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Holocene Marine Transgression in the Coastal Plain of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil:
Palynomorph and Diatom Evidence

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DOI: 10.2112/07-0935.1

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 Journal of Coastal Research 25 1 224–233 West Palm Beach, Florida January 2009

Holocene Marine Transgression in the Coastal Plain of

Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil: Palynomorph and Diatom Evidence
Svetlana Medeanic†, Lezilda Carvalho Torgan‡, Luiz Carlos Pinheiro Clerot†, and Cristiane Bahi dos Santos‡
†
Instituto de Geocièncias Museu de Cièncias Naturais
‡

Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Fundação Zoobotânica do Rio Grande do

Sul Sul
Avenida Bento Gonçalves 9500, CEP Rua Dr. Salvador França 1427, CEP
91509-900 90690–000
Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
svetlana.medeanic@ufrgs.br

ABSTRACT
MEDEANIC, S.; TORGAN, L.C.; CLEROT, L.C.P., and SANTOS, C.B., 2009. Holocene marine transgression in the
coastal plain of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil: palynomorph and diatom evidence. Journal of Coastal Research, 25(1), 224–
233. West Palm Beach (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208.

Based on sedimentology, geochronology, palynology, and diatom analyses from core silt sediments in Cassino Beach
(32⬚11⬘06⬙ S and 52⬚09⬘45⬙ W), southern Brazil, the Holocene marine transgressive stage was established. The absolute
age of one sample is about 4940 ⫾ 80 years BP. The palynomorphs (pollen and spores of vascular plants, zygospores
and colonies of Chlorophyceae, cysts of dinoflagellates and acritarchs, fungal spores, and microforaminifera), silicof-
lagellates, and diatoms indicate the presence of an inlet bay in the southern part of the coastal plain during the
marine transgression. The changes in the taxonomic composition, abundance, and frequency of palynomorphs and
diatoms from the samples corresponding to transgression show an oscillatory character of the sea level. The posterior
marine regression resulted in sand deposition and dune formation. The results demonstrate the importance of paly-
nomorph and diatom application for the palaeoenvironmental reconstructions in coastal plains.

ADDITIONAL INDEX WORDS: Palaeoenvironmental reconstructions, southern Brazil.

