CASE STUDY: DEVELOPMENT OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, AND INTERPRETATION AND HERITAGE PROGRAM OF THE GUARATIBA STATE BIOLOGICAL RESERVE (RIO DE JANEIRO/BRAZIL) / ESTUDIO DEL CASO: DESARROLLO DEL PROGRAMA DE EDUCACIÓN E INTERPRETACIÓN AMBIENTAL Y PATRIMONIAL DE LA RESERVA BIOLÓGICA ESTATAL DE GUARATIBA (RIO DE JANEIRO/ BRASIL) / ESTUDO DE CASO: DESENVOLVIMENTO DO PROGRAMA DE EDUCAÇÃO E INTERPRETAÇÃO AMBIENTAL E PATRIMONIAL DA RESERVA BIOLÓGICA ESTADUAL DE GUARATIBA (RIO DE JANEIRO/BRASIL)

This paper presents a case study on the development of the Environmental Education, and Interpretation and Heritage Program (EEIHP) for the Guaratiba State Biological Reserve in Rio de Janeiro (RJ/Brazil). The general objective was to analyze the process and point out strengths and weaknesses of the adopted strategies. The methodological basis was Qualitative Research, with an Observational Case Study. The research was carried out between April 2017 and July 2021. The methodological strategies that were used were: bibliographic survey; document analysis (Public Use and Management Plan reports) and participant observation as well as participant research (events, meetings of the advisory board and the environmental education working group). The development of the EEIHP in the Reserve went forward due to a set of factors such as: participatory management committed to the Management and Action Plans; 2) participation of volunteers, through contribution to human and material resources; 3) integration of formal and non-formal education, reconciling school projects with the protected area's socio-environmental actions; 4) support from the headquarters team to decisions from the working group and 5) adaptation of the action plan to the global reality and local context generated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The weaknesses to be overcome were identified as: little basis in legislation and documents; lack of a qualified professional team; difficulty in reconciling school and management agendas in order to proceed with actions and products; overload of tasks directed at the few members of the working group.

Este artículo presenta un estudio del caso sobre el desarrollo del Programa de Interpretación y Educación Ambiental y Patrimonial (PEIAP) en la Reserva Biológica Estatal de Guaratiba en Rio de Janeiro (RJ / Brasil). El objetivo general fue analizar el proceso y señalar fortalezas y debilidades en las estrategias adoptadas. La base metodológica fue la Investigación Cualitativa, con enfoque del Estudio del caso, por medio de la observación y la investigación participante. La investigación se llevó a cabo entre abril de 2017 y julio de 2021. Las estrategias metodológicas utilizadas fueron: levantamiento bibliográfico; análisis de documentos y observación e investigación participante (eventos, reuniones del consejo asesor y la cámara temática de educación ambiental). Se pudo concluir que el desarrollo del PEIAP en la Reserva se debe a un conjunto de factores como: 1) manejo participativo comprometido con el Plan de Manejo y Planes de Acción; 2) participación de voluntarios, por medio de recursos humanos y materiales; 3) integración de los proyectos escolares con las acciones socioambientales de la unidad de conservación; 4) apoyo del equipo de la sede a la Cámara Temática y 5) adecuación del plan de acción a la realidad global y contexto local, generado por la pandemia COVID-19. Cómo se verificaron las debilidades a superar; escasa base legislativa, falta de profesionales calificados en educación ambiental que integren el equipo de la Reserva; dificultad para conciliar las agendas escolares y de gestión y sobrecarga de tareas dirigidas a unos pocos integrantes de la Cámara Temática.

O presente trabalho apresenta um estudo de caso sobre o desenvolvimento do Programa de Educação e Interpretação Ambiental e Patrimonial (PEIAP) da Reserva Biológica Estadual de Guaratiba, no Rio de Janeiro (RJ/Brasil). O objetivo geral foi analisar o processo de implantação do PEIAP e apontar potencialidades e fragilidades das estratégias adotadas. A base metodológica foi a pesquisa qualitativa, com abordagem de estudo de caso observacional. A pesquisa foi realizada entre abril de 2017 e julho de 2021. As estratégias metodológicas empregadas foram: levantamento bibliográfico; análise documental e observação-participante e pesquisa participante. Foi possível concluir que o desenvolvimento do PEIAP da Reserva se deve a um conjunto de fatores como: 1) gestão participativa e comprometida com o Plano de Manejo e Planos de Ação; 2) participação de voluntários, através de recursos humanos e materiais, 3) integração do ensino formal e não formal, conciliando os projetos escolares com as ações socioambientais da unidade de conservação; 4) apoio da equipe da sede aos encaminhamentos da Câmara Temática e 5) adaptação do plano de ação à realidade global e ao contexto local, gerada pela pandemia por COVID-19. Como fragilidades a serem superadas foi verificado: insuficiente embasamento na legislação, ausência de profissional qualificado em educação ambiental integrando a equipe da Reserva; dificuldade de conciliar as agendas das escolas e da gestão e centralização de tarefas em poucos integrantes da Câmara Temática.

Marine litter and wood debris as habitat and vector for the range expansion of invasive corals (Tubastraea spp.).

