Análisis multivariable de la vegetación de un complejo de turberas en Cordillera Pelada (Valdivia,Chile)

Se estudió la vegetación en un gradiente de inclinación de un complejo de turberas, en la cordillera costera de Valdivia, Chile. Se levantaron 17 censos de vegetación, ubicados equidistantes en un transecto de 50 m. La tabla fitosociológica resultante se analizó con métodos estadísticos multivariables de ordenación y de clasificación. Además, se determinaron algunas características químicas del sustrato. El transecto estudiado corresponde a una coenoclina, cuya parte alta es ocupada por un alerzal (Fitzroyeturn cupressoidis), en la zona intermedia se desarrolla una turbera ombrogénica de Donatia fascicularis (Drosero-Donatieturn fascicularis) y, en la parte inferior, una topogénica de Sphagnum magellanicum (Sphagnetum magellanicii). En las zonas ecotonales entre estas comunidades prosperan pantanos turbosos de Astelia pumila (Astelio-Oreoboletum obtusangulae) y de Marsippospermum philippii (Marsippospormo-Astelietum pumiliae) que muestran escasa diferenciación florística. Se proponen dos alianzas fitosociológicas nuevas Donation fascicularis (turberas de Donatia) y Astelion pumilae (pantanos de Astelia) para la clase Myrteolo-Sphagnetea Oberdorfer 1960. Los contenidos de materia orgánica y de agua del sustrato son los factores determinantes de estos patrones de distribución. Finalmente, se analiza la posición fitogeográfica de las comunidades vegetales determinadas.

Estudio de los espinares del orden Prunetaliae spinosae en la Cordillera Cantábrica (España)

En este trabajo se hace un estudio de los espinares de orla de bosque que se encuentran enlas zonas más continentalizadas de la Cordillera Cantábrica. El muestreo da como resultado que los espinares de estas orlas son incluibles en la alianza Berberidion vulgaris y desglosables en las asociaciones: Pruno-Berberidetum cantabricae Rivas-Martínez, Izco & Costa 1971 sobre calizas y Rosetum corymbiferae-vosagiacae as. nova sobre sustratos pobres en bases. En las áreas silíceas poco continentalizadas que rodean este territorio se destaca la presencia de comunidades referibles a la subalianza Ligustro-Rubenion ulmifolii.

Sedimentology of a Middle Jurassic Base-of-Slope environment, Cutri Formation, Mallorca

The Cutri Formation’s, type location, exposed in the NW of Mallorca, Spain has previously been described by Álvaro et al., (1989) and further interpreted by Abbots (1989) unpublished PhD thesis as a base-of-slope carbonate apron. Incorporating new field and laboratory analysis this paper enhances this interpretation. From this analysis, it can be shown without reasonable doubt that the Cutri Formation was deposited in a carbonate base-of-slope environment on the palaeowindward side of a Mid-Jurassic Tethyan platform. Key evidence such as laterally extensive exposures, abundant deposits of calciturbidtes and debris flows amongst hemipelagic deposits strongly support this interpretation.

Revisiting the Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous of the NW South Iberian Basin: new ages and sedimentary environments

The study of the Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous deposits (Higueruelas, Villar del Arzobispo and Aldea de Cortés Formations) of the South Iberian Basin (NW Valencia, Spain) reveals new stratigraphic and sedimentological data, which have significant implications on the stratigraphic framework, depositional environments and age of these units. The Higueruelas Fm was deposited in a mid-inner carbonate platform where oncolitic bars migrated by the action of storms and where oncoid production progressively decreased towards the uppermost part of the unit. The overlying Villar del Arzobispo Fm has been traditionally interpreted as an inner platform-lagoon evolving into a tidal-flat. Here it is interpreted as an inner-carbonate platform affected by storms, where oolitic shoals protected a lagoon, which had siliciclastic inputs from the continent. The Aldea de Cortés Fm has been previously interpreted as a lagoon surrounded by tidal-flats and fluvial-deltaic plains. Here it is reinterpreted as a coastal wetland where siliciclastic muddy deposits interacted with shallow fresh to marine water bodies, aeolian dunes and continental siliciclastic inputs. The contact between the Higueruelas and Villar del Arzobispo Fms, classically defined as gradual, is also interpreted here as rapid. More importantly, the contact between the Villar del Arzobispo and Aldea de Cortés Fms, previously considered as unconformable, is here interpreted as gradual. The presence of Alveosepta in the Villar del Arzobispo Fm suggests that at least part of this unit is Kimmeridgian, unlike the previously assigned Late Tithonian-Middle Berriasian age. Consequently, the underlying Higueruelas Fm, previously considered Tithonian, should not be younger than Kimmeridgian. Accordingly, sedimentation of the Aldea de Cortés Fm, previously considered Valangian-Hauterivian, probably started during the Tithonian and it may be considered part of the regressive trend of the Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous cycle. This is consistent with the dinosaur faunas, typically Jurassic, described in the Villar del Arzobispo and Aldea de Cortés Fms.

Upper-Pleistocene terrace deposits in Mediterranean climate: geomorphological and source-rock control on mineral and geochemical signatures (Betic Cordillera, SE Spain)

Mineral and chemical composition of alluvial Upper-Pleistocene deposits from the Alto Guadalquivir Basin (SE Spain) were studied as a tool to identify sedimentary and geomorphological processes controlling its formation. Sediments located upstream, in the north-eastern sector of the basin, are rich in dolomite, illite, MgO and KB2BO. Downstream, sediments at the sequence base are enriched in calcite, smectite and CaO, whereas the upper sediments have similar features to those from upstream. Elevated rare-earth elements (REE) values can be related to low carbonate content in the sediments and the increase of silicate material produced and concentrated during soil formation processes in the neighbouring source areas. Two mineralogical and geochemical signatures related to different sediment source areas were identified. Basal levels were deposited during a predominantly erosive initial stage, and are mainly composed of calcite and smectite materials enriched in REE coming from Neogene marls and limestones. Then the deposition of the upper levels of the alluvial sequences, made of dolomite and illitic materials depleted in REE coming from the surrounding Sierra de Cazorla area took place during a less erosive later stage of the fluvial system. Such modification was responsible of the change in the mineralogical and geochemical composition of the alluvial sediments.