Delminda Moura

Palynological evidence for environmental and climatic change in the lower Guadiana valley, Portugal, during the last 13 000 years

Pollen analysis of a 48 m AMS radiocarbon-dated sediment sequence from the Guadiana estuary provides the first record of Lateglacial and Holocene vegetation history in the Algarve province of Portugal. This paper focuses on the record of terrestrial pollen taxa, which document a series of forest expansions and declines during the period 13 000 cal. BP to 1600 cal. BP and provide insights into climate evolution in southwestern Iberia. The main vegetation phases identified in the Guadiana valley are (1) Lateglacial interstadial (Allerød) forest with Quercus and Pinus under a temperate, moist, continental climate; (2) a Younger Dryas forest decline (Quercus) and expansion of pinewoods, xeric scrub and open ground habitats (with Juniperus , Artemisia, Ephedra distachya type, Centaurea scabiosa type) under arid and cold conditions; (3) an early Holocene forest/scrub/open-ground vegetation mosaic developing under a warm, dry and continental climate; (4) a maximum of Quercus forest and thermomediterranean evergreen taxa (Olea, Phillyrea, Pistacia) reflecting a warm, moist oceanic climate between c. 9000 cal. BP and c. 5000 cal. BP; and (5) the expansion of shrublands with Cistaceae and Ericaceae under a drier climatic regime and increasing anthropogenic activity since c. 5000 cal. BP. Holocene episodes of maximum climatic aridity are identified in the record of xerophytic taxa (Juniperus, Artemisia, Ephedra distachya type) centred around 10 200 cal. BP, 7800 cal. BP, 4800 cal. BP, 3100 cal. BP and 1700 cal. BP. Regional comparisons suggest a correlation of arid phases across southern Iberia and northwest Africa, which can be related to abrupt North Atlantic coolings (Bond events).

The Paleogene and Neogene of Western Iberia (Portugal): A Cenozoic Record in the European Atlantic Domain

The Portuguese mainland, located in western Iberia, represents a key area for understanding the evolution of the European Atlantic margin during the Cenozoic and the establishment of relations with the Mediterranean, in particular through the transition area between those two oceans which is well documented in the Algarve region.

Influence of Wave Action and Lithology on Sea Cliff Mass Movements in Central Algarve Coast, Portugal

Abstract The vulnerability of a rocky cliff to direct wave attack is a function of its lithological, structural, and morphological characteristics. The intensity of wave attack at the cliff foot depends on incident wave characteristics, nearshore bathymetry, beach and shore platform topography, coastline orientation, storm surges, and tidal range. The main goal of this paper is to relate the role of wave action as a geomorphic process influencing coastal cliff erosion with the control imposed by lithological and structural characteristics. For that purpose, a numerical wave propagation model (STWAVE) was used to evaluate differences in breaking wave height and energy along the study area (Galé–Olhos de Água, South Portugal) for a set of representative wave conditions and compared with existing mass movement data. As the study area presents wide longshore variation in wave exposition and breaking wave energies, five sectors were defined with contrasting wave action. When the distribution of mass movements along the coast is analyzed without considering the lithological variation, there is no relationship between the number and displaced volumes of mass movements and wave energy for each sector, with the majority of the movements and the greater volumes occurring in the least energetic sector. Therefore, lithology represents the dominant control on mass movement occurrence. However, if lithological variation is controlled by analyzing only the most common lithology in the study area (Miocene carbonate rocks), spatial variations in nearshore wave energy driven by the interaction of wave conditions with coastline orientation are found to influence mass movement occurrence. Resumo Os factores que condicionam a evolução de arribas rochosas são variados, incluindo processos continentais, marinhos e factores intrínsecos ao próprio substrato rochoso. Por exemplo, a vulnerabilidade das rochas ao ataque directo das ondas é igualmente função das suas características litológicas e estruturais. Por sua vez, a intensidade do ataque às arribas rochosas pelas ondas depende de características das ondas, da batimetria, da topografia das praias e plataformas de abrasão adjacentes, da orientação da linha de costa, da existência de sobreelevação do nível do mar e da amplitude das marés. O sector costeiro de arribas rochosas do Algarve central (Galé a Olhos de Água), proposto para estudo, expõe principalmente a Formação Carbonatada de Lagos-Portimão, do Miocénico. Constitui excepção o sector entre as praias de S. Rafael e da Baleeira, onde as arribas litorais expõem margas do Cretácico e calcários do Jurássico. O principal objectivo deste trabalho é definir o papel da acção das ondas, como um processo geomórfico, na erosão de arribas costeiras e comparar com o controlo imposto pelas características litológicas e estruturais das rochas. Para tal, foi utilizado um programa de modelação da agitação marítima (STWAVE) para determinar diferenças nas características das ondas na rebentação, ao longo do troço costeiro em estudo. A altura e energia das ondas na rebentação foram obtidas para cada condição testada e foram comparadas com os dados de movimentos de massa existentes. Uma vez que a linha de costa da área de estudo mostra uma forte variação longilitoral em relação à sua exposição às ondas, foram definidos cinco sectores com diferentes orientações. Dada a orientação diferenciada dos troços e a variabilidade longilitoral nas geoformas que os constituem, foi possível analisar a frequência de ocorrência de uma dada geoforma ao longo de troços com igual litologia mas com diferente orientação à ondulação dominante. Os resultados deste trabalho apontam para uma clara diferenciação energética entre troços costeiros, em função da sua orientação e do rumo de agitação (ex. SW versus SE). Quando se faz uma análise dos movimentos de massa sem considerar as variações litológicas, não se observa nenhuma relação entre o número e volume deslocado dos movimentos de massa e a energia das ondas para cada sector, com a maioria dos movimentos e os maiores volumes a ocorrerem no sector menos energético. Assim, a litologia representa o factor de controlo dominante na ocorrência de movimentos de massa. Contudo, ao analisar apenas o tipo litológico mais comum na área de estudo (rochas carbonatadas do Miocénico), verifica-se que as variações longilitorais de energia das ondas derivadas da interacção das condições de onda com a orientação da linha de costa são determinantes na ocorrência de movimentos de massa nesta litologia.

