| Introduction | p. 1 |
| References | p. 4 |
| Tropical and Subtropical Peats: An Overview | p. 5 |
| Introduction | p. 5 |
| Peat Extent and Distribution | p. 5 |
| Peats in Temperate and Boreal Regions | p. 6 |
| Peats in Tropical and Subtropical Regions | p. 7 |
| Peat Formation and Development | p. 9 |
| Topography and Water Regime | p. 9 |
| Source and Quality of Water | p. 10 |
| Geodynamics | p. 11 |
| Time and Rate of Formation | p. 12 |
| Vegetation | p. 13 |
| Peat and Climate Change | p. 14 |
| Features of Peats and Peatlands | p. 15 |
| Physical Peat Properties | p. 15 |
| Chemical Peat Properties | p. 17 |
| Biological Activity in Peats | p. 18 |
| Characteristics of Peatlands | p. 19 |
| Peat Classification | p. 19 |
| Classifications Based on Landscape Features | p. 20 |
| Classifications Based on Peat Properties | p. 20 |
| Multicriteria Classifications | p. 21 |
| Peat and Peatland as Resources | p. 22 |
| Reclamation and Multipurpose Uses | p. 22 |
| Carbon Storage and Potential Release of Greenhouse Gases | p. 23 |
| Conclusion | p. 24 |
| References | p. 25 |
| The Venezuelan Guayana Region and the Study Areas: Geo-ecological Characteristics | p. 29 |
| Introduction | p. 29 |
| Geology and Paleoecology | p. 31 |
| Geologic History | p. 31 |
| Regional Geology | p. 35 |
| Paleoecological Considerations | p. 37 |
| Physiography, Climate, and Vegetation | p. 40 |
| Lowlands | p. 42 |
| Uplands | p. 48 |
| Highland | p. 51 |
| Study Areas | p. 59 |
| Duida-Marahuaka Massif and Cerro Huachamakari | p. 61 |
| Cuao-Sipapo Massif | p. 66 |
| Sierra de Maigualida | p. 70 |
| Conclusions | p. 75 |
| Geologic History: The Making of a Continent | p. 75 |
| Physiography | p. 76 |
| Paleoecology | p. 76 |
| Climate | p. 77 |
| Vegetation | p. 78 |
| References | p. 80 |
| Appendix | p. 85 |
| Tepui Peatlands: Setting and Features | p. 91 |
| Introduction | p. 91 |
| Rock Substratum | p. 91 |
| Cover Rocks: The Roraima Group | p. 93 |
| Basement Rocks: The Parguaza Granite and Other Igneous-Metamorphic Rocks | p. 97 |
| Geomorphic Landscape | p. 97 |
| Mesetas and Domes | p. 97 |
| Karst and Pseudokarst Morphology | p. 99 |
| Origin of the Micro-relief | p. 108 |
| Peatland Types | p. 109 |
| Depression Peats | p. 110 |
| Slope Peats | p. 112 |
| Narrow-Valley Peats | p. 112 |
| Peatland Patterns | p. 113 |
| Spatial Variability | p. 113 |
| Stratification of the Peat Mantles | p. 118 |
| Conclusions | p. 122 |
| Physical Setting of Peatlands | p. 122 |
| Peatland Types and Patterns | p. 122 |
| References | p. 123 |
| Laboratory Methods for Characterization of Peat Materials | p. 127 |
| Introduction | p. 127 |
| Criteria Used for the Recognition of Organic Soils in the Soil Taxonomy | p. 127 |
| Laboratory Methods Specific for Organic Soils | p. 129 |
| Sample Preparation | p. 130 |
| Mineral Content | p. 130 |
| Pyrophosphate Color | p. 130 |
| Fiber Volume | p. 131 |
| Soil Reaction (pH) | p. 132 |
| Testing Laboratory Methods on Selected Venezuelan Histosols | p. 132 |
| The Test Soils | p. 132 |
| Laboratory Determinations | p. 132 |
| Assessing the Tested Methods | p. 133 |
| Laboratory Determinations Performed on the Guayana Histosols | p. 135 |
| Soil Sampling | p. 135 |
| Analytical Methods Applied | p. 136 |
| Conclusions | p. 137 |
| References | p. 138 |
| Properties and Classification of the Tepui Peats | p. 144 |
| Introduction | p. 141 |
| Morphological Features | p. 142 |
| Layer Types and Sequences | p. 143 |
| Root Content | p. 147 |
| Soil Color | p. 149 |
| Drainage Conditions | p. 149 |
| Physical Properties | p. 149 |
| Dry Matter and Fiber Contents | p. 150 |
| Mineral Content | p. 155 |
| Bulk Density | p. 156 |
| Field Water Content | p. 158 |
| Chemical Properties | p. 159 |
| Organic Matter Content | p. 159 |
| Soil Reaction and Acidity | p. 165 |
| Cation Exchange Capacity and Exchangeable Cations | p. 167 |
| Nutrient Status and Dynamics | p. 170 |
| Spatial Variations | p. 171 |
| Relationships with Landscape Position | p. 171 |
| Relationships with Rock Substratum | p. 173 |
| Taxonomic Classification | p. 174 |
