LATE QUATERNARY RECONSTRUCTION OF THE ATLANTIC FOREST IN THE NORTHERN SECTION OF THE STATE SPÍRITO SANTO, SOUTHEASTERN BRAZIL

Abstract

The main objective of this study is to provide a broad understanding on the vegetational and climatic histories of the Atlantic Rainforest in the northern section of the State of Espírto Santo, in southeastern Brazil, based on the palynological contents of sedimentos obtained at Lagoa Juparanã e Durão, adjacent to one of the most significant and largest primary Atlantic Rainforest fragments. Among secondary objectives one finds the identification of past environmental changes associated to Holocene sea level changes. In relation to paleoclimatic/paleoecological aspects, the reconstitution of former migration of Amazonian forest tree taxa into the coastal Atlantic Forest fostered by more humid climatic phases, during the period identified as the Last Glacial Maximum in the northern hemisphere is also an important component of the proposed research. Various research activities have already been carried out such as sediment sampling of both lakes, a complete reconnaissance of all preserved pollen and spore types besides a reasonably good number of samples dated by radiocarbon. The author, already fully trained in palynological techniques due to Cientific Initiation scholarships granted by the University of Guarulhos and CNPq, has participated in various national and one international scientific meeting. The proposed research is part of a long term FAPESP project, entitled "Vegetational and Climatic Reconstruction since the Middle Holocene in Brazil", under the supervision of dr. Luiz Carlos Ruiz Pessenda, from CENA/USP.