Publications
Parque Nacional da Tijuca sob o Olhar dos Seus Visitantes:
A significant portion of visitors to Tijuca National Park, particularly at Tijuca Peak, engage in superficial and narcissistic behaviors, primarily captured on Instagram. This study analyzed 72 images and captions, revealing that 83% depicted solo visitors and 66% involved posing for the camera, transforming the park into a setting for self-affirmation rather than meaningful ecological engagement. Such behavior contributes to environmental impacts like vegetation trampling and social trail formation, potentially encouraging inappropriate practices among other visitors. The research suggests implementing targeted environmental education initiatives leveraging Instagram’s visual language to promote responsible public use and protect the park's natural heritage.
Tijuca Massif, Its Forests, and the Social Metabolism of the City of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from the Nineteenth to the Early Twentieth Century
Rio de Janeiro's Tijuca Massif and its forests, including the largest planted urban forest in Brazil, played a pivotal role in the city's expansion and cultural identity from the 19th to early 20th century. This study reveals that the massif and Tijuca Forest were not merely natural landmarks but structuring vectors influencing territorial growth, social practices, and Carioca identity. The research identifies key factors guiding land use and transformation, demonstrating how urban development reflects a complex interplay of social, ecological, and political interactions. By analyzing historical processes, the study reframes the significance of green spaces in Rio de Janeiro as both biological and cultural heritage, illustrating their central role in the city's socio-environmental metabolism.
Uncovering the First Reforestation Project in the 19th-Century Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest: Insights from Wood Anatomy and Historical Analysis
A groundbreaking study has uncovered the first large-scale reforestation project in 19th-century Brazil, mapping trees planted as early as 1862 in Rio de Janeiro's Tijuca Forest. Using tree-ring dating, wood anatomy, and historical analysis, researchers identified Cedrela odorata, Copaifera lucens, and Lafoensia glyptocarpa as key species employed in this pioneering effort to restore the Atlantic Rainforest. This approach not only sheds light on one of the world's earliest successful urban reforestation programs but also provides critical insights for modern forest management and climate change research. The findings underscore the importance of ecological restoration in Brazilian ecosystems, offering a historical blueprint for addressing today's environmental challenges.
Ants (Insecta, Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from the Floresta da Tijuca sector, Parque Nacional da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
A groundbreaking inventory of ants (Formicidae) in the Floresta da Tijuca sector of Parque Nacional da Tijuca, Brazil, reveals a striking diversity of 80 species, including 18 new records for this area and 37 for the entire park. This study significantly expands the known ant biodiversity of the Atlantic Forest biome, with one species' range extended northward and others adjusted southward or eastward. The research used pitfall traps and Winkler extractors across three preservation levels—primary forest, disturbed areas, and advanced restoration—showing that primary forests harbor the highest species richness, though this shifts seasonally in disturbed zones. Notably, Holcoponera moelleri emerged as the most abundant species, underscoring its ecological dominance. The findings highlight the park's critical role in conserving Neotropical ant diversity amid ongoing habitat fragmentation.
Assessment of the Variation in Faunistic Parameters of Mosquitoes (Culicidae: Diptera) Across Different Forest Gradients in the Tijuca National Park Area, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Mosquito species richness, diversity, and evenness peak at the forest edge of Tijuca National Park, suggesting that edge effects significantly influence mosquito distribution in Atlantic Forest remnants. This finding emerges from a study assessing 27 mosquito species across three environmental gradients—forest edge, 35 m inland, and 500 m inland—using CO₂-baited CDC light traps, Shannon traps, and human-protected attraction methods over 19 months. Statistical analysis revealed higher abundance and diversity at the forest edge compared to deeper interior points, challenging assumptions about uniform distribution in conserved areas. The study highlights the need for expanded sampling to fully capture ecological patterns, underscoring the park's role as a biodiversity hotspot and its importance for both conservation and public health monitoring.
