An 11,000-year record of depositional environmental change based upon particulate organic matter and stable isotopes (C and N) in a lake sediment in southeastern Brazil

The aim of this paper is to reconstruct an 11,000-year history of depositional environmental change in southeastern Brazil, based upon the integration of particulate organic matter and stable isotope (C and N) data from a 136-cm sediment core from Lake Canto Grande. These proxies are used to explore the evolution of terrestrial and marine influence on the lake. Isotopic (δ13C: -7.8‰ to -31.9‰; δ15N: -0.07‰ to 4.9‰) and elemental (total organic carbon - TOC: 0.58% to 37.19%; total nitrogen - TN: 0.08% to 1.73%; C/N: 0.3 to 54.7) values recorded in Lake Canto Grande suggest that the sedimentary organic matter was derived from mostly C3 land plants and freshwater phytoplankton. Particulate organic matter and cluster analyses distinguished four associations characterized by the predominance of amorphous organic matter, followed by phytoclasts and palynomorphs. These results indicate two different phases of lake evolution. The first phase (136 - 65 cm; ~10,943 cal yr. B.P. to ~8,529 cal yr. B.P.) is recorded by sand layers interbedded with mud, which contain amorphous organic matter (AOM, 45-59%) and phytoclasts (opaques - OP: 6-18%; non-opaques – NOP: 17-23%) which indicate a floodplain area. The second phase (65 – 0 cm; ~8,529 cal yr. B.P. to ~662 cal yr. B.P.) comprises mud, AOM (68-86%) and palynomorphs (PAL, 8-16%) related to lake establishment comparable to modern conditions. Thus, characterizing particulate organic matter, in combination with stable isotopes, proved to be invaluable proxies for lacustrine paleoenvironmental change through the Holocene

Cold and humid Atlantic forest during the late glacial, northern Espírito Santo state, southeastern Brazil

The Atlantic Rainforest, covering the area from the northern Espirito Santo to Southern Bahia states, has been considered as a stable forest during Pleistocene Glacial times. Despite the modelling and phylogenetic studies, this hypothesis has never been tested with empirical paleo-data and vegetation reconstruction. By using palynology, radiocarbon dating, carbon and nitrogen elemental and isotope of organic matter, we reconstructed the vegetation dynamics and inferred climatic changes since Late Pleistocene in the centre of this global biodiversity hotspot. Our results show that the forest biome was resilient to Last Glacial Maximum - LGM conditions, but floristics has changed when compared to nowadays. Since late glacial, the dense forest changed from cold to warm specimens. Major vegetation changes also occurred during early and mid-Holocene less humid conditions, with an opening of the forest, suggesting that future drought may have negative impacts and highlighting the importance of forest conservation to keep the Atlantic Rainforest biodiversity

Reconstituição da dinâmica da vegetação de Mata Atlântica desde o Pleistoceno tardio nas regiões sudeste (costa norte do estado do Espírito Santo e leste de Minas Gerais) e nordeste (sul da Bahia) do Brasil

