Avaliando os impactos de espécies invasoras em teias tróficas em ecossistemas de água doce sob mudanças globais

The Aqua-Impact is a project designed to assess the interactions of climate change, pollution, and invasive species within European freshwater ecosystems, with a particular focus on the ecological consequences of the signal crayfish (P. leniusculus) introduction. Centered around Montesinho Natural Park and its transboundary waters with Spain, the project utilizes a combination of fieldwork and laboratory analysis to augment our ecological understanding and bolster conservation efforts in 4 tasks during 3 years. General Objective: To evaluate the collective influence of invasive species, climatic change, and pollutants on the biodiversity and functionality of freshwater ecosystems. This aim includes identifying and measuring environmental stressors, constructing predictive models, and formulating actionable strategies to mitigate their impacts. Specific Objectives (O) and Hypotheses (H): O1. Pollutant Profiling in Aquatic Ecosystems: To perform environmental profiling by assessing key environmental variables, vegetal cover, altitudinal gradients, land use, and land cover characteristics, and to map the prevalence of microplastics and Persistent Bioaccumulative Toxins (PBTs) across 40 selected sites (20 invaded/20 non-invaded). This will shed light on the spatial distribution patterns of these pollutants. H1: It is anticipated that regions in proximity to agricultural and urban developments will exhibit higher pollutant levels, whereas areas with denser riparian vegetation are likely to show greater instances of plastic debris entanglement. O2. Multiple stressors effects in freshwater food chain: To ascertain the effects of the signal crayfish invasion on trophic interactions and ecological integrity, by examining the transfer and biomagnification of pollutants within food webs in comparison to non-invaded areas. H2: We hypothesize that the signal crayfish will significantly alter the trophic structure, facilitating a greater accumulation and transfer of microplastics and PBTs through the food chain. O3. Analysis of climate change on food web dynamics: To analyze how seasonal changes, altitudinal gradients, and climatic variations influence the movement and effects of pollutants within freshwater food webs, particularly under the stress of signal crayfish invasion. H3: It is expected that climatic factors such as temperature will have a profound impact on the dispersal and physiological responses of biota to pollutants, with invasive species exacerbating the negative effects on ecosystem health. O4. Ecosystem Management and Stakeholder Engagement: To create ecosystem management strategies and policy recommendations based on integrated data analysis, predictive modeling, and stakeholder engagement. H4: The implementation of strategies developed through this project, grounded in robust predictive models, and enriched by local insights, will significantly enhance the effectiveness of conservation measures and policy initiatives. Research Questions: How deeply does the introduction of the signal crayfish alter the transference of pollutants in aquatic ecosystems’ food webs in the context of climate change? What are the most effective management strategies that integrate local knowledge with scientific research to address the impacts of multiple stressors on freshwater biodiversity? By answering these questions Aqua-Impact aims to provide insights that will help with the management and sustainability of European freshwater ecosystems.