Person:
García Frank, Alejandra

First Name

Alejandra

Last Name

García Frank

Affiliation

Universidad Complutense de Madrid

Faculty / Institute

Ciencias Geológicas

Department

Geodinámica, Estratigrafía y Paleontología

Area

Paleontología

Identifiers

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Now showing 1 - 10 of 21

Recuperación boscosa inclusiva de los ecosistemas aledaños a la Facultad de Educación de la UCM
(2021-12-09) García Frank, Alejandra; Sánchez Alba, Bienvenida; Gómez Jarabo, Inmaculada; Mejía Ruiz, Carmen; De la Rocha, Marta; Fesharaki, Omid; Gil Ruiz, Paula; Sobrino Callejo, María Rosa; Fajardo Portera, Pilar; García de Vicuña Callejo, Sara; De Francisco Fernández, Víctor; Sánchez Fernández, María Luisa; Gómez Gómez, Marta; Vázquez de la Fuente, Claudia
Recuperar y renaturalizar los espacios verdes urbanos es una tendencia creciente de cada vez más metrópolis Europeas por los múltiples beneficios de salud socioambiental que aporta. En esta línea la recuperación boscosa urbana no es sólo la repoblación arbórea, es una propuesta más compleja y de mayor alcance para la sostenibilidad. Es un proceso planeado para restaurar el ecosistema, sus funciones, atributos, condiciones, procesos ecológicos, que ha sido dañado en las urbes. Es una propuesta que se está iniciando en algunas de las ciudades europeas alineada con la Agenda 2030 y al Pacto Verde Europeo aprobado en 2019 y del que se hace eco en 2020 el Ayuntamiento de Madrid en en el proyecto “Bosque Metropolitano” con la intención de restaurar un cinturón boscoso en la urbe. Desde hace cinco cursos académicos, hemos venido plantando árboles como actividad de aprendizaje servicio con un prioritario enfoque inclusivo en la comunidad universitaria. Una vez repoblado el espacio arbóreo, el siguiente paso es la recuperación del suelo con plantas arbustivas para mejorar el ecosistema. En este sentido, Recuperación boscosa inclusiva de los ecosistemas aledaños a la Facultad de Educación de la UCM es una práctica, alineada con la Agenda 2030, El Pacto Verde Europeo, inclusiva, ecosostenible y ecofeminista elaborada entre estudiantes de la Facultad de Educación (en adelante, FE) y estudiantes con discapacidad de la asociación APAMA (Asociación de Padres de Alumnos con Discapacidad de Alcobendas). Los objetivos generales que guían la propuesta son los siguientes: - Promover una educación de calidad inclusiva y sostenible en la comunidad universitaria a través de la metodología de Aprendizaje-Servicio. - Trabajar cooperativamente por la recuperación del ecosistema aledaño a la Facultad de Educación de la UCM con un enfoque ecofeminista e interseccional - Transferir la práctica de recuperación boscosa a instituciones y organizaciones formales e informales para sensibilizar en la necesidad de promover una sociedad inclusiva y sostenible. - Fomentar la promoción por la Agenda-2030 en general, y en la UCM en particular. Con la ayuda de las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación, una vez desarrollada y vivida la experiencia de recuperación boscosa en la UCM, los estudiantes (UCM-APAMA) impartirán talleres en colegios de Educación primaria, e institutos de educación secundaria y asociaciones socioeducativas y, así mismo, diseñarán videos tutoriales interactivos para transferir la propuesta de ApS en ámbitos formales e informales educativos.
Iron-coated particles from condensed Aalenian-Bajocian deposits: evolutionary model (Iberian Basin, Spain)
(SEPM (Society for Sedimentary Geology), 2012) García Frank, Alejandra; Ureta Gil, María Soledad; Mas Mayoral, José Ramón
Condensed intervals provide a framework to study evolution of iron-coated particles. This study examines the ironrich particles contained in the condensed carbonate deposits spanning from uppermost Toarcian to lower Bajocian in the northwestern Iberian Range (northern Spain), to unravel the controls on geochemical changes in the basin by determining variation in mineralogy and REY (rare earth elements and yttrium) as potential predictors of provenance. The articles are composed mostly of the ferrous phyllosilicate berthierine, and by Fe-oxyhydroxide goethite. Depositionally, iron-rich particles occur at specific horizons, and display changes in character, from iron cortoids (Stage 1) in lowest Aalenian sediments, passing to small-sized iron ooids (Stage 2) in early Aalenian strata and to more complex iron-grain aggregates and larger iron ooid–oncoid mixed particles (Stage 3) in the middle–upper Aalenian succession. In the lower Bajocian sediments that represent the most condensed interval, diagenetic processes strongly affected previously iron-coated particles. The genesis of the diverse suite of iron-rich particles is explained by petrographic and mineralogic studies