The Lower Paraguay river-floodplain habitats in the context of the Fluvial Hydrosystem Approach

• Autorzy: Drago E. C. , Wantzen K.M. , Paira A.R.
• Języki publikacji: EN

Abstrakty

EN

We report herein the first description of the physical structure of the aquatic habitats of the Lower Paraguay River along 390 km from Asunción city (Paraguay) to the confluence with the Paraná River. The hierarchical ordination of the Fluvial Hydrosystem Approach (FHA) allowed us to classify the Lower Paraguay as a meandering functional sector where five functional sets were identified: (a) main channel, (b) floodplain channel, (c) floodplain lentic environment, (d) tributary, and (f) aquatic-terrestrial transition zone. These functional sets encompassed twenty one functional units and sixty one major mesohabitats. We attribute the riverine habitat diversity to the changes in the channel-floodplain morphology and in the strength, duration and frequency of their hydrological connectivity. The variable riverfloodplain- tributary complex developed several types of fluvial-lacustrine boundaries and riverine ecotones.

Słowa kluczowe

EN

Lower Paraguay; Paraguay; river; hydrosystem; flood plain habitat; physical habitat; connectivity; ecotone; boundary; aquatic habitat; Parana River; Asuncion city; hydrology

• Wydawca: -
• Czasopismo: International Journal of Ecohydrology and Hydrobiology
• Rocznik: 2008
• Tom: 08
• Numer: 1
• Opis fizyczny: p.49-66,fig.,ref.

Twórcy

autor

Drago E. C.

• Instituto Nacional de Limnologia (CONICET-UNL), J. Macia 1933, 3016 Santo Tome, Santa Fe, Argentina

autor

Wantzen K.M.

autor

Paira A.R.