Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-2023-11
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-2023-11
01 Feb 2023
 | 01 Feb 2023
Status: a revised version of this preprint is currently under review for the journal BG.

Late Quaternary palaeoenvironmental evolution and sea level oscillation of the Santa Catarina Island (southern Brazil)

Lidia Aumond Kuhn, Karin A. F. Zonneveld, Paulo Alves Souza, and Rodrigo Rodrigues Cancelli

Abstract. Sea level oscillation during the Quaternary played a major role in the geomorphology and vegetation dynamics of coastal areas in southern Brazil, encompassing ecosystems that often have a unique biodiversity. Understanding the natural evolution of these areas is essential for decision-making of land use regulations towards sustainable development as well as to preserve the uniqueness of the coastal ecosystems. The southern Brazil coastal plain is formed by marine, transitional and continental Quaternary deposits controlled by relative past variations of the sea level. These variations shaped the coastal landscape and influenced the development of different Atlantic Rainforest formations, such as mangroves and restingas. In particular, the restinga formation corresponds to a specific ecosystem that covers sandy soils of marine and fluvial-marine origin formed during the Quaternary on the Brazilian coastal plain. In this contribution, we present high-resolution palynological and stable isotope data from a Holocene core retrieved from the coastal plain of the Santa Catarina Island (southern Brazil). We were able to identify four different environmental zones in the last 6500 yr BP. The first zone (6500–2820 cal yr BP) is characterized by a lagoon with large marine water influence. Notably, the observed dinoflagellate cyst association suggests that marine waters entering the region had its origin in the relatively warm saline Brazil Current waters. During the second zone (2820–1480 cal yr BP), marine water contribution to the lagoon decreased until it became disconnected with the sea. The third zone (1480–520 cal yr BP) was marked by the decrease of the water level until it dried out and led to the colonization of herbaceous vegetation over the palaeo-lagoon. The last zone (520 cal yr BP–recent) is characterized by the consolidation of the coastal plain Atlantic Rainforest (restinga vegetation). Our results form an example of the strong sensitivity of southern Brazilian ecosystem change caused by relative sea level variations. As such, it might contribute to the debate about potential effects of current climate change induced by global sea level variations.

Lidia Aumond Kuhn et al.

Status: final response (author comments only)

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on bg-2023-11', Hermann Behling, 14 Feb 2023
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Lidia Kuhn, 15 Mar 2023
  • RC2: 'Comment on bg-2023-11', Aline Freitas, 01 Mar 2023
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Lidia Kuhn, 15 Mar 2023
      • RC3: 'Reply on AC2', Aline Freitas, 16 Mar 2023
        • AC3: 'Reply on RC3', Lidia Kuhn, 18 Mar 2023

Lidia Aumond Kuhn et al.

Lidia Aumond Kuhn et al.

Viewed

Total article views: 251 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
HTML PDF XML Total BibTeX EndNote
180 53 18 251 1 2
  • HTML: 180
  • PDF: 53
  • XML: 18
  • Total: 251
  • BibTeX: 1
  • EndNote: 2
Views and downloads (calculated since 01 Feb 2023)
Cumulative views and downloads (calculated since 01 Feb 2023)

Viewed (geographical distribution)

Total article views: 256 (including HTML, PDF, and XML) Thereof 256 with geography defined and 0 with unknown origin.
Country # Views %
  • 1
1
 
 
 
 
Latest update: 24 Mar 2023
Download
Short summary
This study investigated changes in coastal ecosystem that reflect environmental changes over the past 6500 years on Brazil's largest oceanic island. This study was motivated by the need to understand the natural evolution of coastal areas to predict future changes. The results highlight the sensitivity of this ecosystem to changes caused by relative sea level variations. As such, it contributes to the debate about potential effects of current climate change induced by global sea level changes.
Altmetrics