Fungi, algae, and other palynomorphs in sedimentary profiles collected from two forests in the northernmost coastal plain from Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil

Abstract

(Fungi, algae, and other palynomorphs in sedimentary profiles collected from two forests in the northernmost coastal plain from Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil). We present, for the first time, taxonomic descriptions of 13 fungi, eight algae, three acritarchs, and nine other palynomorphs preserved in two Quaternary sediment profiles: Pirataba forest site (29°15′S–49°51′W) and Faxinal forest site (29°21′S–49°45′W), Torres Municipality, northernmost coastal plain from Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil. We aimed to provide taxonomic reference material for paleoenvironmental studies in the region. The profiles were collected using a Hiller Sampler, with a maximum interval of the last 23,000 years (according to radiocarbon dating). The samples were processed using HCl, HF, KOH, and acetolysis. Prepared specimens were examined by light microscopy. The palynomorphs were found during counts of a minimum of 300 angiosperms pollen grains in each sample (minimum number determined by plotting saturation curves). We present descriptions and illustrations of palynomorphs and relevant ecological data for the taxa. The high taxonomic diversity found will enable further studies of the vegetation and climatic changes on the northern coastal plain of southern Brazil.