Multifactorial analysis of the geochemical characterization in a Brazilian hypersaline floodplain

Authors

  • Diógenes Félix da Silva Costa Departamento de Geografia / Laboratório de Ecologia do Semiárido - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (Campus de Caicó).
  • José Etham de Lucena Barbosa Departamento de Biologia / Laboratório de Ecologia Aquática - Universidade Estadual da Paraíba (Campus central - Campina Grande).
  • Renato De Medeiros Rocha Departamento de Geografia / Laboratório de Ecologia do Semiárido - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (Campus de Caicó).
  • Amadeu M. V. M. Soares Departamento de Biologia / CESAM - Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar - Universidade de Aveiro
  • Ana Isabel Lillebø Departamento de Biologia / CESAM - Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar - Universidade de Aveiro

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14210/bjast.v18n1.p91-90

Abstract

Hypersaline floodplains (sabkhas or saltflats) consist of the supratidal plains with low input of clastic sediments, high evaporation rates, and crustal salts. These environments are prone to periodical floodings and evaporite deposition, common in coastal areas with flat topography of arid regions, developing in response to two environmental conditions: deflation of surface sediments, or accumulation of sediments in a lake, or by a combination of both processes. This research developed a geochemical and textural characterization in soil samples collected in the estuarine floodplain (367.7 km2) of the Apodi-Mossoró River (Northeastern coast of Brazil), analyzing the results using multivariate statistics. The cluster and PCA analyses applied to the set of sampled sites enabled to identify two zones typical of the estuarine plain, as well as the major groups of parameters related, being one with the greater direct influence of tides (lower estuary) and another, upstream. This is a result of the a gradual accumulation in the soil (mainly the sodium), after the flood period in the spring tides, followed by a rapid water evaporation caused by high temperatures (>30°C) and constant winds.

Author Biographies

Diógenes Félix da Silva Costa, Departamento de Geografia / Laboratório de Ecologia do Semiárido - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (Campus de Caicó).

Bel. e Lic. em Geografia, doutorando em Ecologia (Univ. de Aveiro - Portugal) / Professor do Depto. de Geografia / Lab. de Ecologia do Semiárido. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (Campus de Caicó).

 

José Etham de Lucena Barbosa, Departamento de Biologia / Laboratório de Ecologia Aquática - Universidade Estadual da Paraíba (Campus central - Campina Grande).

Bel. em Biologia, doutor em Ecologia e Recursos Naturais (UFSCAR) / Professor Associado do Departamento de Biologia / Laboratório de Ecologia Aquática - Universidade Estadual da Paraíba (Campus central - Campina Grande).

Renato De Medeiros Rocha, Departamento de Geografia / Laboratório de Ecologia do Semiárido - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (Campus de Caicó).

Bel. em Biologia e Doutor em Biotecnologia / Professor Associado do Depto. de Geografia / Coordenador do Lab. de Ecologia do Semiárido. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (Campus de Caicó).

Amadeu M. V. M. Soares, Departamento de Biologia / CESAM - Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar - Universidade de Aveiro

Professor Catedrático do Departamento de Biologia - Universidade de Aveiro

Ana Isabel Lillebø, Departamento de Biologia / CESAM - Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar - Universidade de Aveiro

Investigadora Auxiliar do Depto. de Biologia

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Published

2014-07-10

Issue

Vol. 18 No. 1 (2014)

Section

Research Articles

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