Projects
Impacts of hunting pressure on forest ecosystems
A three-year project supported by FAPESP aims to estimate hunting pressure and its impacts on forest ungulates and the ecosystem in Iguaçu National Park, using bioacoustic recorders and camera traps. Two artificial intelligence-based systems will be developed: one to detect hunting sounds and the other to analyze wildlife images, allowing estimates of species density, occupancy, and activity. The results will aid in the management of protected areas, directing patrols and assessing the effects of hunting on biodiversity and the environment.
Bioacoustic methods for quantifying hunting pressure in forest ecosystems
This Master's project aims to evaluate the effectiveness of Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) in quantifying hunting pressure in forest ecosystems. The study will compare the performance of two artificial intelligence algorithms in the automatic detection of firearm discharges, using metrics such as accuracy and recall. The research will also characterize the temporal and spatial patterns of hunting activity in Iguaçu National Park. The results will contribute to the development of automated protocols to combat illegal hunting, providing technical support for strategic enforcement and adaptive management of Conservation Units.
Characterization of hunting activity in Brazil
This undergraduate research project aims to characterize illegal hunting in Brazil through the analysis of online news, identifying the weapons, species, locations, and periods most frequently associated with this practice. The results will support public policies, enforcement actions, and more effective conservation strategies.
Spatial triangulation of gunshots recorded by bioacoustic recorders for monitoring hunting activity.
This undergraduate research project aims to develop and validate a low-cost technique for locating firearm discharges using passive bioacoustic recorders, contributing to the monitoring of illegal hunting in protected areas. Based on experiments conducted in Iguaçu National Park, a spatial triangulation algorithm based on the sound intensity of gunshots will be tested, eliminating the need for satellite-synchronized equipment. The results will allow for the evaluation of the method's precision and accuracy, as well as its potential to support the monitoring and management of protected areas.
Impact of domestic dogs on wild ungulates.
This undergraduate research project aims to evaluate the effects of the presence of domestic dogs on the activity patterns of forest ungulates. Using data obtained from camera traps, the temporal patterns of five species in areas with and without dog presence will be compared, employing activity analysis and temporal overlap. The study will also assess the influence of environmental characteristics on ungulate detection. The results will contribute to understanding the indirect impacts of domestic animals on native fauna and support management and conservation strategies in protected areas.
Socioeconomic factors associated with deforestation and their consequences for human development.
Scientific Initiation project that investigates how socioeconomic factors, such as HDI, income inequality, and education level, relate to forest cover loss in tropical regions worldwide. The research also analyzes the social impacts of deforestation, assessing how it affects socioeconomic indicators over time. By integrating ecological and social aspects, the study seeks to identify the drivers of deforestation and their consequences for local communities.
Estimates of Neotropical ungulate density
This undergraduate research project aims to identify the best techniques for estimating the density of Neotropical ungulates, a group essential for ecological balance. Through a review of detection methods and statistical analyses used over the last 30 years, density estimates and accuracy between different approaches will be compared. The results will help identify potential biases and indicate the most appropriate methodologies for each taxonomic group and environment.
Effects of environmental and social landscapes on the functional integrity of tropical forests.
Tropical forests are essential for global biodiversity, hydrological cycles, and the food security of millions of people, but they are being degraded by defaunation caused primarily by hunting and changes in land use. This project investigates how environmental and social factors influence the density of ungulates—keystone species for ecological functioning—in tropical forests. Using structural equation models, we seek to predict future impacts and guide effective conservation strategies to prevent defaunation and its ecological effects.