Palynological differentiation of savanna types in Carajás, Brazil (southeastern Amazonia)

Abstract

Pollen rain studies in Amazonia are scarce but of utmost importance to support interpretations of pollen records. We have investigated modern surface pollen spectra and vegetation in an Amazon location, Carajás, Brazil, where open and woody types of vegetation, swamps and lakes develop under rock outcrops. Both plant inventories of different savanna types along with bryophytic surface samples were analysed with ecological ordination. The results point to taxa that can be used in the differentiation of dry and flooded systems within the savannas studied. Dry savannas, either open or wooded, are indicated by the herbs Cuphea, Asteraceae, Borreria, Caryophyllaceae and Polygonaceae, and by woody taxa such as Myrtaceae, Byrsonima, Sapotaceae, Neea and Rubiaceae. Flooded savannas (swamps) and lakes are indicated by herbs like Sagittaria, Montrichardia, Nymphaea, Cyperaceae and Mimosa and palms. Poaceae was found to have a bipolar signature, and using it as an indicator should be done with caution.

Keywords:

• Amazonia
• pollen rain
• savanna
• Carajás
• Brazil

Acknowledgements

The present paper is the result of a multidisciplinary project, “Paleoclimas Intertropicais”, between CNPq (Brazilian Council of Scientific Advancement) and IRD (Institut de Recherche pour le Développement – France). We are thankful for the support of the project coordinators Kenitiro Suguio (University of São Paulo) and Bruno Turcq (IRD). CNPq is also thanked for financial support. C. D’Apolito thanks CAPES for scholarship process number BEX 0376/12–4. Maria de Nazaré Bastos and Antonio Elielson Sousa da Rocha are thanked for providing herbarium information.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Brazilian Council of Scientific Advancement (CNPq) [Processes 575747/2008–0, 477127/2011–8] and CAPES [scholarship process number BEX 0376/12–4].

Notes on contributors

Maria Lúcia Absy

MARIA LÚCIA ABSY is a research palynologist for the National Institute for Amazon Research, Manaus, Brazil. She received a bachelors degree in Natural History from the Catholic University of Paraná (1968), a masters in Botany from the University of São Paulo (1972) and her PhD from the University of Amsterdam (1979). Maria’s research uses pollen to determine the foraging resources of native stingless Amazon bees. She also analyses pollen in honey to determine the food sources of honey bees and honey types. Maria also studies Quaternary pollen, and has written several articles and books.

Antoine M. Cleef

ANTOINE M. CLEEF is an Emeritus Professor at the Universities of Amsterdam and Wageningen, specialising on tropical vegetation ecology. He has over 40 years research experience on the páramos, montane cloud forests and Amazon savannas in tropical America. Antoine has studied the Páramo vegetation of Colombia since 1971, and has published over 160 papers.

Carlos D’Apolito

CARLOS D’APOLITO is a PhD student at the University of Birmingham, UK. His research is on the Neogene and Quaternary palynostratigraphy and palaeoecology of the Amazon Basin.

Manoela F.F. da Silva

MANOELA FERREIRA DA SILVA is a botanist at the Museu Paraense Emilio Goeldi in Belém State, Brazil. She has over 30 years experience of research on Amazonian ecosystems. Manoela is a specialist on the phytogeography and phytosociology of Amazonian savanna vegetation habitats.