Skip to content

A Model of Holocene Mangrove Development and Relative Sea-level Changes on the Bragança Peninsula (Northern Brazil)

  • Marcelo C. L. Cohen
  • Pedro W. M. Souza Filho
  • Rubén J. Lara
  • Hermann Behling
  • Rodolfo J. Angulo

Abstract

Based on the integration of geological information, the pollen record, radiocarbon data, and modern mangrove distribution, this paper proposes a model of evolutionary development for mangroves on the Brazilian Bragança Peninsula driven by relative sea-level changes from the middle to late Holocene. After a postglacial relative sea-level rise (RSL), the mangrove habitats on the Bragança Peninsula began to develop at about 5100 years BP close to the current RSL, originating in the middle of the peninsula. Between 1800 and 1400 years BP, this littoral area underwent a maximum RSL fall of 1 m below the current one, followed by a gradual RSL rise until 1000 years BP, when the modern RSL was reached. Between 5100 and 1000 years BP, the RSL of the Bragança coastline was probably never higher than 0.6 m above the present level. The first Holocene mangrove forest (5100 years BP) in this region disappeared from the plains due to RSL fall and was replaced by herbaceous vegetation (Cyperaceae and Poaceae).

Cite this activity

Cohen M.C.L., Filho P.W.M.S., Lara R.J., Behling H. and Angulo R.J. (2005) A Model of Holocene Mangrove Development and Relative Sea-level Changes on the Bragança Peninsula (Northern Brazil). Wetlands Ecology and Management 13(4): 433-443. 10.1007/s11273-004-0413-2

Details

Date 01.08.2005
Journal Wetlands Ecology and Management
Issue 4
Volume 13
Pages 433-443
Open Access Closed Access
Open Access Status Closed Access
Eprints_link https://cris.leibniz-zmt.de/id/eprint/3617
Peer-Reviewed

Research Spectrum

The content on this page is maintained by the authors.