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The evolution of a tropical rainforest/grassland mosaic in southeastern Brazil since 28,000 14C yr BP based on carbon isotopes and pollen records

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Luiz Carlos Ruiz Pessenda ,
Paulo Eduardo De Oliveira ,
Milene Mofatto ,
Vanda Brito de Medeiros ,
Ricardo José Francischetti Garcia ,
Ramon Aravena ,
José Albertino Bendassoli ,
Acácio Zuniga Leite ,
Antonio Roberto Saad  and
Mario Lincoln Etchebehere
Luiz Carlos Ruiz Pessenda*
Affiliation:
Center for Nuclear Energy in Agriculture (CENA), 13400-000, Piracicaba/SP, Brazil
Paulo Eduardo De Oliveira
Affiliation:
University of Guarulhos (UNG), Guarulhos/SP, Brazil
Milene Mofatto
Affiliation:
Center for Nuclear Energy in Agriculture (CENA), 13400-000, Piracicaba/SP, Brazil
Vanda Brito de Medeiros
Affiliation:
Center for Nuclear Energy in Agriculture (CENA), 13400-000, Piracicaba/SP, Brazil University of Guarulhos (UNG), Guarulhos/SP, Brazil
Ricardo José Francischetti Garcia
Affiliation:
Herbário da Prefeitura Municipal de São Paulo, São Paulo/SP, Brazil
Ramon Aravena
Affiliation:
University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L3G1
José Albertino Bendassoli
Affiliation:
Center for Nuclear Energy in Agriculture (CENA), 13400-000, Piracicaba/SP, Brazil
Acácio Zuniga Leite
Affiliation:
Center for Nuclear Energy in Agriculture (CENA), 13400-000, Piracicaba/SP, Brazil
Antonio Roberto Saad
Affiliation:
University of Guarulhos (UNG), Guarulhos/SP, Brazil
Mario Lincoln Etchebehere
Affiliation:
University of Guarulhos (UNG), Guarulhos/SP, Brazil
*
*Corresponding author. Email Address:pessenda@cena.usp.br
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Abstract

The lack of paleoecological records from the montane Atlantic Rainforest of coastal Brazil, a hotspot of biological diversity, has been a major obstacle to our understanding of the vegetational changes since the last glacial cycle. We present carbon isotope and pollen records to assess the impact of the glaciation on the native vegetation of the Serra do Mar rainforest in São Paulo, Brazil. From ca. 28,000 to ∼ 22,000 14C yr BP, a subtropical forest with conifer trees is indicative of cool and humid conditions. In agreement carbon isotopic data on soil organic matter suggest the presence of C3 plants and perhaps C4 plants from ∼ 28,000 to ∼ 19,000 14C yr BP. The significant increase in the sedimentation rate and algal spores from ∼ 19,450 to ∼ 19,000 14C yr BP indicates increasing humidity, associated to an erosion process between ∼ 19,000 and ∼ 15,600 14C yr BP. From ∼ 15,600 14C yr BP to present there is a substantial increase in arboreal elements and herbs, indicating more humid and warmer climate. From ∼ 19,000 to ∼ 1000 14C yr BP, δ13C values indicated the predominance of C3 plants. These results are in agreement with studies in speleothems of caves, which suggest humid conditions during the last glacial maximum.

Keywords

Southeastern BrazilRainforestCarbon isotopesSoil organic matterPollenPeat
Type
Articles
Information
Quaternary Research , Volume 71 , Issue 3 , May 2009 , pp. 437 - 452
Copyright
University of Washington

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