RT Journal 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, Martín
A1 Otero Pérez, Xosé Lois
K1 Habitats Directive
K1 Coastal lagoon
K1 Coastal lake
K1 Natura 2000 network
K1 Habitats
AB 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 changes in relation to the temporal changes of wetlands were observed. 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
YR 2020
FD 2020
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10347/24199
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10347/24199
LA eng
NO Gómez-Pazo, A.; Pérez-Alberti, A.; Fraga-Santiago, P.; Souto-Souto, M.; Otero, X.L. 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). Appl. Sci. 2020, 10, 9068
NO This work is part of a research project entitled “Monitorización de los procesos biogeoquímicos en las lagunas litorales en relación con su calidad ambiental y respuesta al cambio climático” (Xunta de Galicia, PGIDIT08MDS036000PR), the program for consolidation of competitive research groups (Axudas á consolidación e estruturación de unidades de investigación competitivas do SUG del Plan Galego IDT, Ambiosol Group ref. 2018-PG036), and Cross-Research in Environmental Technologies, CRETUS (Xunta de Galicia GRUP2015/02, ref. 2018-PG100). A.G.-P. is supported by an FPU predoctoral contract by the Spanish government (Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte). Grant Number: FPU16/03050
DS Minerva
RD 30 abr 2026