Due to the scarcity of long-term research programs related to the study of biodiversity, in 1997 CNPq and the Brazilian scientific community implemented the Long-Term Ecological Program (PELD), which fostered a new philosophy in the design of long-term ecological studies in Brazil. Based on this principle, the Biodiversity Research Program (PPBio) was created in 2004 focusing in articulating regional and national competence, so that knowledge of Brazilian biodiversity is expanded and disseminated in a planned and coordinated manner. This is possible through the installation of permanent plots, mainly in protected areas (PAs), that allow for long-term ecological research. This methodology has allowed us to accommodate studies with different temporal and spatial scales, thus contributing to our knowledge on ecological responses and the degree of vulnerability of biodiversity to the effects of landscape changes over time.
This project is lead and managed by Prof. Dr. Selvino Neckel de Oliveira, a professor at Federal University of Santa Catarina and involves several other researchers and students.
Rafael Barbizan Sühs
Postdoctoral fellow
I am focused on understading processes and patterns of vegetation ecology and dynamics.