INTRODUCTION for reconstructing aquatic environment parameters, such as

The present coastal environments in the state of Rio
Grande do Sul include dunes, wetlands, and brackish and salt
marshes and lagoons. Their development has a long history
connected with sea level oscillations and drastic climatic
changes during the Quaternary. The Quaternary sea level
oscillations resulted in transgressions and regressions and
were the principal factors forming the present ‘‘face’’ of the
Brazilian coastal plain (TOMAZELLI and VILLWOCK, 2000;
VILLWOCK et al., 1986). Considerable sea level advances and
retreats occurred on the Brazilian coast, too. Three stages of
sea level rise during the Holocene were established. The most
considerable sea level rise of 4–5 m amplitude occurred at
about 5100 years BP (ANGULO and LESSA, 1997; ANGULO et
al., 1999; LESSA et al., 2000; MARTIN, DOMINGUEZ, and BIT-
TENCOURT, 2003).
The multidisciplinary study of Quaternary sediments
based on sedimentology, paleontology, palynology, diatom
analysis, and absolute age dating methods makes it possible
to reconstruct past environments, climatic changes, and sea
level oscillations that occurred in the Holocene. The pollen
and spores of terrestrial and aquatic plants are usually used
for palaeoenvironmental and palaeoclimatic reconstructions
(TRAVERSE, 1988). However, they appear to be insufficient
DOI: 10.2112/07-0935.1 received 21 August 2007; accepted in revision
10 January 2008.
temperature, depth, salinity, pH, and nutrients. The algal
palynomorphs of coccoidal green algae are important for rec-
ognizing past freshwater environments (JANKOVSKÁ and
KOMÂREK, 2000; KOMÂREK and JANKOVSKÁ, 2001; VAN
GEEL, 1976; VAN GEEL, BONCKE, and DEE, 1980/81; VAN
GEEL and VAN DER HAMMEN, 1978) and coastal aquatic en-
vironments with high salinity (MEDEANIC, JANKOVSKÁ, and
DILLENBURG, 2003). Dinoflagellate and acritarch cysts are
useful for reconstructing environments influenced by sea wa-
ters (DALE, 1976, 1978; DOMINGUEZ, 1987; GRILL and QUA-
TROCCIO, 1996; SARJEANT, 1970; TRAVERSE and GINSBURG,
1967). All mentioned palynomorphs are resistant to destruc-
tion due to their sporopollenin-like layer in their cell walls.
Fungal spores and microforaminifera composed by a pseu-
dochitina, resistant to destruction, may also contribute to pa-
laeoenvironmental reconstructions (ELSIK, 1971; THUNELL
and WILLIAMS, 1983; TRAVERSE, 1988).
In the southern coastal plain of Rio Grande do Sul, the
palynomorphs from the Holocene sediments were registered
by palynologists (CORDEIRO and LORSHEITTER, 1994; LOR-
SCHEITTER, 1983; MEDEANIC, DILLENBURG, and TOLDO,
2001). Data based on diatoms that is about palaeoenviron-
ments subjected to sea level influence during Holocene ma-
rine transgression are rare (ABREU et al., 1987; CALLEGARO
and LOBO, 1990).
This study represents the first study based on palyno-
morphs and diatoms that gives data on palaeoenvironments
 Holocene Marine Transgression
Figure 1. The study area and location of the core FS-20.
in the continental part of the extreme south of the coastal
plain of Rio Grande do Sul during Holocene marine trans-
gression; the study demonstrates the importance of these mi-
crofossils for coastal aquatic environmental reconstructions.
There are a few papers in the world dedicated to the study
of palynomorphs and diatoms from Quaternary samples from
coastal plains. In the coastal plain of Rio Grande do Sul, the
first records of palynomorphs and diatoms from Holocene
sediments were reported by MEDEANIC, TOIGO-MARQUES,
and ASHRAF (2000), MEDEANIC and DILLENBURG (2001), and
