FAUNA PARAGUAY HABITATS

Atlantic Forest
The Paraguayan Atlantic forest constitutes the westerly extension of the Brazilian Atlantic coast forest and is often referred to as Alto Paraná Atlantic forest (BAAPA). Though one of the richest centres of endemism in the Neotropics, less than 5% of this highly endangered forest type remains. The largest blocks of this forest in Paraguay are at Parque Nacional San Rafael and Mbaracayú Forest Reserve, though the former currently receives less protection than the latter. Species composition varies from site to site, but ypical tree species include Actinostemon concolor, Holocalyx balsanae, Patagonula americana and Pilocarpus pennatifolius, and members of the Myrtaceae. Canopy height is medium to tall, the understorey being open, filled with patches of Chusquea bamboo or with fruiting shrubs such as Sorocea sp. Atlantic forest is home to a large number of threatened and near-threatened species, many of which are endemic to the habitat type.

Araucaria Forest
Often considered to be part of the Atlantic forest complex, Araucaria Forest is defined as mixed coniferous and broad-leaved forest - a relic of a once widespread ecosystem of mixed woodland. The last remaining stands of this habitat occur in Alto Paraná not far from Ciudad del Este. The pioneering tree species in this forest is of course Araucaria sp., though the canopy also contains representatives of the Lauraceae, Myrtaceae and Leguminosae. The resultant habitat is something of a mosaic combining species from ancient coniferous forests with more typically Atlantic forest species. As a result the fauna of the Araucaria forest has much in common with that of the Atlantic forest.

Secondary Humid Forest
Regrowth forest, generally more open than mature forest. Canopy height is lower, and allows considerable light penetration and resulting in the growth of bushier undergrowth. An absence of emergent trees is also a noticeable factor. As the forest ages it resembles mature forest more and more, both in appearance and species composition.

Subhumid Forest (Bosque Semi-húmedo)
Subhumid forest is forest which, unlike the Atlantic forest, shows a defined wet and dry season. It tends to be distributed in drier areas with more limited rainfall, especially in the Chaco, but differs from the arid chaco forest in the absence of xerophytic species. Trees are usually of medium height (10-20m) with a primarily bromeliad undergrowth. Subhumid forests show a cross-section of the more adaptable forest bird species from both the chaco forest and the Atlantic forest.

Gallery Forest
Forest of low to medium height on sandy, sloping soils along streams and river courses. Such forests are subject to periodic flooding and plant species that inhabit them are adapted to frequent inundation. Typical canopy species include Inga sp., Copaifera sp., Nectandra sp. and Luehea sp. Bamboo stands may also form along river courses, sometimes impenetrably dense. Bambusa guadua is the most commonly found species in the Orient. Plants of the Piperaceae, Rubiaceae and Melastomataceae are prominent in the understorey.

Chaco Forest
A specific type of tropical deciduous xerophytic forest, chaco forest is typically dense thorn forest of low height (5-10m), with an often impenetrable undergrowth of spiny terrestrial plants such as bayonet bromeliads Bromelia sevra and star cacti Cleistocactus sp. In the western Chaco the forest is shorter and increasingly dominated by cacti, especially Opuntia sp.

Matorral
An open, dry, arid environment, sometimes known as arid Chaco lowland scrub. It is defined by an abundance of high grasses interspersed with Quebracho woodland. The latter is more open than Chaco forest, characterised by thorny bushes such as Prosopis sp., cacti and scattered trees up to 13m high eg Aspidosperma sp, Bulnesia sp., Schinopsis sp. etc. Quebracho woodland occurs especially in the transition from matorral to Chaco forest. The habitat is also punctuated with “tajamars”, man-made cattle-ranchers ponds.

Capuera
Secondary growth scrub within forest. This can be due to local human activity or as a result of a varying local micro-climate that results in a different vegetation type.

Palm Savanna
Palm savanna is a heterogeneous and varied habitat, though dominated by a single species of palm, Copernicia alba. Soils are sedimentary, originating from the many rivers and composed of fine materials. In areas where impermeable soil layers have formed flooding results in the formation of bogs and temporary marshes. Grasses and herbaceous shrubs, and trees, occasionally xerophytic, complete the mosaic.

Cerrado Savanna
A varied savanna-type habitat reaching its southern limits in Paraguay. It is characterised by a mosaic of grassland and open xerophytic woodland, at its most extreme resembling treeless grassland (campo limpio), though in some areas there are scattered trees and shrubs (campo sucio). Sensu strictu cerrado savanna lacks both grasses and trees and is dominated by a unique mix of low-growing shrubs and plants. Cerrado savanna is associated with deep, nutrient-poor, well-drained soils and typical plant genera include Caryocar, Qualea, Byrsonima, Pouteria and Tabebuia. Plant endemism is extraordinarily high with communities varying greatly from one site to another.

Cerrado Woodland (Cerradón)
Cerrado habitat in its most closed form, cerrado woodland is a dense woodland of twisted, semi-deciduous trees of short to medium height (8-20m). The undergrowth of these forests is formed by an assortment of bromeliads, shrubs and coarse grasses.

Natural Grassland
Complex plant communities inhabit the natural grasslands, many of which are adapted to poorly drained soils. The most prominent plant species are the grasses, particularly Andropogon, Axonopus and Loudetia. Angiosperms are also plentiful, especially those of the Poaceae, Asteraceae, Melastomataceae and Fabaceae.

Pasture/Agricultural Land
This artificial habitat type shows a mixture of naturally occurring grassland species (see above) with introduced crop species, particularly soya, wheat and yerba maté. This is not a very productive habitat type for wildlife, with the use of artificial fertilisers and pesticides proving detrimental to many species. Several grassland species have however shown a remarkable ability to adapt to agriculture, with some even benefitting from it.

Freshwater Wetland
A variety of marshy habitats, both seasonally-flooded and permanent, come under this habitat heading. Typical are the “Esteros” of Ñeembucú, flooded grasslands, resembling extensive marshes. There is considerable variation in vegetation cover, from shallow, weed-choked lagoons (where Ceratopteridaceae, Amarantaceae and Cabombaceae are amongst the most common species) to deeper, more open lakes with emergent coastal vegetation (especially Typhaceae) and floating vegetation (including Menyanthaceae, Nymphaceae and Pontederiaceae).

Freshwater Bodies
This covers a broad range of freshwater sources, from lakes, rivers and streams, to river beach and ponds. Of the four main rivers, the Paraná is the fastest flowing - though damming projects along its length have tamed it´s fury considerably in most areas - while the sluggish Pilcomayo is vegetation choked and unavigable.

Saltwater Lagoons
Salts drawn up from the subsoil where large, bare depressions have formed, often fill with water after heavy rains to form saltwater lagoons. These lagoons form most frequently in the Alto Chaco, becoming progressively less salty as you head further east. Immediately surrounding these saline wetlands are halophytic plant communities composed of small succulents such as Salicornia perennis and Chenopodium sp., and other halophytes such as Panicum and Heliotropium grasses.

Urban Areas
Paraguay is not yet an overly-urbanised country, with paved roads linking only the major cities of the Orient and dirt roads ubiquitous elsewhere. Asunción (particularly) and Ciudad del Este are the only real cities of size, with all other cities boasting populations of less than 70,000. In general Paraguayan cities are small, green and manageable and a far cry from the concrete jungle that might be expected by foreign visitors. Few cities though are far from wilder habitat and city outskirts can produce a decent species list with patience. The Chaco on the other hand is bereft of cities, Filadelfia, the largest settlement being little more than a small town with dirt roads.