Tubastraea coccinea Lesson, 1830 and T. tagusensis Wells 1982 are azooxanthellate corals non-native to Brazil and introduced through fouling on oil platforms, the primary vector. They first invaded the tropical rocky reefs at Ilha Grande Bay (southwest Atlantic Ocean), during the early 1990s. Currently, at some Brazilian locations these species occupy 80% of the benthos of the shallow subtidal. They cause economic and environmental impacts by fouling shipping and modifying native communities. This study provides observations of an additional mechanism of secondary dispersal by T. coccinea and T. tagusensis that were seen attached to floating wood debris and marine litter, which are highly abundant in the region. Such rafting corals have been found adjacent to invaded reefs and stranded on beaches. These observations indicate that transport by rafting over long distances may be another mechanism of range expansion and secondary introduction of these invasive species within the region.

Anti-inflammatory potential of invasive sun corals (Scleractinia: Tubastraea spp.) from Brazil: alternative use for management?

OBJECTIVES: The objective was to analyse the anti-inflammatory potential of the invasive coral species Tubastraea coccinea and Tubastraea tagusensis. METHODS: Methanolic extracts, fractions and synthesized compounds were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory ability, and their composition was elucidated through chemical analysis. KEY FINDINGS: The genus Tubastraea (Order Scleractinia, Family Dendrophylliidae) (known as sun corals) presents compounds with pharmacological value. The introduction of these azooxanthellate hard corals into Brazil, initially in Rio de Janeiro state, occurred through their fouling of oil and gas platforms from the Campos oil Basin. The two invasive species have successfully expanded along the Brazilian coast and threaten endemic species and biodiversity. The HPLC-MS and GC-MS data suggest the presence of aplysinopsin analogues (alkaloids). Anti-inflammatory activity was observed in all samples tested in in-vivo assays, especially in T. coccinea. The ethyl acetate fraction from this sample was more effective in in-vitro assays for anti-inflammatory activity. Depending on the concentration, this fraction showed cytotoxic responses. CONCLUSIONS: These species have potential pharmacological use, and considering their invasive nature, this study presents a potential alternative use, which may enhance the management of this biological invasion.

Mutagenic, genotoxic and cytotoxic studies of invasive corals Tubastraea coccinea and Tubastraea tagusensis.

The high diversity of species in the marine environment gives rise to compounds with unique structural patterns not found as natural products in other systems and with great potential for pharmacological, cosmetic and nutritional use. The genus Tubastraea (Class Anthozoa, Order Scleractinia, Family Dendrophylliidae) is characterized as a hard coral without the presence of zooxanthellae. In species of this genus alkaloids derived from the compound aplysinopsin with pharmacological activity are known. In Brazil T. coccinea and T. tagusensis are characterized as non-indigenous and invasive and are currently found along the Brazilian coast, from Santa Catarina to Bahia states. This study aims to analyze the mutagenic, cytotoxic and genotoxic potential of methanolic and ethanolic extracts from T. coccinea and T. tagusensis collected in Ilha Grande Bay, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. Bacterial reverse mutation assay on the standard strains TA97, TA98, TA100, TA102 and TA104, in vitro micronucleus formation test and colorimetric assays for cytotoxic signals on the cell lines HepG2 and RAW264.7 were used. We also synthesized an oxoaplysinopsin derivate alkaloid (APL01) for comparative purposes. No mutagenic (250; 312.5; 375; 437.5 and 500 µg/plate) or genotoxic (0.05; 0.5; 5.0; 50 and 500 µg/mL) effects were observed in any sample tested for all measured concentrations. Cytotoxic responses were observed for eukaryotic cells in all tested samples at 500 and 5000 µg/mL concentrations. Cytotoxicity found in the WST-1 assay was independent of the metabolism of substances present in samples compositions. The cytotoxicity observed in the LDH release assay depended on metabolism.

Invasion of aquarium origin soft corals on a tropical rocky reef in the southwest Atlantic, Brazil.

Non-indigenous species (NIS) can cause substantial change in ecosystems and as marine invasives they can become a major threat to coastal and subtidal habitats. In September 2017 previously unknown and apparently NIS soft corals were detected on a shallow subtidal tropical rocky reef at Ilha Grande Bay, southeast Brazil. The present study aims to identify the species, quantify their distribution, abundance, and their interactions with native species. The most abundant NIS belonged to the recently described genus Sansibia (family Xeniidae) and the less common species was identified as Clavularia cf. viridis (family Clavulariidae). They were found along 170 m of shoreline at all depths where hard substrate was available. Sansibia sp. dominated deeper communities, associated positively with some macroalgal and negatively with the zoantharian Palythoa caribaeorum, which probably provided greater biotic resistance to invasion. Both species are of Indo-Pacific origin and typical of those ornamentals found in the aquarium trade.

The role of competition in the phase shift to dominance of the zoanthid Palythoa cf. variabilis on coral reefs.

Phase shift phenomena are becoming increasingly common. However, they are also opportunities to better understand how communities are structured. In Southwest Atlantic coral reefs, a shift to the zoanthid Palythoa cf. variabilis dominance has been described. To test if competition drove this process, we carried out a manipulative experiment with three coral species. To estimate the natural frequency of encounters we assess the relationship between the proportion of encounters and this zoanthids coverage. The contact causes necrosis in 78% of coral colonies (6.47 ± SD 7.92 cm(2)) in 118 days. We found a logarithmic relationship between the proportion of these encounters and the cover of P. cf. variabilis, where 5.5% coverage of this zoanthid is enough to put 50% of coral colonies in contact, increasing their partial mortality. We demonstrate that zoanthid coverage increase followed by coral mortality increase will reduce coral cover and that competition drives the phase shift process.