MEDEANIC, JANKOVSKA, and DILLENBURG (2003). Use of pa-
lynomorphs and diatoms together for interpretations helps to
easily distinguish transgressive and regressive stages in
coastal plains, characterizing both aquatic and terrestrial ad-
jacent environments. Implications of using palynomorphs
and diatoms for reconstructions of climatic changes during
the last two millennia in Patagonia show their importance
(HABEZETTE et al., 2005). A multiproxy study of radiocarbon-
dated lake sediments, including diatoms and palynomorphs,
formed during the last millennia in Patagonia helps in the
recognition of nature development influenced by human set-
tlements (MAYR et al., 2005). Using diatoms and palyno-
morphs, sedimentology, and 14C-dated samples, GARCIA-ROD-
RIGUEZ et al. (2004) established the Holocene trophic state
changes in Lake Blanca, Uruguay, in relation to sea level
variations during the Holocene. As seen from the above cited
works, use of diatoms and palynomorphs together for palaeo-
reconstructions has not yet been well elaborated.
STUDY AREA
The study area is situated in the continent, around 20 km
from the Atlantic Ocean, near Cassino Beach (32⬚11⬘06⬙ S
and 52⬚09⬘45⬙ W), Rio Grande do Sul State (Figure 1). The
climate in this region is warm-temperate, due to the influ-
ence of the warm Brazilian and cold Falkland currents (VI-
EIRA and RANGEL, 1988). The mean annual temperature is
around 18⬚C, and average monthly temperatures are 24.6⬚C
Journal of Coastal Research, Vol. 25, No. 1, 2009
225
in January and 13.1⬚C in July. The average annual atmo-
spheric precipitation is 1200 mm.
At present, the geomorphology of the area is characterized
by wide lowland with several connected lagoons, formed dur-
ing the Holocene transgression and posterior regression, that
covers an area of 33,000 km2, bordered at the east with high-
lands. The vegetation of the dunes and marshes, adjacent to
the lagoons, are represented predominantly by halophilous
and xerophilous herbs (CORDAZZO and SEELIGER, 1995; COS-
TA et al., 1997; SEELIGER, 1992). In the coastal lagoons, the
Chlorophyceae are diverse and widely spread in the fresh-
water environments, and the diatoms are abundant both in
fresh and brackish waters (TORGAN, BARREDA, and FORTES,
2001; TORGAN, BECKER, and PRATES, 1999; TORGAN, PIL-
LAR, and NIENCHESKI, 2004; TORGAN, TUNDISI, and NIEN-
CHESKI, 2002).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Sampling and Dating
A core FS-20 of 26 m was taken in the beach near the small
city of Cassino (32⬚11⬘06⬙ S and 52⬚09⬘45⬙ W; see Figure 1)
with the aid of SPT (Standard Penetration Test) using piston
corer (Raymond/Terzachi, Geotek Corporations) with an in-
ner diameter of 13⁄8 in (35 mm) and an outer diameter of 2 in
(50.8 mm). The core material includes four lithological layers,
represented by silt, silty clay, silty sand, and sand (Figure 2).
The granulometric compositions of the samples from the core
are given for five samples, according to S HEPARD and YOUNG
(1961), and are shown in Figure 3. The granulometric data
corresponded to five horizons which were deposited in differ-
ent conditions, connected with sea level oscillations and cli-
matic changes between others. Ten samples were collected
from the lowest layer, represented by silty clay and silt rang-
ing from the depth of 16.10 to 25.4 m. Only this layer was
represented by sediments favorable for palynomorph and di-
atom study. In addition, good preserved mollusk shell of Oli-
vancillaria in living position (in situ) was found at the depth
226 Medeanic et al.

