Cenozoic thick-skinned deformation and topography evolution of the Spanish Central System

The Spanish Central System is a Cenozoic pop-up with an E–W to NE–SW orientation that affects all the crust (thick-skinned tectonics). It shows antiform geometry in the upper crust with thickening in the lower crust. Together with the Iberian Chain it constitutes the most prominent mountainous structure of the Pyrenean foreland.The evolutionary patterns concerning the paleotopography of the interior of the Peninsula can be established by an analysis of the following data: gravimetric, topographical, macro and micro tectonic, sedimentological (infilling of the sedimentary basins of the relative foreland), P–T–t path from apatite fission tracks, paleoseismic and instrumental seismicity.Deformation is clearly asymmetric in the Central System as evidenced by the existence of an unique, large (crustal-scale) thrust at its southern border, while in the northern one there is a normal sequence of north verging thrusts, towards the Duero Basin, whose activity ended during the Lower Miocene. This deformation was accomplished under triaxial compression, Oligocene–Lower Miocene in age, marked by NW–SE to NNW–SSE shortening. Locally orientations of paleostresses deviate from that of the regional tensor, following a period of relative tectonic quiescence. During the Upper Miocene–Pliocene, a reactivation of constrictive stress occurred and some structures underwent rejuvenation as a consequence of the action of tectonic stresses similar to those of today (uniaxial extension to strike–slip with NW–SE shortening direction). However, the westernmost areas show continuous activity throughout the whole of the Tertiary, with no apparent pulses. At the present time there is a moderate seismic activity in the Central System related to faults that were active during the Cenozoic, with the same kinematic characteristics.     

Spatial structure analysis of a reptile community with airborne LiDAR data

The analysis of the spatial structure of animal communities requires spatial data to determine the distribution of individuals and their limiting factors. New technologies like very precise GPS as well as satellite imagery and aerial photographs of very high spatial resolution are now available. Data from airborne LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) sensors can provide digital models of ground and vegetation surfaces with pixel sizes of less than 1 m. We present the first study in terrestrial herpetology using LiDAR data. We aim to identify the spatial patterns of a community of four species of lizards (Lacerta schreiberi, Timon lepidus, Podarcis bocagei, and P. hispanica), and to determine how the habitat is influencing the distribution of the species spatially. The study area is located in Northern Portugal. The position of each lizard was recorded during 16 surveys of 1 h with a very precise GPS (error < 1 m). LiDAR data provided digital models of surface, terrain, and normalised height. From these data, we derived slope, ruggedness, orientation, and hill-shading variables. We applied spatial statistics to determine the spatial structure of the community. We computed Maxent ecological niche models to determine the importance of environmental variables. The community and its species presented a clustered distribution. We identified 14 clusters, composed of 1–3 species. Species records showed two distribution patterns, with clusters associated with steep and flat areas. Cluster outliers had the same patterns. Juveniles and subadults were associated with areas of low quality, while sexes used space in similar ways. Maxent models identified suitable habitats across the study area for two species and in the flat areas for the other two species. LiDAR allowed us to understand the local distributions of a lizard community. Remotely sensed data and LiDAR are giving new insights into the study of species ecology. Images of higher spatial resolutions are necessary to map important factors such as refuges.     

Possible mixotrophy of pigmented nanoflagellates: Microbial plankton biomass, primary production and phytoplankton growth in the NW Iberian upwelling in spring

