Tecnologías de la información geográfica aplicadas al análisis de la relación entre la vegetación y las tasas de desplazamiento de dunas en Maspalomas (Gran Canaria, Islas Canarias)

Abstract

One application of geographic information technologies to the study of the relationship between the vegetation and the displacement rates of dunes at the Maspalomas system (Gran Canaria, Canary Islands) is presented. The methodology was developed in three phases: characterization of vegetation and creating a vector layer of plant communities; calculating dunes migration rates; and study of the relationship between vegetation and migration rates through spatial analysis.The main results are that when the migration rates exceed 20 m/year, the vegetation cannot grow. The Traganum moquinii community resists the highest migration rate of displacement, followed by the community of Salsola kali (rates of 6-9 m/year ). Cyperus laevigatus, Launaea arborescens and Cyperus capitatus-Ononis serrata communities resist rates between 1 and 3 m/year. Tamarix canariensis community supports a maximum rate of 2 m/year. The communities of Suaeda mollis and Heliotropium bacciferum are located in areas with lower mobility.