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.

A comprehensive review Written by experts Richly illustrated throughout Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Inhalt

Underneath the Pantanal Wetland: a Deep-time History of Gondwana Assembly, Climate Change, and the Dawn of Metazoan Life.- Geology and Geomorphology of the Pantanal Basin.- Paleolimnology in the Pantanal: Using Lake Sediment Archives to Track Late Quaternary Environmental Change in the World's Largest Neotropical Wetland.- Changing Rivers and the Hydrology of the Pantanal Wetland.- Terrestrial and Aquatic Vegetation Diversity of the Pantanal Wetland.- Metabolic Scaling Applied to Native Woody Savanna Species in the Pantanal of Nhecolândia.- Alkaline Lakes Dynamics in the Nhecolândia Landscape.- Methane and Carbon Dioxide Emissions from the Paraguay River floodplain (Pantanal) during Episodic Anoxia Events.- Pesticides in the Pantanal.- Historical Land-use Changes in São Gabriel do Oeste at the Upper Taquari River Basin.- Natural and Environmental Vulnerability along the Touristic Estradas Parque Pantanal by GIS Algebraic Mapping.- Climate Change Scenarios in the Pantanal.