Microbial plankton biomass, primary production (PP) and phytoplankton growth rates (μ) were estimated along the NW Iberian margin during an upwelling relaxation event. Although the interaction between wind forcing and coastline singularities caused high spatial variability in PP (0.4-8.4 g C m⁻² d⁻¹), two domains (coastal and oceanic) could be distinguished regarding microbial plankton biomass and μ. At the coastal domain, with higher influence of upwelling, diatoms showed an important contribution (27 ± 17%) to total autotrophic biomass (AB). Nonetheless, AB was dominated by autotrophic nanoflagellates (ANF) at both realms, accounting for 62 ± 16% and 89 ± 6% of the integrated AB at the coastal and oceanic domain respectively. AB and heterotrophic biomass (HB) were significantly higher at the oceanic than at the coastal domain, with both biomasses covarying according to HB:AB = 0.33. Whereas the low phytoplankton carbon to chlorophyll a ratio (C_ph:chl a = 38 ± 3) and the high μ = 0.54 ± 0.09 d⁻¹ registered at the coastal stations suggest that phytoplankton was not nutrient limited at this domain, the values (C_ph:chl a = 157 ± 8; μ = 0.17 ± 0.02 d⁻¹) recorded at the oceanic domain point to severe nutrient limitation. However, the high Fv/Fm fluorescence ratios (0.56 ± 0.09) measured at the sea surface in the oceanic domain suggest that nutrient limitation did not occur. To reconcile these two apparently opposite views, it is suggested the occurrence of mixotrophic nutrition of ANF, with heterotrophic nutrition supplying about 75% of carbon requirements.     

Genesis of deformation structures affecting Plio-Pleistocene sediments in the western Portuguese mainland (West Iberia). Implication on the regional neotectonics

A careful analysis of the morphology, geologic setting, stratigraphic distribution and sedimentological context of deformation features in sediments can give valuable information for the interpretation of their genesis, namely if they are of sedimentary or tectonic origin. This approach was used for the study area, located in the western region of the Portuguese mainland (West Iberian margin), where significant neotectonic and seismic activities occur, contrasting with the stabler interior of Iberia. Notwithstanding the regional neotectonics (intended as upper Pliocene to Recent), part of the deformation features observed in the studied deposits (Pliocene to Pleistocene in age) may be attributed to other phenomena but seismic shaking and/or active faulting. Slump beds and flame structures in coarse sand deposits are probably related to sedimentary overloading in high supply delta plain setting. Part of the deformation observed in the sediments that overlie Jurassic marls and limestones was probably induced by karst sink. This process is plausible even in Plio-Pleistocene sediments that overlie low carbonate content basement rocks, such as marl dominated successions. Thus, the abundance of deformation features affecting the studied Plio-Pleistocene sedimentary cover may lead to an overestimation of the regional active tectonics. The neotectonic activity in this area is reconsidered from the interpretation of the triggering mechanisms responsible for the observed deformation.     

Trophic ecology of a resident Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis) population in the Bay of Biscay

Stable isotopes analyses (SIAs) are an efficient tool to obtain a general insight into the diet of generalist consumers, such as the Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis). Here we analysed δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N and δ³⁴S values in feathers of chicks and adults, and used Bayesian triple-isotope mixing models to reconstruct the diet of a Yellow-legged Gull population breeding in the southeastern Bay of Biscay. Questions to test were (1) whether adults and chicks rely on different feeding resources during breeding period; (2) whether there is a seasonal foraging effect involving a higher proportion of refuse food in winter compared to summer, and (3) the magnitude of the annual variation in diet. Prey consumption differed between colonies, among years, and also varied slightly between seasons, and this was mainly due to a differential use of prey of marine origin. However, diet did not differ between age classes. These results suggest a relatively monotonous diet with only slight variations from year to year, seasonally and at a local geographic scale.     

