Geological factors of the Guadalajara landscapes (Central Spain) and their relevance to landscape studies

Abstract

The landscapes of a territory are the consequence of its history; overlapped geological, vegetable and cultural histories usually exist on a landscape. At the Mediterranean domain, however, a translucent vegetation exists, and its history is closely related to the geologic and cultural histories, because low-technology agricultural uses on a different hardness rock background control vegetation. Thus, in areas like the Guadalajara province, the geologic composition and the human activities can be considered the primary conditions for landscape configuration. Both condition the typologies, distribution and relative importance of the geotic, biotic and anthropogenic components of landscapes. A complex network of interrelations among all them exists but, in the base of which lie the geology of the territory, included relief: because it has a more independent influence since man cannot modify the geologic factors; such as the colour of the rocks, the size and distribution of rock bodies, the palaeogeographic domains and the tectonic structure all which control landscape development and configuration. Moreover, geology influences conditions and even limit, the presence, typologies and development of the biotic and anthropogenic elements. These factors also have a major relevance for environmental management, educational and economic policy, and, in some cases, for environmental impact assessment.

On the tectonic origin of Iberian topography

“…3 and 5 elevations between 500 and 1000 m a.s.l. (Gracia Prieto et al, 1990;Mediavilla et al, 1996;Gutiérrez Elorza and Gracia, 1997;Alcalá et al, 1997;Cortés, 1999;García-Quintana et al, 2004;Benito-Calvo and Pérez-González, 2007 Vidal, 1983;Simón Gómez, 1983, 1984Moissenet, 1985Moissenet, , 1989Gracia Prieto et al, 1990;Vázquez Hoehne, 1992;Gutiérrez Elorza and Gracia, 1997;Vidal Romaní et al, 1998), and their geometry includes in some areas stepped levels around the highest massifs (Casas and Cortés-Gracia, 2002). Stepped planation surfaces developed in the northwestern corner of the Iberian peninsula (Galician Massif, Fig.…”

El papel del relieve en la definición de unidades de paisaje : el caso de Muntanyes d'Ordal (Barcelona)

“…Durante la caracterización de estos ámbitos se presta especial atención a la influencia de los procesos glaciales y periglaciales, así como al peso fisiognómico de las regionalizaciones propuestas y su influencia en el imaginario colectivo. Desde una perspectiva de trabajo similar, García Quintana et al (2004) demuestran la importancia de los factores geológicos en el paisaje de Guadalajara. Indican que el roquedo influye en el paisaje a través del color, la resistencia a la erosión y la medida y orientación de los cuerpos rocosos, y que todos estos factores ayudan a configurar dominios geológicos de ámbito regional, entendiendo estos dominios como áreas de distinta historia geológica, distinta estructura del roquedo y, por lo tanto, distinto paisaje.…”

Land‐use changes interact with geology to facilitate dispersal of the rock hyrax (Procavia capensis) and leishmaniasis across Israel and the West Bank

“…The Anthropocene has been proposed as the latest geological epoch (Finney & Edwards, 2016 ; Zalasiewicz et al, 2019 ), in which anthropogenic forces are transforming the planet's surface and affecting plants and animals by altering their habitat conditions (García‐Quintana et al, 2004 ; Jetz et al, 2007 ; Koellner & Scholz, 2008 ; Laurance et al, 2018 ; Lawler et al, 2014 ). Although anthropogenic land‐use changes often negatively impact wildlife through habitat loss and fragmentation (Laurance et al, 1997 ; Sala et al, 2000 ), they may also facilitate the dispersal of some species through the creation of novel habitats analogous in form or function to natural ones (Balbontín et al, 2008 ; Lundholm & Richardson, 2010 ; Mendelssohn & Yom‐Tov, 1999 ).…”