Research projects
Current projects
Recently concluded projects:
Hydraulic architecture and vulnerability of eucalyptus to drought (2020-2023)
The hydraulic failure of the water transport system in forest species is regarded as the primary mechanism leading to drought-induced mortality, as a result of global climate change. However, the hydraulic safety limits and physiological thresholds that anticipate mortality and the recovery mechanisms after drought remain unknown. Therefore, the objective of this study is to characterize the hydraulic architecture and vulnerability of young Eucalyptus plants to drought, in order to forecast adaptive responses to fluctuations in water availability. The plants are grown in pots inside greenhouses and in outdoor areas, with control of water consumption through lysimeters and sap flow meters.
Resilience of the soil seed bank of seasonal forests in the face of climate change (2019-2023)
Seasonal forests may be more negatively impacted by climate change compared to humid forests, as they are under ecophysiological stress due to fluctuations in water and temperature regimes. The soil seed bank is one of the mechanisms that ensures the perpetuity of vegetation in forests. Thus, the objective was to evaluate the impact of climate change on the seed bank of the Atlantic Forest Biome, subjected to current and future climatic conditions (RCP 8.5) under controlled conditions.
Impact of climate change on forest species (2016-2021)
The main objective of the study is to investigate the effect of increased atmospheric CO2 concentration and combined microclimatic conditions with soil water availability levels on the growth and physiology of plants of tropical forest species: Jaborandi (Pilocarpus microphyllus), Brazil Nut (Bertholletia excelsa), Açaí (Euterpe oleracea), and Brazilwood (Caesalpinia echinata L.).
Microclimatic changes and physiological responses of vegetation strata in different models of silvopastoral systems (2017-2021)
Despite the increasing implementation of integrated crop-livestock-forest areas in Brazil, basic knowledge of the interaction between the elements of the system, aimed at supporting its understanding and management activities, is still scarce. Thus, the present proposal aims to evaluate the microclimate, soil water availability, and physiological responses of vegetation strata in different models of silvopastoral systems, seeking to generate information regarding the environmental modifications generated by the adoption of such systems, as well as about the responses of plants.
Thermal and water stress: initial growth and ecophysiological behavior of eucalyptus (2012-2021)
The main objective of the research is to evaluate the effect of thermal stress, typically associated with low soil water levels, on commercial eucalyptus clones. The studies are conducted under controlled conditions, inside climate-controlled greenhouses and growth chambers.
Brazilian and Iberian macroclimates: an agrometeorological approach (2017-2021)
The behavior of energy availability and water supply through rainfall are determining factors in defining the suitability of a region for the implementation of plant production systems. In this project, various agrometeorological approaches are conducted using meteorological data obtained under different macroclimatic conditions in Brazil and the Iberian Peninsula (Portugal and Spain). This proposal is part of a larger project aimed at consolidating the partnership between the Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES), the University of Trás-os-Montes (UTAD), and the University of Córdoba (UCO).