Caridad Zazo Cardeña

Further evidence for a relatively high sea level duringthe penultimate interglacial: open-system U-series ages from La Marina(Alicante, East Spain)

The elevation and timing of high sea stands during Oxygen Isotope Stage (OIS) 7 are not as well constrained as those of OIS 5e. Conflicting values are reported from Mediterranean coastlines, and fossil dating is inaccurate because of ubiquitous open U-series systems. New morphostratigraphic data from La Marina (eastern Spain) supported by open-system U-series coral ages shed light on the maximum sea level during OIS 7. Fossil corals (Cladocora caespitosa) underlying an OIS 5e marine unit yielded U-series ages from 178 ± 10 to 208 ± 11 ka (±2s; n=7) with an outlier at 240 ± 18 ka. Mean open-system limit ages of 170 ± 10 (minimum age after correction for 234Th -230Th uptake) and 237 ± 20 ka (maximum age after correction for 238U - 234U uptake) were calculated to have a probable age closer to the minimum value, for an assignment of OIS 7a or 7c. The occurrence of a warm-water “Senegalese” fauna (Strombus bubonius) in OIS5e and OIS 7 marine units confirms the arrival of tropical species to the Mediterranean before the last interglacial period. Morpho-sedimentological and neotectonic studies suggest that the maximum paleo-sea level during OIS 7c or 7a was a few meters below that of OIS 5e.

Natural Heritage Mapping of the Las Batuecas-Sierra De Francia and Quilamas Nature Parks (SW Salamanca, Spain)

Abstract Please click here to download the map associated with this article. Natural heritage mapping is a significant tool for the conservation of protected natural areas because it allows the manager to rationally plan for the human use of these areas. This approach incorporates the characteristics of different assets (geological, ecological, biological, scenic and cultural), the categories to which the assets belong (areas, places and things), and the scientific, educational and cultural enhancement of the areas resources. We introduce the notion of binomial spatial biodiversity-geodiversity. This mapping effort is justified by the different requirements of environmental management (e.g., environmental impact assessment, environmental assessment, and urban planning). For these purposes, it is essential that thematic mapping identify the natural resources that constitute the natural heritage and that may be affected by anthropogenic activity.