With a team of Belgian-Ecuadorian scientists, we are working since 2017 on soil-landscape development along climatic gradients in the volcanic islands of Galapagos. Our research is mainly concentrated on the central island of Santa Cruz, and is collaborative programme with the Universidad Central del Ecuador, Parque Nacional Galapagos and our team at UCLouvain.
We are working on NW-SE oriented climosequences (identified by Laruelle and Stoops, 1967) to study the climatic control on soil-landscape development using geochemical tracers such as meteoric cosmogenic radionuclides. To characterise the soil hydrology and meteorology, about 10 measuring stations have been installed and were equipped in 2019.
The effect of agriculture on soil hydrology and nutrient cycling is evaluated in the humid vegetation zone where agricultural activities are concentrated on Santa Cruz Island. Six experimental plots were installed in 2019 in grazed land, abandoned pasture and forest to study potential differences in soil hydrology, nutrient and C fluxes between the sites. The results from these experimental plots will be integrated in the study on soil-landscape evolution to compare natural with anthropogenic soil dynamics.
Recent output of the project includes:
Interview with Ilia Alomia, by P. Martinot (ARES CCD), 8 march 2021
The programme counts with the necessary research permits of the Directorate of the Galapagos National Park. Soil samples, soil and rock solutions, and all sampling material are handled according to the protocols for management and research activities in the Galapagos National Park and the Galapagos Marine Reserve (Directorate of the Galapagos National Park, 2008).