A Latin American network of microbial observatories for monitoring aquatic ecosystems

Freshwater environments and coastal marine areas provide key ecosystem services to society and serve as habitats for biodiversity. However, they face major challenges from human activities and climate factors, leading to global degradation. The effect of these agents depends on geographic location and climate, among other factors. To comprehensively understand the effect of these factors, continuous, standardized and long-term information is crucial. In particular, the aquatic microbiome plays a fundamental role in the cycling of matter and has been shown to act as a robust indicator of ecological status. Long-term monitoring of microbial assemblages can provide valuable insights into the characteristics and the changes water bodies undergo, delivering early warnings of critical impacts. Thus, the Latin American Aquatic Microbial Observatory Network (AMOLat) was set up during the inaugural meeting of the Latin American Collaborative Network on Microbial Aquatic Ecology (μSudAqua) in 2017. Observatory sites were carefully chosen, considering their accessibility and local relevance to each research group, ensuring the ongoing consistency of sampling efforts. This work aims to provide a historical overview of the network’s formation, highlighting key debates and definitions that took place during 2017-2023. Furthermore, it includes an initial characterization of the observatory sites and explores the possibilities that they offer to understand the structure and function of aquatic ecosystems in Latin America. The network presently encompasses 13 observatories, spanning a broad latitudinal range, numerous ecoregions and diverse aquatic ecosystems, displaying different environmental and anthropic impacts. Participating groups enhanced interactions, created a Protocol Book and showcased initial results through various communication efforts. Ultimately, establishing a regional network of aquatic observatories becomes mandatory for providing essential reference points to assess the response of microorganisms to global change in both the short and long term within Latin America.

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Publication Details

Journal
Ecología Austral
Published
2024-11-25
DOI
https://doi.org/10.25260/ea.24.34.3.0.2436
Citations
3
Primary Topic
Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
1.38
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article

A Latin American network of microbial observatories for monitoring aquatic ecosystems

Eddy Gómez‐Ramírez, Marcela Bastidas Navarro, Sharon Allen Dohle, Nicolás Martyniuk et al.
3 citations
Ecología Austral
Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
1.38
article

A Latin American network of microbial observatories for monitoring aquatic ecosystems

Eddy Gómez‐Ramírez, Marcela Bastidas Navarro, Sharon Allen Dohle, Nicolás Martyniuk, Sebastián Gómez Lugo, Emiliano Pereira-Flores, Paulina Fermani, María L. Padulles, María Laura Sánchez, Martín Saraceno, Michaela L. de Melo, Hugo Sarmento, Luciana Griffero, Leonardo Lagomarsino, Patricia E. Garcı́a, Beatriz Modenutti, Nicolás ́Cetra, Erick Mateus‐Barros, Mariana Lozada, Cecília Alonso, Bárbara M. Gómez, María Soledad Zabala, Marina Gerea, Giuliana Marianela Burgueño Sandoval, Carolina Soto Cárdenas, J. E. Zanetti, Ana Torremorell, Manuel Barrena García, Fernando Unrein, María Romina Schiaffino, María Victoria Quiroga, Martín Graziano, Leandro A. Hünicken, Juan Francisco Saad, Daniel Ojeda, Sol Porcel, Carolina Mansilla Ferro, Carmen Sabio y García, María Cecilia Salas, Miguel Bernal, Janet Santucho, María E. Segade
article en
3 citations

Abstract

Freshwater environments and coastal marine areas provide key ecosystem services to society and serve as habitats for biodiversity. However, they face major challenges from human activities and climate factors, leading to global degradation. The effect of these agents depends on geographic location and climate, among other factors. To comprehensively understand the effect of these factors, continuous, standardized and long-term information is crucial. In particular, the aquatic microbiome plays a fundamental role in the cycling of matter and has been shown to act as a robust indicator of ecological status. Long-term monitoring of microbial assemblages can provide valuable insights into the characteristics and the changes water bodies undergo, delivering early warnings of critical impacts. Thus, the Latin American Aquatic Microbial Observatory Network (AMOLat) was set up during the inaugural meeting of the Latin American Collaborative Network on Microbial Aquatic Ecology (μSudAqua) in 2017. Observatory sites were carefully chosen, considering their accessibility and local relevance to each research group, ensuring the ongoing consistency of sampling efforts. This work aims to provide a historical overview of the network’s formation, highlighting key debates and definitions that took place during 2017-2023. Furthermore, it includes an initial characterization of the observatory sites and explores the possibilities that they offer to understand the structure and function of aquatic ecosystems in Latin America. The network presently encompasses 13 observatories, spanning a broad latitudinal range, numerous ecoregions and diverse aquatic ecosystems, displaying different environmental and anthropic impacts. Participating groups enhanced interactions, created a Protocol Book and showcased initial results through various communication efforts. Ultimately, establishing a regional network of aquatic observatories becomes mandatory for providing essential reference points to assess the response of microorganisms to global change in both the short and long term within Latin America.

Ecología Austral
Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (AR), National University of Luján (AR), Universidade Federal de São Carlos (BR), Universidad de la República de Uruguay (UY), National University of General San Martín (AR), Universidad de Buenos Aires (AR), National University of Northwestern Buenos Aires (AR), Universidad de Costa Rica (CR), Instituto Nacional del Agua (AR), Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús (AR), Fundación Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (AR), Universidad Nacional del Comahue (AR)
Life below water
Openalex Percentile: Top 17%
Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
1.38
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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