From virus to igapó forest: a systematic review of 35 years monitoring of an Amazonian Lake impacted by bauxite tailings (Batata Lake)

Do vírus à floresta do igapó: uma revisão sistemática de 35 anos de monitoramento de um Lago Amazônico impactado por rejeitos de bauxita (Lago Batata)

Abstract:

Aim

Long-term ecological research often integrates many research groups and subjects in one or few sites sampled systematically along the time. In the Amazon, there is a tradition of long-term research in terrestrial habitats, but this has been less common in floodplain lakes. This study systematically reviews 35 years of research (1988-2022) in Batata Lake, a clear water flood plain lake impacted by bauxite mining tailings for ten years (1979-1989) and discuss some research opportunities and challenges for the future.

Methods

The review covered 99 scientific reports (78 papers and 21 book chapters) comprising a large spectrum of data from snapshot observations and experiments to enduring quarterly observational and hypothesis-testing studies. Soil, sediments, and the water column were consistently sampled in natural and impacted areas.

Results

Research topics were quite diverse and covered biological communities from aquatic virus to igapó flooded forests and provided an overview of ecological processes such as primary and secondary production. Ecological variables monitored along the project were constrained by a strong seasonality of the flood pulse and the effect of sampling areas (natural and impacted), which was performed by very connected research groups.

Conclusions

Despite the extensive information, long-term ecosystem function trends are still incomplete.

Keywords:
Amazon; Batata Lake; environmental mining impacts; floodplain lake; freshwater; long-term ecological project