The use of palaeoecological records of Posidonia oceanica for the biological conservation of Cabrera National Park (Balearic Islands, Spain)
Loading...
Location
Gallaudet University - JSAC Multipurpose Room
Start Date
4-3-2024 9:30 AM
End Date
4-3-2024 10:00 AM
Description
The insular history of Cabrera (Balearic Islands, Spain) is unique due to its size, location, and historical use, ranging from prehistoric civilisations to military purposes and, today, as a marine national park. Due to its location and western Mediterranean climate, the island serves as a perfect opportunity to further understand the fire regimes in relation to climatic and anthropogenic drivers through its palaeoecological records. The fire history reconstruction is achieved by analysing two cores of Posidonia oceanica mats for microcharcoal, palynological and magnetic susceptibility results. The identification of the drivers is deduced from the previous studies on palaeoecological and archaeological data at a global and regional scale. The main findings from the reconstruction reinforce the similarities of the prehistoric human activities from Neolithic to Roman times with other Balearic Islands while demonstrating a heavy degree of anthropisation. On the contrary, the reconstruction also shows that the palaeofires due to the land abandonment occurred earlier, at ca. AD 1844, rather than in the late 20th century AD as recognised in similar locations. The palaeoecological information of the island is a potential resource for the biological conservation of the national marine park, especially when it is regarded as a living ‘cultural landscape’.
Recommended Citation
Bergeron, Ley, "The use of palaeoecological records of Posidonia oceanica for the biological conservation of Cabrera National Park (Balearic Islands, Spain)" (2024). Global Year of STEM Sign Language. 3.
https://ida.gallaudet.edu/global_STEM_signlanguage/STEM_signlanguagesummit/day_3/3
The use of palaeoecological records of Posidonia oceanica for the biological conservation of Cabrera National Park (Balearic Islands, Spain)
Gallaudet University - JSAC Multipurpose Room
The insular history of Cabrera (Balearic Islands, Spain) is unique due to its size, location, and historical use, ranging from prehistoric civilisations to military purposes and, today, as a marine national park. Due to its location and western Mediterranean climate, the island serves as a perfect opportunity to further understand the fire regimes in relation to climatic and anthropogenic drivers through its palaeoecological records. The fire history reconstruction is achieved by analysing two cores of Posidonia oceanica mats for microcharcoal, palynological and magnetic susceptibility results. The identification of the drivers is deduced from the previous studies on palaeoecological and archaeological data at a global and regional scale. The main findings from the reconstruction reinforce the similarities of the prehistoric human activities from Neolithic to Roman times with other Balearic Islands while demonstrating a heavy degree of anthropisation. On the contrary, the reconstruction also shows that the palaeofires due to the land abandonment occurred earlier, at ca. AD 1844, rather than in the late 20th century AD as recognised in similar locations. The palaeoecological information of the island is a potential resource for the biological conservation of the national marine park, especially when it is regarded as a living ‘cultural landscape’.
