Changes in the soil buffer and filter function along a chronosequence and climosequence in the Galapagos Archipelago
Abstract
The Galapagos Islands have been formed by hotspot volcanism. The earth crust is moving across the Galapagos hotspot at a rate of approximately 55±8 mm/a, resulting in a chain of volcanoes of increasing age with distance from the hotspot. While the youngest land surfaces are <10 years old, the oldest dated surface deposits exhibit ages >2 Ma. Additionally, the higher standing islands show marked moisture gradients ranging from arid lowland areas to humid highland areas. The factors parent material age and climate strongly influence soil formation on the Galapagos Islands. In the proposed dissertation work, topsoils of the Galapagos Islands representing a substrate age gradient (chronosequence) as well as a climatic gradient (climosequence) will be analyzed with respect to their buffer and filter function for different organic and inorganic contaminants and nutrients. This will be the first systematic study of soil functions on the Galapagos Islands.
keywords chronosequence Galapagos soil development filter and buffer function
Publikationen
Project staff
Martin Gerzabek
Univ.Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Dr.h.c.mult. Martin Gerzabek
martin.gerzabek@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-91112
BOKU Project Leader
01.03.2018 - 28.02.2022
Katharina Keiblinger
Priv.-Doz. Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Katharina Keiblinger
katharina.keiblinger@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-91141
Project Staff
01.03.2018 - 28.02.2022
Franz Ottner
Ao.Univ.Prof.i.R. Mag.rer.nat. Dr.nat.techn. Franz Ottner
franz.ottner@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-87214, 87225
Project Staff
01.03.2018 - 28.02.2022
Maria Rechberger
Dipl.-Ing. Dr.nat.techn. Maria Rechberger B.Sc.
maria.rechberger@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-91146
Project Staff
01.03.2018 - 28.02.2022
Franz Zehetner
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Franz Zehetner
franz.zehetner@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-91118
Project Staff
01.03.2018 - 28.02.2022
BOKU partners
External partners
Galapgos National Park
none
partner