On the tectonic origin of Iberian topography

The present-day topography of the Iberian peninsula can be considered as the result of the Mesozoic–Cenozoic tectonic evolution of the Iberian plate (including rifting and basin formation during the Mesozoic and compression and mountain building processes at the borders and inner part of the plate, during the Tertiary, followed by Neogene rifting on the Mediterranean side) and surface processes acting during the Quaternary. The northern-central part of Iberia (corresponding to the geological units of the Duero Basin, the Iberian Chain, and the Central System) shows a mean elevation close to one thousand meters above sea level in average, some hundreds of meters higher than the southern half of the Iberian plate. This elevated area corresponds to (i) the top of sedimentation in Tertiary terrestrial endorheic sedimentary basins (Paleogene and Neogene) and (ii) planation surfaces developed on Paleozoic and Mesozoic rocks of the mountain chains surrounding the Tertiary sedimentary basins. Both types of surfaces can be found in continuity along the margins of some of the Tertiary basins. The Bouguer anomaly map of the Iberian peninsula indicates negative anomalies related to thickening of the continental crust. Correlations of elevation to crustal thickness and elevation to Bouguer anomalies indicate that the different landscape units within the Iberian plate can be ascribed to different patterns: (1) The negative Bouguer anomaly in the Iberian plate shows a rough correlation with elevation, the most important gravity anomalies being linked to the Iberian Chain. (2) Most part of the so-called Iberian Meseta is linked to intermediate-elevation areas with crustal thickening; this pattern can be applied to the two main intraplate mountain chains (Iberian Chain and Central System) (3) The main mountain chains (Pyrenees and Betics) show a direct correlation between crustal thickness and elevation, with higher elevation/crustal thickness ratio for the Central System vs. the Betics and the Pyrenees. Other features of the Iberian topography, namely the longitudinal profile of the main rivers in the Iberian peninsula and the distribution of present-day endorheic areas, are consistent with the Tertiary tectonic evolution and the change from an endorheic to an exorheic regime during the Late Neogene and the Quaternary. Some of the problems involving the timing and development of the Iberian Meseta can be analysed considering the youngest reference level, constituted by the shallow marine Upper Cretaceous limestones, that indicates strong differences induced by (i) the overall Tertiary and recent compression in the Iberian plate, responsible for differences in elevation of the reference level of more than 6 km between the mountain chains and the endorheic basins and (ii) the effect of Neogene extension in the Mediterranean margin, responsible for lowering several thousands of meters toward the East and uplift of rift shoulders. A part of the recent uplift within the Iberian plate can be attributed of isostatic uplift in zones of crustal thickening.     

Evolution of intraplate stress fields under multiple remote compressions: The case of the Iberian Chain (NE Spain)

The stress evolution of the central-eastern Iberian Chain during the Tertiary compression has been a matter of discussion during the last decades. In particular, there is not a complete agreement on whether the tectonic evolution is controlled by different external stress fields or it is essentially related to a single stress field with multiple stress perturbations. A systematic procedure to discriminate between these two hypotheses is proposed. The procedure involves statistical computing of local compression directions, identifying and ‘filtering’ stress deviations on outcrop to map scale, and timing of paleostresses. The latter has been interpreted from both analysis of cross-cut relationships of structures and consideration of the palaeostress record through the sequence of syntectonic sedimentary units. The results suggest that a single stress field with multiple perturbations cannot explain the ensemble of compression directions inferred in the region. The final proposed model includes three different, partially superposed Intraplate Stress Fields ISF (NE–SW, ESE–WNW to SSE–NNW, and NNE–SSW ISFs), driven by genetically independent far-field tectonic forces related with the active Iberia plate margins, and showing both local and regional deflection of stress trajectories.     

Tangled up in folds: tectonic significance of superimposed folding at the core of the Central Iberian curve (West Iberia)

The amalgamation of Pangea during the Carboniferous produced a winding mountain belt: the Variscan orogen of West Europe. In the Iberian Peninsula, this tortuous geometry is dominated by two major structures: the Cantabrian Orocline, to the north, and the Central Iberian curve (CIC) to the south. Here, we perform a detailed structural analysis of an area within the core of the CIC. This core was intensively deformed resulting in a corrugated superimposed folding pattern. We have identified three different phases of deformation that can be linked to regional Variscan deformation phases. The main collisional event produced upright to moderately inclined cylindrical folds with an associated axial planar cleavage. These folds were subsequently folded during extensional collapse, in which a second fold system with subhorizontal axes and an intense subhorizontal cleavage formed. Finally, during the formation of the Cantabrian Orocline, a third folding event refolded the two previous fold systems. This later phase formed upright open folds with fold axis trending 100° to 130°, a crenulation cleavage and brittle–ductile transcurrent conjugated shearing. Our results show that the first and last deformation phases are close to coaxial, which does not allow the CIC to be formed as a product of vertical axis rotations, i.e. an orocline. The origin of the curvature in Central Iberia, if a single process, had to be coeval or previous to the first deformation phase.