This research is associated to the FAPESP 2011/0095-7 thematic project, \"Interdisciplinary palaeoenviromental studies at Espirito Santo coast\" and to the FAPESP Research Program about Climate Global Change (PFPMCG-FAPESP). The objectives were: (1) to characterize the late Pleistocene connection between Atlantic and Amazon rainforest and possible routes of interaction (coast, continent or both); (2) to identify environmental characteristics that indicates the Northeastern Espírito Santo and Southern Bahia as a stable forest since the late Pleistocene; (3) reconstitute the vegetation dynamics and infer climate fluctuations. Three sedimentary cores were collected: at northern Espirito Santo (ES) state, southern Bahia (BA) and eastern Minas Gerais (MG). Carbon and nitrogen isotope analyses and bioindicators in sediments/ soils, chronologically determined by radiocarbon dating, contributed to the local palaeoenvironmental reconstitution. At ES, from ~33,460 to ~13,740 cal yr BP the vegetation was composed of arboreal/ shrub cold adapted species and the organic matter recorded the dominance of C3 plants (?13C ~-28?), suggesting a cold and humid forest domain. From ~13,740 to ~9500 cal yr BP vegetation changes, with the increase of grasses and decrease of arboreal types. Between ~9500 and to ~4000 cal yr BP herbs were abundant with a probable mixture of C3 and C4 plants (?13C ~-24?) and algae, suggesting a higher seasonality between humid and dry season. From ~7300 cal yr BP until present the peat layer initiates its deposition, and the pollen records represents the current vegetation. At BA, radiocarbon dating in high-resolution, C and N isotopes and palynology each ~150 years from ~6400 to ~3400 cal yr BP showed detailed vegetational dynamics. From ~6400 to ~5620 cal yr BP the pollen record indicates abundance of trees and shrubs (up to 96%). From ~5620 to ~4850 cal yr BP occurred a slightly increase of herbs (28%) but the ?13C of ~-28% indicate C3 plants domain. From 4850 to ~3400 cal yr BP trees and shrubs abundance increases up to 94%, indicating the forest domain. The results confirm the forest stability and high local humidity, allowing to recognize the area as a probable refugee since 6500 cal yr BP. Vegetation, climate and the landscape has changed at MG since ~10,000 cal yr BP. From 10,600 to ~9500 cal yr BP, pollen was not preserved, C/N values (2 to 11) reveal the algal contribution, the ?13C (~-20?) indicate the mixture of C3 and C4 plants and radiocarbon date inversions indicate that the material was reworked. From 9,500 to 7,500 cal yr BP the vegetation was predominantly herbaceous with mixture of C3 and C4 plant sources (?13C ~-17?). From 7,500 to 7,000 cal yr BP C3 plants (?13C ~-30?) as trees/shrubs domains the polen record. From ~7,000 to ~6500 cal yr BP the pollen records the herbaceous abundance, dominated by C4 plants (?13C ~-12 to 18?). Peat deposition starts at ~6500 cal yr BP composed by C3 plants, mainly dominated by trees. Pollen records since at least early Holocene and the floristics of current vegetation did not show any disjunct specie with AmazonEste projeto está associado ao temático FAPESP 2011/00995-7, \"Estudos paleoambientais interdisciplinares na costa do Espírito Santo\", e ao Programa FAPESP de Pesquisas sobre Mudanças Climáticas Globais (PFPMCG-FAPESP). Os objetivos foram: (1) caracterizar a conexão da Mata Atlântica e Floresta Amazônica e possíveis rotas de interação (litorânea, continental ou ambas); (2) identificar padrões que caracterizem a região da costa norte do Espírito Santo e sul da Bahia como refúgios florestais; (3) reconstituir a dinâmica da vegetação e inferir flutuações climáticas desde o Pleistoceno tardio. Três testemunhos sedimentares foram coletados: ao norte do Espírito Santo (ES), ao sul da Bahia (BA) e ao leste de Minas Gerais (MG). Análises isotópicas de carbono e nitrogênio e bioindicadores em sedimento/solos, cronologicamente determinados por datação 14C, contribuíram para a reconstituição paleoambiental nestas regiões. No ES, de ~33.460 a ~13.740 anos cal AP, a vegetação era composta por espécies de árvores/arbustos típicas de regiões frias com o domínio de plantas C3 (?13C ~-28?), sugerindo a presença de uma floresta fria e úmida. De ~13.740 a ~9500 anos cal AP ocorreu o aumento das herbáceas e diminuição dos tipos arbóreos. Entre ~9500 e ~4000 anos cal AP, as herbáceas tornaram-se abundantes com mistura de plantas C3 e C4 (?13C~-24?) e algas, sugerindo maior sazonalidade entre as estações seca e úmida. De ~7300 anos cal AP até o presente, iniciou-se a deposição da turfa e pólen da vegetação atual. Na BA, a alta resolução de datação C-14, isótopos de C e N e palinologia a cada ~150 anos entre ~6400 e ~3400 anos cal AP revelaram a dinâmica da vegetação. Entre 6400 e 5620 anos cal AP arbóreas/arbustivas (96%) são abundantes. De ~5620 até ~4850 anos cal AP ocorreu um pequeno aumento de herbáceas (28%), e os valores de ?13C ~-28% indicam o domínio de plantas C3. De 4850 a ~3400 anos cal AP, a abundância de arbóreas/arbustivas (94%), indica domínio florestal. Os resultados confirmam a estabilidade florestal e a umidade local, permitindo reconhecer esta área como um possível refúgio florestal desde pelo menos 6500 anos cal AP. Em MG, desde ~10.000 anos cal AP ao presente, a vegetação, o clima e a paisagem modificaram consideravelmente. De 10.600 a ~9500 anos cal AP não houve preservação de pólen, os valores de C/N (~2 e 11) revelam a contribuição algal, o ?13C (~-20?) indica mistura de plantas C3 e C4 e inversões nas datações indicam o retrabalhamento do material. De 9500 a 7500 anos cal AP a vegetação era predominantemente herbácea, com mistura de C3 e C4 (?13C ~-17?). De 7500 a 700 anos cal AP, plantas C3 (?13C ~-30?) arbustivo-arbóreas dominam o registro polínico. De ~7000 a 6500 anos cal AP as herbáceasC4 (?13C ~-12?) são abundantes. A deposição de turfa iniciou em ~6500 anos cal AP, composta por plantas C3 arbóreas. Registros palinológicos desde o Holoceno inferior e a avaliação florística atual não revelaram a presença de espécies de distribuição disjunta com a Amazôni