Mycophagy in the yellow-footed tortoise (Chelonoidis denticulatus): feeding trial experiments at Tijuca National Park (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
A feeding trial experiment revealed that yellow-footed tortoises (Chelonoidis denticulatus) in Tijuca National Park, Brazil, actively consume a diverse range of macrofungi. The study, conducted by Refauna Association and researchers from the University of Rio de Janeiro, offered 21 basidiomycete specimens representing 13 taxa to seven tortoises. Only one individual rejected the mushrooms entirely, while ten species were consumed or partially accepted. This finding highlights the importance of mycophagy in the diet of this threatened species, particularly in fragmented Atlantic Forest habitats like Tijuca National Park. The study also underscores the need for further research to identify the specific fungal species consumed by tortoises and their nutritional contributions.
“Éden Fluminense:” from a reforestation area on the Tijuca massif to a Europeanized public space in Rio de Janeiro in the latter half of the nineteenth century
In the latter half of the nineteenth century, the Tijuca massif in Rio de Janeiro underwent a significant transformation from a reforestation area to a Europeanized public space, reflecting broader shifts in the social uses of forests. This study reveals how planted forests evolved into spaces for recreation and contemplation while retaining their economic value, embodying ideals of nationalism and modernity. The research leverages primary sources from Brazilian archives, including the Hemeroteca Digital collection, to trace this resignification process. By analyzing these historical documents, the authors demonstrate how Eurocentric notions of nature influenced the perception and utilization of green spaces in Rio de Janeiro, contributing to a deeper understanding of urban landscape development during this period.
A new species of Phyllanthus (Phyllanthaceae) hiding in the shades in an urban Atlantic Forest in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil
Researchers have identified and described Phyllanthus celatus, a new and critically endangered species of Phyllanthus endemic to the Parque Nacional da Tijuca, an urban Atlantic Forest within Rio de Janeiro's UNESCO World Heritage Site. This discovery highlights the biodiversity hidden in shaded urban environments, with P. celatus distinguished by unique morphological traits such as reddish veins on its leaves and a 5-lobed pistillate disc, setting it apart from closely related species like P. augustinii, P. lobatus, and P. niruri. The study employs systematic taxonomy to establish its position within the genus, providing illustrations, field photographs, a distribution map, and preliminary conservation assessments. This finding underscores the importance of urban forests as refuges for endemic and endangered flora.
Bamboo (Poales, Poaceae): An Important Maintainer of Immature Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in a Biodiversity Hotspot in the City of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
A study conducted in Tijuca National Park, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, reveals that bamboo species—Guadua tagoara and Bambusa vulgaris—serve as critical habitats for immature mosquitoes, supporting a diverse range of 19 mosquito species. Over the course of one year, researchers collected 1,845 mosquito immatures from artificially drilled bamboo plants, with 72% found in one sampling area and 28% in another. Among these, 1,162 individuals reached adulthood, including several potential arbovirus vectors such as Culex iridescens and Wyeomyia species. The findings highlight the ecological significance of bamboo in maintaining mosquito populations within this urban biodiversity hotspot, which attracts large numbers of tourists, thereby increasing the risk of human-mosquito interactions and disease transmission.
Insect galls of the Tijuca National Park, Rio de Janeiro (RJ, Brazil): richness and characterization
A first-of-its-kind study of insect galls in the Tijuca National Park, Brazil's largest urban forest, revealed 72 distinct gall morphotypes across 43 plant species. The research identified Rubiaceae, Sapindaceae, Salicaeae, and Melastomataceae as the most gall-rich families, with Psychotria cf. bahiensis DC. (Rubiaceae) and Serjania sp. (Sapindaceae) emerging as 'super host' plants. Among the findings, five endemic Brazilian plant species harbored eight unique gall morphotypes, suggesting co-endemism in their gall-inducing insects—primarily Cecidomyiidae. While leaf galls were predominant, the study's data indicate a relatively lower gall richness compared to other Atlantic Forest regions. The research sheds light on the biodiversity and ecological dynamics of this UNESCO-listed site, offering insights into plant-insect interactions within urban ecosystems.
