Late Holocene Palynological Record and Landscape Change From the Piraquê-Açu and Piraquê-Mirim Estuarine System, Espírito Santo, Brazil

Abstract

., 2016. Late Holocene palynological record and landscape change from the Piraquê-Açu and Piraquê-Mirím estuarine system, Espírito Santo, Brazil. Journal of Sedimentary Environments, 1(2): 165-177. AbstractThe Piraquê-Açu and Piraquê-Mirim estuarine system (PAPMES) is located next to the Aracruz City (19˚ 57' S and 40˚ 9' W), Espírito Santo State, Brazil. Palynological analyses were conducted based on two sediment cores (PA20 and PM1). The main purpose of the present study was to recognize and interpret the vegetation dynamics in the region around the collection site in the last 2000 cal yrs BP. The sediment cores were subsampled at each 10 cm depth. The samples were submitted to standard palynological processes. The PA20 sediment core obtained the oldest age of 1758±68 cal yrs BP at a depth of approximately 105-cm. However, the PM1 sediment core obtained the oldest age of ≈2071±82 cal yrs BP at a depth of 95-cm. The comparative record of the sediment cores demonstrated that palynomorphs deposition were directly influenced by local water circulation. Pollen analysis indicated the striking presence of mangrove vegetation, which is mainly characterised by the Rhizophora pollen type. The other vegetation communities underwent little variation over the studied period. The top sediment layers of both sediment cores are characterized by the presence of exotic pollen grains of Eucalyptus, introduced by humans, and by the decrease of the original vegetation.

Sedimentary, Geochemical and Micropaleontological Responses to Sea Level Variations in the Vitoria Estuary, Espírito Santo

“…Freitas et al (2016), analyzing two cores collected in the estuary of the Piraqué-açu river about 40 km north of Vitoria, observed a pattern of differentiation in the total concentration of palynomorphs between the cores. According to Hoffman (2002), site-specific features such as circulation, wind direction and sedimentation rate may influence the deposition, accumulation and preservation of palynomorphs within a single estuary.…”

“…Exceptions are the studies along the north coast of the state, around the mouth of the Doce River (Suguio and Martin 1981; Dominguez et al 1983, 1981; Martin et al 1996, 1993; Hatushika et al 2007; Cohen et al 2014; France et al 2015; Rossetti et al 2015). Palynological surveys were previously limited to estuarine systems located in the northern region of ES state (Buso et al 2013a, 2013b; Freitas et al 2016). Geochemical records in the Vitoria estuaries were limited to two studies, Grilo et al (2013) and Costa et al (2014).…”

Registro das Oscilações Climáticas do Holoceno Tardio no Estuário do Rio Piraquê-Açu (ES - Brasil)

“…Registros históricos a partir de 1818 d.C. indicam uma redução significativa da vegetação de floresta ombrófila densa e dos manguezais da região do Espírito Santo (Sant-Hilaire, 1974;Gibbis et al, 2010). Freitas et al (2015Freitas et al ( , 2016 identificaram uma retração significativa dos manguezais a partir 1234 A.P. que foi intensificada em 1891 d.C. com a chegada dos imigrantes italianos que estabeleceram as primeiras fazendas na bacia de drenagem do Piraquê-Açu (Nagar, 1985).…”