Dynamics of the Pantanal Wetland in South America (The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry, 37)

This book provides readers with in-depth insights into the changes in the Pantanal wetland from its formation to the actual and likely future states. It reveals that today’s Pantanal is an evolutionary consequence of geological, ecological and, more recently, man-made events taking place at distinct space-time intervals. Topics include geotectonics and sun-earth interactions, which largely dictate the rate of drastic changes that eventually disrupt ecological stability and radically rebuild the regional landscape. Furthermore, the biota-climate system is discussed as a major driver reshaping the ecohydrology functioning of the landscape on an intermediate timescale. Also covered are major changes in the landscape ecohydrology and biodiversity due to recent land-use and climate changes induced by humankind in the Anthropocene. The ability to recognize how those temporal scales impact the Pantanal wetland provides the opportunity for wise management approaches and the sustainable development of the region. Front Matter....Pages i-xvi Underneath the Pantanal Wetland: A Deep-Time History of Gondwana Assembly, Climate Change, and the Dawn of Metazoan Life....Pages 1-21 Geology and Geomorphology of the Pantanal Basin....Pages 23-50 Paleolimnology in the Pantanal: Using Lake Sediments to Track Quaternary Environmental Change in the World’s Largest Tropical Wetland....Pages 51-81 Avulsive Rivers in the Hydrology of the Pantanal Wetland....Pages 83-110 Terrestrial and Aquatic Vegetation Diversity of the Pantanal Wetland....Pages 111-131 Metabolic Scaling Applied to Native Woody Savanna Species in the Pantanal of Nhecolândia....Pages 133-144 Alkaline Lake Dynamics in the Nhecolândia Landscape....Pages 145-161 Methane and Carbon Dioxide Dynamics in the Paraguay River Floodplain (Pantanal) in Episodic Anoxia Events....Pages 163-178 Pesticides in the Pantanal....Pages 179-190 Historical Land-Use Changes in São Gabriel do Oeste at the Upper Taquari River Basin....Pages 191-208 Natural and Environmental Vulnerability Along the Touristic “Estradas Parque Pantanal” by GIS Algebraic Mapping....Pages 209-226 Climate Change Scenarios in the Pantanal....Pages 227-238 Back Matter....Pages 239-243