61
2.6 Case Studies in Northern Spain
2.6.1 Carasa Salt Marsh in the Santoña Estuary
The Carasa salt marsh is located in the upper part of the Santoña estuary, where in
2010 a 50-cm-long core (two replicates) (coordinates X: 462,590.847, Y:
4,803,949.206, Z: 3.067 m above LOD) was extruded from an area dominated by
Halimione portulacoides and Juncus maritimus vegetation (Fig. 2.9).
Historical aerial photography from 1946 exhibits agricultural lands covering the
area, while it now appears as a regenerated salt-marsh environment (Fig. 2.10).
The Carasa core was composed of mud that switched from dark grey in the lower
27 cm to light brown in the upper 23 cm, and was accompanied by plant roots in the
top 10 cm (Fig. 2.11).
2.6.1.1 Paleoenvironmental Interpretation
Benthic foraminifera were abundant in the upper 41 cm and considerably decreased
in the lower 9 cm (Table 2.3; Fig. 2.11). Three depth intervals (DIs) were distinguished in this core in terms of presence, abundance and dominance of foraminiferal
species. The lowermost 9 cm (DI 3) exhibited very low numbers of foraminiferal
tests (mean 40 tests/50 g). Entzia macrescens and T. inflata were the main species
Fig. 2.9 General view of the Carasa salt marsh covered by H. portulacoides and J. maritimus
vegetation. Location of core (yellow dot) in the Santoña estuary is shown (top left). Scale bar, 1 km
2 Recent Agricultural Occupation and Environmental Regeneration of Salt...
2.6 Case Studies in Northern Spain
2.6.1 Carasa Salt Marsh in the Santoña Estuary
The Carasa salt marsh is located in the upper part of the Santoña estuary, where in
2010 a 50-cm-long core (two replicates) (coordinates X: 462,590.847, Y:
4,803,949.206, Z: 3.067 m above LOD) was extruded from an area dominated by
Halimione portulacoides and Juncus maritimus vegetation (Fig. 2.9).
Historical aerial photography from 1946 exhibits agricultural lands covering the
area, while it now appears as a regenerated salt-marsh environment (Fig. 2.10).
The Carasa core was composed of mud that switched from dark grey in the lower
27 cm to light brown in the upper 23 cm, and was accompanied by plant roots in the
top 10 cm (Fig. 2.11).
2.6.1.1 Paleoenvironmental Interpretation
Benthic foraminifera were abundant in the upper 41 cm and considerably decreased
in the lower 9 cm (Table 2.3; Fig. 2.11). Three depth intervals (DIs) were distinguished in this core in terms of presence, abundance and dominance of foraminiferal
species. The lowermost 9 cm (DI 3) exhibited very low numbers of foraminiferal
tests (mean 40 tests/50 g). Entzia macrescens and T. inflata were the main species
Fig. 2.9 General view of the Carasa salt marsh covered by H. portulacoides and J. maritimus
vegetation. Location of core (yellow dot) in the Santoña estuary is shown (top left). Scale bar, 1 km
2 Recent Agricultural Occupation and Environmental Regeneration of Salt...