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The concepts of 'ecosystem services' (ES) and 'nature's contributions to people' (NCP) inform environmental frameworks that set out to include Indigenous and Local Knowledge systems (ILK) and worldviews in policy and planning processes. These frameworks aim to enhance biodiversity conservation and human well-being in a legitimate and effective way. In this article, we explore how the concept of People's Contributions to Nature (PCN) is complementary to NCP. We use it to investigate challenges that planners and locals face in realizing the legitimate inclusion of diverse knowledges and worldviwes that account for people and ecosystems in a relational way. We introduce a case study where planners drew on ES and NCP and used participatory methods to implement a REDD+ policy in the Kaxinawá Nova Olinda Indigenous Land (Acre-Brazil). We find that both Kaxinawás and planners emphasize both NCP and PCN in their discourses. Nevertheless, differences between knowledge systems and disciplines, uneven power relations between Kaxinawás and planners, and an underconsideration of PCN by global frameworks challenge the legitimate inclusion of the Kaxinawá knowlege and worldviews to craft assessment and planning. We conclude that by explicitly addressing these challenges, science-policy interfaces can further advance knowledge legitimacy and policy effectiveness. Made available in DSpace on 2020-02-17T18:13:56Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 26972.pdf: 2786770 bytes, checksum: 2e2d7e7360a6dcb6d3c5dc10c9ca9fb8 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2020

A Serra Sul, localizada no sudeste do estado do Pará, representa o mais extenso platô de canga na paisagem da Serra dos Carajás, abrigando diversos ecossistemas, desenvolvidos sobre formações ferríferas com elevado grau de conservação. Foram analisados 13 perfis de solos representativos dos ambientes de canga ferrífera da região. Os principais tipos de solos são: Plintossolos Pétricos, Latossolos Vermelhos e Organossolos Háplicos, associados a diferentes fitofisionomias. De modo geral, são solos ácidos, distróficos, com elevados teores de Fe (30-50%) e teores de P muito baixos, exceto em áreas afetadas por aportes biogênicos (fauna). As formas cristalinas de ferro predominaram sobre as menos cristalinas ou amorfas. Os resultados mostraram que a substituição isomórfica de Fe por Al foi muito variável, com maiores valores na goethita em relação à hematita. A hematita predomina sobre a goethita nos solos bem drenados. Entre os microelementos, o Mn destaca-se pelas maiores concentrações e grande variabilidade entre os solos estudados. Hematita, goethita e maghemita foram os minerais predominantes na fração de argila desses solos. O material de origem, rico em ferro, e as condições pedobioclimáticas são os principais fatores controladores da diversidade das características observadas nos solos, sendo a fração mineral desenvolvida por meio da degradação de canga ferrífera.

A descoberta de jazidas minerais na Serra dos Carajás, a partir da década de 1960, despertou grande interesse pela região, resultando em pesquisas voltadas à exploração econômica desses recursos. Entretanto, pouco se conhece acerca dos geoambientes locais em escala adequada, dificultando medidas para sua conservação. O objetivo deste trabalho foi caracterizar os principais solos e geoambientes associados na Serra Sul quanto aos aspectos morfológicos, físicos e químicos, visando aprofundar o conhecimento pedológico e dar suporte às atividades de recuperação e restauração de áreas degradadas pela mineração, bem como ao Plano de Manejo da Floresta Nacional de Carajás. Foram definidos quatro geoambientes principais: encostas com campo rupestre sobre canga ferrífera; encostas e grotas florestadas; depressões e patamares campestres mal drenados e lagos doliniformes. Os solos associados aos geoambientes foram: solos rasos com camada de canga contínua (horizonte litoplíntico); solos com caráter concrecionário e solos orgânicos ou húmicos. A interseção entre os solos e os geoambientes evidenciou um forte controle pedológico sobre as diferentes fitofisionomias nas áreas de canga da Serra Sul, sendo a profundidade do solo diretamente correlacionada ao porte da vegetação. A matéria orgânica dos solos é crucial na geração de cargas elétricas por capacidade de troca catiônica (CTC) e ciclagem de nutrientes. Valores muito elevados de carbono orgânico (faixa 54-124 kg m-2) foram detectados em buritizais e campos brejosos, revelando um destacado serviço ambiental nos platôs de Carajás. Recomenda-se que nas atividades de mineração o topsoil seja devidamente separado, para ser reutilizado na recuperação das áreas degradadas ou na recomposição dos solos. O continuum geoambiental observado na escala de estudo mostra que medidas de proteção a pontos ou zonas isoladas de um contexto ecológico que forma gradientes (ambientes de depressões ou cavidades) podem não significar uma proteção efetiva.

Made available in DSpace on 2019-10-06T16:12:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2019-04-01 Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) While most soils in periglacial environments present high fluxes of CO 2 (F CO2 ), CH 4 (F CH4 ), and N 2 O (F N2O ), few of them have a tendency to drain greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. This study aimed to assess greenhouse gas fluxes at different sub-Antarctic sites and time periods (at the beginning of thaw and height of summer). To investigate the time of year effect on greenhouse gas emissions, F CO2 , F CH4 , and F N2O were measured at two sites tundra-covered (Ti and Th) and Nothofagus forest soil (Nf) on Monte Martial, at the southernmost tip of South America, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. F CO2 ranged from 96.33 to 225.72 μg CO 2 m −2 s −1 across all sites and periods, showing a positive correlation with soil temperature (Ts) (4.1 and 8.2 °C, respectively) (r 2 > 0.7; p < 0.05). The highest values of F CO2 were found at Ti and Th (728.2 and 662.64 μg CO 2 m −2 s −1 , respectively), which were related to higher temperatures (8.2 and 8.6 °C, respectively) when compared to those of Nf. For F CH4 , the capture (drain) occurred during both periods at Nf (−26 and −79 μg C–CH 4 m −2 h −1 ) as well as Ti and Th (−21 and 12 μg C–CH 4 m −2 h −1 , respectively). F N2O also presented low values during both periods and showed a tendency to drain N 2 O from the atmosphere, especially at Nf (−2 μg N–N 2 O m −2 h −1 ). In addition, F N2O was slightly positive for Ti and Th (0.3 and 0.55 μg N–N 2 O m −2 h −1 , respectively). Soil moisture did not show a correlation (p > 0.05) with the measured greenhouse gas fluxes. A scenario of increased temperatures might result in changes in the balance between the emissions and drains of these gases from soils, leading to higher emission values of CH 4 and N 2 O, especially for tundra covered soils (Ti and Th), where the highest average fluxes and thermohydric variations were observed over the year. Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation Embrapa Agrobiology, Rodovia BR 465, km 7 Department of Soils Federal University of Viçosa—UFV, Avenida Peter Henry Rolfs s/n Department of Agricultural Engineering Federal University of Sergipe—UFS, Avenida Marechal Rondon s/n Department of Education Federal University of Viçosa—UFV, Avenida Peter Henry Rolfs s/n Department of Plant Production Federal University of Espírito Santo—UFES, Alto Universitário, s/n Department of Rural Development - DDR Federal University of São Carlos—UFSCAR, Rodovia Anhanguera, km 174 - SP-330 Department of Exact Sciences São Paulo State University—FCAV/UNESP, Via de Acesso Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane s/n Department of Exact Sciences São Paulo State University—FCAV/UNESP, Via de Acesso Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane s/n

