Autores:
Mônica M. C. Muelbert1,2*, Margareth Copertino2,3, Leticia Cotrim da Cunha3,4, Mirtha Noemi Lewis5,6,7, Andrei Polejack8,9, Angelina del Carmen Peña-Puch10 and Evelia Rivera-Arriaga10

Revista:
Frontiers in Climate - Predictions and Projections

DOI:
https://doi.org/10.3389/fclim.2021.748344

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Climate Change hazards to social-ecological systems are well-documented and the time to act is now. The IPCC-SROCC used the best available scientific knowledge to identify paths for effective adaptation and mitigation of climate change impacts on the ocean and cryosphere. Despite all the evidence highlighted by SROCC and the key role of the ocean and cryosphere for climate change at all levels, Latin America (LA) faces challenges to take effective action mostly due to socio-economic vulnerability, political instability and overall technical capacities. Countries have adopted diverse actions as the information needed by policy makers has been made available, not necessarily in accessible and inclusive ways. Regional imbalance in economic development, technological level, capacity development, societal involvement, and governmental oversight have contributed to skewed geographical and technological gaps of knowledge on key ecosystems and specific areas preventing effective climate actions/solutions. We analyze the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) from the region as proxies to the incorporation of IPCC recommendations. The gaps and opportunities for the uptake of ocean and climate science to political decision making is discussed as five key aspects: (i) climate assessment information and regional policies, (ii) knowledge production, (iii) knowledge accessibility, (iv) knowledge impact to policy, and (v) long term monitoring for decision making. We advocate that the uptake of SROCC findings in LA policies can be enhanced by: (a) embracing local realities and incorporating local, traditional and indigenous knowledge; (b) empowering locals to convey local knowledge to global assessments and adapt findings to local realities; (c) enhancing regional research capabilities; and (d) securing long-term sustainable ocean observations. Local and regional participation in knowledge production and provision enhances communication pathways, climate literacy and engagement which are key for effective action to be reflected in governance. Currently, the lack of accessible and inclusive information at the local level hampers the overall understanding, integration and engagement of the society to mitigate climate effects, perpetuates regional heterogeneity and threatens the efforts to reverse the course of climate change in LA. Local researchers should be empowered, encouraged, rewarded and better included in global climate-ocean scientific assessments.

Autores:
AGUILERA, O.; BELEM, A. L.; ANGELICA, R.; MACARIO, K.; CRAPEZ, M.; NEPOMUCENO, A.; PAES, E.; TENÓRIO, M. C.; DIAS, F.; SOUZA, R.; RAPAGNÃ, L.; CARVALHO, C.; SILVA, E.

Revista:
Quaternary International, v. XXX, p. 1-8, 2015.

DOI:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2015.07.012

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Brazilian shell mounds are relicts of prehistoric settlements characterized as distinct features on the sandy coastal plain, sandy bars of coastal lagoons and rocky island. They are composed of shells of edible marine mollusks, fish remains and wildlife bones intermixed with sand. In the coastal lagoon region of the Rio de Janeiro state these shell mounds range in age between 5100 and 1300 cal BP. In this study we analyzed the geochemistry of the bones of the whitemouth croaker that primarily offers insight on the nature of bone diagenesis and its use for radiochronology and as isotope paleo-thermometer. The x-ray diffractograms of bones from the Tarioba shell mound exhibit elevated calcite profiles in contrast to a reduced hydroxyapatite concentration. Two peaks of quartz and the presence of feldspar provide evidence of exogenous materials, e.g., sand or silt particles, infilling hollow spaces within the fish bones. The Beirada and the Ponte do Girau shell mounds are characterized by the highest peaks of apatite relative to calcite, which is clearly different from the result obtained for Tarioba. The Manitiba profile is similar to the Tarioba profile except for calcite peaks that are approximately three times lower than those for Tarioba. At a depth of 25 cm in the Tarioba shell mound, the redox sensitive index of diagenetic alteration reaches its maximum value, suggesting a zone of accumulation in the soil horizon redox condition. The δ18O derived temperatures profile based on mollusks showed a consistent range from 18.1 to 24.1 °C, indicating seasonal events of intense upwelling of the South Atlantic Central Water breaking the mean warm surface conditions of the Brazil Current. Diagenetic imprints of Tarioba shell mound suggest humid burial conditions with the loss of hydroxyapatite and the enrichment of exogenous calcite. Drier depositional environmental conditions are indicated in the Ponte do Girau and the Beirada shell mounds, while intermediary depositional environmental conditions characterize the Manitiba shell mound. In the period represented by the shell mound samples, the sea level exhibited significant oscillations and portions of the inner shelf were exposed, which may have resulted in an anomalous derived temperature records. These results are compatible with events of anomalous temperatures occurring in the sea level during the time span of occupation of these shell mounds.

Autores:
AGOSTINI, A.; GHERARDI, D. F. M.; PEZZI, L. P.

Revista:
Plos One, v. 10, p. e0139601, 2015

DOI:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0139601

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The East Continental Shelf (ECS) of Brazil is a hotspot of endemism and biodiversity of reef biota in the South Atlantic, hosting a number of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Connectivity of MPAs through larval dispersal influences recruitment, population dynamics, genetic structure and biogeography in coral reef ecosystems. Connectivity of protected reef ecosystem in the ECS was investigated with a hydrodynamic model (ROMS) forcing an Individual Based Model (IBM—Ichthyop), and used groupers (genus Mycteroperca) as functional group. The hydrodynamic output from ROMS was compared with satellite data and showed good agreement with observed surface fields. Eggs were released, in IBM experiments, from April to September along six years (2002–2007) in five MPAs along the ECS. Intrannual variability in recruitment and self-recruitment of grouper larvae was observed, as well as a negative correlation of these population parameters with total Kinetic Energy (KE) used as a metric of the physical environment. Higher KE leads to increased offshore advection of larvae, reduced total recruitment and connectivity of MPAs. Our results indicate high and uni-directional connectivity between MPAs from north to south influenced by the Brazil Current flowing in the same direction. Results also showed that some MPAs act predominantly as “sink” while others are mainly “source” areas.