RT info:eu-repo/semantics/article
T1 Contribution of GIS and Geochemical Proxies to Improving Habitat Identification and Delimitation for the Natura 2000 Network: The Case of Coastal Lagoons in Galicia (NW Iberian Peninsula)
A1 Gómez-Pazo, Alejandro
A1 Pérez-Alberti, Augusto
A1 Fraga-Santiago, Pedro
A1 Souto-Souto, Martin
A1 Otero, X. L.
A2 Geografia Fisica
K1 Geografía
K1 Habitats Directive
K1 Coastal lagoon
K1 Coastal lake
K1 Natura 2000 network
K1 Habitats
K1 2505.07 Geografía Física
AB [EN] The Natura 2000 network is an ambitious European project aimed at nature conservation. Nevertheless, the identification and delimitation of habitats is a complex task and simultaneously essential for correct ecosystem management. In this study we compared the current habitat delimitation and designation and the results produced by Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and geochemical proxies for the categorization of four coastal lakes in Galicia (NW Iberian Peninsula). The findings reveal important errors in the delimitation/designation. The first error is the designation of all four lakes as Coastal lagoons (habitat 1150), when geochemical data indicate that two of these lakes were always freshwater lakes and should consequently be classified as Natural eutrophic lakes (habitat 3150). Another error is of conceptual origin, because the lakes comprise a unique functional system composing of different environmental units (e.g., open water or aquatic vegetation). Subdivision into different habitats is therefore meaningless for units of negligible surface area. In addition, the designation of some habitats is very dubious according to the available data. Finally, notable changesinrelationtothetemporalchangesofwetlandswereobserved. Thus, the area occupied by aquatic macrophytes increased greatly at the expense of open waters, and the increase was also reflected in the alluvial forest. This last finding indicates the importance of updating the state of Natura 2000 network in Galicia to improve habitat management.
PB MDPI
LK https://hdl.handle.net/10612/21367
UL https://hdl.handle.net/10612/21367
NO Gómez‐pazo, A., Pérez‐alberti, A., Fraga‐santiago, P., Souto‐souto, M., & Otero. (2020). Contribution of gis and geochemical proxies to improving habitat identification and delimitation for the natura 2000 network: The case of coastal lagoons in galicia (nw iberian peninsula). Applied Sciences (Switzerland), 10(24), 1-20. https://doi.org/10.3390/APP10249068
DS BULERIA. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de León
RD Jul 7, 2024