J. Nannoplankton Res. 27 (2), 2005, pp.159-172 © 2005 International Nannoplankton Association 159 ISSN 1210-8049 Printed by Cambridge University Press, UK Calcareous nannoplankton as a tracer of the marine influence on the NW coast of Portugal over the last 14 000 years C. Guerreiro Centre of Geology, University of Lisbon, Building C6, 6.4.67, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal;
[email protected] M. Cachão Centre of Geology, University of Lisbon, Building C6, 6.4.67, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal & Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Building C6, 6.4.55, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal T. Drago INIAP, IPIMAR, CRIPSUL, 8700-305 Olhão, Portugal Manuscript received 22nd March, 2005; revised manuscript accepted 19th August, 2005 Abstract A calcareous nannoplankton taphonomic and palaeoecological study was performed on cores from the Minho and Douro Estuaries (NW Portugal) and from the NW Portuguese middle continental shelf. Because certain nannoplankton species are taphonomically resistant to the highly energetic and aggressive conditions between the estuaries and the shelf, their sedimentary record acts as an oceanic tracer in such coastal domains. For the Late Quaternary, this allows interpretation of eustatic variation from the induced sequence of palaeoenvironmental changes. Palaeogeographically, the time-series pattern of nannofossil abundances in these coastal sediments is inter- preted as follows: (1) persistently high amounts of nannofossils (2x107 nannofossils/g) are related to marine envi- ronmental conditions, produced by post-glacial flooding of pre-existing valleys; (2) the gradual increase in intermit- tency of nannofossil abundances through time indicates a regressive trend, first due to recovery of the estuarine con- ditions, followed by a total absence of nannofossils, indicating evolution towards complete emersion either by flu- vial (Core CPF1) or barrier-beach sediments (Cores M1, M2, D1A and D1B).