Holocene vegetation and soil changes in the driest region of caatinga dry forest – phytolith contribution

IF 5.4 1区农林科学 Q1 GEOSCIENCES, MULTIDISCIPLINARY

Catena Pub Date : 2025-04-19 DOI:10.1016/j.catena.2025.109016

Christianne Farias Fonseca , Carolina Glaeser Beninca , Demetrio Angelo Lama Isminio , Altair Bennert , Luiz Carlos Ruiz Pessenda , Rubens Teixeira de Queiroz , Rafael Albuquerque Xavier , Bartolomeu Israel de Souza , Marcia Regina Calegari , José João Lelis Leal de Souza

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

This study investigates Holocene environmental changes in the driest region of the Caatinga dry forest, using a multiproxy approach integrating phytolith analysis, isotopic data (δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N), radiocarbon dating, and comparisons with regional paleoenvironmental records. Three soil profiles from the Borborema Plateau were analyzed to study the vegetation dynamics (time and space) and soil formation processes. Three distinct environmental moments (EM) were identified since the last approximately 8 cal kyr BP, marking transitions from humid to semiarid conditions in the study area. EM I (before 3.5–2.7 cal kyr BP) represents the wettest phase, with a predominance of C₃ plants and increased soil organic matter accumulation. EM II (2.7–1.1 cal kyr BP) marks a drier phase, with the expansion of C₄ grasses and reduced tree cover, signaling the establishment of Caatinga vegetation. EM III (1.1 cal kyr BP–present) indicates environmental stabilization, with vegetation and soil characteristics resembling current conditions. The findings highlight the role of climate fluctuations, sedimentary processes, and soil development in shaping the present-day Caatinga, reinforcing the importance of local landscape features in moisture retention. These results contribute to understanding the long-term environmental history of the region and its implications for vegetation resilience and land-use strategies in semiarid environments.

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来源期刊

Catena 环境科学-地球科学综合

CiteScore

10.50

自引率

9.70%

发文量

816

审稿时长

54 days

期刊介绍： Catena publishes papers describing original field and laboratory investigations and reviews on geoecology and landscape evolution with emphasis on interdisciplinary aspects of soil science, hydrology and geomorphology. It aims to disseminate new knowledge and foster better understanding of the physical environment, of evolutionary sequences that have resulted in past and current landscapes, and of the natural processes that are likely to determine the fate of our terrestrial environment. Papers within any one of the above topics are welcome provided they are of sufficiently wide interest and relevance.