Figure 2. Lithology of the core FS-20.

of 23.0 m. This shell was dated by Beta Analytic, Inc. (Miami,

Florida, United States) using the 14C method.

Chemical Treatment for Palynomorphs and Diatoms

The samples were first desiccated in a furnace at a tem-
perature of 60⬚C; then 50 g was treated with HCl (10%) and
KOH (5%) and boiled for 10 minutes according to FAEGRI and
IVERSEN (1989). The chemical treatment of HF was avoided,
preserving the siliceous diatom valves and silicoflagellate
skeletons. Inorganic substances were separated from the or-
ganic matter by ‘‘dense liquid,’’ an aquatic solution of ZnCl2
Figure 3. Granulometry of studied samples of the core FS-20. CGS ⫽
coarse-grained sand, MCS ⫽ mid–coarse sand, FS ⫽ fine sand, VFS ⫽
very fine sand, S ⫹C ⫽ silt ⫹ clay, S ⫽ silt, C ⫽ clay. Roman numerals
show the depth of the samples: (I) 0.10 m, (II) 3.0 m, (III) 7.0 m, (IV) 15.0
m, (V) 23.0 m. Adopted from Clerot (2004).

Journal of Coastal Research, Vol. 25, No. 1, 2009

 Holocene Marine Transgression
Figure 4. Palynomorph percentage diagram of the samples from the core
FS-20. AP ⫽ arboreal pollen, NAP ⫽ nonarboreal pollen, S ⫽ spores of
Bryophyta and Pteridophyta.
Figure 5. Diatom percentage diagram of samples from the core FS-20.
Journal of Coastal Research, Vol. 25, No. 1, 2009
227
at 2.2 g/cm3 density. The residual material was mounted on
glycerol jelly to make a permanent slide.
In order to extract the diatoms, the same residues were
processed again by a new portion of ZnCl2 solution (2.3–2.4
g/cm3 density). Next, an aliquot of 10 ml for every sample
was mounted on permanent slides in Naphrax for identifi-
cation and counting.
Palynomorph and Diatom Study
The taxonomic definitions of pollen and spores were based
on a palynoteca of actual native plants, spread in the coastal
plain of Rio Grande do Sul. In order to avoid the invalid def-
initions, pollen and spores were identified sensu lato (to the
family or genus level). The freshwater coccoidal palynomorph
identifications were based on VAN GEEL (1976), VAN GEEL
and VAN DER HAMMEN (1978), and VAN GEEL, BONCKE, and
DEE (1980–81). Cysts of dinoflagellates and acritarchs were
recognized according to TOMAS (1997). The palynomorph
slides are preserved in the Centro de Estudos de Geologia
Costeira e Oceânica, at the Instituto de Geocièncias, Univ-
ersidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul.
For diatom analyses, the efficiency was up to 83% using
the quantitative method for determining a representative al-
gal sample count according to PAPAS and STOERMER (1996).
Species were identified according to H USTED (1927–30), HEN-
DEY (1964), ROSA (1982), BUSELATO-TONIOLI (1986), and
MORENO, LICEA, and SANTOYO (1996). The diatom slides are
228 Medeanic et al.
Figure 6. Palynomorphs: (5) Cymatiosphaera; (6, 7) Micrhystridium; (8,
9) Dinoflagellate cysts indeterminate (indet.); (10–12) Dictyocha; (13) Op-
erculodinium; (14) Spiniferites; (15–17) Fungal spores; (18) Debarya; (19,
20) Spirogyra; (21, 22) Botryococcus colonies; (23) Microforaminifera.
Scale bar ⫽ 40 ␮m.
deposited at the Herbarium ‘‘Prof. Dr. Alarich Shultz’’ (HAS)
in the Museu de Cièncias Naturais.
The obtained data were plotted on diagrams (Figures 4 and
5) using Tilia software designed by GRIMM (1987). The ob-
servations and photomicrographs (Figures 6–9) were made
using a Zeiss Axioplan microscope with 400⫻–1250⫻ mag-
nification.
RESULTS
The obtained absolute age by 14C dating of this layer at the
depth of 23.0 m was 4940 ⫾ 80 years BP. The studied sam-
ples are characterized by differences in the frequency of pa-
lynomorphs and diatoms. In some samples, palynomorphs are
predominant and diatoms are rare; in others, palynomorphs
are absent or rare and diatoms are predominant; and in some
samples, both are common. This pattern difference between
palynomorph and diatom frequency may be caused by differ-
ent sedimentological and taphonomic conditions that may be
favorable or adverse for the preservation of organic matter in
palynomorphs and siliceous diatoms. More frequent palyno-
morphs, especially pollen and spores of terrestrial plants,
may be connected with proximity of lands, and abundance of
aquatic palynomorphs and diatoms may be evidence of favor-
able ecological conditions of aquatic basins.
