Article points to growing threat to rhodoliths along the Brazilian coast

Mining and oil and gas activities are overlapping or close to rhodolith banks on the Brazilian coast, shows a study published by doctoral student Viviane Santos, from the National School of Tropical Botany of the Botanical Garden of Rio de Janeiro (ENBT/JBRJ).

Rhodoliths are calcareous nodules made up of crustose coralline algae and form extensive banks where various forms of life, such as fish, other species of algae and crustaceans, live. The researchers used spatial modeling to assess the area of occurrence of these beds and their overlap with human activities and protected areas, providing data that can help in better management of this megahabitat.

Among the co-authors of the article are the supervisor, researcher Marinez Ferreira de Siqueira, and the previous supervisor, Gilberto Amado Filho, deceased, both from JBRJ.

The full paper is available for free until January 28, 2023. Access here.