Research areas

The coastal zone is an environmental system formed in the area of direct interaction between components of the continent, the ocean and the atmosphere. Its natural characteristics include beaches, coastal wetlands, estuaries, lagoons and dunes. These interfaces are very important in terms of transfer of matter and energy to and from the sea.

The salt marshes and tidal flats are one of the most outstanding interface ecosystems due to their biological diversity, and also because they are breeding and reproductive areas of numerous fish species, and feeding areas for migratory birds. Primary production is high and the transfer of this production to consumers affects processes in neighboring environments, often sustaining trophic chains of estuaries and bays. The marshes are also very efficient in trapping carbon dioxide that would otherwise remain in the atmosphere. In some cases, the plants of coastal wetlands play a fundamental role, in others, the benthic algae or algae and phytoplankton of the tidal flats are more important. It is necessary to establish guidelines related to environmental management, urban development and conservation in order to be aware of the relative importance of these ecosystems, as deterioration in these areas could produce a cascade effect on the entire estuarine food chain. The coastal dunes are another type of interface ecosystems located on the land-sea border. They constitute an area of transition, where the marine influence decreases toward the continent generating an important environmental gradient (such as salinity and wind effects). Understanding the role of the marine influence on the dynamics of terrestrial ecosystems is of growing interest given the existing records that show gradual increases in the sea level. The use of these lands includes urban facilities, forestry, livestock, tourism and recreation. As a result, non-regulated tourism activities, over-grazing, forest plantations and sand exploitation are the main threats on this environment.

Watersheds are natural systems of great interest in themselves and from the point of view of their integration with interface environments. The origin of these watersheds and their geological composition determine their physical and chemical characteristics exerting their influence on plant and animal biodiversity. In addition, land use and the natural wearing of adjoining lands have important impact in both the availability and the quality of the water resources. Watershed areas, as natural systems, meet appropriate conditions for their particular study, constituting a direct and relevant link with the marine environment providing information on their land sources.

Ocean fronts are undoubtedly the next interface ecosystems of importance in marine environments. In the ocean, the properties of water do not vary gradually with distance. There are large areas in which horizontal variations of temperature and salinity are very small, surrounded by narrow sections where horizontal changes are extremely sharp. These thin bands are called fronts and should be observed as part of the structural complexity of the ocean at landscape scale. It is well established that they are regions of highly significant primary production and increased trophic activity at higher levels.