Late Holocene evolution of the southwestern Doñana National Park (Guadalquivir Estuary, SW Spain): a multivariate approach

18 pages, 7 figures, 1 table, 67 references.-- Ruiz Muñoz et al.--

Four phases are distinguished in the Late Holocene evolution of the southwestern Doñana National Park (SW Spain), based on a multidisciplinary analysis of the sediments present in drill cores. In the oldest phase (>2400–2500 cal. yr BP), a coastal lagoon (the Roman Lacus Ligustinus) was recognized in the central part of this area, partly closed by the Doñana spit and limited by fluvial levees. The following phase (∼2400–2200 cal. yr BP) is characterized by high-energy events, which caused the breakthrough of the Doñana spit and the creation of new littoral strands in the inner areas. In the third phase (∼2200–2050 cal. yr BP), this new outlet was closed, coinciding with the progradation of the Doñana spit. The last phase (∼2050 cal. yr BP–Recent) comprises three periods: (a) an unstable period (∼2050–1950 cal. yr BP), with the deposit of cheniers over the previous levees; (b) an infilling period, with a diminution of the marine influence; and (c) the appearance of temporary ponds between the emerged levees and cheniers.

This work was funded by two Spanish DGYCIT Projects (AMB99-0226-C03-03 and BTE-2000-1153) and three Research Groups of the Andalusia Board (RNM-135, RNM-238 and RNM-293). This paper is a contribution to the IGCP 396 and 437.

Peer reviewed