Distribuição espacial dos foraminíferos no perfil transversal ao manguezal da margem da baía de Sepetiba-RJ: habitat e paleoambiente

Abstract

Intertidal foraminifera are widely used for reconstructing the Holocene environmental. However, despite the mangroves, studies of foraminifera are relatively scarce. The structure of the habitat and its degree of exposure acts in the spatial distribution of intertidal species. In a profile across the mangrove which borders the Bay of Sepetiba (RJ), was investigated the influence of habitat and structural parameters in spatial distribution of foraminifera in the mangrove. The parameters chosen in this study were litter, lithology, total organic matter, topography, botanical zones, botanical species, average tree height and density of trees. A core (144 cm) was also descript in terms of its lithology, total organic matter, biogenic composition, including foraminifera. The profile presented clayey silt texture, total organic matter concentrated around mangrove and litter accumulated mainly in mangrove higher. The foraminifera (24) occurred only in the mangrove, dominated by the agglutinanted species, but with significant presence of calcareous species. The density of tests concentrated in mangrove higher. A. beccarii f. tepida, E. excavatum, A. mexicana, Q. seminulum and T. inflata were more constant. The diversity showed no significant spatial variability, and was marked by low dominance and high evenness. There was a significant difference of the species richness between exposed and protected habitats. The species richness showed moderate correlation with litter and density of trees. A. mexicana and H. wilberti showed moderate correlation with species richness. Q. seminulum showed significant correlation with total organic matter and average height of the trees. T. inflata showed significant correlation with the richness and the litter. In the core, it was possible to identify three paleoenvironments of confined bay: infralitoral, mesolitoral and supralitoral. The mangrove occurred between the level 124cm and 62 cm, and hipersaline flat from the level 24 cm.