Caracterización del complejo lacustre glaciar de alta montaña de sierra segundera (NO de Zamora)

Abstract

The study of high mountain wetlands is of great interest in the Iberian Peninsula since they are unique elements inherited from the last glaciation, and they also have very relevant biocenosis in biogeography and conservation due to their isolation, specificity and singularity. In this work, we describe in detail the distribution, morphogenesis and lake typologies present in the Sierra Segundera glacier complex, located mainly at the headwaters of the Tera River (NW of Zamora), upstream of Lake Sanabria. There are 340 aquatic elements catalogued in a drainage network of 258 km over an area of more than 10,600 ha, which drains an annual average of more than 120 hm3 of water. Hydrographic and bathymetric data are included for the 19 largest natural lakes and bogs; located at an altitude of more than 1500 msm. They are inhabited by exceptional biological communities, both micro and macroscopic. Inventories oscillated between 61 and 461 flora and fauna taxa, considered in a wide definition; a minimum of 67% were primary producers. They sketch the global and local pressures in their respective catchments, which in some way compromise their future ecological status within the Natura2000 network, and describe the possible past and current impacts that will negatively affect.