Programa de Pós-graduação em

Ciências Biológicas

Graduate Program in Biological Sciences (PPG-CB)

History

The Graduate Program in Biological Sciences (PPG-CB) was created in 2001 and initially offered only the master’s program. It was driven by the increase in scientific demand and the training of the researchers who developed the Tibagi Project, a multidisciplinary research project that investigated the fauna and flora of the Tibagi River basin (State of Paraná). This project, entitled “Aspects of Fauna and Flora of the Tibagi River Basin”, began in September 1989 and was carried out for over 13 years, culminating with the publication of the book “The Tibagi River Basin” in 2002. Over the years, restoration activities gained consistency, benefiting from the accumulated scientific knowledge, while new research opportunities in other areas were produced. As a result, in August 2011, the PPG-CB started to offer the PhD program.

The research currently carried out at the PPG-CB is strongly engaged with environmental management practices and the formulation of public policies. For that reason, the professors are in constant contact with technicians working at state and federal agencies and companies which have direct involvement with the environment. Connections with the Public Ministry (with both the state and The Public Prosecution Office) have been frequent on issues involving environmental impacts, such as those related to the construction of dams. Likewise, PPG-CB professors have maintained regular contact with technicians from environmental agencies (ICMBio, Ibama) and state agencies (IAP, Paraná Environmental Institute). Information and techniques are often shared with these institutes. 

Thus, the development and consolidation of the PPG-CB have allowed it to contribute to the scientific and technological development of Brazil with the training of high-level professionals and the implementation of public policies aimed at promoting rational use and conservation of biodiversity through studies carried out at different scales.

Goals, Mission, and Learning Outcomes

The main objective of the Graduate Program in Biological Sciences (PPG-CB) at the State University of Londrina (UEL) is to provide solid academic, technical, and scientific training in its subject area (Biodiversity and Conservation in Fragmented Habitats).

Carrying out research with a focus on the North of Paraná, the PPG-CB has the following specific objectives, in line with global, national, and regional demands:

(1) provide students with theoretical knowledge about Biodiversity in Systematics, Taxonomy and Biological Evolution (description of Biodiversity), Ecology and Biogeography (Biodiversity organization), and Conservation Biology (use of Biodiversity).

(2) train students to investigate specific themes of Biodiversity and in certain taxonomic groups.

(3) train high-level professionals to teach subjects related to Biodiversity and Conservation.

(4) instruct students on how to design research proposals to be submitted to funding agencies.

(5) train students to carry out research on biodiversity in environments under anthropic action, enabling them to select and propose conservation and environmental management strategies.

(6) provide the theoretical and practical foundation for the mitigation of environmental impacts, as well as for ecological restoration in aquatic and terrestrial environments.

Thus, the mission of the PPG-CB is to contribute to the scientific and technological development of Brazil, with the training of high-level professionals and the implementation of public policies aimed at promoting rational use and conservation of the biodiversity through studies carried out at different scales, from species to landscapes.

The PPG-CB aims to train researchers/professors with professional autonomy and potential to join educational and research institutions and agencies in the environmental sector throughout the country, with high-level research and scientific writing skills. More significantly, the PPG-CB has collaborated to the training of professionals in the North of Paraná and in regions of the state of São Paulo. Our program aims at the following Learning Outcomes:

(1) Faculty with high-level training in matters related to Biodiversity, prepared to work preferably at universities and other higher education institutions, as well as in secondary and elementary education.

(2) Researchers in Biodiversity, with a strong theoretical foundation, who may work (and teach) at universities, or who may be associated to research institutes such as EMBRAPA, IDR-IAPAR, INPA, CRADs (Reference Centres for the Recovery of Degraded Areas) and many others, showing connections with researchers and institutions from other countries.

(3) Professionals with a solid theoretical background who work directly in environmental management, mitigation of environmental impacts, or in the formulation/implementation of public policies. They can work in public agencies of the federal (IBAMA, ICMBio), state (IAP), municipal spheres and NGOs, among others.

