Graduate Program in Biological Oceanography

The Laboratory of Coastal Plant Ecology (ECOVECO) was established in the 1970s by Prof. Ulrich Seeliger. Together with Professors César Cordazzo and César Costa, the group worked on the physiology and ecology of plants of coastal dunes, tidal flats and estuarine bottoms. Currently, ECOVECO is led by Prof. Margareth Copertino, focusing on the ecology and primary production of submerged macroalgae and prairies in marine and estuarine ecosystems. Research projects aim to understand how climatic, hydrological and oceanographic factors affect the structure and functioning of benthic primary producers and the consequences for higher trophic levels and system components.

In the group, post-doc researchers, graduate and undergraduate students carry out interdisciplinary studies, in collaboration with researchers from other areas and institutions. ECOVECO participates in the research projects PELD-ELPA, ReBentos, Rede CLIMA and Blue Carbon Scientific Working Group projects and is active in the Graduate Program in Biological Oceanography and Oceanology undergraduate courses.