TITLE:
Implications of Marine Hydrodynamism in the Dispersal and Modern Distribution of Pollen on the Cameroonian Continental Shelf
AUTHORS:
Martin Darius Bengo, Hugues-Yvan Gomat, Pierre Giresse, Jean Maley, Dieudonné Malounguila Nganga
KEYWORDS:
Pollens and Spores, Continental Shelf, Littoral, Dispersion, Sedimentation, Marine Currents, River Inputs, Sanaga River, Cameroon
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Geology,
Vol.15 No.10,
October
27,
2025
ABSTRACT: This study explores the dynamism of pollen dispersal and sedimentation on the Cameroonian continental shelf, influenced by marine currents and fluvial inputs, in particular those of the Sanaga River, crossing from NE to SW different plant successions ranging from savannah to humid forest. In addition, the monsoon and trade wind flows blow towards the continent, while the NE winds of the Harmattan directed towards the ocean hardly exceed the Savannah-Forest boundary. Through the analysis of 66 dredging samples, 43,131 pollens were identified, belonging to 381 taxa divided into 116 botanical families. The study reveals that the terrigenous inputs are essentially fluvial and concentrated at the front of the mouths. Marine currents play an important role in the distribution of pollen near the coast and offshore. It has been observed that large, flattened pollens are observed near the coasts, while small pollens can be transported easily to the open sea. In addition, Rhizophora pollens and spores, often recorded in fossil spectra, vary differently depending on the distance from areas of high mangrove production. The results provide a reference model for the reconstruction of past paleoenvironments and climates.