Solutions Based on Nature to Face Water Stress: Lessons from the Past and Present
Nature-based solutions (NbS) offer effective strategies to address water stress, environmental degradation, and biodiversity loss. A recent study highlights three case studies from Brazil, Panama, and Portugal, showcasing the multifaceted benefits of NbS in providing water security while also supporting ecosystem resilience and cultural heritage. The Tijuca Forest in Rio de Janeiro demonstrates centuries of forest management that initially aimed to secure water for the city during the 19th century. Similarly, the Panama Canal Watershed and traditional weirs in Portugal's Alentejo Region illustrate how NbS can sustain water provisioning even under climate change pressures. These cases underscore the importance of integrating traditional human activities with modern conservation efforts to ensure social equity and long-term sustainability.
Two Hundred Years of Botanical Records: Leguminosae Tree Species Diversity in a Brazilian Atlantic Forest Hotspot
A comprehensive inventory of Leguminosae tree species in the Reserva Biológica do Tinguá (REBIO Tinguá), a 26,000 ha protected area in Brazil's Atlantic Forest, reveals significant biodiversity with 35 endemic and seven threatened species. The study, spanning two centuries of botanical records, identified six new occurrences for the area and used UPGMA-based floristic similarity analysis to compare REBIO Tinguá with other Atlantic Forest regions. Findings highlight its ecological importance due to its extent, altitudinal range, and central position, integrating critical biodiversity corridors in Rio de Janeiro state.
New sources of biological data supporting environmental history of a tropical forest of south-eastern Brazil
A pioneering reforestation project in the Tijuca Forest, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, has been re-evaluated using integrated methodologies to uncover its environmental history. The study identified surviving trees from the 19th-century plantations, pinpointed previously unknown planting locations, and revealed the strategic selection of species—prioritizing native trees for wood quality while meeting market demands. Over 33 years, approximately 155,000 trees were planted (with about 110,000 surviving), comprising at least 107 species, primarily native ones. This project, covering roughly 330 hectares, aimed to restore micro-basins while generating long-term economic value, marking a significant shift in silvicultural practices in Brazil. The research redefines the forest's ecological understanding by linking its development to broader societal and environmental dynamics.
Richness of ferns and lycophytes from Tijuca National Park, an urban forest
Tijuca National Park (TNP), covering 3.5% of Rio de Janeiro, harbors approximately 38.5% of the state's known ferns and lycophytes, with 254 taxa across 26 families and 83 genera. This study reveals that precipitation during the wettest month is a critical climatic factor influencing species richness and composition within this Atlantic Rainforest fragment. By analyzing spatial distribution patterns in relation to environmental variables, researchers identified key factors shaping biodiversity in urban forests. The findings underscore the importance of climate in determining floristic diversity, offering insights for conservation strategies in fragmented rainforests.
Tijuca forest contribution to the improvement of air quality and wellbeing of citizens in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Research reveals that the Tijuca Forest, one of the world's largest urban forests within Rio de Janeiro, significantly improves air quality compared to urbanized areas. Despite anthropogenic impacts from visitors and proximity to cities, total hydrocarbon (HC) concentrations in the forest were substantially lower than in adjacent districts like Del Castilho and Tijuca. Median HC levels measured 21.5 µg/m³ in Tijuca National Park (TNP) and 35.5 µg/m³ in Grajaú State Park (GSP), contrasting with 148.6 µg/m³ in Del Castilho. The study, employing stainless steel canisters and advanced gas chromatography, also found that urban air masses exhibited higher ozone-forming potential due to elevated reactivity of HCs, particularly alkenes and monoaromatic compounds. While the forest's role in adsorbing pollutants remains unclear, its ability to act as a natural barrier to urban emissions is evident. Improving air quality within the Tijuca Forest is deemed crucial for enhancing citizens' wellbeing.
Classificação de Imagens Hiperespectrais utilizando Redes Neurais Convolucionais para Caracterização da Ocupação Desordenada do Solo sobre um Recorte do Parque Nacional da Tijuca, RJ
A novel approach using Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) and deep learning algorithms achieved high accuracy—0.92 with data augmentation—in classifying hyperspectral images to map land cover, including disordered urban occupation in the Tijuca National Park (PNT), a critical Atlantic Forest fragment near Rio de Janeiro. This methodology effectively distinguished between forest and urban areas, demonstrating its potential for monitoring challenging terrains like PNT, which provides vital environmental services such as erosion prevention and carbon capture. The study highlights CNNs' efficacy in pattern recognition for land-use mapping, offering a scalable solution for sustainable development and conservation efforts.