Journal of Coastal Research, Vol. 25, No. 1, 2009
Figure 7. Palynomorphs: (25) Phaeoceros; (26) Anthoceros; (27) Blech-
num; (28) Microgramma; (29) Azolla filiculoides; (30) Palmae; (31, 32)
Alchornea; (33) Asteraceae; (34, 35) Chenopodiaceae; (36) Cyperaceae;
(37) Juncaginaceae (Triglochin type); (38) Fabaceae; (39) Fabaceae (Co-
tula type); (40) Lamiaceae; (41) Myrtaceae; (42) Poaceae; (43) Polygona-
ceae (Rumex type); (43) Verbenaceae. Scale bar ⫽ 30 ␮m.
Palynomorphs
The palynomorph frequencies in the samples are relatively
low. In the diagram (Figure 4) and in Table 1, only the results
of four samples where the total sum of palynomorphs consti-
tutes more than 200 examples (specimens) are included. The
other six samples, containing a few palynomorph grains, are
not represented in the palynodiagram and in Table 1.
In the lower part of the layer (23.30–25.0 m), the dinofla-
gellate and acritarch cysts make up 32.3–33.6%, represented
by Operculodinium, Spiniferites, Micrhystridium, and Cy-
matiosphaera. Microforaminifera compounds constitute 1.5–
2.3%. The Chlorophyceae palynomorphs (3.7–4.4%) are rep-
resented by Botryococcus, Spirogyra, and Pseudoschizaea. Ar-
boreal pollen (3.9–7.4%) is relatively frequent and diverse.
Nonarboreal pollen (31.4–49.8%) is characterized by a variety
of taxa and abundances (Table 1). Poaceae and Chenopodi-
aceae species are the most frequent. Pteridophyta and Bry-
ophyta spores (12.3–18.7%) are common. Fungal palyno-
morphs of Tetraploa are registered in one sample. Other un-
identified algal palynomorphs make up 2.3–2.6%.
At 19.0–19.45 m, the dinoflagellate cysts increase. Micro-
foraminifera compounds constitute 2.3%. The Chlorophyceae
palynomorphs represented by Botryococcus and Spirogyra in-
 Holocene Marine Transgression
Figure 8. Diatoms: (44) Actinoptychus vulgaris; (45) A. senarius; (46) A.
splendens; (47) Coscinodiscus obscurus; (48) Thalassiosira eccentrica; (49)
C. radiatus. Scale bar ⫽ 10 ␮m.
crease. Botryococcus predominates at 22.4%. Arboreal and
nonarboreal pollen notably decrease. Bryophyta spores of
Phaeoceros increase and Pteridophyta spores decrease. Fun-
gal palynomorphs are extremely rare. Dictyocha skeletons are
encountered.
At 17.30–17.45 m, the dinoflagellate and acritarch cysts
and microforaminifera notably decrease. The Chlorophyceae
palynomorphs of Botryococcus and Spirogyra decrease, too.
Pollen Chenopodiaceae increase to 28.1%, and pollen Poaceae
increase to 8.5%. Bryophyta spores, represented by Phaeocer-
os, significantly increase (Table 1). The most frequent paly-
nomorphs are shown in Figures 5 and 6.
Diatoms
The diatoms are encountered in five core samples. The as-
semblage is composed of 26 taxa (17 centric and 9 pinnate
forms) presently distributed in marine and estuarine envi-
ronments. The taxonomic variety and abundance is shown in
Table 2 and in Figures 8 and 9.
Journal of Coastal Research, Vol. 25, No. 1, 2009
229
Figure 9. Diatoms: (50) Thalassiosira sp.; (51) Paralia sulcata; (52) Cy-
clotella striata; (53) Triceratium favus; (54) Odontella rhombus; (55) Coc-
coneis disculus; (56) Cymatosira belgica; (57) Diploneis bombus; (58) Del-
phineis surirella. Scale bar ⫽ 10 ␮m.
At the bottom, at 25.00–25.40 m, marine planktonic species
(Actinoptychus senarius, Thalassiosira eccentrica, and Thal-
assiosira spp.) and marine benthic species (Cocconeis discu-
loides, Diploneis bombus, and Grammatophora marina) are
present, and the tichoplanktonic, brackish-marine diatom P.
sulcata is the most abundant (80.15%).
At 19.00–19.25 m, an increase in the species diversity and
a significant decrease in Paralia sulcata are observed. The
species Cymatosira belgica, Delphineis surirella, Nitzschia
punctata, and Odontella rhombus are common, besides the
other diatom species mentioned above. The highest diversity
of diatoms is registered at 17.30–17.35 m deep, where 20 taxa
are identified. Some diatom species, like Actinocyclus octon-
arius, Actinoptychus splendens, Coscinodiscus curvatus, C. ob-
scurus, C. radiatus, and Raphoneis surirella, are encountered
only in this depth, and P. sulcata is the most abundant
(28.85%).
At 17.20–17.30 m, a decrease in diatom diversity is ob-
served: only 11 species are identified. At the upper part of
the layer (16.10–16.20 m deep), a significant decrease in di-
230 Medeanic et al.

