Peatlands of the Western Guayana Highlands, Venezuela : properties and paleogeographic significance of peats
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Bibliographic Information
Peatlands of the Western Guayana Highlands, Venezuela : properties and paleogeographic significance of peats
（Ecological studies : analysis and synthesis, 217）
Springer, c2011
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Includes bibliographical references and index
Description and Table of Contents
Description
The Guayana Highlands in northeastern tropical America, rising from lowland rain forests and savannas up to 3000 m elevation, are characterized by ancient tablelands called tepuis. The peatlands that developed on the tepuis constitute unique and fascinating ecosystems and are the focus of this volume, which starts with an overview of tropical and subtropical peats, followed by an introduction to the geo-ecological features of the Guayana region as a whole, with special emphasis on the diversity of the vegetation cover from lowlands to uplands to highlands. The core subject centers on the properties and dating of the peat deposits and the interpretation of the chronological record in terms of past environmental changes. The well illustrated book will appeal to a broad range of scientists interested in tropical highland peats, including quaternarists, soil scientists, geomorphologists, geographers, geologists, ecologists, botanists, hydrologists, conservationists, and land use planners.
Table of Contents
Ch1 Introduction
O. Huber, J.A. Zinck
Ch2 Tropical and subtropical peats: an overview
J.A. Zinck
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Peat extent and distribution
2.3 Peat formation and development
2.4 Features of peats and peatlands
2.5 Peat classification
2.6 Peat and peatland as resources
2.7 Conclusion
2.8 References
Ch3 The Guayana region and the study areas: geo-ecological characteristics
O. Huber, P. Garcia
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Geology and paleoecology
3.3 Physiography, climate, and vegetation
3.4 Study areas
3.5 Conclusions
3.6 References
Ch4 Tepui peatlands: setting and features
J.A. Zinck, P. Garcia
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Rock substratum
4.3 Geomorphic landscape
4.4 Peatland types
4.5 Peatland patterns
4.6 Conclusions
4.7 References
Ch5 Laboratory methods for characterization of peat materials
R. Schargel, P. Garcia, D. Jimenez
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Criteria used for the recognition of organic soils in the Soil Taxonomy
5.3 Laboratory methods specific for organic soils
5.4 Testing laboratory methods on selected Venezuelan Histosols
5.5 Laboratory determinations performed on the Guayana Histosols
5.6 Conclusions
5.7 References
Ch6 Properties and classification of the tepui peats
P. Garcia, R. Schargel, J.A. Zinck
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Morphological features
6.3 Physical properties
6.4 Chemical properties
6.5 Spatial variations
6.6 Taxonomic classification
6.7 Conclusions
6.8 References
Ch7 Tepui peatlands: age record and environmental changes
J.A. Zinck, P. Garcia, J. van der Plicht
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Sampling and dating method
7.3 Site description and age record
7.4 Interpretations and correlations: peat formation and environmental changes
7.5 Conclusions
7.6 References
Ch8 Origin of organic matter leading to peat formation in the southeastern Guayana uplands and highlands
E. Medina, E. Cuevas, O. Huber
8.1 Introduction
8.2 Site description
8.3 Results: relationship between 13C values and peat age
8.4 Discussion
8.5 Conclusion
8.6 References
Ch9 Synthesis: the peatscape of the Guayana Highlands
J.A. Zinck
9.1 Introduction
9.2 Why do peatlands and peats matter?
9.3 Setting and formation of the peatlands: the peatscape
9.4 Morphological, physical, chemical and taxonomic characteristics of the peats
9.5 Vegetation of the peatlands: present and past
9.6 Environmental changes: diachronic inception and polygenetic evolution of peats
9.7 The highland-lowland connection: a system approach
9.8 Concluding remark
App Site and profile characteristics
A.1 Introduction
A.2 Site and profile descriptions
A.3 Laboratory data
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