A INVASORA Acacia longifolia Andrews (Willd.) EM PORTUGAL E NO BRASIL: INVESTIGAÇÃO PRELIMINAR INTEGRANDO REGISTROS GBIF COM DADOS DA LITERATURA E CONDICIONANTES AMBIENTAIS E REGIONAIS

Abstract

The success of biological invasions depends on both on the environmental attributes and biological species features. There is a high biological diversity of invasive species, which in favorable conditions tend to expand and cover large areas. In Portugal and Brazil, the concern about this subject is recent, and decisions on the management of invasive species have been taken without sufficient knowledge, and thus, may generate negative unforeseen impacts. In this work, we present the preliminary phase of an ongoing project that intends to characterize the range expansion of Acacia longifolia and analyze habitat susceptibility to invasion by that species. The tools to be used range from field surveys to laboratory work, as well as the use of spatiotemporal data sources of analysis implemented in GIS Systems. Acacia longifolia is a coastal weed native to Southern Australia, introduced in Portugal more than 100 years ago with the objective of stabilizing coastal dunes. More recently, this species was also introduced in Brazil for the same purpose but mostly for cattle feeding. Through evaluation of environmental attributes (climate dynamics, soil conditions, potential species distribution) and biological species features (taxonomic characteristics and functional traits) we intend to explain the Acacia longifolia distribution and characterize the environmental features of spatial analysis. This is an excellent opportunity to compare the dynamics of this invasive species in two locations with differentiated spatial and social-ecological characteristics, in which in both cases particular emphasis is given to coastal systems.