Table 1. Palynomorph taxa and relative frequency (%) in the samples of Table 1. Continued.
the core FS-20.
Depth (m)
Depth (m)
25.00– 23.20– 19.00– 17.30–
25.00– 23.20– 19.00– 17.30– Palynomorph Taxa 24.40 23.30 19.45 17.45
Palynomorph Taxa 24.40 23.30 19.45 17.45
DICTYOCHOPHYCEAE
Arboreal pollen (AP) Dictyocha — — 1.7 3.5
PINOPHYTA MICROFORAMINIFERA 2.3 1.5 2.3 1.1
Ephedra — — — 1.5 FUNGI
Podocarpus 0.4 — — 1.2 Tetraploa — 0.5 — —
MAGNOLIOPHYTA Other indet. 2.3 2.6 1.7 0.8
Alchornea — 0.3 — — Total sum of palynomorphs 229 391 344 260
Anacardiaceae 5.2 1.8 0.3 —
Boraginaceae — 0.3 — —
Euphorbiaceae — 0.3 — —
Mimosaceae 0.9 — — — atom taxa diversity is registered. P. sulcata is the most abun-
Palmae — 0.3 0.9 — dant (89.2%).
Rapanea 0.9 0.3 0.3 —
Trema — 0.3 — —
Ulmaceae — 0.3 — — DISCUSSION
Nonarboreal pollen (NAP) Marine palynomorphs (dinoflagellate and acritarch cysts),
Amaryllidaceae — — 0.3 — silicoflagellates, and predominant marine and estuarine di-
Apiaceae 0.9 0.3 0.3 2.3 atoms were identified from a silty clay layer of the core FS-
Asteraceae 4.8 4.1 3.2 1.2
20 taken from a site 20 km from the modern coastal line. This
Brassicaceae — 0.3 0.3 —
Chenopodiaceae 9.2 16.4 6.4 28.1 silty clay layer was formed during Holocene marine trans-
Cyperaceae 5.2 3.1 4.4 3.8 gression. The correspondence of the silty clay layer to marine
Gunneraceae 1.7 0.3 — — transgression was confirmed by one marine mollusk shell of
Fabaceae — 0.5 — 1.2 Olivancilaria whose 14C age dating (4940 ⫾ 80 years BP) cor-
Juncaceae 0.4 — — —
Juncaginaceae — 1.0 — —
responded to marine transgression.
Myriophyllum — — — 2 The palynomorphs, especially marine algae cysts, microfor-
Poaceae 8.7 14.6 6.7 8.5 aminifera, and diatoms identified from samples in this layer,
Polygonum hydropiperoides — — 0.3 — indicate aquatic basin spread with elevated salinity in the
Primulaceae — 0.3 0.3 0.4
Cassino region in the coastal plain of Rio Grande do Sul dur-
Scrophulariaceae — 0.5 0.3 —
Verbenaceae — 3.1 0.3 1.5 ing Holocene marine transgression. We submit the spreading
Vernonia 0.4 0.5 0.3 0.8 of an extensive bay whose outline, dimensions, and salinity
Spores were influenced by sea level rise, which, influenced by cli-
BRYOPHYTA matic oscillations, was changed from time to time during this
Phaeoceros 10.0 2.6 19.5 22.3 marine transgression. The presence of zygospores of fresh-
Sphagnum 0.4 0.3 0.6 0.8 water algae such as Spirogyra and Mougeotia may be the
PTERIDOPHYTA result of their transport by freshwater influxes into the bay
Alsophyla — 0.8 — — inlet during pluvial periods from adjacent regions. Colonies
Anemia — 0.5 0.3 —
Azolla filiculoides 4.4 0.3 2.7 0.4
of Botryococcus were common in this environment and also
Blechnum 0.9 0.3 — 0.4 indicate a freshwater influence. Rare fungal palynomorphs
Dicranoglossum 1.3 2.0 — 0.4 (zoospores) whose transport capacity is very restricted may
Dicranopteris — — 0.3 — indicate distant lands away from the bay inlet.
Equisetum — 0.5 0.3 —
The variations in diatom diversity and P. sulcata abun-
Lycopodiella — 1.3 0.3 1.0
Microgramma 0.4 1.3 0.6 — dance reveal changes in salinity and depth of the environ-
Ophioglossum — 0.3 0.3 — ment, occurring during transgression. The broad bays are a
Polypodiaceae 1.3 2.3 0.3 — habitat available to tycoplanktonic diatoms, like P. sulcata
CHLOROPHYTA (MCQUOID and HOBSON, 1998).
Botryococcus 3.1 2.6 22.4 8.0 During the beginning of the marine transgression, when
Debarya — 0.3 — —
Mougeotia — 0.3 — —
the sea water advanced into the coastal plain, highly saline
Spirogyra 0.9 0.5 0.6 2.3 aquatic environments appeared where marine phytoplankton
Pseudoschizaea 0.4 — — — (acritarchs, dinoflagellates, and diatoms) were common. Mi-
ACRITARCHA crhystridium and Cymatiosphaera acritarchs were relatively
Cymatiosphaera 0.4 0.5 2.3 — abundant. In the coastal plain of Rio Grande do Sul, they are
Micrhystridium 31.9 29.7 12.2 4.6
registered in modern surface sediments of intertidal marshes
DYNOPHYCEAE
and in the Patos Lagoon estuary (MEDEANIC, 2006). The
Operculodinium 0.4 0.3 2.9 0.8
Spiniferites 0.9 0.3 1.5 0.8 brackish-marine diatom P. sulcata was abundant. Presence of
Dinoflagellate cysts indet. — 0.5 2.6 1.5 this species is greatly increased in bays, a favorable habitat
for P. sulcata development (living on the bottom, they may be

