Souza Cruz and UNISC renewed on Friday, 20, the partnership for the continuity of research into the Succession of Animal and Plant Communities at the Environment Park
Santa Cruz do Sul (RS) – In a ceremony held on Friday morning, 20, Souza Cruz and University of Santa Cruz do Sul (Unisc) renewed their technical and scientific partnership agreement for research into the Succession of Animal and Plant Communities at Souza Cruz Environmental Park, until 2015. The park is located alongside the BR 471, km 132.4, in the Industrial District of Santa Cruz do Sul. This renewal prompts a new stage in the research works, coordinated by the people in charge of the Zoology and Botany labs at the Biology and Pharmacy Department. Since 2005, these labs have been analyzing the level of animal and plant succession in the landfill site. “Besides contributing towards a better scientific knowledge of our region, this study has played a fundamental role for the environmental sustainability of our industrial operation, since it displays the direct relationship between the animals and plants that exist in this site. This is why we renewed the partnership and started a new stage”, said Jorge Bedin, Souza Cruz industrial manager in Santa Cruz do Sul.
The partnership renewal ceremony was held in the Environment Park, and was attended by the following authorities: Vice-Dean of AJur, Unisc, Eltor Breunig; municipal secretary of the environment, Alberto Heck; regional manager of the State Foundation for Environment Protection (Fepam), Alessandra Quadros; coordinator of the Protected Areas and Forest Department of the State Secretariat of the environment (Sema-RS), Pablo Tadeu Pereia Silva; presidents of entities, Souza Cruz collaborators and the press. According to Bedin, the renewal of the partnership takes into consideration the importance of the project and its scope. “In light of the complexity and scope of the studies carried out by the local university at the Environment Park, we know that this is the most comprehensive study on animal and plant succession ever conducted in South Brazil”, he stresses. After the signature, all guests had a chance to visit the exhibition hall that features all animal and plant species collected by the researchers, followed by a guided visit through the Environment Park, followed by lunch.
RESULTS – Research conducted in the Environment Park resulted into 371,179 arthropodes (insects) collected, split into 22 orders and 193 herb, tree and bush species, 55 different fungi, 31 lichens, 16 bryophytes and 16 pteridophytes. “These data will give origin to informative scientific papers to be handed out to schools that visit the Environment Park and to the academic community in general”, Bedin explains.
SYSTEM APPROACH – The research work, coordinated by PhD professors Jair Putzke, responsible for the Botany Lab, and Andreas Köhler, responsible for the Zoology lab, consisted in monitoring the zoological succession through surveys of the local species, utilizing special materials for collecting these individuals. So as to relate these species to vegetation, the vegetable density in every collection point was defined. “In all, there were 17 points, making it possible to relate the plant succession level to the occurrence of anthropodes. The study was made public through 21 presentations, split into seminars, congresses and similar events.
Phytosociological surveys were conducted to monitor plant succession – consisting in investigating the characteristics of natural plant communities, their classification, relations and distribution throughout the park – including all plant species and epiphytes in the adjacent native vegetation. Phenology was also studied, analyzing what periodically happens to living beings and how they relate to the environment. The results obtained included a never-seen fungus strain, whose name pays homage to the intellectual advisor of the Souza Cruz Environmental Park, José Lutzemberger. The species is to be called: Marasmielluslutzembergii.
Source: FOUR Comunicação/ Photo: Junio Nunes