Taxonomy, ecology and biogeographical trends of dominant benthic foraminifera species from an Atlantic-Mediterranean estuary (the Guadiana, southeast Portugal)

This study analyses the taxonomy, ecology and biogeography of the species of benthic foraminifera living on the intertidal margins of the Guadiana Estuary (SE Portugal, SW Spain). Of the 54 taxa identified during sampling campaigns in winter and summer, 49 are systematically listed and illustrated by scanning electron microscope (SEM) photographs. Ammonia spp. were the most ubiquitous calcareous taxa in both seasons. Morphological analysis and SEM images suggested three distinct morphotypes of the genus Ammonia, two of which proved to be Ammonia aberdoveyensis on the basis of partial rRNA analyses. Jadammina macrescens and Miliammina fusca were the most ubiquitous agglutinated taxa in the estuary. Jadammina macrescens dominates the upper-marsh zones almost exclusively, occurring at very high densities. Ammonia spp. are the most abundant in the low-marsh and tidal-flats of the lower reaches of the Guadiana Estuary, but are widespread throughout the estuary, especially during summer when environmental conditions favor their proliferation. Miliammina fusca dominates the sparsely vegetated low-marsh and tidal-flat zones of the upper reaches, where it is associated with calcareous species. Due to its geographical position, the Guadiana system shares characteristics of both Atlantic and Mediterranean estuaries. This is reflected in the foraminiferal assemblages, with a dominance of thermophilous species and an ecological zonation typical of the Mediterranean climatic zone. Sarita Graça Camacho. Center of Environmental and Marine Research (CIMA), Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal scamacho@ualg.pt Delminda Maria de Jesus Moura. CIMA, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal. dmoura@ualg.pt Simon Connor. School of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment, Faculty of Science, Monash University, Clayton 3800, Australia. Simon.Connor@monash.edu David B Scott. Centre for Environmental and Marine Geology, Department of Earth Sciences, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3H 4J1. dbscott@dal.ca PE Article Number: 18.1.17A Copyright: Paleontological Society April 2015 Submission: 26 September 2014. Acceptance: 25 February 2015 Camacho, Sarita Graça, Maria de Jesus Moura, Delminda, Connor, Simon, Scott, David B., and Boski, Tomasz. 2015. Taxonomy, ecology and biogeographical trends of dominant benthic foraminifera species from an Atlantic-Mediterranean estuary (the Guadiana, southeast Portugal). Palaeontologia Electronica 18.1.17A: 1-27. palaeo-electronica.org/content/2015/1106-estuarine-forams-from-iberia CAMACHO ET AL.: ESTUARINE FORAMS FROM IBERIA Tomasz Boski. CIMA, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal. tboski@ualg.pt;

Paleoenvironmental evolution of the Guadiana Estuary, Portugal, during the Holocene: A modern foraminifera analog approach

