Doñana Park FRANCISCO GARFÍAS SPAIN 2012-2013

Index The presentation of Doñana park The ecosystems : the verge the dunes the bushes the marshes the beach The fauna The flora extinction flora and fauna

Introduction Doñana area is found in

the opening of the Guadalquivir river ,in the centre of one lake where thin sediments accumulate (sands )

Doñana is shaped by moving

eolic sands from west winds.Dunes are made up of 25 kilometres. Doñana has 50.750 ha, 5 ecosystems and 449 species of animals and 875 species of plants.

THE ECOSYSTEMS IN DOÑANA

Doñana park has 5 different ecosystems:

verge, dunes, bushes, marshes and beaches.

THE VERGE The verge is a narrow

and long band which starts in the marshes and ends in the bushes.

Different species of flora and fauna coincide, to erupt,the humidity seep by the sand and this helps to grow pastures.One of the more important biotic elements of the verge is the alcornal, where many different species are found.

< The large volume of

sand accumulated in the dunes starts a slow but safe advance to the interior.This advance, of 2 to 6 metres of speed per year does not stop until it reaches the marshes. However, some sands do not move at all.The dense vegetation of pine forest stops the advance of the dunes.

The scrub is composed of thirty woody species which fall into two broad types:

Black mountain and White mountain. The black forest is dominated by several

species of heather. These species are unable to survive without a continuous supply of water in summer, but stand up well to winter.

There is an irregular appearance of oak trees nestled in the scrub.

In these areas there are about 80 species of vertebrates, half of which are birds.

The bush has many species of great interest.

THE BUSHES

Lagoon.

Within the area of scrub there is a characteristic formation of gaps that become flooded during rainfall. Given the ecological importance of the gaps themselves, this constitute a sufficiently significant lake ecosystem, formed by a large and varied range of gaps with individual peculiarities.

Despite the dispersion and diversity there is a common denominator with a basic biocenosis.

The most common plant species are pine,oak,tamarisk,ferns, bushes, dwarf gorse, rushes and heather.

  Amphibians are represented by

the spadefoot toad. There are a large number of

species in this ecosystem type.

THE MARSHES The marshes represent

approximatly 50% of doñana park the major ecosystem of doñana, which is 27.000 ha.The different seasons of the year produce variations in the marshes which present 1000 stages produced by fluctuations in flood waters. In October the marshes die and with the first rains of Spring they begin to grow again. The surface of the water is covered by buttercup flowers. In summer the soil of the marshes is totally uncovered and the clay remains totally cracked.

WE ARE MAKING OUR DIFFERENCES LESS. It is a place of special importance as a

transit, breeding and wintering area for European and African birds.

Depending on the degree of flooding the marsh has different habitats in which different species are developed. This will distinguish the flooded marsh from the dry marsh

The strength of South-West winds introduces a great dynamic in the sand that constantly adjusts the profile of the beaches. Doñana preserves one of the few mobile dune systems in Iberia. This results in vegetation clinging to unstable and dry soil, forming small obstacles which create dunes. This vegetation is ephemeral and lacks consistency

THE BEACH

FAUNA There are 360 species of

birds,37 species of aquatic animals,20 species of freshwater,11 species of amphibians and 21 species of reptiles.

Due to its privileged geographical situation between two continents and its proximity to the meeting-place of the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea at the Straight of Gibraltar, in Doñana we can observe over 300 different bird species over the course of a year, since thousands of them - European and African, water fowl and land birds - migrate over it, breed in it and even winter here.

IIn the MARSH,two extreme ecosystems or habitats can be distinguished: A DRY DOÑANA.A dry marsh and a WET MARSH. In the marsh two

extreme ecosystems or habitats can be distinguished: a dry Doñana or dry marsh and a wet Doñana. A dry marsh situated in high areas,which show a predominance of woodland masses of cork oak, strawberry tree, Mediterranean scrub (white rockrose, stone pine,common juniper,and wild olive, and which grow on the so-called "monte blanco" ("white" common, so called because it is dry).A wet Doñana or flooded marsh, situated in deeper areas, which have predominant species such as the alkali bulrush, pond water-crowfoot, common reed and other species.

EXTINCTION FAUNA AND FLORA FAUNA:1. Ibis (2. Osprey 3. Lesser Kestrel 4. Crested Coot 5. Bustard 6. Iberian Imperial Eagle 7. Bearded Vulture8. Iberian Lynx 9. Chameleon 10.Tortoise 11.Lizard of Valverde 12.Land Snails 13.CrayFish 14.Marbled Teal 15.Egyptian vulture 16.Black Vulture 17.Montagu’s Harrier 18.Bonelli’s Eagle

FLORA:

BRIEF HISTORY Doñana Park

became part of the Crown of Castile in 1262 following the conquest of Niebla by Alfonso X the Wise, who established royal hunting grounds in the area.

From that time until well into 20th century ,the lands belonged to the Dukedom of Medina Sidonia, and were mainly for HUNTING.

Today, most of the land are public property.

A NICE LEGEND It isaid that Doñana

is linked in memory Doña Ana deMendoza.According to the legend, her will was , her body was buried in the forest, where the Duke was also buried.

BIBLIOGRAPHY INTERNET:www.ecosystemofdoñana.comwww.doñanapark.comwww.doñananationalpark.comwww.doñanafloraandfauna.com.

FRANCISCO GARFÍAS , MOGUER , HUELVA

This power point is part of our Comenius project activities.