Recent pedological investigation indicated that the presence of sulfides and additions of seabird guano in Maritime Antarctica accelerates the weathering process, but chemical weathering remains little studied, underestimated and underdiagnosed in cold environments. The present work evaluates characteristics of soils and hydrogeochemical processes in Barton Peninsula, a typical periglacial environment of Maritime Antarctica. Four pedons were selected, described, sampled and classified according to the U.S. Soil Taxonomy. Soil morphological, physical and chemical properties were analyzed. Fifty eight surface water samples were collected and analyzed. Samples were filtered, acidified and analyzed (Al, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, S, Si and Zn) by ICP-OES after the appropriate treatments. We identified four different water groups: i) calcium and magnesium bicarbonate waters on non-sulfated substrates; ii) acidic sodium sulfate or magnesium calcium sulfate waters in sulfate substrates; iii) neutral alkaline waters on phosphatic substrates; iv) sodium hyperchloride alkaline waters in coastal marine areas. The hydrogeochemical composition can be predicted by lithology, landform and bird nesting density. Higher concentrations of metals in running waters indicate the process of sulfide oxidation. Our results show that seabirds activity promotes a sea-land bio-transfer of nutrients resulting in ornitheutrophication, identified by positive hydrogeochemical anomaly (high nutrients) in soils and waters. Sulfated and ornithogenic soils present deeper weathering (sulfurization and phosphatization processes), which cannot be underestimated. The assessment of hydrogeochemical background is a suitable tool for preservation of terrestrial ecosystems in this part of Antarctica.

Soils and permafrost occurrence and behavior at the Weddell Sea zone, located in the key zone of climatic transition between Maritime Antarctica and Continental Antarctica, remain little studied. We studied the main chemical, physical and mineralogical properties of representative soil profiles of the northern part of Seymour Island, discussing soil formation processes and the active-layer thermal and water regimes of a representative site. Soil sampling and installation of the monitoring site was carried out in the northern part of Seymour Island. Permafrost was generally detected within the first 100 cm of depth, except at coastal areas, although typical periglacial features (cryoturbation), vegetation growth and organic matter accumulation were negligible or absent. Well-drained soils showed low Electric Conductivity (EC), indicating leaching of salts, whereas near-permafrost layers showed higher values of EC. Salt content and EC increased at lower altitudes. Two major groups of soils were identified: (i) Acid Sulfate Soils (ASS); and (ii) Weakly Developed Alkaline Soils (WDAS). Acid Sulfate Soils develop under the influence of sulfide-containing material under oxidizing conditions, and are the most developed and weathered in the area, presenting significant morphological, mineralogical and chemical traits, such as low pH values, sulfuric B horizons, and the presence of secondary minerals indicating sulfurization process, such as jarosite and low crystallinity iron oxide. Weakly Developed Alkaline Soils develop under low chemical and mineralogical transformation, where physical weathering is a key process. These soils present high pH and high content of primary minerals in the clay fraction, mainly K-feldspars and plagioclase. The active-layer thermal regime is typical of periglacial environments, with seasonal temperature variations of soil around 0 °C, with prevailing negative temperatures. Regional climate was comparable with Continental Antarctica, whereas the pedoclimate (active layer thickness, soil water content) showed closer affinity with Maritime Antarctica. Some soil forming processes are driven by pedoclimate, and favored by the unfrozen and free-drainage conditions during the summer season; however, the main factor influencing soil development is parent material. The main soil formation processes are sulfurization, cryoclasty and halomorphism, since the semiarid dry climate does not favor cryoturbation and organic matter accumulation.

The recovery of soil hydraulic properties after the conversion of pasture areas into forests is still poorly studied. The aim of this research was to evaluate the effect the vegetation has on the hydraulic properties of soil, as well as the physical and chemical properties of the soil in pasture and secondary forest areas, located in a hill with east and west sun exposed faces. The study was carried out in two 15-year-old secondary forest areas and two pasture areas. Undeformed soil samples were collected in the upper third of each slope using steel rings at depths of 0–10 cm, for laboratory analyses of the physical properties and the saturated hydraulic conductivity of the soil. Additional samples were collected to evaluate the total organic carbon, the carbon storage and the chemical characteristics of the soil. A tension infiltrometer was used to determine the hydraulic properties and the contribution of the macropores to the infiltration of water into the soil. The use of a unmanned aerial vehicle helped to identify the soil cover at different locations and different faces of sun exposure. Secondary forests showed the higher values of macroporosity, soil water infiltration, and carbon storage than pasture areas. Macropores had greatest contribution to soil water infiltration in the secondary forests, whereas the mesopores and micropores had greatest effect in the pasture areas. The high content of organic matter found in the forests resulted in soils with better chemical quality. The saturated hydraulic conductivity and the carbon storage of the soil were smaller in the western forest than eastern forest. These results indicate that in order to increase water flow and water quality it is required to encourage the use of vegetative practices such as silvopastoral systems in pastures and the revegetation of the upper third of the hills.

At the southernmost Andes Mountains, the Martial cirque glacier has retreated 2 km in distance and 500 m in elevation since the mid-Holocene. This study examines soil properties, processes, and classification in relation to soil age and elevation. Soils were sampled at elevations from 430 to 925 m a.s.l. on drifts periodically influenced by volcanic ash that represent five age classes: 5.0 to 6.0 kyr BP under deciduous Nothofagus pumilio forest; 1.3 to 3.2 kyr BP under N. pumilio and N. antarctica forest and tundra; 0.3 to 1.4 kyr BP under tundra; 0.3 Kyr BP CE under tundra; and 0.007 Kyr BP CE under scattered lichens and mosses. The soils represent a developmental sequence on metapellitic rocks ranging from: Cryorthents, Dystrocryepts, Humicryepts, and Humicryods. In general the soils contain abundant coarse fragments, sandy loam textures, and high levels of organic C. Clays have been altered in the soils from chlorite to a hydroxyl-interlayered vermiculite and ferrihydrite. The most developed soils are very strongly acid, Al saturated, and have illuvial horizons enriched in fulvic-acid C and organic-bound forms of free Fe and Al. The following properties are highly correlated with soil age: pyrophosphate soluble iron (Fep) in the B horizon (R2 = 0.97), color-development equivalence in the B horizon (R2 = 0.87), clay content of the B horizon (R2 = 0.68), and fulvic-acid C in the B horizon (R2 = 0.65). The results of this study imply that soil formation in magellanic subantarctic forests and tundra is rapid and involves podsolization, andisolization, and humification as primary soil-forming processes.

Summary Limited pedogenesis on the Antarctic continent results in unusual, but important, short-range order inorganic phases and organo-mineral complexes (both with broad peaks from X-ray diffraction) in the clay fraction, which can be studied by sequential chemical extractions. We aimed to develop a better sequential extraction procedure to obtain more detailed discrimination of the short-range order phases (SROP) of the clay fraction of soil from Maritime Antarctica. Selected chemical properties of the soil and clay fraction were related to different phases of these products. The total amount of SROP and organo-mineral complexes in the clay fraction ranged from 15.1 to 43.9%, with greater occurrence in ornithogenic soil. The continuous incorporation of guano from penguins into the soil profile has contributed to increasing amounts of organo-mineral complexes. Short-range order phases have an important effect on soil chemical properties, such as an increase in non-exchangeable acidity, quantity of hydroxyl groups on the surface of the colloidal fraction, the buffering capacity of Al3+ from non-exchangeable and structural forms of the element, and a decrease in soil CEC. The greater number of sequential extraction steps enabled the separation of SROP and organo-mineral complexes into two phases of stability, with a clear predominance of the more soluble forms.

