RELAÇÕES DE CONECTIVIDADE E FUNCIONAMENTO ESTRUTURAL (HÍDRICO) DA PLANÍCIE DE INUNDAÇÃO DO ALTO RIO PARANÁ

Abstract

This study analyzes the relationship between the floodplain and the Paraná River channel, seeking to understand how the hydrological regime, morphological features, and lateral connectivity processes structure and transform the functioning of the floodplain. The central objective was to characterize the current hydromorphological dynamics of the floodplain in a section of the upper Paraná River, integrating the analysis of the hydrological regime, geomorphological features, and the connectivity relationships among sub-environments. To this end, a methodology was applied based on the integration of hydrological data from part of the post-dam historical series, the use of theoretical frameworks for the recognition of morphological features, and the use of remote sensing and geoprocessing geotechnologies to identify connectivity patterns. The results reveal that the dynamics of the floodplain are controlled by the variability of the hydrological regime and by the presence of peculiar morphologies, whose interaction conditions the lateral connectivity between channel and floodplain. Distinct response patterns of these features or sub-environments were identified, ranging from permanently connected areas, seasonal connections, to isolated sectors. This spatial heterogeneity directly influences the circulation of water, sediments, and organic matter, defining the degree of ecological functionality of the floodplain. It is concluded that this study contributes to the understanding of the mechanisms governing the functioning of the upper Paraná River floodplain, and that its methodology represents a tool applicable to other Brazilian fluvial systems, supporting management and environmental conservation.