Reconstruction of vegetation and climate in high resolution at Holocene on Marajo Island, with biologic and isotopic indicators uses

Um estudo interdisciplinar, envolvendo análises de fácies, elementares e isotópicas de carbono e nitrogênio, palinologia e diatomáceas, teve como objetivo reconstruir a dinâmica da vegetação, na Ilha do Marajó, com inferências climáticas. Testemunhos sedimentares foram coletados em dois pontos diferentes na porção leste da Ilha, um no manguezal da Praia do Pesqueiro, outro no Lago São Luís, à ~35Km de distância a oeste e a ~8Km do litoral. Neste local, entre 7521 7433 anos cal AP e ~3.100 anos cal AP, a sedimentação é de argila maciça e laminação plano/paralela, com valores de C/N entre 45 e 15 e \'delta\'15N entre 1,34%o e 5,08%o, que indicam mistura de material orgânico terrestre e fitoplanctônico e a relação C/N e \'delta\'13C material com influência marinha. A concentração de Rhizophora chega a 94,4% do total dos grãos e as diatomáceas marinhas e salobras de Cyclotella striata, Cymatotheca weiisflogii e Paralia sulcata são as mais representativas. Todas essas informações indicam a presença de um manguezal onde atualmente se encontra o Lago São Luis. Entre ~3100 anos cal AP e o presente, as fácies de argila maciça, com os valores de C/N entre 18 e 24 e \'delta\'15N de 1,7 a 6,04%o, que indicam mistura de plantas terrestres com material de algas na matéria orgânica sedimentar, e os valores de \'delta\'13C de -22 a -25%o, que indicam mistura de plantas C3 (espécies arbóreas e herbáceas) e C4 (Poaceae), sugerem significativa mudança ambiental. A palinologia registra uma redução na concentração de Rhizophora e aumento das espécies florestais, como Fabaceae, Melastomataceae/Combretaceae e Myrtaceae e a presença das diatomáceas de água doce, de água doce que suportam condições salobras e de mangue, como Brachysira serians, Frustulia Krammeri, Eunotia sp e Surirella sp. Todas essas informações indicam a formação do lago e a modificação da vegetação no seu entorno, similar a atual. Na Praia do Pesqueiro, entre 1739 1567 e ~614 552 anos cal AP, as fácies de areia com estratificação plano/paralela indicam um ambiente de ante-praia. Valores de \'delta\'13C mais enriquecidos (-25 e -26%o), em relação ao período mais recente (parte superfícial do testemunho), sugerem influência marinha e os bioindicadores estiveram ausentes. De ~614 552 até ~180 160 anos cal AP, fácies de argila maciça indica a presença de uma laguna e valores de C/N de 23,8 e \'delta\'15N de 2,44%o a influência terrestre no material orgânico sedimentar. Palinomorfos de floresta e mangue estão presentes, com concentração de 8,6% e 88,2%, respectivamente, aspectos que sugerem a redução do nível relativo do mar (NRM) e expansão da vegetação de mangue e floresta, que ocupam a área de praia. A preservação de diatomáceas marinhas é registrada pela presença de Coscinodiscus. De ~180 160 anos cal AP até o presente, o manguezal se estabelece, como mostram as fácies de argila laminada e maciça, valores de \'delta\'13C mais empobrecidos (-29,34), C/N entre 18,31 e 24,25 e \'delta\'15N de 0,76 e 2,68%o, que indicam influência terrestre com mistura de matéria orgânica fitoplanctônica. A concentração de Rhizophora chega a 89,8% e as diatomáceas de ambiente salobro, como Cyclotella striata, a 