Only 0.35% (49,500 km2) of Antarctica is ice-free. These areas are scattered around the periphery of the continent and in interior mountain ranges, making soil mapping difficult. Here we compile the results of mapping in five of the nine ice-free areas that account for 79% of the ice-free area on a reconnaissance scale and interpret the distribution of soil subgroups in Soil Taxonomy. Soils of Antarctica are contained in four orders, dominantly Gelisols (84%), 13 suborders, 27 great groups, and 76 subgroups. Forty-five percent of the soils of Antarctica are Orthels, Gelisols that show minimal cryoturbation and occur in dry landscape positions; 38% of the soils are Turbels showing cryoturbation and occurring in more moist landscape positions. Only 16% of the soils of Antarctica lack permafrost in the control section and are classified as Entisols (Gel-great groups), Inceptisols (Gelepts suborder or Gelaquepts), or Histosols (Gel-great groups). These soils occur almost exclusively along the western Antarctic Peninsula and at elevations below 30 m in the South Shetland Islands (SSI) and South Orkney Islands (SOI). Typic Anhyorthels are the dominant soil subgroup comprising nearly 15,340 km2, or 31% of the soils in Antarctica. These soils occur primarily in central and southern Victoria Land, but also occur in the Thiel and Pensacola Mountains and Shackleton Range, the Prince Charles Mountains, and the mountains of Queen Maud Land. Typic Haploturbels and Typic Anhyturbels occupy 14 and 13% of the soils of ice-free regions of Antarctica, respectively. Most abundant in central Victoria Land, they are common in most mountainous regions of Antarctica. The dominant soil processes of maritime Antarctica are cryoturbation, gleization, melanization, podzolization, paludization, and phosphatization. In coastal East Antarctica, the major soil processes are rubification, salinization, calcification, pervection, and gleization. The predominant soil-forming processes in the Transantarctic Mountains include rubification, salinization, desert pavement formation, and permafrost development. Measures of pedodiversity will be valuable in the selection of protected areas in Antarctica.

Objetivou-se determinar a capacidade maxima de adsorcao de As(V) na forma de HAsO42- (CMAAs) pela fracao argila de solos em diferentes ambientes nas Peninsulas Keller e Barton, Ilha Rei George, Antartica Maritima. Foram realizadas analises quimica e granulometrica na terra fina seca ao ar, e na fracao argila quantificou-se o material amorfo e a CMAAs. Os dados das analises quimicas, granulometrica e da fracao argila foram correlacionados com a CMAAs. A CMAAs foi baixa (3.554 mg kg-1), sendo o perfil com influencia ornitogenica de pinguins o que apresentou os maiores valores. O pH basico das solucoes de saturacao nao favoreceu a adsorcao da especie desprotonada HAsO42-. A quantidade de argila dos solos foi menos importante que a composicao mineralogica na dinâmica de retencao de HAsO42-, sendo que os oxidos de Al e Fe amorfos foram os principais responsaveis pela adsorcao desse poluente.

The vast and complex system of hydromorphic sandy soils in northern Brazilian Amazonia remains little studied. We investigated the broader soil–vegetation relationships in white-sand areas under Campinarana vegetation in the Virua National Park, discussing pedogenetic processes as well as some paleoenvironmental implications. Our hypothesis was that white-sand areas were not covered with savanna grassland during dryer periods, and remained under arboreal vegetation. Seven soil profiles were studied along a typical forest–shrub–grassland gradient. All soils are acid, depleted in bases, with a fine-sandy texture. The vegetation gradient is associated with decreasing soil organic carbon contents. Imogolite is present in some soils as indicated by selective dissolution and microchemical analyses. Podzolization, indicated by illuvial organic and Al-rich coatings on quartz grains is clearly observed in thin sections. The mineralogy of the clay fraction indicates the occurrence of residual kaolinite, hydroxy-interlayered 2:1 mineral and traces of gibbsite, from alteration of sedimentary parent material. Carbon isotope analysis suggests a predominance of arboreal-shrubby vegetation (C3-type) during past drier periods of the Late Quaternary. We conclude that the local distribution of vegetation is primarily associated with edaphic factors. Poor drainage, impermeable subsurface layers, very sandy soils and intense leaching created subtle but contrasting pedo-environments, closely related to vegetation types. Overall, these Amazon Spodosols and Podzol-like soils are associated with C3-plant-dominated vegetation.

Fildes Peninsula (F.P.) and Ardley Island (A.I.) are among the first ice-free areas in Maritime Antarctica. Since the last glacial retreat in this part of Antarctica (8000 to 5000 years BP), the landscape in these areas evolved under paraglacial to periglacial conditions, with pedogenesis marked by cryogenic processes. We carried out a detailed soil and geomorphology survey, with full morphological and analytical description for both areas; forty-eight soil profiles representing different landforms were sampled, analyzed and classified according to the U.S. Soil Taxonomy and the World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB). Soils are mostly turbic, moderately developed, with podzolization and strong phosphatization (chemical weathering of rock minerals and formation of amorphous Al and Fe minerals) in former ornithogenic sites while in areas with poor vegetation show typical features of cryogenic weathering. Nivation, solifluction, cryoturbation, frost weathering, ablation and surface erosion are widespread. The most represented landform system by surface in Fildes Peninsula is the periglacial one, and 15 different periglacial landforms types have been identified and mapped. These features occupy about 30% of the land surface, in which patterned ground and stone fields are the most common landforms. Other significant landforms as protalus lobes, rock glaciers or debris lobes indicate the extensive presence of permafrost. Soil variability was high, in terms of morphological, physical and chemical properties, due to varying lithic contributions and mixing of different rocks, as well as to different degrees of faunal influence. Three soil taxonomy orders were identified, whereas thirty four individual pedons were differentiated. Fildes Peninsula experiences a south–north gradient from periglacial to paraglacial conditions, and apparently younger soils and landforms are located close to the Collins Glacier. Arenosols/Entisols and Cryosols/Gelisols (frequently cryoturbic) are the most important soil classes; Leptosols/Entisols, Gleysols/Aquents and Cambisols/Inceptisols also occur, all with gelic properties, and with varying faunal influences. Both soil classification systems are adequate to distinguish the local pedogenesis processes. The WRB system is broader, since it was designed to be applied in all Polar Regions; the family classes adopted by the ST were effective in separating soils with important differences with regard to texture and gravel content, all important attributes accounting for the ecological succession and periglacial processes. An altitudinal organization of landforms and processes can be recognized from geomorphological mapping. Periglacial features are dominant above 50 m a.s.l. although are present at lower altitude.

The formation of highly phosphatized soils on sites of avian activity is a common feature of oceanic islands. We characterized a toposequence of phosphatic soils on Rata Island, to evaluate the soil genesis based on local topographic variations. For this purpose, four soils ranging from the upper hill down to the lowest landscape position on the island, representing a range of parent materials (basalt and calcareous sands), were analyzed. In the lowest landscape position a shallow Regosol was identified, strongly influenced by birds and marine sprays, developed on “karstified” Pleistocene calcarenites; the three other soils in the upper part of the toposequence are Ornithogenic Cambisols, ranging from a deep Cambisol profile on Basalt lava to intermediate Cambisols on mixed colluvial sediments of the basalt/calcareous. The lowermost Regosol is associated with a rugged landscape with strong calcarenite dissolution and karstification. The soil phosphatization is clearly an inherited process of the Late Quaternary age, when climate conditions were different. Initial weathering took place in the last interglacial period, under wetter conditions during which the Tertiary basalts were strongly weathered, leaving corestones in a saprolitic, oxidized mass. In the late Pleistocene, a gentle surface distributed these weathering products along the pediment slopes as colluvial materials, whereas in the coastal areas aeolian processes formed large sand dunes composed of reworked calcareous sands from marine sources during a time of very low sea level. During this time, widespread bird activity accounted for secondary apatite formation on the surface of calcareous oolites. Finally, the Holocene warming was accompanied by increasing sea level, enhanced tropical weathering, Fe and Al mobility and variscite formation superimposed on degraded Ca-phosphates, forming two phase phosphatic aggregates.