Research Themes and Projects

The Graduate Program in Biological Sciences (PPG-CB) has a focus on one subject area, namely, “Biodiversity and Conservation in Fragmented Habitats”, which is divided into two research themes: “Biodiversity and Conservation of Terrestrial Habitats” and “Biodiversity and Conservation of Aquatic Habitats”. This structure is the result of the integrated approach to Biodiversity, in which research on the biota is considered under different approaches, alongside with aspects of the physical environment and society. This context is marked by the fragmentation of habitats and by the interactions of this phenomenon with global climate change, environmental pollution, and the disordered occupation of space by man.

The study of indicator species, sensitive or rare, as well as the analysis of variations in functional diversity and ecological services, are common themes in the research carried out at the PPG-CB. These approaches aim to (i) produce and disseminate scientific knowledge about biodiversity in fragmented landscapes, (ii) train high-level professionals for teaching, research, and environmental management, and (iii) collaborate with the formulation of public policies for the sustainable use, protection, and restoration of biodiversity. These objectives are in line with global, national, and regional demands, since the North of Paraná, which until the 1920s had practically continuous coverage of Atlantic Forest, currently has most of its forests reduced to small fragments.

The studies carried out at the PPG-CB share a common strong approach to environmental management practices and the formulation of public policies. For that reason, the professors are in constant contact with technicians working at state and federal agencies and companies which have direct involvement with the environment. The professors of this Graduate Program seek to contribute to the scientific and technological development of Brazil with the training of high-level professionals and the implementation of public policies aimed at the rational use and conservation of biodiversity through studies at different scales, from species to landscapes.

For further information about the research themes and projects, see below.

Biodiversity and Conservation of Terrestrial Habitats

Research in the theme “Biodiversity and Conservation of Terrestrial Habitats” focuses on basic and applied research on biodiversity conservation in fragmented forest landscapes. The PPG-CB professors who work with this research theme use data from different taxonomic groups, from both flora and fauna, under various approaches, such as landscape, community and population ecology, ecophysiology, and ecology interactions between plants and microorganisms.

This research theme hosts the following projects:

• Insect Diversity and Ecology

• Ecology, Functioning and Restoration of Ecosystems

• Ecology and Conservation of Terrestrial Vertebrates

• Effects of Stress on Plant Anatomy and Physiology

• Diversity, Evolution, and Population Study of Plants

Biodiversity and Conservation of Aquatic Habitats 

Research in the theme Biodiversity and Conservation of Aquatic Habitats focuses on the investigation of aquatic environments that are more sensitive to the use and occupation of the land in their surroundings, subject to various pressures, such as the insufficiency of riparian forests, exposure to contaminants, and the construction of hydroelectric dams. In these studies, the systematics, biogeography, population dynamics, and ecophysiology of different groups of aquatic animals are investigated. A common characteristic of the studies carried out is the aim to produce knowledge that may be used to promote actions for the management and conservation of aquatic environments.

This research theme hosts the following projects:

• Ecological Assessment of Non-Native Organisms.

• Biology and Conservation of Aquatic Invertebrates

• Diversity, Evolution, and Biogeography of Fishes

• Ecophysiology of Aquatic Organisms

• Ecology and Conservation of Aquatic Vertebrates

Professors

Internationalization

For further information about UEL’s cooperation and internationalization agreements go to the webpage of the International Relations Office.

The main international activities developed in our program are publications in international journals, collaboration with researchers and foreign institutions, student exchange, as members of editorial boards, and organization of international events.

Student Exchange

The PPG-CB regularly has students who benefit from scholarships on the Doctoral Sandwich Program (CAPES) and carry out research in foreign laboratories. The selection of students takes place according to a specific public notice, published according to the annual calendar of the program. Approved students develop part of their doctoral dissertation with their respective international collaborators.

In 2014, UEL regulated (Resolução CEPE nº 111/2014) the analysis of proposals that involve entering into partnerships with foreign higher education and/or research institutions to enable co-tutorship, which allows graduate students to be awarded the degree in both countries. 

The PPG-CB also welcomes foreign students, awarded with scholarships from funding agencies of their countries of origin (Resolução CEPE nº 0208/2007).