Brazilian sandy beaches: characteristics, ecosystem services, impacts, knowledge and priorities

ABSTRACT Sandy beaches constitute a key ecosystem and provide socioeconomic goods and services, thereby playing an important role in the maintenance of human populations and in biodiversity conservation. Despite the ecological and social importance of these ecosytems, Brazilian sandy beaches are significantly impacted by human interference, chemical and organic pollution and tourism, as well as global climate change. These factors drive the need to better understand the environmental change and its consequences for biota. To promote the implementation of integrated studies to detect the effects of regional and global environmental change on beaches and on other benthic habitats of the Brazilian coast, Brazilian marine researchers have established The Coastal Benthic Habitats Monitoring Network (ReBentos). In order to provide input for sample planning by ReBentos, we have conducted an intensive review of the studies conducted on Brazilian beaches and summarized the current knowledge about this environment. In this paper, we present the results of this review and describe the physical, biological and socioeconomics features of Brazilian beaches. We have used these results, our personal experience and worldwide literature to identify research projects that should be prioritized in the assessment of regional and global change on Brazilian sandy beaches. We trust that this paper will provide insights for future studies and represent a significant step towards the conservation of Brazilian beaches and their biodiversity.

【摘要】沙质海滩作为关键生态系统类型，可提供社会经济产品与服务，在维系人类种群存续及生物多样性保护方面发挥着重要作用。尽管此类生态系统具有重要的生态与社会价值，巴西沙质海滩却正受到人类活动干扰、化学与有机污染、旅游业开发以及全球气候变化的显著影响。上述因素促使学界亟需深入了解环境变化及其对生物群落的影响。为推动开展综合研究以识别区域及全球环境变化对海滩与巴西海岸其他底栖生境的影响，巴西海洋研究人员组建了海岸底栖生境监测网络（ReBentos）。为给该监测网络的采样规划提供支撑，研究团队针对巴西海滩相关研究开展了系统性综述，并梳理了当前学界对该类环境的认知现状。本文呈现了本次综述的研究成果，详细阐述了巴西沙质海滩的物理、生物及社会经济特征。研究团队结合本次综述结果、自身实践经验与全球相关文献，筛选出了巴西沙质海滩区域与全球变化评估领域需优先推进的研究项目。本文期望可为后续相关研究提供参考借鉴，同时为巴西沙质海滩及其生物多样性的保护工作迈出坚实一步。