Bianca Reinert

Bianca Luiza Reinert (c. 1966 – 10 September 2018) was a Brazilian biologist and ornithologist.[1][2] She was one of a group of ornithologists who discovered a previously undocumented species of swamp bird, Formicivora acutirostris. She also worked to create a nature reserve to preserve its habitat.[3]

Education

Reinert held a degree in Biological Sciences from the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná, a master's degree in Forestry Sciences from the Federal University of Paraná, and a Ph.D. in Zoology from Rio de Janeiro State University.[1]

Career

Reinart was a researcher at the Natural History Museum in Curitiba.[4] In 1995, she was working on the Parana coast with colleagues Dante Teixeira and Marcos Bonrnschien when they discovered an undocumented bird. On examination, the group decided it was a new genus as well as a new species: Stymphalornis acutirostris.[5] The taboa swamp that the bird lived in was being encroached on by human activities, so in 2008 Reinert and others formed an organisation to create a nature reserve in nearby Guaratuba.[1][6] In 2009, Reinhart and four others purchased land in Guaratuba and had it designated as a Private Natural Heritage Reserve (Reserva Particular do Patrimônio Natural).[7] In 2015, a species of toad found in Brazil, Melanophryniscus biancae, was named in her honor due to her conservation efforts.[8]

Reinart worked with poet, Adélia Maria Woellner, and illustrator, Kitty Harvill to produce a picture book, A descoberta do Bicudinho-do-Brejo, which is about S. acutirostris and was released in July 2018.[9] Reinart invited Woellner to work with her on the book in order to increase the public's knowledge of S. acutirostris.[10]

Publications

• Conhecendo Aves Silvestres Brasileiras: Knowing Brazilian Birds (with Marcos R. Bornschein and Ricardo Belmonte-Lopes, 2004)[11]

Personal life

Reinert died after a battle with cancer and was buried in Curitiba.[3] She was 52 years old.[12]

References

1. "O Brasil perde a bióloga Bianca Reinert – uma apaixonada pelo bicudinho-do-brejo". Conexão Planeta (in Portuguese). 2018-09-11. Retrieved 2018-09-13.
2. "Bianca Luiza Reinert | Ornitologia". ResearchGate. Retrieved 2018-09-13.
3. Bragança, Daniele (10 September 2018). "A conservação perde a ornitóloga Bianca Reinert". Oeco (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2018-09-13.
4. "N. 69 - Janeiro/Fevereiro 1996". www.ao.com.br. Retrieved 2018-09-14.
5. Reinert, Bianca L.; Belmonte-Lopes, Ricardo; Bornschein, Marcos R.; Sobotka, Daiane D.; Correa, Leandro; Pie, Marcos R.; Pizo, Marco A. (2012). "Nest and Eggs of the Marsh Antwren (Stymphalornis Acutirostris): The Only Marsh-Dwelling Thamnophilid". Wilson Journal of Ornithology. 124 (2): 286–291. doi:10.1676/11-099.1.
6. Legge and Brooman, Deborah and Simon (2000). Law Relating to Animals. Cavendish Publishing. p. 375.
7. Grandisoli, Edson. "Empreendedor ambiental leva R$ 1 milhão". Folha de S.Paulo (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2018-09-16.
8. Fonseca, Vandré (15 December 2015). "Novos anfíbios nas bromélias da Mata Atlântica". Oeco (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2018-09-16.
9. "A Escritora e poeta Adélia Maria Woellner lança com as amigas, a bióloga Bianca Luiza Reinert e a artista plástica e ilustradora Kitty Harvill o livro "A descoberta do Bicudinho-do-Brejo"". SemeARTE Cultura (in Portuguese). 12 July 2018. Retrieved 2018-09-16.
10. Spack, Emanuelle (3 July 2018). "Bicudinho-do-brejo alça voos nas páginas de papel para dar vida a uma linda história". Central das Noticias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2018-09-16.
11. "Aves brasileiras são retratadas em guia fotográfico – Ambientebrasil – Notícias". noticias.ambientebrasil.com.br (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2018-09-14.
12. "Falecimentos (10/09/2018)" Tribuna. Retrieved 16 November 2018.