Banca de DEFESA: JULIANA APARECIDA MOUREIRA

Uma banca de DEFESA de MESTRADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : JULIANA APARECIDA MOUREIRA
DATE: 11/02/2026
TIME: 09:00
LOCAL: gOO(https://meet.google.com/efx-mjik-poo)
TITLE:

SHADING AS A STRATEGY TO MITIGATE BLEACHING IN SOUTHWESTERN ATLANTIC CORALS

KEY WORDS:

Bleaching; corals; shading; thermal stress; Reef environments; Coral health.

PAGES: 67
BIG AREA: Ciências Biológicas
AREA: Ecologia
SUMMARY:

Rising global temperatures and the intensification of marine heatwaves have increased both the frequency and severity of coral bleaching on tropical reefs. Observations in natural environments suggest that colonies located in shaded microhabitats exhibit lower susceptibility to bleaching, indicating a potential mitigating role of reduced irradiance. In this context, this study investigated the effects of shading on the health of corals from the Southwestern Atlantic, integrating field observations with controlled laboratory experiments. Field surveys were conducted at multiple sites along the northeastern Brazilian coast, in the states of Rio Grande do Norte, Pernambuco, Alagoas and Bahia, within protected areas including the Área de Proteção Ambiental dos Recifes de Corais (APARC), the APA Costa dos Corais and the Parque Natural Municipal Marinho Recife de Fora, respectively. These surveys evaluated the relationship between levels of solar radiation exposure and colony coloration, used as a proxy for physiological condition. Consistently across all areas, colonies located in shaded environments, such as crevices, galleries, and cavities, exhibited higher color scores indicative of better health compared to colonies exposed to direct solar radiation. In the laboratory, the effects of artificial shading during the simulation of a marine heatwave were assessed across different coral species. The experiments demonstrated that shading significantly reduced color loss associated with thermal stress, acting as a mitigating factor against bleaching, particularly for species recognized as more sensitive, such as Millepora alcicornis, Mussismilia harttii, and Mussismilia hispida. Montastraea cavernosa exhibited greater overall tolerance to warming, regardless of light treatment. Although the recovery period was relatively short, shaded colonies showed signs of improved color maintenance by the end of the experiment. Overall, the results indicate that shading, whether natural or artificial, can contribute to reducing the impacts of thermal stress on corals, functioning as a complementary conservation mechanism. Under scenarios of ongoing ocean warming, the identification and preservation of shaded microhabitats, as well as the strategic use of shading in specific contexts, may play a relevant role in maintaining the physiological integrity of sensitive species and enhancing the resilience of Southwestern Atlantic reefs.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Externa à Instituição - ANA CAROLINA GRILLO MONTEIRO
Interno - ***.178.178-** - EDSON APARECIDO VIEIRA FILHO - UESC-BA
Presidente - 2319234 - GUILHERME ORTIGARA LONGO
Externo à Instituição - ROBSON GUIMARÃES DOS SANTOS - UFAL