Pollen analysis of sediment core GeoB1023-5

A high resolution marine pollen record from site GeoB1023, west of the northern Namib desert provides data on vegetation and climate change for the last 21 ka at an average resolution of 185 y. Pollen and spores are mainly delivered to the site by the Cunene river and by surface and mid-tropospheric wind systems. The main pollen source areas are located between 13°S and 21°S, which includes the northern Namib desert and semi-desert, the Angola-northern Namibian highland, and the north-western Kalahari. The pollen spectra reflect environmental changes in the region. The last glacial maximum (LGM) was characterised by colder and more arid conditions than at present, when a vegetation with temperate elements such as Asteroideae, Ericaceae, and Restionaceae grew north of 21°S. At 17.5 ka cal. B.P., an amelioration both in temperature and humidity terminated the LGM but, in the northern Kalahari, mean annual rainfall in the interval 17.5-14.4 ka cal. B.P. was probably 100-150 mm lower than at present (400-500 mm/y). The Late-glacial to early Holocene transition includes two arid periods, i.e. 14.4-12.5 and 10.9-9.3 ka cal. B.P. The last part of the former period may be correlated with the Younger Dryas. The warmest and most humid period in the Holocene occurred between 6.3 and 4.8 ka cal. B.P. During the last 2000 years, human impact, as reflected by indications of deforestation, enhanced burning and overgrazing, progressively intensified.

Pollen record of sediment core GeoB1008-3 from the Congo fan

Palynological investigation of the marine core, GeoB1008-3, from near the mouth of the Congo river (6°35.6'S/10°19.1'E), provides information about the changes in vegetation and climate in West Equatorial Africa during the last 190 ka. The pollen diagram is divided into zones 1-6 which are considered to correspond in time with the marine isotope stages 1-6. Oscillations in temperature and moisture are indicated during the cold stage 6. During stage 5, two cooler periods (5d and 5b) can be shown with an expansion of Podocarpus forests to lower elevations on the expense of lowland rain forest. Extended mangrove swamps existed along the coast in times of high sea level (stages 5 and 1).

Pollen analysis of sediment core GIK16415-2 in the eastern tropical Atlantic

Palynological data of the marine core M 16415-2 show latitudinal shifts of the northern fringe of the tropical rain forest in north-west Africa during the last 700 ka. Savanna and dry open forest expanded southwards and tropical rain forest expanded northwards during dry and humid periods, respectively. Until 220 ka B.P., the tropical rain forest probably kept its zonal character in West Africa during glacials and interglacials. It is only during the last two glacial periods that the rain forest possibly fragmented into refugia. Throughout the Brunhes chron, pollen and spore transport was mainly by trade winds.

Cianamida hidrogenada na quebra de dormência das gemas e fenologia do caquizeiro em clima semiárido.

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo caracterizar os estádios fenológicos e avaliar a brotação de caquizeiros ?Rama Forte Tardio? tratados com cianamida hidrogenada, no Vale do São Francisco, em Petrolina, Pernambuco.

Cianamida hidrogenada na produção de frutos de caquizeiro em clima semiárido.

A produção mundial de caqui foi de 4.637.357 toneladas em 2013, tendo o Brasil contribuído com 173.169 toneladas da fruta, produção que o posiciona como quarto maior produtor mundial, superado pela China, Coréia do Sul e Japão (FAO, 2015). Para Fachinello et al. (2011) a cultura do caquizeiro apresenta viabilidade econômica para o setor de frutícola no Brasil por evidenciar destaque no mercado nacional, devido a possibilidade de obtenção de boa produtividade, com reduzido emprego de insumos, pela boa adaptabilidade a diferentes condições climáticas e possibilidade de exportação. Nesse contexto, estudos fenológicos e fisiológicos com cultivares de macieiras e pereiras, também originadas de clima temperado têm demonstrado bom desempenho agronômico no Vale do São Francisco. Dessa forma, há subsídios para que o caquizeiro represente uma possibilidade de produção em condição semiárida tropical de elevada temperatura e taxa evapotranspirativa e baixa umidade relativa do ar. Para desencadear essa sequência de estádios fonológicos do caquizeiro, há necessidade de se quebrar a dormência das gemas, técnica que pode ser um fator limitante, pois para o crescimento adequado da cultura são necessárias 504 h de frio, com temperatura abaixo de 7,2°C para a quebra da dormência (AYUB et al., 2009; FAQUIM et al., 2007). Assim, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo caracterizar a produtividade e a qualidade de frutos de caquizeiros ?Rama Forte Tardio? tratados com cianamida hidrogenada, no Vale do São Francisco, Petrolina, Pernambuco