Sierra De Gredos Research Articles

Remote mountain lakes as indicators of diffuse acidic and organic pollution in the Iberian peninsula (AL:PE 2 studies)

In the framework of the AL:PE 2 project, studies on acidification and organic pollution in mountain lakes have been conducted in several ranges in the Iberian peninsula: Pyrenees (Northeastern Spain), Sierra de Gredos (Central Spain), Sierra Nevada (Southern Spain) and Serra da Estrela (Central Portugal). These studies focused on water and sediment chemistry and organisms (benthic diatoms, Zooplankton, aquatic macroinvertebrates, and fish) as indicators of acidification. Organic micropollutants (PAH, PCB, DDE, hexachlorobenzene and others) in lake sediments and fish have been studied as tracers of atmospheric pollution. The Iberian peninsula lakes do not show severe anthropogenic acidification. pH values are in the range of sensitive lakes, but the levels of acidic pollutants are low. The status of the organisms surveyed agreed with this diagnosis. Pyrenean lakes showed the highest fluxes of organic pollutants related to fossil fuel combustion., higher pollutioninduced versus natural acidity ratios, and modeled alkalinity and pH declines.

The clayey fissural fillings associated with N100°–110°E fractures at the El Berrocal uranium mine (Sierra de Gredos, Spain): characterization, genesis and retention capacity of radioactive and other elements : L. Perez del Villar & 9 others, Estudios Geologicos, 49(3–4), 1993, pp 199–222

The clayey fissural fillings associated with N100°–110°E fractures at the El Berrocal uranium mine (Sierra de Gredos, Spain): characterization, genesis and retention capacity of radioactive and other elements : L. Perez del Villar & 9 others, Estudios Geologicos, 49(3–4), 1993, pp 199–222

Book reviews

Book reviewed in this article:Hoggart, K. ed (1992) Agricultural change, environment and economy. Essays in honour of W.B. Morgan.Bolsius, E.C.A., G. Clark and J.G. Groeneadijk eds. (1993) The retreat: Rural land‐use and European agriculture.Bodenstedt, A. A., S. Merl and V.A. Nutrikhin cds. (1993) Social problems in rural areas under conditions of change.Butler‐Flora, C, J.L. Flora, J.D. Spears and L.E. Swanson with M.B. Lapping and M.L. Weinberg (1992). Rural communities.Mayerfeld Bell, M. (1994) Childerley. Nature and morality in a country village.Voadench, G. und H. Timmennann (1993). Milchbauern in der Wesermarsch.Corbin, J.R. (1993) The anarchist passion. Class conflict in southern Spain, 1810–1965.Kavanagh, W. (1994) Villagers of the Sierra de Gredos. Transhumant cattle‐raisers in Central Spain.Bassett, T.J. and D.E. Crummey eds. (1993) Land in African agrarian systems.

A new species of Festuca L. from Spain

A new species of Festuca ( Festuca rivas-martinezii de la Fuente & Ortúñez) is described from the Sierra de Ayllón, Sierra de Guadarrama, Sierra de Gredos and associated chains (northcentral Spain: provinces of Avila, Guadalajara, Madrid and Segovia. Some morphological, anatomical and cytological characters of the taxon are presented.

A new species of Festuca L. from Spain

A new species of Festuca (Festuca rivas-martinezii de la Fuente & Ortunez) is described from the Sierra de Ayllon, Sierra de Guadarrama, Sierra de Gredos and associated chains (northcentral Spain: provinces of Avila, Guadalajara, Madrid and Segovia. Some morphological, anatomical and cytological characters of the taxon are presented.

The clayey fissural fillings associated with N100º-110ºE fractures at the El Berrocal uranium mine (Sierra de Gredos, Spain): characterization, genesis and retention capacity of radioactive and other elements

The clayey fissural fillings ( 18 O data obtained from the quartz vein and the 2 ++ phosphate precipitation. The high organic C content in the clay fractions could be due to present biological activity in the clayey fissural filling or to organic acids transported from the topographic surface by the percolating water. In this last case, organie-clay complexes would probbly be formed.

Sexual dimorphism in size of the skull of Spanish ibex Capra pyrenaica

Sexual dimorphism in the skull of Spanish ibex Capra pyrenaica Schinz, 1838 is analyzed by means of univariate and multivariate techniques in one of the most representative populations of the species, located in the Sierra de Gredos, central Spain. Thirty eight measurements were used for the analysis: 30 of the skull and mandible, and 8 of the horn. Eighty three skulls (40 males and 43 females) of individuals older than 4 years were used.

Évaluation de la méthode de détermination de l'âge en fonction de la masse du cristallin chez le bouquetin (Capra pyrenaica Schinz, 1838)

The relationship between lens mass and age determined in 80 wild goats (Capra pyrenaica Schinz, 1838) from Sierra de Gredos (Avila), follows the equation Y = 79.36 + 259.94 log X, where Y is lens mass (mg) and X wild goat age (months). Lens masses of males and females do not differ significantly. Age-class (1-year classes) cannot be determined with 95% confidence from lens mass in animals 2 years and older. This method of age determination can be useful in cases where the age of young animals cannot be evaluated with accuracy otherwise; age determination by observation of teeth eruption or counting of growth rings of the horns is generally very valuable.

