Ch1 Introduction- O. Huber, J.A. Zinck - Ch2 Tropical and subtropical peats: an overview- J.A. Zinck- 2.1 Introduction- 2.2 Peat extent and distribution- 2.3 Peat formation and development - 2.4 Features of peats and peatlands- 2.5 Peat classification- 2.6 Peat and peatland as resources- 2.7 Conclusion - 2.8 References- Ch3 The Guayana region and the study areas: geo-ecological characteristics- O. Huber, P. García- 3.1 Introduction- 3.2 Geology and paleoecology- 3.3 Physiography, climate, and vegetation- 3.4 Study areas- 3.5 Conclusions - 3.6 References- Ch4 Tepui peatlands: setting and features- J.A. Zinck, P. García- 4.1 Introduction- 4.2 Rock substratum- 4.3 Geomorphic landscape- 4.4 Peatland types- 4.5 Peatland patterns- 4.6 Conclusions- 4.7 References- Ch5 Laboratory methods for characterization of peat materials- R. Schargel, P. García, D. Jimenez- 5.1 Introduction- 5.2 Criteria used for the recognition of organic soils in the Soil Taxonomy - 5.3 Laboratory methods specific for organic soils - 5.4 Testing laboratory methods on selected Venezuelan Histosols- 5.5 Laboratory determinations performed on the Guayana Histosols - 5.6 Conclusions - 5.7 References- Ch6 Properties and classification of the tepui peats- P. García, R. Schargel, J.A. Zinck- 6.1 Introduction- 6.2 Morphological features- 6.3 Physical properties- 6.4 Chemical properties- 6.5 Spatial variations - 6.6 Taxonomic classification - 6.7 Conclusions- 6.8 References- Ch7 Tepui peatlands: age record and environmental changes- J.A. Zinck, P. García, J. van der Plicht- 7.1 Introduction- 7.2 Sampling and dating method- 7.3 Site description and age record- 7.4 Interpretations and correlations: peat formation and environmental changes- 7.5 Conclusions- 7.6 References- Ch8 Origin of organic matter leading to peat formation in the southeastern Guayana uplands and highlands- E. Medina, E. Cuevas, O. Huber- 8.1 Introduction- 8.2 Site description- 8.3 Results: relationship between 13C values and peat age- 8.4 Discussion- 8.5 Conclusion - 8.6 References- Ch9 Synthesis: the peatscape of the Guayana Highlands- J.A. Zinck- 9.1 Introduction- 9.2 Why do peatlands and peats matter?- 9.3 Setting and formation of the peatlands: the peatscape - 9.4 Morphological, physical, chemical and taxonomic characteristics of the peats- 9.5 Vegetation of the peatlands: present and past- 9.6 Environmental changes: diachronic inception and polygenetic evolution of peats- 9.7 The highland-lowland connection: a system approach- 9.8 Concluding remark- App Site and profile characteristics - A.1 Introduction- A.2 Site and profile descriptions- A.3 Laboratory data-