Late Quaternary environmental changes in the Lagoa da Curuca region (eastern Amazonia, Brazil) and evidence of Podocarpus in the Amazon lowland

Late-glacial and Holocene vegetational and climate dynamics and human impact of the eastern Amazon rain forest in the coastal region of eastern Para State in northern Brazil have been studied in two sedimentary records from Lagoa da Curuca. Seven radiocarbon dates provide the chronology for two pollen and charcoal records starting from 11,700 and 9440 uncal B.P. to present. Dense and high diverse terra firme Amazon rain forest in the coastal area shows that there was no savanna during the Late-glacial period. The occurrence of Podocarpus trees in the coastal region during the Late-glacial indicate wet and markedly colder conditions at that time. A possible habitat for Pleistocene populations of Podocarpus trees which are now also evident from several other Amazon regions is discussed. There were no rain forest fires between 11,700 and 10,840 uncal B.P. The increase of charcoal particles in the lake deposits after this period suggest an early Amerindian occupation of the coastal region.