Abstract
The Pantanal's biodiversity constitutes a valuable natural resource, in economic, cultural, recreational, aesthetic, scientific and educational terms. The vegetation plus the seasonal productivity support a diverse and abundant fauna. Many endangered species occur in the region, and waterfowl are exceptionally abundant during the dry season. Losses of biodiversity and its associated natural habitats within the Pantanal occur as a result of unsustainable land use. Implementation of protected areas is only a part of the conservation strategy needed. We analyse biodiversity threats to the biome under seven major categories: 1) conversion of natural vegetation into pasture and agricultural crops, 2) destruction or degradation of habitat mainly due to wild fire, 3) overexploitation of species mainly by unsustainable fishing, 4) water pollution, 5) river flow modification with implantation of small hydroelectric plants, 6) unsustainable tourism, and 7) introduction of invasive exotic species.
Highlights
As a wetland, the Pantanal is a biome characterised by constant or recurrent shallow flooding near the surface of the substrate, due to the low drainage capacity of its river system
Most of the Pantanal fauna is widely distributed and endemic species are rare in the biome (Brown-Junior, 1984; Junk et al, 2006, Lourival et al, 2000)
The aim of this paper is to provide a concise review of the Pantanal’s biodiversity conservation, discussing the environmental threats and suggesting conservation needs
Summary
The Pantanal is a biome characterised by constant or recurrent shallow flooding near the surface of the substrate, due to the low drainage capacity of its river system. The economic or utilitarian values of biodiversity rely upon the dependence of man on biodiversity, involving the products that nature can provide: fishing resources, tourism and extractive products It encompasses ecosystem services, such as climate regulation, reproductive and feeding habitats for commercial fish, some organisms that can create soil fertility through complex cycles and interactions, such as earthworms, termites and bacteria, in addition to the fungi responsible for cycling nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur and making them available for plant absorption. These services are the benefits that people indirectly receive from natural ecosystem functions (air quality maintenance, regional climate, water quality, nutrient cycling, reproductive habitats of commercial fish, etc.) with their related economic values (Alho, 2008b)
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