King George Island is the largest island and the principal area used for research bases in Antarctica. Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, Poland, Russia, South Korea and Uruguay have permanent open bases on this island. Other countries have seasonal summer stations on different parts of this island, which demonstrates that human impact is strong on King George Island relative to other areas in the maritime and continental Antarctica. The objective of this work was to present a phytosociological approach for ice-free areas of Hennequin Point, eastern coast of Admiralty Bay, King George Island. The study started with the classification and description of the plant communities based primarily on phytosociological and biodiversity data. The area was mapped using an Astech Promark II® DGPS, yielding sub-metric precision after post-processing with software. The plant communities were described as follows: (1) lichen and moss cushion formation; (2) moss carpet formation; (3) fellfield formation; (4) grass and cushion chamaephyte formation; and (5) Deschampsia Antarctica– lichen formation. Characterizations and distributions of the plant communities are presented on a map at a scale of 1:5000. The plant communities found at Hennequin Point, in general, differ from those found in other areas of the Admiralty Bay region, probably because of the concentration of skua nests in the area and the relief singularities. We conclude by highlighting the importance of the study of plant species found in the ice-free areas of the Antarctic with respect to environmental monitoring and for evaluating global climate and environmental changes. Keywords: Plant communities mapping; lichens; mosses; flowering plants; Antarctic (Published: 7 August 2013) Citation: Polar Research 2013, 32 , 19261, http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/polar.v32i0.19261

O Parque Nacional (PARNA) do Viruá ocupa 227.011 ha., na região do baixo Rio Branco, Roraima. A região compreende um extenso mosaico de ambientes complexos inundáveis, florestais e não florestais. Este trabalho teve como objetivo geral detalhar os aspectos pedológicos e geoambientais do Parque e entorno, em uma visão integrada da paisagem e, além disso, estimar o estoque de carbono nos solos e geoambientes. Foram descritos e coletados 29 perfis de solos nas principais fitofisionomias de Campinaranas e Florestas do Parque e entorno. Destacaram-se os seguintes: Espodossolo Humilúvico, Neossolo Quartzarênico, Neossolo Flúvico, Neossolo Litólicos, Latossolo Vermelho-Amarelo, Latossolo Vermelho, Cambissolo Háplico, Cambissolo Flúvico, Gleissolo Háplico e Plintossolo Háplico. Os solos apresentaram distribuição espacial com limites abruptos e com forte associação entre as fitofisionomias. Foram agrupados em três pedoambientes: (1) solos arenosos das campinaranas, (2) solos associados aos inselbergs e adjacências e (3) solos aluviais. Foram mapeadas e descritas 18 unidades geoambientais no Parque e entorno. Os geoambientes predominantes no Parque foram: Planícies Arenosas e Paleodunas com Campinarana Graminosa e Arbustiva em Neossolos Quartzarênicos hidromórficos e Espodossolos; e Planícies de Inundação e Terraços com Floresta de Igapó sobre solos hidromórficos arenosos, com respectivamente 24,6 % e 20,1 % da área estudada. Em termos de estoque total de carbono nos solos, destacaram-se os geoambientes dos complexos arenosos das Campinaranas e associações, com 9450,9 Gg C. A grande extensão e representatividade dos complexos arenosos das Campinaranas fazem do PARNA Viruá uma Unidade de Conservação de proteção integral com forte vocação para preservação e conservação de sistemas arenícolas amazônicos. As áreas sob o domínio de Espodossolos possuem os maiores estoques de carbono orgânico e os complexos arenosos das Campinaranas e associações representam os geoambientes mais relevantes na prestação de serviços ambientais de conservação do carbono nos solos. The Viruá National Park (PARNA Viruá) occupies 227.011 ha, in the region of the low 'Branco' river, in Roraima state. This area includes an extensive mosaic of complex seasonally flooded forested and non- forested environments. The present work aimed to characterize pedological aspects and identify the geo- environmental units of the Park and surroundings, in an integrated vision of the landscape and,additionally, estimate the carbon stocks in soils and geo-environments. We described and collected 29 soil profiles according with the main vegetation types of Campinaranas and Forests of PARNA Viruá and surroundings. The main soil classes are: Espodossolo Humilúvico, Neossolo Quartzarênico, Neossolo Flúvico, Neossolo Litólicos, Latossolo Vermelho-Amarelo, Latossolo Vermelho, Cambissolo Háplico, Cambissolo Flúvico, Gleissolo Háplico and Plintossolo Háplico. The soils present an spatial distribution marked by abrupt limits and close association with the vegetation type. We identified three pedo-environments: (1) sandy soils of the Campinaranas; (2) soils associated with the inselbergs and adjacencies; and (3) alluvial soils. We mapped and described 18 geoenvironmental units in PARNA Viruá National Park and surroundings. The main geo- environments are: i) Sandy plains and Paleodunes with grassy and arborous Campinarana on 'Neossolos Quartzarênicos hidromórficos' and 'Espodossolos'; and Floodplains and; ii) Terraces with Igapó Forest on sandy hydromorphic soils, occupying 24.6 % and 20.1 % of the studied area, respectively. In terms of total soil carbon stocks, the geo-environments of the sandy complex of Campinaranas and associations stand out, with 9450.9 Gg C. The great extension and representativeness of the sandy areas of Campinaranas characterize PARNA Viruá Park as an important conservation unit for protecting Amazonian sandy soil systems. The areas under the domain of 'Espodossolos' possess the largest stocks of organic carbon and the sandy areas of Campinaranas and associations represent the most relevant geo-environment in terms of Park protecting environmental services and conservation of carbon in soils.

This paper brings together topographic cross-section ‘windows’ from across Antarctica to illustrate soil–landscapes from the margins of the polar plateau in the Transantarctic Mountains and McMurdo Dry Valleys, through East Antarctic coastal areas, to the northern Antarctic Peninsula Region. Soils identified range from Gelisols in the Ross Sea Region, through Gelisols and Entisols in coastal East Antarctica, to a mixture of Gelisols, Entisols, Spodosols and Inceptisols in the northern Antarctic Peninsula Region where permafrost is not ubiquitous. The relative impacts of the soil-forming factors are considered. At a continental scale climate is the main driver of the differences observed between soils in different areas. At local scales strong soil–topographic relationships are observed. Organisms, time and parent material are dominant influences on soil properties only in relatively localized situations. Organisms dominate in areas of organic matter or guano accumulation and time is a dominant influence on exceptionally old upland surfaces in the McMurdo Dry Valleys. The US Department of Agriculture’s Soil Taxonomy gives a useful overall appraisal of Antarctic soils; however, for detailed work, there is a need to introduce some new categories at subgroup level to better capture the range of soils described.

