Physical component; Geology of the Paraná River valley in the vicinity of Porto Rico; Geomorphology of the Paraná River floodplain in the reach between the Paranapanema and Ivaí Rivers; Characteristics and dynamics of the Paraná River channel bedform: an approach to study the inlfuences of the Porto Primavera Dam, sand mining, and channel construction; Flood extension in the Baia-Curutuba-Ivinheima complex of the Paraná River floodplain; Bank erosion downstream Porto Primavera Dam; Eolian dunes in the Upper Paraná River: evidence of aridity during the holocene; Limnology of the Upper Paraná floodplain habitats: patterns of spatio-temporal variations and influence of the water levels; Biotic component; Structure of communities of periphytic algae in the upper Paraná River floodplain; Composition and abundance of the periphytic meiofauna in lentic systems of the Upper Paraná River floodplain; Periphytic biomass in floodplain rivers of Brazil: Pantanal and Upper Paraná River; Phytoplankton composition and biomass in environments of the upper Paraná River floodplain; Zooplankton in the Upper Paraná River floodplain: composition, richness, abundance and relationships with the hydrological level and the connectivity; Spatial and temporal fluctuation of zooplankton body size is isolated lagoons of the upper Paraná River floodplain, Brazil; Influence of the environmental heterogeneity and water level on distribution of zoobenthos in the upper Paraná River floodplain (Baia and Paraná Rivers); Perspectives on exotic bivalves proliferation in the upper Paraná River floodplain; Influence of the decrease of water level on the chironomidae community of the upper Paraná River alluvial plain; Fish assemblages in the upper Paraná River floodplain; Structure of the fish assemblage in biotopes and subsystems of the upper Paraná River floodplain; Reproductive strategies of the fish community of the upper Paraná River floodplain; Fish assemblages of the seasonally isolated lagoons of the upper Paraná River floodplain; Trophic structure of the fish fauna; Estimation of the energy of producers and consumers in the upper Paraná River floodplain; Trophic structure of the fish assemblage in the floodplain of the Upper Paraná River: stable isotopes; Eggs and larvae of fishes in the upper Paraná River floodplain; Estimation of the genetic variability of fishes of the Upper Paraná River floodplain based on enzyme markers; Molecular markers and genetic variability of Hoplias aff. malabaricus populations from the upper Paraná River floodplain; Genetic distances among populations of Leporinus elongatus (Characiformes) and Hemisorubim platyrhynchos (Siluriformes) orginally isolated by the Sete Quedas falls; Cytogenetics as a tool for ecological studies; Parasite fauna of fishes from the upper Paraná River floodplain, Brazil; Survey of the digenean cercarial fauna in the upper Paraná River floodplain: identification of snails as potential intermediated hosts; Bird richness on the islands of the upper Paraná River, Paraná and Mato Grosso do Sul Border, Brazil; Richness and distribution of falconiformes in the Upper Paraná River floodplain, Brazil; Interactions between birds and other organisms in the upper Paraná River floodplain, Brazil; Aquatic macrophytes from the upper Paraná River floodplain: species list and patterns of diversity in large scale; The role of connectivity in structuring aquatic macrophyte assemblages; Riparian vegetation of the upper Paraná River floodplain, Paraná and Mato Grosso do Sul States, Brazil; Molecular polymorphism in populations of Inga spp. (Mimosaceae), Eugenia spp. (Myrtaceae), and Lonchocarpus cultratus (Fabaceae) in Riparian forest of the Upper Paraná River; Human dimension; Known environment: a study of social representation on nature by teenagers from Porto Rico, Paraná State; Demographic studies in the upper Paraná River floodplain; Historical reconstructions of the (Re) occupation of the northwestern Paraná: official versions and experienced situations; Health, environment and social representations in the populations of Porto Rico, Paraná State; Illegible floodplain: environmental education and citizenship.

The Middle Paraná river is one of the largest in the world. Exceptionally rich in fauna and flora, it provides researchers with a glimpse into an ecosystem yet undisturbed by human civilization. This fascinating book covers all the key aspects of the Paraná’s fluvial limnology and ecology, arranged in discrete and easily navigable sections. First, the physical and chemical environment is explained, then the river’s plant life, followed by its invertebrate life, and finally the vertebrates that inhabit the river.

