THREATS TO THE BIODIVERSITY OF THE BRAZILIAN PANTANAL DUE TO LAND USE AND OCCUPATION

ALHO, CLEBER J. R.; MAMEDE, SIMONE B.; BENITES, MARISTELA; ANDRADE, BRUNA S.; SEPÚLVEDA, JOSE J. O.

doi:10.1590/1809-4422asoc201701891vu2019L3AO

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Original Article • Ambient. soc. 22 • 2019 • https://doi.org/10.1590/1809-4422asoc201701891vu2019L3AO copy

THREATS TO THE BIODIVERSITY OF THE BRAZILIAN PANTANAL DUE TO LAND USE AND OCCUPATION

AMENAZAS A LA BIODIVERSIDAD DEL PANTANAL BRASILEÑO POR EL USO Y OCUPACIÓN DEL SUELO

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Abstract

The Pantanal is a wetland located in the central region of South America (150,355 km²), mainly in Brazil (nearly 140,000 km²), touching Paraguay and Bolivia. The floodplain is fed by the Paraguay River and its tributaries, where the headwater of the rivers is located on the surrounding upland. Only 40% of this plateau retains its natural vegetation. Although the natural habitats of the Pantanal are still considered well preserved, retaining 80% of the vegetation cover, the biome faces environmental and socioeconomic threats that affect its biodiversity. The seasonal flux of the rivers is a fundamental ecological element for regional biodiversity. Habitat alteration and deforestation have affected terrestrial and aquatic habitats and their associated wildlife. This work identifies and analyses the threats to biodiversity considering land use, based on research experience in the region plus field work. Based on this, it discusses a strategic action plan for the biome’s biodiversity.

Keywords:
biodiversity; conservation; environmental threats; land use; Pantanal.

Relevance to biodiversity	Evidence found
Protecting biological diversity	The identified threats were evidenced by the vulnerability of several species recorded in the field, given their sensitivity to one or more environmental or socioeconomic risks.
Conserving representative samples of natural ecosystems	The annotations of the field work involve the main sub regions of the Pantanal and also the plateau, covering representativeness. This coverage seeks to reflect the importance of the Pantanal as a biome, compared to the neighboring biomes.
Protecting endangered species	Threats discussed affecting the species listed by the “Livro Vermelho da Fauna Brasileira Ameaçada de Extinção” (ICMBio/MMA, 2018).
Protecting fish diversity and fishery resources	Threats analyzed affecting fish assemblages and the considerable potential of commercial, subsistence and sport fishing.
Protecting water resources and water flow	The threats related to the seasonal rhythm of the Pantanal flood are discussed and illustrated with several observations recorded in the field.
Protecting landscapes and scenic beauties	Threats highlight the Pantanal’s phytophysiognomies, including the “salinas” of Nhecolândia
Encouraging visits with recreation (ecotourism)	The analyzed threats that interfere with the loss of biodiversity that affects the enormous potential of ecotourism.
Promoting knowledge and scientific research	The threats discussed open up opportunities for an extensive field of research, including ecological processes, preference and habitat selection by species of fauna, habitat and microhabitat, fauna conservation, herbivory and effect of livestock, ecological behavior with food guilds and reproduction and many other relevant topics.

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[TFN1] Source: Prepared by the authors.