Modern pollen rain raises doubts about the intensity and extension of the Last Glacial Cycle in Carajás: A reply to D’Apolito et al.

Abstract

In this paper, we presented a reply to the comments on modern pollen rain and interpretations about the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) by D’Apolito et al. Carajás may be considered as a micro-hotspot of plant endemism, mainly related to edaphic conditions and presence of different micro-habitats for canga vegetation into ironstone domains. These plants developed several survival strategies, including morphological and physiological adaptations, which is difficult for comparisons with any other distinct biomes or ecosystems. Furthermore, inaccurate interpretation of pollen taxa and habitat types by the previous palynological studies in Carajás, which are keys points presented in Guimarães et al., were not questioned by D’Apolito et al. Therefore, incomplete pollen database, uncertainties about pollen descriptions and plant–pollen habitat, poor knowledge about pollen production and dispersion in edaphically conditioned areas, as well as missing of multiproxy evidences about geology, geomorphology, faciology, and geochemistry can make LGM interpretations a very challenging task. This can produce more noises than reliable signals of paleoclimate changes.