Edafología. Volumen 7-1. Abril 2000. pág 1-29.
Abstract
The Northwestern Iberian Peninsula is a mid-latitude oceanic region
with areas where different types of mires are frequent or abundant.
Formation of the mires dates back to 11,000-10,000 years B.P.
in gla-ciated areas and to Holocene times elsewhere, the principal
phases occurring between 9,000-8,000 years B.P., 5,000-4,000 years
B.P. and 3,000-2,000 years B.P. Nevertheless, increased superficial
runoff linked to local episodes of erosion also triggered minerotrophic
peat (fens) formation at different times after 5,000 years B.P.
Mean maximum peat depth is 2-3 m and most frequent
rates of peat accumulation vary between 0.2 and 0.7 mm yr -1 .
Dry mass addition ranges between 40 and 120 g m -2 y -1 and tends
to be higher in blan-ket bogs than in fens. The lower values in
fens are due, to some extent, to erosion, compaction and regrowth
of the peat. Bulk density ranges from 0.06 to 0.60 Mg m -3 , total
porosity between 85-95% and organic matter content between 25
and 95%. These are mainly acid peats (pH 4.0-5.5). Exceptionally,
some fens affected by waters draining limestone levels have a
pH of 6. Effective cation exchange capa-city varies from 4.5 to
20.5 cmol c kg -1 depending on the degree of organic matter decomposition
and pH.
The order of cations is Mg,Ca > Al >
Na > K in blanket bogs and Al > Ca > Mg > Na >
K in fens, alt-hough there is a relative heterogeneity.
Using FAO framework these bogs are classified
as Histosols, mainly as fibric and terric Histosols, but thionic,
terric-thionic and fibric-thionic are also represented. Using
the Soil Survey Staff soil taxonomy Fibrists (boro, sphagno and
medifibrist) are the most abundant, but Hemists (boro, sulfi and
medihemists) and Saprists (boro, sulfi, and medisaprist) can also
be found. From a habitat point of view, based on the Interpretation
Manual of European Union Habitats of the network Natura 2000,
the types represented are: blanket bogs (7130) -almost exclusive
of the northern sector-, transition mires and qua-king bogs (7140)
mostly fen formations-, and active and degraded raised bogs
(7110-7120). Ombrotrophic peat bogs are ideal archives for reconstructing
environmental changes ocurred during the late Quaternary. Among
them are vegetation changes, climate change, atmospheric metal
deposition and human induced erosion.
Key words: bogs, fens, soil properties, natural habitats, archives of environmental changes