revealing oscillation in redox conditions. Berthierine genesis is linked with suboxic conditions below the water–sediment interface. Subsequent periods of low rates of sediment accumulation allowed the exhumation of particles, and exposing them to oxic conditions that favored goethite formation. Definitive burial led to the development of isopachous circumgranular berthierinic cement rims and dissolution and replacement. Studies of REY and comparison with iron-rich samples of diverse provenance suggest a conceptual model for geochemical evolution of these deposits. The lack of both contemporaneous soil deposits and evidence of subaerial exposure in this arid paleoclimatic setting rule out weathering processes as the main source of iron. Instead, geochemical indexes (Y/Nb and Y/La ratios) suggest that coeval Iberian volcanism was the most plausible iron source. The sedimentological, mineralogical, and chemical attributes of these iron deposits provides proxies to interpret redox and geochemical fluctuations and integrate all the data in an evolutionary model. Variations in REY patterns offer a framework for correlation at both local and subregional scales. Likewise, as this study provides new geochemical data for the Aalenian period, including the Fuentelsaz GSSP worldwide reference section, it enhances knowledge of the evolution of the westernmost Tethyan basins and the significance of widely distributed oolitic ironstones. The data collectively reveal how the REY signature of condensed sediments can be used to obtain detailed information on the geochemical and paleoceanographic conditions of depositional basins.
Introducción a la Geología de campo: un itinerario en el área nordeste de Madrid
(Ana García Moreno, 2010) García Frank, Alejandra; Kälin, Otto
Esta práctica de campo se dirige a estudiantes de últimos cursos de enseñanza secundaria y a los de primer curso de enseñanzas universitarias (Geología, Biología, etc.) y pretende ser una primera toma de contacto con materiales y procesos geológicos en el campo. El itinerario propuesto permite apreciar en el campo aspectos de geología básica, en concreto conceptos referentes a: Petrología, reconocimiento de los principales tipos de rocas ígneas, metamórficas y sedimentarias. Tectónica/Geología estructural. Cartografía geológica. Geomorfología. Historia geológica de la región.
Alternating microbial mounds and ooidal shoals as a response to tectonic, eustatic and ecological conditions (late Viséan, Morocco)
(Elsevier, 2022-04-01) Cózar Maldonado, Pedro; Coronado Vila, Ismael; García Frank, Alejandra; Izart, Alain; Somerville, Ian D.; Vachard, Daniel
The succession in the Tizra Formation shows an excellent exposure of a small open marine platform where alternating microbial boundstones (buildups) and oolitic/bioclastic grainstone (shoals) and packstone facies tempestites occur repetitively for a sort interval only 0.55 Myr, an scenario unknown in the geological record. The relatively small extent of the platform allows a detailed study of facies and ecological variations, to determine the controlling factors for the growth and evolution of the platform (tectonics, glacioeustatism, terrigenous input), as well as the particular environmental/ecological conditions for the formation of microbial buildups and oolitic shoals (turbidity, energy, nutrients, chemical variations). Although microbial mounds are well-known during the Palaeozoic, the close relationship with ooids, as observed in the studied succession, is unusual, particularly for the frequent ooids embedded in the microbial facies, an ecological parameter used by previous authors to identified shallower stages in the microbial growths. Petrographic analysis of the ooids, as well as their ecological conditioning, suggest that less than 40% of samples yield ooids generated in situ, whereas there is a predominance of transported ooids. Ooids formed in situ, which include large irregular and elongated ooids, were generated in calmer water than the typical rounded and egg-shaped ooids. The occurrence of the predominant types of ooids in shallower-water grainstones with in situ generation, and in the deepest-water microbial facies, suggest their ease of transport. The higher production of ooids occurs during the shallowing phases of the cycles, whereas they were more easily transported during the deepening phases, whereas in the microbial buildups, no features of in situ ooid generation are found.
Aspectos organizativos y valor formativo de la implementación de un Escape Room paleontológico por parte de alumnado del Máster en Paleontología avanzada (UCM)
(Sociedad Geológica de España, 2021) Rodríguez Castro, Isabel; Cervilla Muros, Miguel Ángel; Vitón García, Íñigo; Salas Herrera, Javier; Acedo, Abel; García Frank, Alejandra; Fesharaki, Omid