Zmiany masy ciała i długości rogów z wiekiem u koziorożca pirenejskiego

Growth in body weight and horn length was studied in two Spanish wild goat populations (Capra pyrenaica Schinz, 1838) in Sierra de Gredos and Sierra de Cazorla

Estudio geológico-estructural de las mineralizaciones de arsenopirita de Viandar de la Vera (Sierra de Gredos. Cáceres)

A structural and mineralogical study of a group of arsenopyrite-bearing hydrothermal dikes located in the central area of the Sierra de Gredos has been carried out. These mineralizations indicate a dominance of the high-temperature associations (arsenopyrite, pyrite and pyrrhotite) over the lower temperature ones. Four deformational stages evolving from mainly ductile to brittle regimes have been identified. A single phase of progressive deformation generated structures progressively smaller in size, with an E-W-oriented/horizontal maximum finite shortening axis. This study emphasizes the relationships between deformative processes and mineralization evolution in the sense that this evolution appears to be strongly inf!uenced by the size and character of the tectonic structures.

Diet of Spanish wild goat, Capra pyrenaica, in spring and summer at the Sierra de Gredos, Spain

Diet of Spanish wild goat, Capra pyrenaica, in spring and summer at the Sierra de Gredos, Spain

Polymorphism of polytene chromosomes in Bilobella aurantiaca (Insecta: Collembola)

Polytene chromosomes in the salivary glands of Bilobella aurantiaca are analysed in a population from Sierra de Gredos (Central Spain). They display a high degree of heterozygosity. Only a short part of the total length of the seven pairs of homologous chromosomes, examined in a single favourable specimen, was homozygous. Concerning the short arm of chromosomes III and IV, the respective proportion of heterozygosity for the whole population was 38.6% and 92.9%. Some hypotheses are formulated to account for these results: differential funtioning of homologous chromosomes, generalisation of minute duplications and deficiencies, complex inversions (which cannot be specified owing to the asynapsis of homologous chromosomes), and possibly local large deletions.

Bodengeographie der Östlichen Sierra de Gredos (Spanien)

The work which follows deals with various soil forms of the Sierra de Gredos in connection with other geofactors of certain habitats.First of all, the soils were investigated tith regard to their historical development. It was then possible to make a distinction between recently developed soils and those which developed by metasomatism of different soil relicts. Within these two groups distinctions have to be made between mature soil forms and young soils, that means the distinction between habitats where a long continuous soil genesis was possible and habitats with a soil development which was — chiefly by denudative forces — often interrupted.In the Sierra de Gredos, with increasing altitude, the following recent soil forms can be found on silicate rocks: meridional braunerde, semihumid, humid braunerde and ranker.At locations where erosion disturbed or interrupted pedogenesis, Rohbödens at different stages of development can be found at all altitudes.The metasomatismatic forms of soil relicts are subdivided in: 1.(a) Forms derived from relict (B) horizons of braun- and rotlehme.2.(b) Forms which developed only when just the relict desintegrated horizon was present. Also with these soils a distinction can be made between mature substitution forms and very young forms.The connections between the different soil forms and other geofactors in the east of sierra de Gredos are presented in Table I.

Francisca Sanchez and the "Seminario-Archivo de Ruben Dario"

It was through a very unexpected sequence of events that during the writer's sabbatical year in Spain, 1956-57, she had the great pleasure of becoming personally acquainted with Sainchez, the widow and inspiration of Rub6n Dario, of whom he said, Francisca Sanchez, acompifiame.* Attending a course at the Universidad de Madrid entitled La versificaci6n cuantitativa en la poesia hispanoamericana given by Dr. Antonio Oliver, recognized as a Spanish poet and essayist as well as professor, I learned that he was well acquainted with Sainchez and that she would move to Madrid in the near future. In March of 1957, I had the pleasure of meeting her, being taken to her home in Madrid by Dr. Oliver as an admirer of Ruben Dario and a good friend and colleague of don Antonio, as she affectionately calls Dr. Oliver. My relationship with Sinchez has not been that of an inquiring reporter, but of a friend who visited with her very frequently from March until my departure in July. Before describing her personally, I should like to discuss some of the events which preceded her departure from the little town of Navalsauz in the Sierra de Gredos, near Avila, where she had been born and to which she returned after the death of her beloved Rub6n. It had been known for a long time that Sinchez was living in Navalsauz and was zealously guarding a valuable collection of Dario's papers. More than once eager seekers of information had ventured the trip by poor roads and burro to her home, attempting to pry from her information concerning Ruben Dario and to inveigle any bits of documents which they might be able to secure. Having been prodded by many, and even robbed of some of the documents by one who used the information for his own personal gain, Sinchez was in no mood to divulge even one bit of information to those who sought her out.