| Organic Soils | p. 175 |
| Organomineral Soils | p. 180 |
| Conclusions | p. 182 |
| Morphological Features | p. 182 |
| Physical Properties | p. 183 |
| Chemical Properties | p. 184 |
| Soil Variability | p. 185 |
| Soil Classification | p. 186 |
| References | p. 186 |
| Tepui Peatlands: Age Record and Environmental Changes | p. 189 |
| Introduction | p. 189 |
| Sampling and Dating Method | p. 189 |
| Peat Sampling | p. 189 |
| Radiocarbon Dating and Calibration | p. 190 |
| Calibration Graphics | p. 191 |
| Conventional and Calendar Ages | p. 193 |
| Site Description and Age Record | p. 195 |
| The Marahuaka-Huachamakari Area | p. 195 |
| The Cuao-Sipapo Area | p. 199 |
| The Maigualida Area | p. 206 |
| Interpretations and Correlations: Peat Formation and Environmental Changes | p. 208 |
| The Effect of Topography and Water Dynamics on Peat Formation | p. 208 |
| The Effect of Geodynamics on Peat Formation | p. 210 |
| Peat Age-Depth Relationship | p. 211 |
| Rates of Peat Deposition and Depositional Gaps | p. 215 |
| Peat Age-Elevation Relationship | p. 218 |
| Peat Decomposition and Age | p. 219 |
| Variations in Peat Nature | p. 221 |
| The Fire Effect | p. 223 |
| History of Peat Formation and Climate Change | p. 223 |
| Indicators of Environmental Changes | p. 229 |
| Fate of Tepuian Peats: A Vulnerable Ecosystem | p. 230 |
| Conclusions | p. 232 |
| Peat Formation and Dating | p. 232 |
| Relationships | p. 233 |
| References | p. 235 |
| Origin of Organic Matter Leading to Peat Formation in the Southeastern Guayana Uplands and Highlands | |
| Introduction | p. 237 |
| Site Description | p. 238 |
| Conclusions | p. 182 |
| Morphological Features | p. 182 |
| Physical Properties | p. 183 |
| Chemical Properties | p. 184 |
| Soil Variability | p. 185 |
| Soil Classification | p. 186 |
| References | p. 186 |
| Tepui Peatlands: Age Record and Environmental Changes | p. 189 |
| Introduction | p. 189 |
| Sampling and Dating Method | p. 189 |
| Peat Sampling | p. 189 |
| Radiocarbon Dating and Calibration | p. 190 |
| Calibration Graphics | p. 191 |
| Conventional and Calendar Ages | p. 193 |
| Site Description and Age Record | p. 195 |
| The Marahuaka-Huachamakari Area | p. 195 |
| The Cuao-Sipapo Area | p. 199 |
| The Maigualida Area | p. 206 |
| Interpretations and Correlations: Peat Formation and Environmental Changes | p. 208 |
| The Effect of Topography and Water Dynamics on Peat Formation | p. 208 |
| The Effect of Geodynamics on Peat Formation | p. 210 |
| Peat Age-Depth Relationship | p. 211 |
| Rates of Peat Deposition and Depositional Gaps | p. 215 |
| Peat Age-Elevation Relationship | p. 218 |
| Peat Decomposition and Age | p. 219 |
| Variations in Peat Nature | p. 221 |
| The Fire Effect | p. 223 |
| History of Peat Formation and Climate Change | p. 223 |
| Indicators of Environmental Changes | p. 229 |
| Fate of Tepuian Peats: A Vulnerable Ecosystem | p. 230 |
| Conclusions | p. 232 |
| Peat Formation and Dating | p. 232 |
| Relationships | p. 233 |
| References | p. 235 |
| Origin of Organic Matter Leading to Peat Formation in the Southeastern Guayana Uplands and Highlands | |
| Introduction | p. 237 |
| Site Description | p. 238 |
| Highland Tepui Sites | p. 239 |
| Upland Tepui Site | p. 240 |
| Gran Sabana Upland Sites | p. 240 |
| Results: Relationship Between ´13C Values and Peat Age | p. 240 |
| Discussion | p. 242 |
| Conclusion | p. 243 |
| References | p. 243 |
| Synthesis: The Peatscape of the Guayana Highlands | p. 247 |
| Introduction | p. 247 |
| Why Do Peatlands and Peats Matter? | p. 247 |
| Setting and Formation of the Peatlands: The Peatscape | p. 248 |
| Morphological, Physical, Chemical, and Taxonomic Characteristics of the Peats | p. 250 |
| Vegetation of the Peatlands: Present and Past | p. 252 |
| Environmental Changes: Diachronic Inception and Polygenetic Evolution of Peats | p. 254 |
| The Highland-Lowland Connection: A System Approach | p. 256 |
| Concluding Remark | p. 258 |
| Reference | p. 9 |
| Appendix: Site and Profile Characteristics | p. 261 |
| Index | p. 291 |
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