Diapositiva 1

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Caractérisation géochimique des tourbières de
montagne de la Galice Géoindicateurs de nature
trophique et du état évolutif.
Pau, 2009
X. Pontevedra Pombal J.C. Nóvoa Muñoz A. Martínez
Cortizas E. García-Rodeja Gayoso
Grupo de Estudios Mediambientais Aplicados
Departamento de Edafoloxía e Química
Agrícola. Universidade de Santiago de Compostela
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Location
Galicia is located at NW Iberian Peninsula (41º
48 - 43º 48 N, 6º 42 9º 18 W). It
represents a bioclimatic transition between
temperate and subtropical climates where mires
are relatively extended.
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Environmental Features
Climate
In mire areas, annual precipitation ranges from
1200 L m-2 in the SE areas (at 1,000 m a.s.l.) to
1800-1900 L m-2 in the most elevated ranges of
the N and E. Mean annual temperatures 5.3 - 10.3
ºC.


P gradient (mm 100 m-1) T gradient (ºC 100
m-1) North 100 (795) -0.67 (14.1) East
75 (647) -0.50 (14.2)












Martínez Cortizas and Pérez Alberti, 2000.

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Research on peatlands in Galicia
Methodology
Research lines

• Mapping Inventory
• Physico-Chemical caracterization
• peat, water
• Elemental composition
• biophilic, major, minor, trace elments
• Isotopic composition
• 13C, 15N, 20XPb
• Molecular compostion of OM
• NMR, Pyr-GC/MS, PAHs, PCBs
• Magnetic properties
• Pollen studies ...

Distribution typification Peatland
formation evolution Peat nature
(properties) Evaluation of conservation
status Peat records Climatic
changes Vegetation change Atmospheric
pollution Landscape evolution and human
activities Peatlands habitats of priority
protection Preliminary monitoring phase
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Research on peatlands in Iberian Peninsula
Scientific collaborations
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Xistral Mountains
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Ancares Mountains
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Central Mountains
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Monte Areo mire
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Zalama Blanket bog
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Gesaleta mire
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Colomers and Filiá fens
Demanda-Urbión Mountains
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Distribution and Typology
Upper Pleistocene-Holocene climate changes, a
complex relief in terms of forms and spatial
structure, and the dominance of acid rocks have
generated diverse ecological conditions that
favoured the development of this kind of
wetlands.
In Galicia we have inventoried 10,000 ha, the
largest amount and variety of peatlands in the
Iberian Peninsula
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Distribution and Typology
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Distribution and Typology
Pedogenetic Studies Physico-Chemical
Properties Biogeochemistry
Geomorphological Studies Glacial and
Periglacial Evolution Geomorphological Evolution
Hydrology River Basin Dynamics Surface Waters
Botanical Studies Plant Communities Soil
Plant Relationships
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Mire Types identified in Galicia
Ombrogenic mires Ramsar Term U- Non Forested
Peatland Natura 2000 Code 7130 Blanket Bog
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Ombrotrophic mires Ramsar term U- Non Forested
Peatland Natura 2000 Code 7110-7120 Raised Bog
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Minerogenic mires Ramsar term U- Non Forested
Peatland Natura 2000 Code 7140 Transition mires
Quaking bogs
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Brañas da Puxeta
of slope or Flark
Brañas da Poza
Minerogenic mires Ramsar term U- Non Forested
Peatland Natura 2000 Code 7140 Transition mires
Quaking bogs
Brañas de Silán
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Minerogenic mires Ramsar term U- Non Forested
Peatland Natura 2000 Code 7140 Transition mires
Quaking bogs
of fluvial valleys
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Veiga do Tremoal e Saidoiro
of weathering basins
Minerogenic mires Ramsar term U- Non Forested
Peatland Natura 2000 Code 7140 Transition mires
Quaking bogs
Tremoal da Revolta
Veiga Mol
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Peatland formation and evolution
Peat accumulation in fens began at least
between 11,000 to 10,000 years BP by
terrestrialization of post glaciated sectors.
However, the most intensive fen formation
occurred during two main episodes, one around
5,000-4,000 years BP and the other between 3,000
and 2,000 years BP. The formation of blanket
bogs and raised bogs started 9,000-8,000 years
ago, and an intense period of peat formation
occurred between 6,000 and 5,000 years ago, by a
generalized paludification of the highlands.
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Peatland formation evolution
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Peatland nature solid phase
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Peatland nature solid phase
Vertical variations in peat properties with
depth / age
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Peatland nature solid phase
Variations in peat properties with depth / age
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Peatland nature solid phase
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Peatland nature solid phase
Ti
Zr
Vertical variations in peat properties with
depth / age
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Peatland nature solid phase
sAl Al saturation of exchange complex sMg Mg
saturation of exchange complex
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Peatland nature pool (pore) waters
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Peatland nature organic matter
Total C accumulated at Galician peatlands is
about 10-16 x 106 t
4.7-7.5 of total C in forest biomass at
Spain 24-38 of total C in forest biomass at
Galicia, 6 of total C in soils of Galicia
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Peatland nature organic matter
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Peatland nature organic matter
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Peat records atmospheric pollution
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Peat records atmospheric pollution
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Peat records PAHs atmospheric pollution
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Peat records landscape evolution and human
activities
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Geoindicators
Peatlands as habitats of priority protection
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Geoindicators
Peatlands as habitats of priority protection
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Geoindicators
Peatlands as habitats of priority protection
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Geoindicators
Peatlands as habitats of priority protection
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Peatland nature river waters
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REDES
International Long Term Ecological Research
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Threats to Mire Ecosystems

• Fertilization / Cattle overload
• Afforestation
• Fires
• Mining
• Infrastructures
• Wind farm installations
• Scientific activities

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• Drainage and fertilization

raised bog
valley fen
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• Erosion, compaction and vegetation changes
• Fertilization

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Afforestation
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Land planning ?
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Fires
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Mining Operation
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Infrastructures
A common characteristic in the construction of
new infrastructures is the great magnitude of the
affected space, the intensity of the damage and
the total or partial elimination of the
preexisting mire ecosystems.
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Infrastructures
Road on Blanket bogs for TV. aerial
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Wind farm installation
25 of the Aeolian Plan of Galicia was developed
in the Serra do Xistral, and will consist of 23
Aeolian Park.
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Wind farm installation
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Wind farm installation
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Wind farm installation
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Propuesta cronológica para el estilo atlántico
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Thank for your attention
Grupo de Estudios Ambientais