Amazonian palm peat swamp
Quistococha, Peru
Site Description
The Quistococha site is a palm peat swamp located near Lake Quistococha, southwest of Iquitos in the Department of Loreto, Peruvian Amazon. The climate is a humid tropical one, with year-round rainfall averaging 2,859 mm annually. The wetter season occurs from December to April, and the drier season from June to October, with monthly average rainfall of 295 mm and 163 mm, respectively. The average annual air temperature is 27.2°C, and relative humidity remains around 80–90%.
Peat deposits up to 6 meters thick are present. The area lacks drainage, and the water table typically remains within 20 cm of the soil surface, stabilized by Lake Quistococha. Occasional flooding occurs, with historical flood depths up to 100 cm. The surrounding region includes both nutrient-rich and nutrient-poor peatlands, with the site itself representing a transitional type. The main tree species were Mauritia flexuosa, Symphonia globulifera, Tabebuia aurea, Hevea brasiliensis, Dictyocaryum lamarckianum, Tachigali vasquezii, and, in some parts, Clusia species as well.
Several sampling campaigns have been conducted at this site (during 2023 & 2024), each encompassing soil and tree flux measurements, as well as soil sampling for chemical and microbial analyses. Additionally, tree stem cores, cryptogams, and leaves from various species were collected during at least two sampling campaigns in both the dry and wet seasons of 2023 and 2024 for RNA-based analyses in addition to DNA-based analyses.
Related Publications
Amazonian palm peat swamp forest near Iquitos. Features deep peat deposits and high water tables, representing a transitional peatland type.
Site Description
The Quistococha site is a palm peat swamp located near Lake Quistococha, southwest of Iquitos in the Department of Loreto, Peruvian Amazon. The climate is a humid tropical one, with year-round rainfall averaging 2,859 mm annually. The wetter season occurs from December to April, and the drier season from June to October, with monthly average rainfall of 295 mm and 163 mm, respectively. The average annual air temperature is 27.2°C, and relative humidity remains around 80–90%.
Peat deposits up to 6 meters thick are present. The area lacks drainage, and the water table typically remains within 20 cm of the soil surface, stabilized by Lake Quistococha. Occasional flooding occurs, with historical flood depths up to 100 cm. The surrounding region includes both nutrient-rich and nutrient-poor peatlands, with the site itself representing a transitional type. The main tree species were Mauritia flexuosa, Symphonia globulifera, Tabebuia aurea, Hevea brasiliensis, Dictyocaryum lamarckianum, Tachigali vasquezii, and, in some parts, Clusia species as well.
Several sampling campaigns have been conducted at this site (during 2023 & 2024), each encompassing soil and tree flux measurements, as well as soil sampling for chemical and microbial analyses. Additionally, tree stem cores, cryptogams, and leaves from various species were collected during at least two sampling campaigns in both the dry and wet seasons of 2023 and 2024 for RNA-based analyses in addition to DNA-based analyses.