Paleoenvironmental characterization of the lower course of the Mourão River, Paraná – Brazil

Paleoenvironmental characterization of the lower course of the Mourão River, Paraná – Brazil

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21680/2447-3359.2026v12n1ID42566

Abstract

The study analyzed the formation process of an alluvial terrace in the lower course of the Mourão River (Engenheiro Beltrão/Paraná/Brazil) by identifying and quantifying phytoliths and freshwater sponge spicules from a 75 cm deep sediment core (14C dating = 2,770 cal BP). From 45 cm onwards, it was possible to establish phytolith indices (tree cover; adaptation to aridity and water stress). Three paleoenvironmental zones were identified: i) 75 to 65 cm - sand and clay (~ 40%), low preservation and diversification of phytoliths (< 100), no spicules - period without water/short water residence time;  ii) 65 to 15 cm - predominance of clay (max. 60%), increased diversification and concentration of phytoliths from the base to the top (max. 220), phytolith indices related to the higher proportion of dicotyledons (arboreal and shrubby), presence of mesophilic Poaceae,  phytoliths from Podostemaceae and sponge spicules (gemosclere from Oncosclera navicella) - formation of the alluvial plain; iii) 15 to 0 cm - predominance of clay (55%), concentration of phytoliths (> 250), absence of spicules and phytoliths from Podostemaceae, phytolith indices related to the presence of xerophytic Poaceae and reduction in tree cover - establishment of the terrace.

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Author Biographies

Mauro Parolin, Universidade Estadual do Paraná

Bachelor’s degree in Geography from the State Faculty of Sciences and Letters of Campo Mourão – FECILCAM (1989), Campo Mourão, Paraná; Master’s degree in Environmental Sciences from the State University of Maringá – Graduate Program in Ecology of Continental Aquatic Environments (PEA/UEM), Maringá, Paraná (2001); Ph.D. in Sciences (PEA/UEM, 2006); Postdoctoral Internship at the National University of Mar del Plata, Mar del Plata, Argentina (2016).

Professor in the Department of Geography at the State University of Paraná (UNESPAR), Campo Mourão campus, since 1995; Permanent Professor in the Master’s and Doctoral Program in Geography at UEM (2012–present); Permanent Professor in the Master’s Program in Teaching: Interdisciplinary Teacher Education at the State University of Paraná, Paranavaí campus (2025–present); CNPq Productivity Fellow, Level 2 (2024–present).

Founder and Coordinator of the Paleoenvironmental Studies Laboratory at UNESPAR (LEPAFE) and Founder and Coordinator of the Microplastics Studies Laboratory – Paraná (LAPEMI), both linked to UNESPAR. Researcher at the Multidisciplinary Environmental Studies Group (GEMA/UEM).

Lattes Curriculum: http://lattes.cnpq.br/9805072502886857
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3934-5535

Luan Maler de Oliveira, Universidade Estadual de Maringá

Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from Centro Universitário Integrado de Campo Mourão (2019); Specialist in Active Methodologies and Innovation in Higher Education from the same institution (2020); Master’s degree in Comparative Biology from the State University of Maringá (Graduate Program in Comparative Biology – PGB/UEM, 2023); currently a Ph.D. candidate in the same program.

Member of the Energy Ecology Laboratory (UEM) and the Paleoenvironmental Studies Laboratory at the State University of Paraná (LEPAFE/UNESPAR) since 2023, conducting research on phytoliths, freshwater sponge spicules, and benthic fish.

Lattes Curriculum: http://lattes.cnpq.br/3932141504425027
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4138-7232

João Claudio Alcantara dos Santos, Centro Universitário Integrado

Holds a Bachelor’s degree in Geography (2013) and in Tourism and Environment (2008) from the State University of Paraná – Campo Mourão campus; a Master’s degree (2013) and a Ph.D. (2018) in Geography, with an emphasis on Environmental Analysis, from the State University of Maringá (UEM).

Currently, he is a professor at Centro Universitário Integrado de Campo Mourão, teaching courses such as Geology and Hydrology Applied to Civil Engineering, Soil Mechanics, Pedology and Soil Genesis, and Soil and Water Management and Conservation in the Agronomy program. He also teaches Geography at the high school level at Centro Educacional Cianorte (CEC).

In 2024, he joined the Paraná State Department of Education as a Geography teacher (QPM). He has experience in the following areas: environmental analysis, biogeography, Quaternary environmental changes, river basins, soils, suspended sediment load analysis in rivers, and Geography teaching.

Lattes Curriculum: http://lattes.cnpq.br/2810213728213512
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-5531-3596

Nelson Vicente Lovatto Gasparetto, Universidade Estadual de Maringá

Bachelor’s degree in Geology from the Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos; Master’s degree in Geosciences (Surface Geochemistry) from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul; and Ph.D. in Geosciences (Geochemistry and Geotectonics) from the University of São Paulo.

Retired Professor from the Department of Geography at the State University of Maringá (UEM). Researcher in the Multidisciplinary Environmental Studies Group (GEMA/UEM) at the State University of Maringá, Paraná, Brazil.

Has experience in the field of Geosciences, with an emphasis on Applied Pedology, working mainly on the following topics: genesis of tropical soils, environmental degradation of the physical environment, land use, and geoenvironmental mapping.

Lattes Curriculum: http://lattes.cnpq.br/5303809360596906
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1293-4110

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Published

06-04-2026

How to Cite

PAROLIN, Mauro; OLIVEIRA, Luan Maler de; SANTOS, João Claudio Alcantara dos; GASPARETTO, Nelson Vicente Lovatto. Paleoenvironmental characterization of the lower course of the Mourão River, Paraná – Brazil: Paleoenvironmental characterization of the lower course of the Mourão River, Paraná – Brazil. Notheast Geoscience Journal, [S. l.], v. 12, n. 1, p. 231–242, 2026. DOI: 10.21680/2447-3359.2026v12n1ID42566. Disponível em: https://www.periodicos.ufrn.br/revistadoregne/article/view/42566. Acesso em: 12 sep. 2026.

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 1 (2026): Northeastern Geosciences Journal

Section

Artigos

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