This book provides insight into the hydrology, ecosystem services and management of water resources in the Paraná River basin, including the importance of water to the socio-economic development of the countries within the watershed. Running through Brazil. Paraguay and Argentina, the Paraná River and its watershed is home to some of South America's major population centers as well as important ecosystems threatened by development. At the same time, the river is a major resource driving the economies of the nations within its boundaries. This volume examines the impacts of environmental degradation, and the tradeoffs between the energy sector and the maintenance of ecosystem services. In particular, it focuses on the threats from development to sensitive ecosystems within the basin and the challenges of transboundary management of water resources. In addition to presenting wider perspectives on water management, the volume specifically covers water infrastructure, aquatic ecosystems, water quality, geomorphological influences and the impact of climate change. Finally, by assessing each country's current status in meeting the Sustainable Development Goals this volume provides a timely analysis as national governments within the basin are becoming increasingly concerned about the sustainability of the freshwater ecosystems within the Paraná River basin. This book will be of great interest to students and scholars of water and natural resource management, environmental policy, sustainable development and Latin American studies. It will also be relevant to water management professionals.

An accessible introduction to large rivers, including coverage of the geomorphology, hydrology, ecology, and environments of large river systems This indispensible book takes a structured and global approach to the subject of large rivers, covering geomorphology, hydrology, ecology, and anthropogenic environment. It offers a thorough foundation for readers who are new to the field and presents enlightening discussions about issues of management at the worldwide scale. The book also examines possible future adaptations that may come about due to climate change. The book has benefitted from contributions by Professor W.J. Junk on the ecology of floodplains and Professor Olav Slaymaker on the large arctic rivers. Introducing Large Rivers is presented in three parts. Part 1 provides an introduction to the world’s large rivers and their basins. It covers source, transfer, and storage of their water and sediment; Pleistocene inheritance; the ecology of channels and floodplains; deltas; and more. Several large rivers are discussed in the next part. These include the Amazon Mississippi, Nile, Ganga-Brahmaputra System, Mekong, and Yangtze. The last part examines changes in large rivers and our management of river systems. It studies anthropogenic alterations such as land use and deforestation in large river basins; structural control systems like dams and reservoirs on channels; and ecological changes. It finishes with chapters on the management of large rivers, covering both technical and political aspects, and the future of the world’s big river systems. Introducing Large Rivers is ideal as an introductory textbook on large rivers for future earth and environmental scientists and river managers. It will also benefit advanced undergraduate and graduate students studying geography, geology, ecology, and river management.

Central Amazonian floodplain forests are an unique and endangered ecosystem. The forests grow in areas that are annually flooded by large rivers during mean periods of up to 8 months and at depths of up to 10 m. Despite this severe stress, these forests consist of over 1,000 species and are by far the most species-rich floodplain forests worldwide. The trees show a broad range of morphological, anatomical, physiological, and phenological adaptations that enable them not only to survive the adverse environmental conditions, but also to produce large amounts of biomass when the nutrient levels in water and soils are sufficiently high. This is the case in the floodplains of white-water rivers, which are used for fisheries, agriculture, and cattle-ranching but which also have a high potential for the production of timber and non-timber products, when adequately managed. Latest research on ecophysiology gives insight how tree species adapt to the oscillating flood-pulse focusing on their photosynthesis, respiration, sap flow, biochemistry, phenology, wood and leave anatomy, root morphology and functioning, fruit chemistry, seed germination, seedling establishment, nitrogen fixation and genetic variability. Based on tree ages, lifetime growth rates and net primary production, new concepts are developed to improve the sustainability of traditional forest managements in the background of an integrated natural resource management. This is the first integrative book on the functioning and ecologically oriented use of floodplain forests in the tropics and sub-tropics.It provides fundamental knowledge for scientist, students, foresters and other professionals on their distribution, evolution and phytogeography. “This book is an excellent testimony to the interdisciplinary collaboration of a group of very dedicated scientists to unravel the functioning of the Amazonian Floodplain forests. They have brought together a highly valuable contribution on the distribution, ecology, primary production, ecophysiology, typology, biodiversity, and human use of these forests offering recommendations for sustainable management and future projects in science and development of these unique wetland ecosystems. It lays a solid scientific foundation for wetland ecologists, foresters, environmentalists, wetland managers, and all those interested in sustainable management in the tropics and subtropics.” Brij Gopal, Executive Vice President International Society for Limnology (SIL).

The volume starts with comparative reservoir limnology and deals with problems relating to tropical, semi-arid and temperate reservoirs. The second part concerns mathematical models of reservoirs, including new techniques for investigating their limnology. These cover physical, chemical and biological phenomena, remote sensing and the use of modelling to establish the most efficient strategy for water quality sampling. In the third, on reservoir water quality management, the potential available in fish population management for biomanipulation of reservoir water quality is introduced. Also included is a valuable section on a wide range of water quality measures, coming from the well-known Czech Hydrobiological Laboratory. Finally the editors summarise the present state of reservoir limnology. This book will be of interest to hydrobiologists and aquatic ecologists, reservoir and sanitary engineers, fisheries officers, postgraduate teaching, and the water industry dealing with drinking water supply and will provide insight into regulated rivers. It draws information from all over the world and is relevant to the whole world.