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Nombre
Investigating the carbon cycle in wetlands at Doñana National Park, Spain and understanding the impact of climate change on these ecological systems as carbon sinks
Fecha de fin
Fecha de inicio
Thomas, Andrew
Institución
Aberystwyth University
Código
UGib_PhD_2022
Código de acceso
2022/25
Entidad financiera
University of Gibraltar
Resumen
There is a wealth of research publications on Doñana National Park with the focus largely on fauna and flora, as well as some touching upon the geomorphology and Quaternary history of the area (Goy 2021 & Caporizzo 2021). This is with good reason as the UNESCO World Heritage site is critical for the survival of over 300 bird species, - including 100 which are exclusively dependent on Doñana’s wetlands (Rodriguez – Olivares 2018) - as well as the Iberian Lynx and other iconic animals unique to the location. However limited research has been carried out on what happens beneath the surface, in Doñana’s soils, especially when looking at carbon stocks and flows (Morris, 2013). Although they receive less attention than the charismatic fauna and flora, soils are of crucial importance to the function of ecosystems and an understanding of carbon stocks and flows is increasingly important to land management under a scenario of rapidly changing climate. This project aims to generate new information on the carbon stocks and soil-atmosphere carbon dioxide fluxes of different wetlands and other habitat types in Doñana National Park. This information is critical to determining whether Doñana is a net carbon sink, or a carbon source, and how this may change under multiple drivers of change (sea level rise, atmospheric warming, land use change).