Este estudio indaga si el estudiantado de un máster está preparado para organizar una actividad ocio-formativa dirigida a público general, y evalúa la propia actividad como método divulgativo de la paleontología. Para ello se han analizado los resultados de la implementación de un Escape Room paleontológico, organizada por un grupo de estudiantes del Máster Interuniversitario en Paleontología Avanzada de la Universidad Complutense de Madrid durante la XVIII Semana de la Ciencia de Madrid, y se presentan las fases y el desarrollo de dicho Escape Room, que justifican su interés educativo. Los estudiantes organizadores manifestaron un alto grado de compromiso y satisfacción alegando como motivación a participar su interés por la ciencia y por aprender a realizar una divulgación científica eficaz. Esta actividad ha supuesto para el estudiantado organizador una aplicación de lo aprendido en el aula y les ha permitido mejorar competencias que les serán de utilidad a largo plazo. La inmensa mayoría de los asistentes valoraron positivamente la actividad y consideraron que habían aprendido con ella. Conocer como sociedad el pasado de la Tierra, así como nuestros propios orígenes, es la llave para inferir nuestro futuro y, al menos en parte, valorar, preservar y proteger el patrimonio natural que nos rodea.
Contrasting reef patterns during the evolution of the carboniferous azrou-khenifra basin (Moroccan Meseta)
(Springer Nature, 2022-11-12) Cózar Maldonado, Pedro; Somerville, Ian D.; Rodríguez García, Sergio; El Houicha, Mohamed; Vachard, Daniel; García Frank, Alejandra; Coronado Vila, Ismael; Izart, Alain
Five types of reefs are described from the northern and southern parts of the Azrou-Khenifra Basin generated by the interactions of microbes and coral communities. The type 1 microbial reefs grew in both shallow- and deep-water settings, with a strong control by glacioeustasy. Type 2 microbial reefs developed in more tranquil periods, associated with common intermounds, and where only a single major regressive-transgressive sequence is recognised. Type 3 microbial reefs developed in constant deeper water conditions, generated by higher rates of subsidence in the basin, and creating an overall deepening-upward sequence. Type 4 microbial reefs recognised in the northern part of the basin have no clear counterparts in southern outcrops, but they are likely the capping strata observed in the latter area. Rugose corals allow to define a Type 5 reef, unrelated to microbial facies, and are recorded in oolitic-bioclastic backshoals or quiet inner platform settings. The presence of similar reefs in both the northern and southern parts of the basin demonstrates that conditions were not as different as previously proposed, and a lithostratigraphical, environmental uniformity occurs, which permits the analysis of different subsidence rates and glacioeustastic influence. In the Azrou-Khenifra Basin, the reefs, as well as other regional features, suggest that the basin, overall, evolved from an extensional tectonic regime during the early Brigantian into a complex extensional or compressional regime during the early Serpukhovian, passing into a predominantly compressional phase during the late Serpukhovian in a polyphase tectonic inversion during the onset of the Variscan Orogeny in the region.
Aalenian pulses of tectonic activity in the Iberian Basin, Spain
(Elsevier, 2008) García Frank, Alejandra; Ureta Gil, María Soledad; Mas Mayoral, José Ramón
In the northwest Iberian Range the Aalenian to Bajocian interval is represented by condensed, as well as more expanded marine carbonate strata deposited in a shallow epicontinental-sea setting. Precise biochronological data (successive ammonites assemblages) from 29 measured sections, along with a bedby- bed facies analysis, allowed a detailed correlation between sections, the definition of a number of successive transgressive–regressive cycles and of two distinct sedimentation areas, as well as the compilation of isopach maps for short time intervals (duration of ammonites Zone/Subzone) and the assessment of sediment accumulation rates. Differences in facies and thickness in the studied interval, and the sequential organization, reveal significant changes in the depositional environment. A tectonically-controlled compartmentalization of the sedimentation area is suggested by a detailed reconstruction of the accumulation history. An active extensional tectonic regime is supported by contemporaneous volcanic activity in the southeastern Iberian Basin. A precise timing of the main tectonic pulses recorded in NW Iberian Basin for the Upper Toarcian–Lower Bajocian interval is presented, which may help to better resolve the stratigraphy in otherW European during this time interval.
