Abstract

SCHERER, Caroline  and  LORSCHEITTER, Maria Luisa. Palynomorphs of fungi and cryptogams in Quaternary sediments from two Araucaria forests, Eastern Plateau of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Acta Bot. Bras. [online]. 2008, vol.22, n.1, pp. 131-144. ISSN 0102-3306.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0102-33062008000100015.

Pollen, spores and other palynomorphs preserved in sediments are basic reference material for palaeoenvironmental studies. The aim of this research is to present the taxonomy of fungal and cryptogamic palynomorphs contained in sediments from two Araucaria forests on the Eastern Plateau of Rio Grande do Sul, thus contributing to palaeoenvironmental reconstitution in the region. The analysis involved samples from two Holocene sedimentary profiles from São Francisco de Paula (profile 1, Alpes de São Francisco, 132 cm; profile 2, Banhado Amarelo, 101 cm), collected with a Hiller Sampler. Chemical processing of the samples followed standard methodology, using HCl, HF, KOH, acetolysis and slide mounts in glycerol-jelly. Light microscopy was used in the analysis. Palynomorphs of eight fungi, six algae, five bryophytes and 19 pteridophytes are presented. The description of each palynomorph is followed by illustrations and, whenever possible, by ecological data from the original organism. Distinct palynomorphs preserved in the sediments reveal the potential of this material in providing relevant environmental information, in association with pollen grains, in the study of genesis and expansion of the Araucaria forest.

Keywords : Palynology; Quaternary; Araucária forest; fungi; cryptogams.