Quilombolas are Afro-brazilian rural peasants who descended from escaped slaves who tried to carve out territories of autonomy (called Quilombos) by collective organization and resistance. Despite many anthropological and ethnopedological studies, little research has been carried out to identify the agricultural practices and the knowledge of people who live in the Quilombos (Quilombolas). Peasant communities who live from land resources have wide empirical knowledge related to local soils and landscapes. In this respect, ethnopedology focuses on their relationship with local practices, needs, and values. We carried out an ethnopedological evaluation of the soils, landscape and land suitability of the Malhada Grande Quilombola Territory, aiming to examine the local criteria involved in land-use decision making, and evaluate the legitimacy of local knowledge. For this purpose, participatory workshops allowed environmental stratification of the Quilombolas into landscape units, recognition of soil types, and evaluation of land-use criteria. This approach was combined with conventional soil sampling, description, and analysis. The Brazilian System of Soil Classification and its approximations to the WRB/FAO system and the SAAT land evaluation system were compared with the local classificatory systems, showing several convergences. The Quilombolas stratified the local environment into eight landscape units (based on soil, topography, and vegetation) and identified eight soil types with distinct morphological, chemical, and physical attributes. The conventional soil survey identified thirteen soil classes, in the same eight landscape units, organized as soil associations. The apparent contradictions between local knowledge and Pedology were relative since the classification systems were established based on different criteria, goals, and sampling references. Most soils are only suitable for pasture, with restricted agricultural use, due to water or oxygen deficiencies. The current land use was only inconsistent with the technical recommendations when socioecological constraints such as the semiarid climate, land availability, and economic conditions for land management led to overuse of the land. Local knowledge demonstrated its legitimacy and allowed a useful and fruitful exchange of information with the academic view of soil-landscape interplays. Although mostly unknown by the scientific community, local knowledge proved capable of achieving social welfare and food security. In addition, a participatory survey proved to be a core factor for more grounded and detailed data collection on how Quilombolas decide land use on a local scale.

This study presents soil temperature and moisture regimes from March 2008 to January 2009 for two active layer monitoring (CALM-S) sites at King George Island, Maritime Antarctica. The monitoring sites were installed during the summer of 2008 and consist of thermistors (accuracy of ± 0.2 °C), arranged vertically with probes at different depths and one soil moisture probe placed at the bottommost layer at each site (accuracy of ± 2.5%), recording data at hourly intervals in a high capacity datalogger. The active layer thermal regime in the studied period for both soils was typical of periglacial environments, with extreme variation in surface temperature during summer resulting in frequent freeze and thaw cycles. The great majority of the soil temperature readings during the eleven month period was close to 0 °C, resulting in low values of freezing and thawing degree days. Both soils have poor thermal apparent diffusivity but values were higher for the soil from Fildes Peninsula. The different moisture regimes for the studied soils were attributed to soil texture, with the coarser soil presenting much lower water content during all seasons. Differences in water and ice contents may explain the contrasting patterns of freezing of the studied soils, being two-sided for the coarser soil and one-sided for the loamy soil. The temperature profile of the studied soils during the eleven month period indicates that the active layer reached a maximum depth of approximately 92 cm at Potter and 89 cm at Fildes. Longer data sets are needed for more conclusive analysis on active layer behaviour in this part of Antarctica.

This paper presents the spatial distribution of soils from the northern part of Byers Peninsula, Livingston Island, which is the largest ice-free area of the South Shetlands archipelago, Maritime Antarctica. Physical and chemical characteristics are presented for 23 soil profiles. Soil parent materials vary from marine sedimentary to volcanic and volcanoclastic rocks, intruded by igneous bodies. To assess soil–landscape relationships, twenty-three soil profiles were described and sampled. Soil samples of selected horizons were submitted to chemical, physical and mineralogical analyses. Soil mapping was based on the soil profiles, integrated with the existent topographic map (1:25.000 scale), a digital elevation model, the geological map and a satellite image. Twenty different soil units were identified and mapped. According to the World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB) system, soils were classified as Fluvisols, Regosols, Leptosols or Cryosols, which correspond mostly to Fluvents, Orthents/Psamments, Inceptsols and Gelisols, respectively, according to the Soil Taxonomy. Soils from northern Byers Peninsula are generally shallow and coarse textured, with low organic matter content. Three soils from the rocky platforms of the northern coastal region possess ornithogenic character, with lower pH, higher P, Al 3 + and organic C values when compared to soils not influenced by sea birds. In non-ornithogenic soils, the presence of easily weatherable minerals in the clay fraction indicates that physical weathering occurs with limited chemical alteration of primary minerals. The influence of penguin and other birds on coastal soils alters clay mineralogy, with formation of poorly crystalline P-rich phases. A better understanding of the depth of the permafrost table and the spatial distribution of permafrost is necessary for a more conclusive classification of Cryosols or Gelisols.

Data on the content and speciation of mercury (Hg) in the soils of Antarctica are scarce and vary greatly between the regions studied, but overall Hg concentrations found were generally very low. We investigated the Hg quantity and speciation by solid-phase Hg pyrolysis and chemical fractionation in selected maritime Antarctic soils, comparing ornithogenic and non-ornithogenic areas of the Fildes and Ardley peninsulas of King George Island. The total Hg contents ranged from 4.3–256 ng g-1, and values for ornithogenic soils were the highest recorded for Antarctic soils. A close correlation between Hg and organic matter was observed in the ornithogenic soils, with levels decreasing with depth. In the non-ornithogenic soils, a correlation between Hg content and soil depth was also observed, but the values were found to increase with depth. Thermograms showed that all Hg was in the 2+ oxidation state and was predominantly linked to organic matter, corroborating the chemical fractionation results for the ornithogenic soils. These results show the need for further refined studies about the interactions of Hg with organic matter in order to better understand the biogeochemistry of this metal in the Antarctic environment.

The main pedological, geomorphological and cryogenic features of Keller Peninsula, part of Admiralty Bay, King George Island, Maritime Antarctica, were mapped and quantified with emphasis on the relationship between the ice retreat process, melt-out, landform development and soil distribution. Moraines, protalus, scree slopes, inactive glacial cirques, uplift marine terraces, biogenic landforms, aretes and Felsenmeer were mapped. Scree slope is the main landform, covering approximately 25% of the peninsula, indicating prominent paraglacial features. Inherited, glacial landforms, such as lateral moraines, highland plateau and exhumed U shaped-valleys, are now being exposed in north Keller by ice shrinkage of former ice protecting cover. Landforms influenced soil formation and stability. Cryosols and Leptosols (WRB) roughly corresponding to Gelisols and Entisols (SSS), respectively, are the most common soil classes, with an overall tendency of absent permafrost in the coastal areas, changing to sporadic permafrost at mid-slope, and discontinuous permafrost with greater altitude and substrate stability.

Technosols are anthropogenic soils that may be strongly impacted by heavy metal deposition, which have not yet been described in Antarctica. In this paper, we present a chemical study of what is supposedly the oldest manmade soil from Antarctic Peninsula, developed in the vicinity of Trinity House and Nordenskjold Hut at Hope Bay. Chemical and morphological soil attributes indicate that a former ornithogenic site (penguin rookery) was further subjected to human disturbance, following local exploration since 1903. We detected very high amounts of heavy metals such as Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn. For the most impacted site, pseudototal concentrations of these elements reach 47, 2,082, 19,381, and 5,225 mg kg−1, respectively. Enrichment factors were calculated using Zr as reference element, and high values were found for these contaminated sites, qualifying some of them as extremely polluted. Also, both the mobilizable and mobile fraction of Cd and Pb indicate the need of intervention in the affected area. These findings are all consistent with the human impacts and strong contamination. Strong positive correlation between the pseudototal concentrations of Cd, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn indicates a similar source of pollution. These soils may represent the oldest Technosols in Antarctic Continent.

