Dinâmica paleoambiental dos últimos 800 anos em Campo Erê, Santa Catarina

Abstract

This paper presents the results of palynological analysis conducted in Campo Erê, in the far west of Santa Catarina, Brazil. The objective of this study was to investigate the Grassland-Forest dynamics and environmental variations that occurred in the Campo Erê region over the last 800 years. To this end, three samples were separated from the last 8 cm of a 200 cm deep core, which were chemically treated and processed. For each sample, 300 terrestrial pollen grains were counted, with spores counted separately, and these pollen grains and spores were taxonomically determined to the lowest possible hierarchical level. A palynological diagram was generated using the TÍLIA software, version 3.0.3. After calibration, the samples corresponded to approximately 830 cal BP, 480 cal BP, and 140 cal BP. For at least 830 years, Grasslands have been present and dominated the landscape of Campo Erê, while the Mixed Ombrophilous Forest was present in a much smaller proportion, although with the appearance of some of its most characteristic species. Around 480 years ago, a trend of Forest expansion relative to Grasslands could be observed, a trend that may be older when similar studies covering longer periods are analyzed. Around 140 years ago, a retreat of the Forest relative to the Grasslands could be observed, although the former continued to have its most prominent species. This retreat of the Forest in the last years of the Holocene can be associated with the intensification of anthropogenic activities in recent times. The results of this work contribute to the scientific production regarding the Southern Grasslands and to the promotion of conservation policies and sustainable use of grassland ecosystems.