The Atmospheric Physics Laboratory (LFA) at the University of São Paulo’s Institute of Physics began contributing to speciesLink in September, a free platform for querying biodiversity data across Brazil and South America. The network holds more than 16 million records, with over 60% originating in Brazil. LFA’s input will help researchers analyze how climate affects ecosystem survival.
speciesLink and Its Mission
speciesLink was created in 2002 by CRIA, a nonprofit environmental information center. Today, the collaborative network aggregates data from more than 200 institutions. Over 30 of those partners are international. The platform’s goal is to support research, education, and public policy on biodiversity preservation.
The LFA’s contribution connects climate monitoring with species occurrence records. Paulo Artaxo, professor at USP and IPCC member, called the move significant. He said, “Until now, these two topics were treated in different international conventions, with no connection between one issue and the other; the idea of the project was to break this dichotomy.” By merging datasets, researchers can now cross-reference species sightings with local climate histories.
Methods and Climate Indicators
Researchers used INPE meteorological data and a 10 km2 grid across South America. They established 19 climate indicators relevant to species distribution. Two indicators, for instance, reveal temperature rise patterns in the southern continent. Professor Luciana Rizzo, who supervised the collaboration, explained the demand for climate cross-referencing
“[On the platform], researchers can access a species’ name, the date and location where it was sighted, and its characterization. But there was a scientific demand for cross-referencing with climate data.”
Previous studies often relied on WorldClim, an international climate database lacking South American specifics. MapBiomas, a speciesLink partner since 2022, now collaborates with LFA to create MapBiomas Atmosfera. The new dataset offers regional detail that helps explain uneven climate trends.
“Temperatures in Brazil’s Center-West, for example, have already increased much more due to global warming than cities on the coast,”
– Rizzo
That spatial precision improves assessments of species vulnerability and range shifts.
Sociopolitical Implications
Brazil is a signatory to the Kyoto Protocol and the UN Climate Convention. It will host COP30, placing Brazilian science at the heart of climate policy debates. Rizzo noted the project’s policy relevance: “This project can identify regions of South America or Brazil that are undergoing a more pronounced change, both in land use and in climate.” Policymakers can use the linked data to prioritize conservation and adaptation measures.
Funding and Partnerships
The initiative is supported by Brazilian research funders FAPESP, CNPq, and FINEP. The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation and the National Education and Research Network also back the project. International support comes from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Private funding is provided by the J.R.S. Biodiversity Foundation. MapBiomas and INPE supplied key technical resources for the climate dataset.
Demand for environmental monitoring tools is growing, experts say. Paulo Artaxo argues science must provide clear information to civil society. By bridging biodiversity records with climate metrics, speciesLink aims to inform better conservation decisions. This integration marks a critical step forward in understanding and addressing the impacts of climate change on biodiversity, potentially guiding future environmental policies and actions.
Source: Techtudo
