Pollen morphology of Arecaceae, Cabombaceae, Haloragaceae, Lentibulariaceae, Nymphaeaceae, and Simaroubaceae from the Fontes do Ipiranga State Park as a contribution to paleovegetation and paleoclimate studies

• Grant number: 23/10169-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2023
• End date: May 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Botany - Applied Botany
• Principal Investigator: Cynthia Fernandes Pinto da Luz
• Grantee: Paola Fernanda Cardoso Bonifacio
• Host Institution: Instituto de Pesquisas Ambientais (IPA). Secretaria de Meio Ambiente, Infraestrutura e Logística (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 17/50341-0 - Challenges for biodiversity conservation facing climate changes, pollution, land use and occupation (PDIp), AP.PDIP

Abstract

In order to understand the conditions that led to the recent phytogeographic and phytophysionomic patterns of a particular area, studies characterizing the pollen grains of plants occurring in the current vegetation are necessary. These studies serve as a basis for comparison with microfossils recovered from sediments and soils. The objective of this research is to characterize the pollen morphology of 16 species from six families found in the Fontes do Ipiranga State Park (PEFI) that have not yet been studied in the catalogs of the PEFI Pollen Flora published in scientific journals. The selection of species to be studied was based on a previous floristic survey conducted in the region, which provided a list of species occurring in PEFI. The study will be conducted using herbarium material and the methodology employed in Palynotaxonomy. Additionally, the collection of microscope slides containing pollen and spores from the Palynotheca of the Palynology Laboratory PALINO-IPA will be organized, and the computerized database will be updated with other relevant information about the species in the collection, such as the environment in which the species occur, geographic distribution, plant habits, pollination aspects, etc. The activities described here will contribute to the characterization of palynological bioindicators of paleovegetation and paleoclimatic changes, as well as ongoing pollination studies in PEFI. The data generated in this research will be important for scientific projects in the fields of Biogeography and Geosciences. It is also expected to expand the number of images in the collection for future availability in the Virtual Palynotheca.