Events
Rafael Oliveira
State University of Campinas (Unicamp)
Department of de Plant Biology
Campinas, Brazil
Dr. Rafael Oliveira has received his Ph.D in Integrative Biology at the University of California, Berkeley. He is currently a professor at the plant biology department at Unicamp. His research is focused on plant functional ecology, ecohydrology and biosphere-atmosphere interactions.
Abstract
Climate change in Brazilian Ecosystems: functional responses of native plants
Extreme climatic events are predicted to increase in frequency and magnitude, but their ecological impacts are poorly understood. Under this scenario, it is important that we understand the ecological responses and the vulnerability of different ecosystems to climate change, such as the increase in frequency of extreme drought events. I am interested in investigating the relationships amongst climate, climate change and vegetation function. More specifically, the research that I and my research group conduct aims to respond to the following questions: 1) What will be the impact of climate change on vegetation function?; 2) What are the morphological and physiological mechanisms used by plants to cope with drought?; 3) How plant water use behaviour influence climate at multiple scales? To address these questions, we combine greenhouse and field experiments at a range scales, from leaves to whole-tree and entire landscapes. We use a combination of traditional methods (leaf gas exchange, monitoring of phenology, growth and mortality rates, water balance), with innovative methods such as stable isotopes and sapflow monitoring. Stable isotopes are used as an integrative tool to evaluate plant ecophysiological responses such as changes in photosynthetic capacity and stomatal conductance. Sapflow monitoring integrates the response of the multiple components that determines whole plant water use (rooting depth, foliar phenology and stomatal conductance). Appropriately addressing all the questions posed above also require the monitoring of several micrometeorological variables at fine spatial and temporal scales. Here I see an opportunity for the application of new methodological approaches and technologies. We need networks of sensors to monitor the environment at finer temporal and spatial scales of different brazilian ecosystems, especially moutainous environments, which are considered very vulnerable to changes in climate. Wireless devices with sensors to measure leaf wetness, radiation, wind speed, rainfall, air temperature, humidity and soil water and devices to store, process and transmit data at long distance would be especially relevant research resources. I believe that a more thorough understanding of the ecological strategies and responses of species from tropical ecosystems is key to foster more realistic simulations of vulnerable ecosystem functioning under climate change scenarios. Finer spatial and temporal measurements of micrometeorological variables will also help us to better understand the influence of climatic variables in controlling plant and ecosystem functioning at different scales.