Beatriz is a marine biologist, master in ecology and conservation and a phD student in oceanology who is studing microplastic in marine protected areas.

No-take Marine Protected Areas threatened by Microplastic Contamination: A Binational assessment in the Global South.

2020 to 2024

Project Description

Using filter-feeding bivalve species found in select MPAs and which are common to both Brazil and Australia will enable comparative binational studies to evaluate MPcontamination and improve understanding of the impacts of MPs as well as develop more efficient monitoring strategies that can benefit the management of MPAs in both countries.

Project Importance

Action plans implemented in Australian MPAs provide excellent examples of good management practices that could be implemented in the Brazilian context. The opportunity to participate in a binational MP study through study exchange will bring together Australian and Brazilian researchers to build marine MP monitoring capability and expertise to improve Brazilian marine biodiversity conservation.

Project Methods

After sampling mussels in marine protected areas, extraction of microplastics will occur in AIMS laboratory, with caracterization and polymer identification

Project Results

almost all sampling is finished, lab work in progress

Keywords

Biochemistry,
Coastal development,
Management tools,
Mangroves,
Molluscs,
Monitoring,
Pollution