Soil CO2 emission is an important part of the terrestrial carbon cycling and is influenced by several factors, such as type and distribution of vegetation. In this work we evaluated the spatial variability of soil CO2 emission in terrestrial ecosystems of maritime Antarctica, under two contrasting vegetation covers: 1) grass areas of Deschampsia antarctica Desv., and 2) moss carpets of Sanionia uncinata (Hedw.) Loeske. Highest mean emission was obtained for the Deschampsia (4.13 μmol m-2 s-1) developed on organic-rich soil with a strong penguin influence. The overall results indicate that soil temperature is not directly related to the spatial pattern of soil CO2 emission at the sites studied. Emission adjusted models were Gaussian and exponential with ranges varying from 1.3 to 2.8 m, depending on the studied site and vegetation cover.

Results obtained during the International Polar Year (IPY) on the thermal state of permafrost and the active layer in the Antarctic are presented, forming part of ANTPAS (‘Antarctic Permafrost and ...

A falta de estudos básicos necessários para o plano de manejo vem retardando a implementação efetiva de diversas Unidades de Conservação na região amazônica. Neste trabalho, interpretações de imagens orbitais e semiorbitais aliadas a trabalhos de campo foram utilizadas para a caracterização geoambiental da Floresta Nacional (FLONA) do Purus. Através da geração de mapas temáticos, criou-se uma base digital georreferenciada que constitui a primeira plataforma para o SIG da FLONA. Foram identificados quatro geoambientes principais: Platôs Dissecados com Mata sobre Latossolos e Argissolos; Encostas e Rampas com Mata sobre Argissolos; Planícies Aluviais Eutróficas com Neossolos Flúvicos e Gleissolos; e Planícies Aluviais Distróficas com Gleissolos. Os aluviões holocênicos na área sob influência do rio Purus são ricos em nutrientes (eutróficos), com influência de sedimentos subandinos. Em contraste, a maior parte da FLONA possui solos extremamente ácidos e pobres em nutrientes (distróficos), formados a partir do intemperismo de sedimentos da Formação Solimões. O manejo dessas áreas deve visar ao incremento do aporte de biomassa na superfície dos solos, aumentando a eficiência da ciclagem de nutrientes pela vegetação, já que a reserva química natural é extremamente baixa. The lack of basic studies for the elaboration of management plans has delayed the effective implementation of conservation units in the Amazon region. In this work, the interpretation of orbital and sub-orbital images, together with field surveys were used for the geoenvironmental characterization of the Purus National Forest (PNF). A georreferenced digital database composed of thematic maps was produced and constitutes the base of a GIS for the PNF. Four geoenvironments were identified and mapped: Dissecated Plateaux with forest vegetation on Latosols and Argisols; Forested slopes on Argisols; Alluvial plains with eutric soils; Alluvial plains with dystric soils. The holocenic alluviums influenced by the Purus River are eutric, and receive sub-Andenean sediments. On the other hand, most of the PNF has extremely poor and acid soils related to the Solimões Formation. Since the nutrient levels in the mineral substrate are very low, the management of these areas should seek the increment of biomass in the system, which would enhance nutrient cycling by the vegetation since the nutrient levels in the mineral substrate are very low.

Soils from maritime Antarctica are different than those from other Antarctic climatic zones and are among the least studied soils in Antarctica. We here present analytical and morphological data for the main soils found in Admiralty Bay, King George Island in the South Shetland Group. Fifty-six (56) pedons were described, sampled and analyzed according to standard international methods and classified according to both U.S. Soil Taxonomy and the WRB. The soils are generally weakly developed and have chemical, physical and morphological characteristics strongly influenced by the parent material. We identify four main soil groups: (i) basaltic/andesitic, (ii) acid sulfate, (iii) weakly ornithogenic and (iv) ornithogenic soils. Small adjustments are proposed for both classification systems for allowing a more adequate classification for maritime Antarctica. Greyish colored, eutric Lithic and Typic Haploturbels (Turbi–leptic Cryosols) with neutral to alkaline reaction are the most common soils in Admiralty Bay, and are usually developed from basaltic/andesitic tills. Yellowish, acid, dystric Sulphuric Haploturbels (Turbi–thionic Cryosols) are restricted to areas affected by pyritized andesites. Umbriturbels (Turbi–umbric Cryosols) only occur at sites under bird influence. Ornithogenic soils are the most developed soils in Admiralty Bay and show pronounced chemical, physical and morphological alteration of parent materials, with formation of umbric epipedons and phosphatic B horizons. Fibristels (Organo–turbic Cryosols) are restricted to hydromorphic areas under thick moss carpets.

Little information is available on the microstructure of Cryosols from maritime Antarctica, and the present study characterizes the main soil types commonly found in ice-free areas of Admiralty Bay, King George Island. Four pedons were selected for micromorphological and microprobe analysis. The type of microstructure observed in the soils is strongly influenced by the lithological composition and arrangement, with a high proportion of primary minerals in all particle fractions. The oxidation of sulphides is the most important pedogenetic process in acid sulphate soils from maritime Antarctica and results in intense chemical weathering of minerals and formation of Na-jarosite, amorphous Fe-oxides and kaolinite. Jarosite forms illuvial coating within cryodesiccation fractures and is associated with large amounts of amorphous Fe minerals that possess a high P adsorption capacity. In ornithogenic soils, the phosphatization process enhances soil acidity and chemical alteration of the substrate and is the main soil-forming process in ornithogenic soils. P-rich solutions penetrate cryodesiccation fractures and cleavage planes in large clasts and preferentially react with volcanic glass. Soil reaction with P-rich leachates leads to the progressive displacement of Si from rock minerals, coupled with reacting of P with Al, Fe, K and Mg to form various amorphous and crystalline P forms. Cryoclastic weathering and cryoturbation result in high levels of fine P-rich aggregates down the profile. Chemical weathering is more pronounced in maritime Antarctica than previously thought, especially for acid sulphate and ornithogenic soils. The utilization of micromorphological and microchemical techniques proved to be extremely useful for a better understanding of pedogenesis in these poorly known Antarctic soils.

