In the middle of the 1990’s, a group of ecological researchers of the Mato Grosso Federal University (UFMT) joined with some researchers of the Max Planck Institut fur Limnologie to plan the project “Ecology of the Greater Pantanal” – PEP, which was part of the SHIFT program (Studies of Human Impacts in Forest and Floodpalins in the Tropics). This initial group chose various study sites, among them was the current location of the Pirizal grid, in the Nossa Senhora do Livramento municipality, near Poconé. This activity in the area of the grid has increased since 1997 when accommodation for students and researchers was built. This house is still used by researchers working on the grid. In 2001, when PEP finished, the researchers who had worked in the project founded the Mato Grosso Center for Ecological Studies of the Pantanal – NEPA, which has been active in the area since then. (Read more about the data available on the PPBio Portal)

The Pirizal sampling site is a complete grid of the PELD type (25 km2). Data of this type are the most complete and the most useful for long term monitoring and geographical comparisons. These are probably adequate for the majority of analyses. Monitoring studies in the grids should use the methods described in the methodology sections of earlier studies of PPBio, or include a calibration phase within the project to guarantee that the data are comparable. The Scientific production before the grid can be found on these sites.

In 2004, the Post-Graduate Program in Ecology and Conservation of Biodiversity of UFMT – PPGECB, whose professors are for the most part participants in NEEPA, formulated and had approved through CNPq the project “Strategic Planning for Consolidation of the Research Group of the Post-Graduate Masters Course in Ecology and Conservation of Biodiversity (UFMT/INPA). This project plans to use the experience of the Ecology Program of INPA to strengthen the PPGECB. The construction of the grid started in October 2005 and was concluded in December of that year. The CNPq (through the PADCT program) and FAPEMAT financed its construction. The Pirizal grid was constructed in the Nossa Senhora do Livramento Municipality, in an area belonging to three ranchers on the Pantanal who are supporting this initiative.

Since the beginning of 2006, 5 researchers of the PPGECB have been involved with research on this grid. The participation of 10 researchers is planned for the end of 2006. The research studies on this grid are financed by CNPq, by FAPEMAT and by the Pantanal Research Center - CPP.

The metadata and available data can be acessed via the following links:

• Fish community of the floodplain of the Cuiabá River
• Abundance and species composition of Frogs in the Pantanal of Poconé - Mato Grosso do Sul

In addition to this grid in the Pantanal, 14 sample plots have been installed in the Chapada dos Guimarães, where a research project is being undertaken by one PPGECB researcher.

These installations form an extension of the PPBio program into the Pantanal, where Cuiabá is a regional center of this program.

Contact:

• Pierre Girard – pierreg@ufmt.br
  
• João Batista de Pinho – pinho@ufmt.br
  
• Jerry Magno Ferreira Penha - jerrym@terra.com.br