga, and four species of New World vultures, answering questions about the fundamental ecology of long-lived, wide-ranging frugivorous and obligate-scavenging birds, their ecosystem services, conflicts between humans and wildlife, and conservation planning for birds in the Caatinga. This project contributes to disseminating these studies, promoting accessible and accurate understanding, crucial for decision-making, intellectual development, and biodiversity conservation.