POLLEN RECORD OF A TROPICAL PEATLAND (PAU DE FRUTA) FROM THE SERRA DO ESPINHACO MERIDIONAL, DIAMANTINA, STATE OF MINAS GERAIS - ANGIOSPERMS EUDICOTYLEDONS

Author(s)

Pinto da Luz, Cynthia Fernandes ; Horak-Terra, Ingrid ; Silva, Alexandre Christofaro ; Mendonca Filho, Carlos Victor ; Vidal-Torrado, Pablo

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Revista Brasileira de Paleontologia; v. 20, n. 1, p. 3-22, JAN-APR 2017.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

This study presents the qualitative pollen analysis of a record of Pau de Fruta peatland, from the Serra do Espinhaco Meridional, Diamantina, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, in order to investigate past changes in vegetation and climate as well as to provide reference material for the palaeoenvironmental reconstruction inserted in the Cerrado biome, currently found in the studied region. The analysis involved 21 stratigraphic levels from a core sample of 428 cm in lenght, corresponding to the last 10,596 +/- 102 years cal BP. The chemical preparation consisted of application of HCl, HF, acetolysis, ultrasound, and mounting the slides in glycerin gelatin. The analyses were carried out under an optical microscope. A total of 128 pollen types, related to 57 families of eudicotyledonous angiosperms were identified and illustrated. These pollen types were related to forest phytophysionomies, represented by the semideciduous forest and mountain forest, and the Cerrado (broad sense) phytophysionomies, including savanna formations ({''}Cerrado Tipico{''}, ``Cerrado Ralo{''} and ``Cerrado Rupestre{''}), forest areas ({''}Cerradao{''}) and grassland formations ({''}Campo Limpo Seco{''}, ``Campo Limpo Umido{''} and ``Campo Rupestre{''}). Ecological information on organisms of origin, as selectivity to light and humidity, were described to provide inferences of environments of occurrence. Wet and cold conditions (similar to 10,000-7360 cal BP), followed by wet and warm (similar to 7360-4200 years cal BP), dry and warm (similar to 4200-2200 years cal BP), dry and punctuated cooling (similar to 2200-1160 cal BP) until current sub-humid climatic conditions (similar to 1160-400 years cal BP and < similar to 400 years cal BP) are suggested by the succession of vegetation. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/00676-1 - Geochemical evidence of environmental changes during the quaternary in the Montain range of the southern Espinhaço, Minas Gerais
• Grantee: Ingrid Horák Terra
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate