%0 Journal Article %T The Lower Paraguay river-floodplain habitats in the context of the Fluvial Hydrosystem Approach %A Edmundo C. Drago %A Karl M. Wantzen %A Aldo R. Paira %J Ecohydrology & Hydrobiology %@ 2080-3397 %D 2008 %I %R 10.2478/v10104-009-0004-1 %X We report herein the first description of the physical structure of the aquatic habitats of the Lower Paraguay River along 390 km from Asunci¨®n city (Paraguay) to the confluence with the Paran¨¢ River. The hierarchical ordination of the Fluvial Hydrosystem Approach (FHA) allowed us to classify the Lower Paraguay as a meandering functional sector where five functional sets were identified: (a) main channel, (b) floodplain channel, (c) floodplain lentic water body, (d) tributary, and (f) aquatic-terrestrial transition zone. These functional sets encompassed twenty one functional units and fifty eight major mesohabitats. We attribute the riverine habitat diversity to the changes in the channel-floodplain morphology and in the strength, duration and frequency of their hydrological connectivity. The variable river-floodplain-tributary complex developed several types of fluvial-lacustrine boundaries and riverine ecotones. %K Large river %K physical habitat %K connectivity %K boundaries %K ecotones %U http://versita.metapress.com/content/74401906150n0j83/?p=124153b57e3d46c88cf55fc4f1210510&pi=3