85% do total, onde se infere a contínua redução do NRMAn interdisciplinary study involving facies, elementary and isotopic carbon and nitrogen, pollen and diatom analyses, had the objective to reconstruct the vegetation dynamics at Marajó Island, with climatic inferences. Sedimentary cores of up to 2,5meters were collected in two different points at the eastern part of the island, one in the mangrove at Praia do Pesqueiro, and other at São Luís lake, ~35 km far to the western part and ~8 km from the coast. In this place, between 7521 7433 years cal BP and ~3,100 years cal BP, the deposition of massive and laminated plan/parallel clay, with C/N between 45 and 15 and \'delta\'15N from 1.34 to 5.08%o, indicates a mixture of organic terrestrial material with phytoplankton, and the relation C/N and \'delta\'13C reveals the organic material with marine influence. The Rhizophora concentration is about 94.4% and marine and brackish most representative diatoms were Cyclotella striata, Cymatotheca weissflogii and Paralia sulcata. That batch of information indicates the mangrove presence in the site presently occupied by the Lake São Luís. From ~3100 years cal BP to the present, the massive clay structure and the C/N values between 18 and 24 and \'delta\'15N from 1.7 to 6.04%o that indicates a mixture of terrestrial plants and algae material from sedimentary organic matter and \'delta\'13C values from -22 to 25%o, that indicates a mixture of C3 plants (arboreal and herbs) and C4 (Poaceae), suggest significant environmental changes. The pollen record indicate a reduction of Rhizophora concentration and an increase of forest species, like Fabaceae, Melastomataceae/Combretaceae and Myrtaceae, and the presence of freshwater, freshwater that support brackish conditions and mangrove diatoms, like Brachysira serians, Frustulia Krammeri, Eunotia sp and Surirella sp. This set of information indicates the formation and the vegetation around the lake, similar to modern conditions. At Praia do Pesqueiro, between 1739 1567 and ~ 614 552 years cal BP, the plan/ parallel sand structures indicate a foreshore environment. More enriched \'delta\'13C values (between -25 and -26%o), in relation to the more recent period (shallow part of the core), suggests marine influence, and the bioindicators were absent. From ~614 552 until ~180 160 years cal BP, massive clay facies indicates the lagoon presence, and C/N of 23.8 and \'delta\'15N of 2.44%o values indicates terrestrial influence. Forest and mangrove pollen are present, with concentrations around 8.6 and 88.2%, respectively, suggesting the relative sea level (RSL) falling and the expansion of mangrove and forest vegetation to the beach area. The preserved marine diatom is recorded by the Coscinodiscus presence. From ~180 160 years cal BP to the present, the mangrove vegetation is indicated by the massive and laminated clay structures, more depleted \'delta\'13C values (-29.34 %), C/N around 18.31 and 24.25 and \'delta\'15N of 0.76 and 2.68%o, that indicates the high influence of terrestrial environment, with phytoplankton organic matter mixture. The pollen concentration of Rhizophora is about 89.8% and brackish diatoms, as Cyclotella striata, reaches 85%, which permit the inference of decreased marine influence due to the relative sea level fal