Maria Judite Garcia

The inventory of geological heritage of the state of São Paulo, Brazil: Methodological basis, results and perspectives

An inventory of geological sites based on solid and clear criteria is a first step for any geoconservation strategy. This paper describes the method used in the geoheritage inventory of the State of São Paulo, Brazil, and presents its main results. This inventory developed by the geoscientific community aimed to identify geosites with scientific value in the whole state, using a systematic approach. All 142 geosites representative of 11 geological frameworks were characterised and quantitatively evaluated according to their scientific value and risk of degradation, in order to establish priorities for their future management. An online database of the inventory is under construction, which will be available to be easily consulted and updated by the geoscientific community. All data were made available to the State Geological Institute as the backbone for the implementation of a future state geoconservation strategy.

Cenozoic distribution of Ephedripites Bolkhovitina (1953) ex Potonié (1958) emend. Krutzsch (1961) in Brazil

Abstract Here we present a critical revision of the occurrence of Ephedripites pollen grains during the Cenozoic of Brazil along with a new interpretation of the palaeo-biogeographical implications regarding the distribution of E. eocenipites, E. fusiformis, E. lusaticus and E. claricristatus (=E. tertiarius) in continental and marine sediments. Morphological features of these taxa, in general terms, differ from those of Cretaceous forms by the reduced number of plicae and thinner ribs. The revision of the Brazilian literature of Ephedripites point to a Paleocene distribution restricted to 30° S palaeo-latitude, whereas from the Eocene to the Pliocene, this genus is found in higher palaeo-latitudes of south-eastern and southern Brazil, attesting its occurrence in vegetation on dry or well drained soils.

O significado paleoambiental de palinomorfos de fungos em turfas quaternárias do médio vale do rio Paraíba do Sul, SP, Brasil

This study deals with spores, conidia and hyphae of fungi present in a peatbog core from the Eugenio de Melo district, middle Paraiba do Sul river valley in the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Dated between 11,240 to 300 cal. years BP, the core comprises parts of two sedimentary cycles separated by a hiatus of about 7,000 years. Palynomorphs were extracted following standard procedures with the dissolution of mineral components and elimination of humid acids, followed by acetolysis. A total of 210 fungal palynomorphs were identified based on comparison with fossil and modern genera and species with the aim of determining their paleocological significance; diagrams were prepared of 40 palynomorphs selected as representative of the diversity of the assemblage which allowed three intervals to be estalished: Interval I between 360 and 190 cm depths with ages between 11,240 cal. yr BP and 8,930 years BP (interpolated age); Interval II between 191 and 110 cm depths and > 718 and 550 years BP (interpolated) in age; and interval III between 110 and 0 cm depths dated between 550 years BP (interpolated) and the present.The majority of the taxa found in this study are saprophytes, followed by leaf parasites as well as pathogens and fecal decomposers. The fungal spore assemblages along the sediment profile indicate growth and preservation within a reducing environment containing abundant decaying organic matter. Some mycorrhizal spores are associated with Cyperaceae/Poaceae in wet environments and/or with Poaceae in waterlogged conditions, which is indicative of open vegetation in both cases. The occurrence of Ascodesmisites malayensis , a saprophyte on Cyperaceae leaves, in sediments dated from 11,240 cal. years BP and 10,800 years BP (interpolated age) confirms a soaked substrate or highest levels of water. Anatolinites, a pathogenic genus thriving on leaves of living plants, occurs at the beginning of interval II, after a hiatus of about 7,000 years BP, when the area was covered by forests.Plant parasites of woody substrates, such as Diporicellaesporites cf. D. liaoningensis and Diporicellaesporites sp. 9, indicate prevailing arboreal vegetation during the first cycle of organic matter deposition. The abundance of Monoporisporites sp. 6, a fecal decomposer, which has been related to the presence of herbivorous animals within the last 300 years, is likely related to anthropogenic activities in the modern peatbogs.