Estimating the effect of the wMel release programme on the incidence of dengue and chikungunya in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: a spatiotemporal modelling study
A large-scale deployment of Wolbachia-infected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes (wMel strain) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was associated with a 38% reduction in dengue incidence and a 10% reduction in chikungunya incidence despite incomplete introgression. The study used spatiotemporal modeling to analyze geocoded disease cases from 2010 to 2019, finding that wMel establishment was less stable in areas with historically high disease incidence. These findings suggest that even intermediate levels of Wolbachia can reduce arboviral disease transmission, providing insights for future release programs.
Amphibians and reptiles from the Parque Nacional da Tijuca, Brazil, one of the world’s largest urban forests
A comprehensive survey of amphibians and reptiles in the Parque Nacional da Tijuca, Brazil—a UNESCO-listed urban forest—reveals a rich herpetofauna with 38 amphibian species and 36 reptile species, including endemic and threatened taxa. The study, conducted over 460 hours between 2013 and 2015, identified six amphibian species and one reptile species at risk of extinction, along with two exotic reptiles. Sampling efforts proved sufficient, capturing 80% of Atlantic Forest-endemic amphibians and 28% of endemic reptiles. The findings underscore the park's ecological significance as a biodiversity hotspot within an urban landscape, highlighting the success of reforestation in preserving native species.
Diversity and microhabitat use of benthic invertebrates in an urban forest stream (Southeastern Brazil)
A study in the Tijuca Forest, Rio de Janeiro, reveals that microhabitat diversity significantly enhances local biodiversity of benthic invertebrates. The research found that litter and stone microhabitats supported higher taxonomic richness and diversity compared to sand, which exhibited the highest dominance. Chironomidae emerged as the most abundant family among 9,800 specimens collected using a Surber sampler across three microhabitat types. Statistical analyses confirmed significant differences in community structure indices (abundance, taxonomic richness, diversity, and dominance) and microhabitat composition. The findings underscore the importance of varied microhabitats in promoting biodiversity, even within urban forest streams.
Efeitos da dinâmica pluviométrica na interceptação e precipitação interna em uma encosta com Floresta Atlântica no Parque Nacional da Tijuca, RJ, Brasil.
Rainfall interception by vegetation in the Atlantic Forest of Tijuca National Park, Brazil, varies significantly with antecedent drought duration and rainfall volume, while net precipitation is more strongly influenced by initial rainfall intensity. Spatial variations in interception are most pronounced at ridge tops, where canopy openness is greater, whereas net precipitation shows less spatial variability over time. The study highlights the complex interplay between hydrometeorological dynamics and vegetation structure, offering insights into how these factors modulate water balance in forested landscapes.
The Logic of Criminal Territorial Control: Military Intervention in Rio de Janeiro
Military interventions aimed at curbing organized criminal groups (OCGs) often backfire, leading to increased militarization and violence. A study focusing on Rio de Janeiro's favelas reveals that the primary driver for violent responses by OCGs is an active territorial threat from rivals rather than the intervention itself. Conducted over 18 months of ethnographic research in three favelas occupied by the Brazilian military between 2014 and 2015, this micro-comparative analysis demonstrates that geographic recruitment patterns also influence where rivalries turn violent during interventions. This insight challenges conventional explanations, emphasizing the role of inter-criminal competition in shaping OCG responses to state crackdowns.
Tijuca National Park, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Tijuca National Park, located within Rio de Janeiro's Atlantic Forest biodiversity hotspot, serves as a democratic and culturally rich space that provides essential ecosystem services. The park, established in 1961 to honor its afforestation program initiated in 1861, offers diverse cultural benefits including recreation, exercise, contemplation, and historical learning. Its strategic location, encompassing former water sources critical to the city's development, has been preserved due to its national park status, which also granted it international recognition. In 2004, the inclusion of Parque Lage further expanded its significance by integrating a historically and culturally rich site that extends into Rio de Janeiro's urban core.