In this paper, we reconstruct the Holocene paleoenvironmental evolution of the Guadiana Estuary, southwestern Iberian Peninsula. Two previously studied boreholes (CM3 and CM5) were revisited and analyzed in the light of a foraminifera modern analog approach. Cluster analyses define four assemblages with different biocenotic, taphonomic, elevation and distance-to-sea settings, which serve as a baseline for paleoassemblages interpretation. Faunal changes along the sedimentary sequences, together with previous sedimentological and chronological data, redefine the different phases of environmental evolution in the Guadiana Estuary since ca. 13 kyr cal. BP, with special emphasis on the Holocene marine highstand. Estuarine flooding began synchronously in both locations (ca. 9 kyr cal. BP) but manifested differently in each sedimentary sequence. The most seaward borehole records a more evident and longer highstand (ca. 8.8–3.8 kyr cal. BP), characterized by the occurrence of subtidal environments and by the presence of open marine species (Pararotalia cf. spinigera, planktic forms and a significant number of exotic/allochthonous tests), indicating warmer and more marine conditions than today. In the most landward borehole, the highstand is shorter (ca. 8–7.6 kyr cal. BP) and less intense, characterized by the presence of a diverse, mainly autochthonous, open estuary assemblage, dominated by Ammonia aberdoveyensis and Haynesina germanica. At 4.4 kyr cal. BP, during a long deceleration phase of regional sea-level rise, a short but well-defined pulse of marine influence is recorded in CM5, when open estuarine assemblages reappear and replace marsh agglutinated assemblages, suggesting a new submergence phase. This short event is not identified in the previous works carried out in the same area, thus further data are needed to understand whether it is consequent from a global, warming period or whether it resulted only from local and ephemeral forcing effects.

Parameterizations of wave nonlinearity from local wave parameters: a comparison with field data

ABSTRACT Rocha, M.V.L., Silva, P.A., Michallet, H., Abreu, T., Moura, D., Fortes, C.J., 2013. Parameterizations of wave nonlinearity from local wave parameters: a comparison with field data Three different parameterizations of wave nonlinearity from local wave parameters are applied to field data (free-surface elevation and flow velocities) gathered in different beaches along the Portuguese coast, under diverse wave conditions. The hydrodynamics of the various sites are analyzed, together with the performance of each formulation. The data considered extend the range of the data previously used by the authors of the parameterizations, including longer wave lengths and higher Ursell numbers. A comparison is done, based on skill and agreement index values, to understand the performance and applicability of each parameterization and what could be changed to improve such formulations.

Measurement of pocket beach morphology using geographic information technology: the MAPBeach toolbox

ABSTRACT Horta, J., Moura, D., Gabriel, S., Ferreira, Ó., 2013. Measurement of pocket beach morphology using geographic information technology: the MAPBeach toolbox The measurement and evaluation of the morphological response of a beach to changes on wave conditions has been the subject of several studies over the past years. This paper presents and discusses a methodology to compute variations in pocket beaches after morphological monitoring performed trough topographical surveys. The GIS toolbox MAPBeach – GIS tools for Morphological Analysis at Pocket Beaches – was developed to simplify the morphological analysis of pocket beaches. The methodology was applied and tested at two beaches (Galé and Olhos de Água, Algarve, Portugal) with different exposition to the predominant swell. The morphological monitoring used the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and was performed with relative positioning in real time kinematic (RTK) mode. The obtained data were compiled and used to produce digital terrain models in a Geographic Information System (GIS) environment. The developed GIS toolbox enabled a quick and efficient evaluation of the morphological changes occurred at the selected beaches, associated to different forcing conditions, through the determination and further analysis of a set of pre-defined morphological parameters, including beach profiles, beach slope, elevation, volumes, beach curvature, beach rotation, among others. The developed tools proved to be robust and easy to operate, facilitating both the scientific analysis as the determination of useful parameters for coastal management, being therefore of broad application.

Optical Fiber Bioanalyzer Based on Enzymatic Coating Matrix for Catecholamines and Their Metabolites Assessment in Patients With Down Syndrome

The urinary levels of catecholamines [adrenaline (AD), noradrenaline (NA), and dopamine (DA)] and their metabolites [L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA), and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC)], as indicators of physiological stress, were assessed in 40 patients with Down syndrome (DS). The analysis was performed by an optical fiber (OF) bioanalyzer; which was constituted by two main components: a miniaturized chromatographic system and a detection system based on an OF coated with an enzymatic matrix. In this study some working conditions such as, number of fibers in the miniaturized chromatographic column, number of dips for sensitive coating deposition, temperature and time of cure of the sensitive matrix, were optimized in order to achieve higher analytical performance. After tested for calibration the bioanalyzer was applied to urine samples analysis of catecholamines and their metabolites, comparing the results with those obtained by both, a classical analytical method, namely high performance liquid chromatography coupled to an electrochemical detector (HPLC-ED), and an OF biosensor based on a sensitive cladding of laccase (LacOF biosensor). The results of catecholamines in patients with DS revealed that 15% and 22.5% of the analyzed subjects showed DA and AD concentrations, respectively, above the pathological levels. In the determinations of NA, the 40 samples showed concentration values below the normal levels, while in the determination of catecholamines metabolites 5% of the urine samples showed values above 118 and 1681 for L-DOPA and DOPAC, respectively.