Abstract
Abstract: Aim Considering the great environmental and social impact that floodplains have, several studies have been performed in the upper Paraná River floodplain. In this study, we applied a scientometric analysis to understand the evolution of scientific knowledge generated in the Upper Paraná River floodplain, based on studies published in this area. Methods We searched the literature published from 1995 to 2018 using the indexed database - Thomson ISI Web of Science. The following information was obtained for each scientific article: a) year of publication; b) place of research; c) research institution; d) study approach; e) environments; f) subject matter; g) theoretical approach; h) taxonomic groups. Results We found 435 published articles from different study areas (such as: exact and earth sciences, environmental sciences, social and human sciences, health sciences) that used this floodplain as a study area. The linear regression model showed an increase in the number of articles throughout the years. Studies with ecological themes were most prominent, ensuring research with various theoretical approaches and different biological communities used as proxies. Conclusions With this study, we conclude that long-term research was fundamental in generating data to address ecological issues and describe the dynamics of this plain. Studies such as these must have more political and financial support to develop basic scientific studies that can subsidize data for conservation programs and government policies, in order to maintain ecosystem services such as fishing and the availability of quality water.
Highlights
South America holds the largest floodplain area, covering approximately 20% of the entire continent (Wittmann et al, 2018)
We applied a scientometric analysis to understand the evolution of scientific knowledge generated in the Upper Paraná River floodplain, based on studies published in this area
We found 435 articles that used the upper Paraná River floodplain as a study area
Summary
South America holds the largest floodplain area, covering approximately 20% of the entire continent (Wittmann et al, 2018). It is a classic example of a floodplain with high habitat heterogeneity and peculiar limnological characteristics, guaranteeing high regional biotic diversity (Agostinho et al, 1997; Agostinho et al, 2004; Thomaz et al, 2007) In this stretch, the main channel of the Paraná River is supplied by different tributaries such as the Baía, Ivinhema, Amambaí and Iguatemi rivers on the right bank and the Paranapanema, Ivaí and Piquiri rivers on the left bank (Souza-Filho & Stevaux, 1997). The region houses three Conservation Units: Área de Proteção Ambiental das Ilhas e Várzeas do Rio Paraná, Parque Nacional de Ilha Grande, and Parque Estadual das Várzeas do Rio Ivinhema, which are essential for maintaining the terrestrial biodiversity and the plain itself (Agostinho & Zalewski, 1995; Agostinho et al, 2004)
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