Análisis comparativo de menciones al patrimonio paleontológico y otros tipos de patrimonio en los currículos de Educación Secundaria en España (periodo 1970-2020)
(Sociedad geológica de España, 2020) Acedo Peñato, Abel; Fesharaki, Omid; García Frank, Alejandra
This study addresses the need to include notions about the importance of natural heritage in subjects related to Biology and Geology in Secondary Education. For this, it has been analyzed the explicit presence of words related to paleontological, geological and natural heritage within all the laws implemented since 1970 in the educational curricula at the state level in Spain. The results reflect the scarcity of references to these concepts and point out that they are not always homogeneously treated. Conversely, in all the educational laws, mentions of cultural heritage stand out clearly, both in its historical and artistic denotations. Finally, a thoughtful approach and suggestions are presented as a proposal to discuss the expansion of these concepts and for their greater integration in matters related to natural sciences. These suggestions have meaning in the context of a slow but continuous educational change towards positions favorable to sustainability, in which equitable inclusive education in close contact with nature should be the fundamental pillars to raise awareness of tomorrow’s citizens.
Ostracods from the global stratotype section for de base of the Aalenian stage, Jurassic, at Fuentelsaz section (Cordillera Ibérica, Spain)
(Università degli studi di Milano. Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra "A. Desio", 2009) Arias Fernández, María del Carmen; García Frank, Alejandra; Canales Fernández, María Luisa; Ureta Gil, María Soledad
The Toarcian/Aalenian Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) have been recently placed in the Fuentelsaz section, northeastern Spain. This paper is part of a long-term project that attempts to describe for the first time the fossil ostracod assemblages present in the Toarcian-Aalenian boundary GSSP, and to assess their palaeobiogeographical significance. The study of the Late Toarcian-Early Aalenian Turmiel and Casinos formations at the Fuentelsaz section has produced a detailed stratigraphy and a large collection of stratigraphically constrained ostracod faunas. Twenty benthic ostracod species have been identified and for the first time described in Spain. Higher part of the Mactra Subzone, Late Toarcian, have yielded abundant ostracod faunas, including mostly species of the genera Praeschuleridea, Cytherelloidea and Kinkelinella; fossiliferous marls of the Late Toarcian and part of the Early Aalenian and poorly fossiliferous marls at the beginning of the Opalinum Zone are dominated by Praeschuleridea and Cytherelloidea. The boundary between the Toarcian and Aalenian is not characterized by any radical change in the ostracod faunal composition. The Fuentelsaz sequence exhibits ostracod assemblages comparable to those recorded in western Europe, with many of their species having similar stratigraphical distributions.
Taphonomic alteration processes in Bouleiceras (Jurassic Ammonitina) of the Iberian Range. Paleoenvironmental and paleobiogeographical implications
(Taylor & Francis, 2023-04-25) Martínez Gutiérrez, Gemma; Ureta Gil, María Soledad; García Frank, Alejandra
The genus Bouleiceras (Ammonitina, Bouleiceratinae) appears in the Iberian Range from the Tenuicostatum Zone to the Serpentinum Zone (Lower Toarcian, Jurassic). It displays a lower frequency in number of specimens (approximately 1%) in relation to other groups of ammonoids at the same levels within the studied sections. The studied species of this genus are B. nitescens Thévenin, B. elegans Arkell, B. arabicum Arkell, B. tumidum Arkell, B. marraticum Arkell, B. ibericum Martínez and B.? betetensis Martinez. They correspond to incomplete internal moulds and the record includes a scarce number of specimens per species. By identifying different types of taphonomic alterations within the specimens (biostratinomic and fossildiagenetic) it was possible to recognise the removal processes (resedimentation or reelaboration). Most of the specimens present different mechanisms of taphonomic alteration that denote prolonged processes of necroplanktonic drift and resedimentation or reelaboration such as colonisation, facet abrasion, distortion, disarticulation in internal moulds, etc. Despite the scarcity of material they can be classified as taphonic populations of type 3. Taphorecords point to a shallow marine environment with low sedimentation rates and episodic high-energy events. None of the data seems to correspond to areas linked to favourable environments for the ontogenic development of these species.