485
16.2.3 Paranaguá Estuary
The Paranaguá Estuarine Complex (~61,200 ha) is in the tropical to subtropical
transition of the Western Atlantic (Barletta et al. 2008) (Fig. 16.5). The warm temperate climate shows two distinctive rainfall seasons (rainy and dry), but is also
more susceptible to wide temperature changes. Mean annual rainfall is 2500 mm
(Possatto et al. 2016). The Paranaguá Estuary shows a vertical salinity gradient in
addition to its horizontal salinity-dominated ecocline. The upper estuary has meso
to oligohaline characteristics (Fig. 16.6). The middle estuary has intermediate salinities, and during the rainy season is more strongly influenced by meso and oligohaline waters (Fig. 16.6). On the other hand, during the dry season, coastal waters
influence this area (Barletta et al. 2008). Marine waters dominates the lower estuary
throughout the year (Fig. 16.6).
Fig. 16.4 Patterns of average monthly rainfall and average water salinity in the Goiana Estuary.
Red dashed boxes ( ) represents the rainy season
16 Estuarine Ecoclines and the Associated Fauna: Ecological Information as the Basis…
16.2.3 Paranaguá Estuary
The Paranaguá Estuarine Complex (~61,200 ha) is in the tropical to subtropical
transition of the Western Atlantic (Barletta et al. 2008) (Fig. 16.5). The warm temperate climate shows two distinctive rainfall seasons (rainy and dry), but is also
more susceptible to wide temperature changes. Mean annual rainfall is 2500 mm
(Possatto et al. 2016). The Paranaguá Estuary shows a vertical salinity gradient in
addition to its horizontal salinity-dominated ecocline. The upper estuary has meso
to oligohaline characteristics (Fig. 16.6). The middle estuary has intermediate salinities, and during the rainy season is more strongly influenced by meso and oligohaline waters (Fig. 16.6). On the other hand, during the dry season, coastal waters
influence this area (Barletta et al. 2008). Marine waters dominates the lower estuary
throughout the year (Fig. 16.6).
Fig. 16.4 Patterns of average monthly rainfall and average water salinity in the Goiana Estuary.
Red dashed boxes ( ) represents the rainy season
16 Estuarine Ecoclines and the Associated Fauna: Ecological Information as the Basis…