The importance of long-term research for water security: a perspective for Brazilian waterbodies

• Published in: Acta limnológica brasiliensia 2024, Vol.36
• Main Authors: Thomaz, Sidinei Magela, Benassi, Simone Frederigi, Benassi, Roseli Frederigi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: biodiversity; ecosystem services; eutrophication; floodplains; LIMNOLOGY; reservoirs; streams
• ISSN: 2179-975X; 2179-975X
• DOI: 10.1590/s2179-975x1024

Abstract Water security involves ensuring that water is available in sufficient quality and quantity to meet the needs of human health, livelihoods, ecosystems, and productive activities. This opinion paper highlights the crucial role of Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) in shaping strategies to achieve water security. We begin by defining both water security and LTER, and by illustrating how LTER contributes to securing water resources. We then briefly discuss the significance of early long-term studies that have laid the foundation for water security efforts. Following this, we examine LTER programs focused on freshwater ecosystems in Brazil, with particular emphasis on two case studies in the Upper Paraná River: the LTER program in the Upper Paraná River floodplain and the monitoring of macrophytes in the Itaipu Reservoir. We show that long-term studies in Brazil have supported the implementation of strategies that benefit various dimensions of water security, positively impacting supporting, provisioning, regulating, and cultural ecosystem services. Finally, we discuss the incorporation of water security into Brazilian legislation. While Brazilian scientists and managers possess experience in both LTER and water security issues, ensuring the implementation and enhancement of the benefits through legislative measures and other instruments that prioritize most of the society, rather than catering solely to the most influential economic sectors is challenging. Resumo A segurança hídrica busca garantir que a água esteja disponível em qualidade e quantidade suficientes para atender às necessidades da saúde humana, dos meios de subsistência, dos ecossistemas e das atividades produtivas. Este artigo de opinião destaca o papel crucial da Pesquisa Ecológica de Longa Duração (PELD) na formulação de estratégias para alcançar a segurança hídrica. Começamos definindo tanto a segurança hídrica quanto a PELD, e ilustrando como a PELD contribui para a proteção dos recursos hídricos. Em seguida, discutimos brevemente a importância de estudos de longa duração que lançaram as bases para os esforços de segurança hídrica. Posteriormente, examinamos os programas de PELD focados em ecossistemas aquáticos continentais do Brasil, com ênfase em dois estudos de caso no Rio Paraná: o programa de PELD na planície de inundação do Alto Rio Paraná e o monitoramento de macrófitas aquáticas no Reservatório de Itaipu. Nós mostramos que estudos de longa duração no Brasil têm subsidiad