Espinhaço and Mantiqueira are two mountain ranges of great importance in Brazil. In the uppermost parts of these areas, unique ecosystems occur, generally associated with rock outcrops, they are collectively called High Altitude Rocky Complexes. These environments show distinct soil and biota characteristics in relation to the surrounding biome. The soils are generally shallow, coarse textured, with high Al3+ and varying amounts of organic matter. Entisols, Inceptsols and Histosols are dominant, directly associated with the rock outcrops, and forming a complex mosaic of soils. Some of these soils are endemic, based on peculiar conditions of parent materials, topography and vegetation, and this pedodiversity is important for detecting unique and endangered soils. In these soils, organic matter is highly humified, with a great amount of soluble forms and conspicuous presence of charcoal. Spodic horizons and dark water rivers are typically associated with quartzite and quartzite outcrops, formed by illuviation of organic compounds, being less common in granitic rocks. The very low nutrient content of these soils and other environmental limitations required the development of specific physiological and morphological plant adaptations. Most high altitude environments are unstable under current climatic conditions, and anthropic interventions may be accelerating this process. Detailed soil surveys are necessary for a better understanding of the role of these soils in ecological processes and for the development of adequate conservation policies. A Serra do Espinhaço e a Serra da Mantiqueira são duas cadeias de grande importância para o Brasil. Nas partes mais altas destas serras encontramse ecossistemas com características singulares, associados aos afloramentos rochosos, denominados Complexos Rupestres de Altitude. Esses ambientes apresentam características do solo e da vegetação distintas das áreas adjacentes. Os solos são em geral rasos, arenosos, com alta saturação de alumínio e teores variados de matéria orgânica. Neossolos Litólicos, Cambissolos e Organossolos são as classes de solo dominantes, diretamente associadas aos afloramentos, formando um mosaico de solos. Alguns solos encontrados nestes ambientes são endêmicos, em função das características peculiares da rocha matriz, da topografia e da vegetação, e sua preservação é estratégica por se tratar de solos raros e ameaçados de extinção. A matéria orgânica desses solos apresenta alto grau de humificação, com grande quantidade de frações solúveis, e a presença generalizada de fragmentos de carvão. Horizontes espódicos e rios negros estão tipicamente associados às áreas de afloramento de arenito e quartzito, sendo formados pela iluviação de compostos orgânicos, e sendo menos comuns nas áreas de granito. O oligotrofismo destes solos, associado a outras limitações de ordem química e física, induzem o desenvolvimento de estratégias de adaptação fisiológica e morfológica por parte da vegetação. A maioria destes ecossistemas é instável sob a condição climática atual, e a intervenção antrópica é um fator de aceleração do processo de degradação. A descrição detalhada dos solos nestes ambientes é fundamental para um melhor entendimento do seu papel nos processos ecológicos e para o desenvolvimento de políticas de conservação. Made available in DSpace on 2016-10-06T22:35:51Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 02.pdf: 812999 bytes, checksum: 679e05c0a6d56c3174f02fb4e9890368 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-12-01

Birds nesting activity during the short antarctic summer promotes intense localized sea–land transference of nutrients and organic matter, originating the ornithogenic soils. This study presents chemical, physical and mineralogical data as well as some micropedological and submicroscopical characteristics of ornithogenic and non-ornithogenic soils from the western coast of the Admiralty Bay, King George Island. Chemical analyses of selected soil properties show P and N enrichment in ornithogenic soils. Vegetation growth is enhanced and results in high soil organic C contents. A granular, sub-rounded structure composed by silt particles surrounded by illuvial phosphates is typical at ornithogenic horizons. These illuviation features characterize a distinct process of phosphatization, with P mobility and neoformation of secondary phosphates, such as taranakite, minyulite and leucophosphite. Ornithogenic sites are extremely important and constitute the most important locci of C sequestration in antarctic terrestrial ecosystems. A classification scheme for ornithogenic soils is proposed within the Soil Taxonomy and WRB classification systems.

The present Chapter presents an overview on soils from Maritime Antarctica, comprising ice-free areas distributed along the South Orkney (SOI) and South Shetland Islands (SSI). Published and novel data were compiled, with focus on pedogenesis and soils geography, in a total of 365 pedons, of which 71 % are from King George Island. Seven soil-forming processes occur, including cryoturbation, gleization, melanization, podzolization, paludization, and phosphatization. Six soil orders have been reported in the SOI and SSI, including Gelisols, Entisols, Inceptisols, Histosols, Mollisols, and Spodosols, which represent half of the orders in ST. Gelisols are predominant at altitudes above 30 m.a.s.l. to 100 m.a.s.l., where discontinuous permafrost exists. The most abundant great group is the Haploturbels, illustrating the importance of cryoturbation. We conclude with a summary of the current knowledge on soil formation and distribution in the SOI and SSI, and a prospect of future research needs and questions.

The Antarctic Peninsula (AP) marks the climatic transition between maritime and dry subpolar Antarctica. The western side of the AP has a mean annual air temperature (MAAT) between –2.7 and –3.4 °C, with up to 2 months with temperatures above freezing, and a mean annual precipitation (MAP) ranging from 400 to 800 mm, with some of the precipitation falling as rain.

Antarctic soils occur in restricted areas, but few integrated studies on soils and landforms have focused in the Antarctic Peninsula. We studied the representative soils of Hope Bay, emphasizing the processes of quaternary sedimentation, landforms, soil classification, and distribution. Results show that landforms and soils are closely associated in Hope Bay. Ornithogenic soils are associated with Late Pleistocene to Holocene stable ground moraines; these are currently being destroyed by thermokarst erosion around Lake Boekella. Lithic Haploturbels occur chiefly on shallow rocky terrains whereas Typic Haploturbels are found on patterned ground. In Hope Bay, a much colder climate prevails compared with the South Shetlands, and the widespread permafrost close to the surface warrants strong cryoclastic weathering with active and general gelifraction across different lithologies. The shallow occurrence of permafrost in Hope Bay has a strong regulating effect on soils, retarding leaching and soil development processes. Local soils are, in general, shallow and cryoturbic, and the current pedoenvironment on lowland stable areas was subjected to varying phosphatization on previously weathered sedimentary material. The evidence of phosphatization of a formerly larger area appears to be the main driver of pedogenesis at Hope Bay, and nesting activity by penguins on stable surfaces is capable of enhancing weathering and soil formation.

In terrestrial ecosystems of Maritime Antarctica (King George Island), the transference of primary marine production to the land promoted by penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) and other birds, appears to influence soil formation and chemical weathering to a greater extent than formerly predicted. This paper summarizes the results of pedological investigations on the vicinity of the American Pieter J. Lenie Field Station (62°10' S, 58°28' W), discussing soil formation processes related to vegetation succession in the studied area. Soil organic matter (SOM) accumulation and associated phosphatization are marked soil-forming processes in ice-free areas once colonized by penguins. Also there is a high correlation between soil development and vegetation patterns. Nutrient supply in these cryogenic soils is affected by low pH following nitrification and high contents of P, K, Ca, and Mg due to seabirds' inputs. Lithic Umbriturbels and Glacic Haploturbels are the most common omithogenic soils, followed by Lithic Fibristels and Psammentic Aquiturbels. In all soils phosphatization and omithogenesis occurs in varying degrees. However, the recent Gelisols order of Soil Taxonomy does not consider the influence of ornithogenesis or phosphatization in its framework, so that a more detailed classification of such soils is not possible.

A typical altitudinal sequence of four soil profiles from one of the uppermost areas of the Mantiqueira Highlands (Minas Gerais State, southeastern Brazil) was studied regarding physical, chemical, mineralogical and micromorphological attributes. The soils were classified as a Terric Haplosaprist, a Humic Xanthic Hapludox, a Typic Haplorthod and a Humic Psammentic Dystrudept. All soils are gibbsitic, highly acidic and distrophic, with high aluminium saturation. The high organic carbon content and coarse texture favour the occurrence of podzolization. Intense hydrolysis and mineral dissolution occur in the studied pedoenvironments, with the presence of adsorbed Al polymers and organic matter bound Al forms. Podzolization can only be confirmed with the combined analysis of soil humic fractions, Al forms and micromorphological attributes. The conspicuous presence of gibbsite is attributed to past conditions of deep weathering and saprolite formation. Closed nutrient cycling is essential for environmental sustainability due to the very low nutrient reserve of soils and deep pre-weathered saprolites. The highland subtropical environment is an important site of natural carbon immobilization in the tropics in which histic/humic horizons are the most important loci of carbon inputs.

