Tierra del Fuego and Isla de los Estados Peatlands

ADOLFINA SAVORETTI; ANDREA CORONATO; JUAN FEDERICO PONCE; CLAUDIO ROIG

Geological resources of Tierra del Fuego

Springer International Publishers

Lugar: Cham; Año: 2021; p. 155 - 171

This chapter highlights different aspects of origin, vegetation developmentand uses of Tierra del Fuego and Isla de los Estados peatlands. Most peatlandsin the region were formed when the Last Glaciation was ending, during the LateGlacial period (between 19,000 and 11,500 years BP), while the active glaciers werereceding. In peatlands, plant communities vary their composition along the timerelated to climatic and hydrological changes taking place during its formation. Thesechanges are recorded in the succession of plant macro-remains preserved in situ.According to the dominant species, peatlands of Tierra del Fuego may be classifiedinto threemain types: Sphagnum or raised bogs, Astelia or cushion bogs and Carex orsedge fens. Uses of peat deposits are made principally on Sphagnum magellanicumbogs base on its particular properties. Different uses of the peat material can bementioned: fuel, solid base for leguminosae inoculants, industrial absorbents foroil and hydrocarbons, orchid intensive culture, mushroom casing, aquariums andbiofertilizers.