Abstract
Biodiversity is one of the most fundamental properties of Nature. It underpins the stability of ecosystems, provides vast bioresources for economic use, and has important cultural significance for many people. The Pampa biome, located in the southernmost state of Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul, illustrates the direct and indirect interdependence of humans and biodiversity. The Brazilian Pampa lies within the South Temperate Zone where grasslands scattered with shrubs and trees are the dominant vegetation. The soil, originating from sedimentary rocks, often has an extremely sandy texture that makes them fragile—highly prone to water and wind erosion. Human activities have converted or degraded many areas of this biome. In this review we discuss our state-of-the-art knowledge of the diversity and the major biological features of this regions and the cultural factors that have shaped it. Our aim is to contribute toward a better understanding of the current status of this special biome and to describe how the interaction between human activities and environment affects the region, highlighting the fragility of the Brazilian Pampa.
Highlights
By definition, biomes are regions of the planet that can be distinguished by their geography, climate, and associated flora and fauna
The Amazonia biome comprises about 49.29% of the Brazilian territory occupying an approximate area of 4,196,943 km2
Estimates indicate that a typical forest of the region contains, on average, 460 tons of biomass per hectare, which corresponds to 230 tons of carbon fixed in plant tissues [2]
Summary
Biomes are regions of the planet that can be distinguished by their geography, climate, and associated flora and fauna. Estimates indicate that a typical forest of the region contains, on average, 460 tons of biomass per hectare, which corresponds to 230 tons of carbon fixed in plant tissues [2] For those reasons, the Brazilian Amazon is one of the most studied and important biomes in the world. The Brazilian Pampa biome is slightly larger, occupying an area of 176,496 km, representing about 2.07% of the national territory. The natural fragility of the soil, combined with the climatic conditions means that inappropriate human activities have led to intense soil degradation This in turn has contributed to a socio-economic fragility as evidenced by the low Social Development Index of the region [5]. Our aim is to contribute toward a better understanding of the current status of this special biome and to describe how the interaction between human activities and environment affects the region, highlighting the fragility of the Brazilian Pampa
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