A study of fossil diatoms from Lagoa das Diatomáceas (Dois Irmãos, Recife) was carried out based on a 4.5-meter-long core sample. Samples were analyzed at 10 cm intervals. A total of 46 taxa were identified in 19 genera, 40 species and six varieties. The stratigraphic column was composed of epiphytic (Actinella, Amphora, Cocconeis Eunotia, Fragilaria, Frustulia, Gomphonema and Rhopalodia), benthic (Navicula, Neidium, Nitzschia, Surirella), and planktonic (Aulacoseira, Cyclotella and Skeletonema) genera. Actinella brasiliensis, Anomoeoneis serians, Eunotia pectinalis and Frustulia rhomboides are oligohalobe, littoral species with high frequency and abundance, which suggests sediment deposition in a limnetic environment. Epiphyte dominance at certain depths confirms the presence of macrophytes during the deposition period. Only seven of the identified species are from a marine environment: Cocconeis heteroidea, Cocconeis scutellum, Diploneis decipiens, Nitzschia scalaris, Nitzschia sigma, Skeletonema costatum and Surirella heideni which occurred sporadically.
diatoms; Quaternary; fossil; stratigraphy
