Wildlife of
Rio Grande do Sul

Pampas (southern Brazilian grasslands) dominate much of the southern and western lowlands, with native bunchgrasses and forbs and scattered shrubs; widely converted to cattle ranching and crops.

About 60-65% of Rio Grande do Sul (the Pampa biome), concentrated in the southern and western parts of the state along the Uruguay and Argentina borders; the remainder is mostly Atlantic Forest formations.

Subtropical/temperate-leaning Atlantic Forest formations occur as Araucaria-dominated mixed forests on the plateau and seasonal (semi-deciduous) forests in river valleys and the western/northwestern interior; highly fragmented but locally biodiverse.

Roughly ~20-30%, concentrated in the northeastern highlands/plateau and along major river systems; much reduced from original extent.

Large river networks (Uruguay, Jacuí and tributaries), floodplains, and numerous lagoons support migratory fish, aquatic macrophyte beds, and vital drinking/irrigation supplies.

Statewide along major basins; most prominent in central depressions and western/northwestern drainage systems.

Extensive marshes, wet meadows, peatier highland pockets, and especially coastal-plain wetlands associated with lagoons and dune fields (notably the Taim system) provide key habitat for waterbirds and amphibians.

~5-10%, concentrated on the coastal plain and around lagoon margins; smaller patches in interior floodplains and uplands.

Warm-temperate Southwestern Atlantic coastal waters, including nearshore surf zones, sandy seabeds, and estuarine-influenced areas tied to the Patos Lagoon outlet; important for fisheries and migratory marine fauna.

Along the entire Atlantic coastline; strongest estuarine influence near the Patos Lagoon mouth (Rio Grande region).

Native Pampas grasslands with high plant diversity; many areas converted to pasture and cropland, but remnants persist on shallow/rocky soils and in conservation units.

Atlantic Forest remnants and riparian forests; key refuges on escarpments and protected areas, supporting high bird and mammal diversity.

Seasonal/semi-deciduous forests in warmer interior valleys and western portions, often along the Uruguay River basin; highly fragmented and interspersed with agriculture.

Araucaria (Araucaria angustifolia) mixed forests on the plateau (often with broadleaf associates); heavily reduced by logging and land conversion, with notable protected remnants.

Open-canopy forest/parkland transitions and forest edges between Campos and Atlantic Forest, often shaped by fire regimes, grazing, and soil conditions.

Coastal sandy-plain shrublands and dune-associated scrub on sandy soils; also shrub patches within grasslands under grazing/fire pressure.

Major rivers (Uruguay, Jacuí, Taquari-Antas, Sinos, Gravataí) with riparian corridors crucial for connectivity, water quality, and flood buffering.

Large lagoon/lake systems including Patos Lagoon and Mirim Lagoon, plus many smaller coastal and interior lakes; important for fisheries and birdlife.

Floodplain wetlands and coastal-plain wetland complexes (e.g., Taim), supporting marsh vegetation, amphibians, and large numbers of resident and migratory waterbirds.

Reedbeds and marshes fringing lagoons and slow-moving waters (Patos-Mirim margins, deltaic areas), often dominated by emergent macrophytes.

Small, localized peat-accumulating wetlands in cooler/highland settings and seepage zones; sensitive to drainage and land-use change.

Patos Lagoon estuarine outlet near Rio Grande, with strong salinity gradients driving high productivity and nursery habitat for fish and crustaceans.

Long sandy coastal plain with dunes, barrier-lagoon systems, and wind-driven processes; high vulnerability to erosion and habitat disturbance.

Extensive ocean beaches and foredunes along the Atlantic coast; important for coastal dynamics and some shorebird use.

Limited rocky headlands/outcrops compared to sandy shores, but locally important for intertidal communities where present.

Nearshore to offshore waters supporting fisheries and seasonal movements of marine fauna; influenced by subtropical-temperate oceanographic transitions.

Predominantly sandy/muddy continental-shelf substrates supporting benthic communities and demersal fisheries.

Major urban/industrial centers (e.g., Porto Alegre metro, Caxias do Sul, Pelotas, Rio Grande) exert pressure via habitat loss, pollution, and altered hydrology.

Extensive soy, rice (notably in lowlands), wheat, and other crops; ranching and silviculture reshape grassland-forest mosaics and water regimes.