Journal of Coastal Research, Vol. 25, No. 1, 2009

 Holocene Marine Transgression 231

Table 2. Diatom taxa and abundance (%) in the samples of the core FS-20. oceros, Anthoceros, the aquatic fern Azolla filiculoides, Lyco-
podiella, and Equisetum were frequent. The rare arboreal pol-
Depth (m)
len, such as Alchornea, Anacardiaceae, Boraginaceae, and
25.40– 19.25– 17.35– 17.30– 16.20– others, may indicate their allochtonous origin and that they
Diatom Taxa 25.00 19.00 17.30 17.20 16.10 were transported from a distance.
Achnanthes curvirostrum — — 0.66 — — When the sea level fell, the deposition of the silty clay layer
Achnanthes octonarius — — 5.96 — — stopped. Latter marine regression resulted in sand dune de-
Actinoptychus senarius 0.74 3.85 6.62 5.47 —
position.
Actinoptychus splendens — — 1.32 — —
Actinoptychus vulgaris — — 0.66 0.78 —
Cocconeis disculoides 1.47 7.69 4.64 0.78 — CONCLUSIONS
Cocconeis sp. — 0.96 — — —
Coscinodiscus curvatus — — 0.66 — — The marine palynomorphs, diatoms, and silicoflagellates
Coscinodiscus obscurus — — 0.66 — — identified in this study indicated the Holocene transgressive
Coscinodiscus radiatus — — 2.65 — — stage, when the majority of the southern coastal plain was
Cyclotella striata 3.68 3.85 7.95 1.56 1.54
vastly covered by sea waters. During this transgression, di-
Cyclostephanos sp. — 2.88 — — —
Cymatosira belgica — 7.69 1.99 — — versity, abundance, and frequency of palynomorphs and di-
Delphineis surirella — 1.92 3.31 — — atoms were changed, showing the oscillating character of the
Diploneis bombus 0.74 1.92 — 0.78 — sea level in the bay inlet. The end of the transgressive stage
Grammatophora marina 0.74 — — — — was registered when the abundance of marine palynomorphs
Nitzschia punctata — 1.92 — — —
Odontella rhombus — 0.96 3.31 — —
and diatoms decreased, indicating the beginning of a regres-
Paralia sulcata 80.15 28.85 34.44 73.44 89.23 sive stage.
Rhaphoneis surirella — — 1.9 — —
Thalassiosira excentrica 6.62 10.58 1.99 2.34 — ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Thalassiosira oestrus — — — — 1.54
Thalassiosira sp. 1 0.74 18.27 10.60 3.91 — We thank the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cien-
Thalassiosira sp. 2 3.68 5.77 8.61 3.13 4.62 tı́fico e Tecnológico (CNPq) for grants 300005/2007-5 and
Thalassiosira sp. 1.47 1.92 — 7.03 —
Triceratium favus — — 1.99 0.78 3.08 302926/2004-6. We are grateful to Dr. S.R. Dillenburg, who
Number of species 10 15 20 11 5 provided the 14C dating, and to Haywood Dail Laughinghouse
IV for reviewing the English in the manuscript. We are in-
debted to two anonymous reviewers for their criticism, sug-
gestions, and corrections which improved this manuscript.
easily lifted into the plankton); it is frequent in estuaries and
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䡺 RESUMO 䡺
Baseada nos dados de sedimentologia, geocronologia, palinologia e análise de diatomáceas nas amostras de um testemunho executado na praia do Cassino (32⬚11⬘06⬙
S e 52⬚09⬘45⬙ O), sul do Brasil, uma transgressão marinha foi descoberta. A idade absoluta de uma amostra é a cerca de 4.940 ⫾ 80 anos AP. Os palinomorfos
(polens e esporos de plantas vasculares, os zigósporos e colônias de clorofilas, cistos de dinoflagelados e acritarcas, esporos de fungos e microforaminı´feros), silicof-
lagelados, e diatomáceas indicam sobre existència no passado de uma baı́a na parte sul da Planı́cie Costeira durante transgressão marinha. As mudanças da
composição taxonômica, abundância e freqüència de palinomorfos e diatomáceas descobertos nas amostras correspondentes à transgressão marinha mostram osci-
lações do nı́vel do mar. A regressão marinha posterior resultou na deposição dos sedimentos de areia e formação de dunas. Os resultados mostram a importância de
aplicação de palinomorfos e de diatomáceas para reconstruções paleoambientais nas planı́cias costeiras.

Journal of Coastal Research, Vol. 25, No. 1, 2009

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