Trophic rewilding benefits a tropical community through direct and indirect network effects
Reintroducing four frugivore species—channel-billed toucans, red-humped agoutis, brown howler monkeys, and yellow-footed tortoises—into the Tijuca National Park (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) significantly enhanced the local seed dispersal network by increasing connectance, nestedness, robustness, and indirect ecological interactions. The study found that the combined effect of reintroducing multiple species (refaunation) was greater than the sum of their individual effects, as some interaction pathways involved several reintroduced species simultaneously. These network changes were more pronounced than if four random species had been reintroduced, suggesting that strategic refaunation can restore ecological functionality more effectively than single-species reintroductions alone.
‘A mere gutter!’ The Carioca Aqueduct and water delivery in mid-nineteenth-century Rio de Janeiro
Mid-nineteenth-century Rio de Janeiro's water infrastructure relied on a dual system: gravity-fed aqueducts supplied fresh water from the Tijuca Forest to urban fountains, while enslaved individuals carried heavy jugs through streets to residences. This study reconstructs the Carioca Aqueduct's route using Thomas Ewbank's 1856 account, georeferenced historical maps, and fieldwork, then analyzes water delivery practices through firsthand traveler accounts. Findings highlight the tension between advanced engineering solutions and labor-intensive human efforts in urban water management during this period.
‘Urban biocultural diversity’ as a framework for human–nature interactions: reflections from a Brazilian favela
A novel approach to urban biocultural diversity (BCD) reveals that favelas, often perceived as environmentally degraded areas, harbor rich human-nature connections tied to popular culture, fitness ideals, and civic engagement. This study challenges conventional narratives by applying the BCD framework to Rocinha, a culturally and biologically diverse favela in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Through qualitative field methods, researchers examined relationships between residents and the neighboring Tijuca Forest, emphasizing interrelationships, varied group values, participation, and reflexivity. The findings highlight how urban BCD can capture nuanced aspects of nature connectedness that ecosystem services paradigms overlook, while cautioning against perpetuating service-oriented thinking. This work offers promising avenues for studying diverse cities with unequal access to natural areas.
Killing in the Slums: Social Order, Criminal Governance, and Police Violence in Rio de Janeiro
State interventions against organized criminal groups (OCGs) in Rio de Janeiro's favelas can either improve security or escalate violence, depending on the nature of the criminal regime. This study identifies five distinct criminal regimes—Insurgent, Bandit, Symbiotic, Predatory, and Split—each characterized by varying levels of confrontation or collaboration with state actors, community engagement, and territorial control. Police interventions in these regimes yield markedly different security outcomes. The research employs a multimethod approach, including quasi-experimental statistical analyses, automated text analysis, extensive qualitative research, and a large-scale survey, focusing on Rio de Janeiro's 'Pacifying Police Units' (UPPs), which aimed to reclaim favelas from criminal organizations.
Pollen preference of stingless bees ( Melipona rufiventris and M. quadrifasciata anthidioides ) inside an urban tropical forest at Rio de Janeiro city
Stingless bees Melipona rufiventris and M. quadrifasciata anthidioides exhibit distinct pollen preferences within Rio de Janeiro's urban tropical forest, the Parque Nacional da Tijuca (PNT), reducing competition for resources. Analysis of pollen pellets revealed dominant plant sources such as Alchornea, Eucalyptus, Mimosa species, and Melastomataceae, with minimal overlap in foraging between the two bee species over a year. This suggests that diverse bee populations are crucial for maintaining pollination and ecosystem resilience in urban forests. The study employed non-destructive pollen collection methods to compare taxon percentages, offering insights into the ecological roles of stingless bees in preserving Atlantic rainforest biodiversity.
Mésentente temporelle. La fabrique du patrimoine culturel urbain de Rio de Janeiro à l’épreuve des temps du territoire carioca
This study reveals how the heritagization process of Rio de Janeiro as a UNESCO World Heritage Site serves as a critical moment to interrogate the interplay between past, present, and future, particularly in relation to the city's rapid urban transformations during mega-events. By analyzing four key moments within this process, the research deciphers the temporal horizons of various actors involved, highlighting the negotiation of divergent historicity schemes and their entanglement with the timescales of urban transformation and sustainable development. The findings underscore the complex interplay between different presents at work in shaping Rio's urban landscape, offering insights into how heritage narratives are constructed and contested in dynamic urban contexts.
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