The Antarctic Peninsula marks the climatic transition between Maritime and Continental Antarctica. Ice-free areas at the western side of the Peninsula (Maritime Antarctica) have been increasingly studied in the last 10 years whereas soils on the eastern coast have been relatively less studied. The objective of the present study is to analyze the properties of soils developed on Seymour Island, in the Weddell sea sector, eastern coast of the Antarctic Peninsula, in order to identify the main factors and processes involved in soil formation under semi-polar desert conditions in this part of Antarctica. Twenty-one pedons were described, sampled and analyzed for their physical, chemical and mineralogical attributes. Most of the soils were classified as Gelisols and Cryosols by the Soil Taxonomy and WRB/FAO, respectively. Three soil groups were found: immature alkaline soils on sandstones and siltstones, acid sulfate and ornithogenic soils. Soils have little cryoturbation and are all affected by salinization with natric and salic characters. Acid sulfate soils are the most weathered soils in Seymour Island. Due to the dry climate, phosphatization is still incipient with P-rich ornithogenic layers with little interaction with the mineral substrate. The Soil Taxonomy and WRB/FAO systems lack adequate classification criteria to classify all soils developed in transitional areas that are affected by a combination of salinization, sulfurization and phosphatization.

Iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) toxicity can be an important limitation to flooded rice cropping. Flooding causes several physical and chemical alterations that affect the dynamics of these elements in the soil environment. The objective of this study was to develop procedures of soil analysis, that enable the assessment of easily reducible Fe and Mn availability and uptake by plants. Surface samples (0–20 cm) of ten lowland soils from the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, were used. The experiment consisted of a factorial randomized block design of ten soils and five liming levels, with five rice plants grown in pots containing 2 dm3 of soil with permanent flooding. The concentrations of Fe and Mn were evaluated in the soil solution and in the aerial parts of the rice plants. The air-dried samples were analyzed for Fe and Mn with sodium-citrate dithionite, ammonium oxalate, Melich-1, 0.1 mol L−1 HCl, ammonium acetate–EDTA, and DTPA–TEA extractants. The Fe concentration in the soil solution was most hi...

Keller Peninsula, located in King George Island, has a typical Maritime Antarctica climatic regime, with higher temperatures and rainfall than other areas in Continental Antarctica. The main outcropping rocks are pyritized andesites, volcaniclastics and basalts. Recent pedological investigation indicated that the presence of sulfides in Keller Peninsula accelerates the weathering process. The aim of this work was the determination of the geochemical background in water channels following geomorphological gradients in Keller Peninsula, Maritime Antarctica. We delimited and mapped all catchments in Keller Peninsula using GIS techniques and field observations. Water samples were analyzed for twenty-nine elements by ICP-OES and IEC, after the proper treatments. Eight catchments were identified as sulfide-affected, although water pH was nearly neutral. The ionic concentration in solution was high, both in non-affected and sulfide-affected catchments, with a trend of greater values in the latter, and changing downslope. Concentration values are above the range of other hydrogeochemical studies from elsewhere in Antarctica. The values of molar ratio HCO3−:(Ca + Mg)2 + and Na+:Cl− indicated the absence of carbonate-bearing rocks. Local precipitation of evaporites, as gypsum and epsomite was confirmed by the Ca2 +:SO42 − and Mg2 +:SO42 − molar ratios. The high ionic concentration in sulfide-affected areas illustrates the role of sulfate soil formation in this part of Antarctica.

A atividade da avifauna nos ecossistemas terrestres imprime profundas alterações químicas e mineralógicas nos substratos minerais. O objetivo do presente trabalho é investigar os impactos da atividade da avifauna na evolução da paisagem do arquipélago de Abrolhos através do estudo da distribuição espacial dos solos e suas características químicas, com ênfase na fosfatização. Foram estudados dez perfis de solos representativos das principais unidades de paisagem do arquipélago. Com base em observação de campo e interpretação de carta náutica da Marinha do Brasil (n. 1311), em escala 1:100.000, foi produzido o mapa de solos das ilhas. A presença generalizada de solos fortemente ornitogênicos, em áreas sem nidificação atual ou com fraca nidificação, indica uma ocupação pretérita por aves bem mais ampla que a atual. Alguns solos estudados em Abrolhos são de difícil classificação e refletem influência marcante da avifauna, atual ou pretérita.

No Arquipélago de São Pedro e São Paulo, a deposição de excrementos da avifauna foi responsável pela fosfatização de suas rochas. Como feição mais característica, formaram-se crostas fosfáticas. Com base em metodologias pertinentes ao trabalho de campo (observação, descrição e coleta) e de laboratório (análises geoquímicas, mineralógicas e microscópicas), esse trabalho buscou caracterizar tais crostas e compreender suas implicações geomorfológicas e paleogeográficas. As crostas foram definidas como feições de acumulação de excrementos, ricos em fósforo, mineralizados sobre rochas homogêneas (peridotitos milonitizados). Depois de formadas, o comportamento hidrofóbico de tais crostas protegeu as rochas contra o avanço acelerado do perfil de alteração e da atuação de processos erosivos, tornando as encostas em que são encontradas mais íngremes e convexizadas. Ao contrário, onde a formação da crosta não foi verificada, as encostas encontram-se concavizadas e a rocha mais profundamente alterada. A presença de tais crostas também indica a existência de ambientes áridos pretéritos, diferentes das condições climáticas atuais, onde foi possível a acumulação do guano sobre a superfície. In the São Pedro and São Paulo Archipelago, deposition of bird excrements has been responsible for rock phosphatization, generating phosphatized crusts. This study describes these crusts and establishes their geomorphological and paleogeografical implications, based on methodologies such as field observation, description and sampling, as well as, laboratorial analyses (geochemical, mineralogical and microscopic). The crusts were defined as features of excrement accumulation, with high P content and mineralized surfaces over homogeneous rocks (milonitizaded peridotites). The hydrophobic behavior of these crusts protects the underlying rock against the accelerated advance of chemical weathering and, consequently, the role of erosion processes, developing steeper and more convex slopes. In contrast, at sites in which the formation of the crust has not been verified, the rock is more weathered and the slopes more concave. The presence of these crusts also indicates an arid paleo-environment, where guano accumulation was possible, differently from present-day climate conditions.

The use of a geographic information system (GIS) allows the mapping and quantification of biotic and physical features of importance to the environmental planning of Antarctic areas. In this paper we examined the main aspects of the geoenvironments of Arctowski Station vicinity (Admiralty bay, Maritime Antartica), by means of a photointerpretation of an orthomosaic at 1:6000 scale, produced by non-conventional aerial photographs obtained by the Brazilian Cryosols project. We carried out a preliminary environmental valuation and vulnerability assessment of the area. Hence, geoenvironments were classified and ranked according with their biological valuation and vulnerability (fragility), mapping 20 units covering approximately 150 ha. The most fragile geoenvironmental units were former and present penguin rookeries with different vegetation covers, all very prone to degradation by over-trampling and human perturbations. The relationships between each geoenvironment were also explored, emphasizing the ecological aspects and their valuation. In quantitative terms, the most vulnerable and fragile units (classes 4 and 5) occupy nearly 22 % of the total area, being highly concentrated near the coastal areas. There, ornithogenic input is an important factor favoring the vegetation development. Citation: Schaefer, C. E. G. R., Santana, R. M., Simas, F. B., Francelino M. R., Fernandes Filho, E. I., Albuquerque, M. A., and Calijuri, M. L. (2007), Geoenvironments from the vicinity of Arctowski Station, Admiralty Bay, King George Island, Antarctica: vulnerability and valuation assessment, in Antarctica: A keystone in a Changing World - Online Porceedings of The ISAES, edited by A.K. Cooper and C.R. Raymond et al.