Peatlands of the Western Guayana Highlands, Venezuela Properties and Paleogeographic Significance of Peats /

• Corporate Author: SpringerLink (Online service)
• Other Authors: Zinck, Joseph Alfred (Editor), Huber, Otto (Editor)
• Format: Electronic eBook
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin, Heidelberg : Springer Berlin Heidelberg : Imprint: Springer, 2011.
• Series: Ecological Studies, Analysis and Synthesis, 217
• Subjects: Life sciences.; Geobiology.; Geomorphology.; Ecosystems.; Plant ecology.; Conservation biology.; Ecology.; Soil science.; Soil conservation.; Life Sciences.; Conservation Biology/Ecology.; Plant Ecology.; Biogeosciences.; Soil Science & Conservation.

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 volum...

Table of Contents:

• Introduction
• Tropical and subtropical peats: an overview
• The Guayana region and the study areas: geo-ecological characteristics
• Tepui peatlands: setting and features
• Laboratory methods for characterization of peat materials
• Properties and classification of the tepui peats
• Tepui peatlands: age record and environmental changes
• Origin of organic matter leading to peat formation in the southeastern Guayana uplands and highlands
• Synthesis: the peatscape of the Guayana Highlands
• Appendix: Site and profile characteristics.