TITLE:
Late Quaternary Paleoenvironmental Dynamics on the Cameroonian Continental Shelf (Gulf of Guinea): Palynological and Sedimentary Insights
AUTHORS:
Martin Darius Bengo, Hugues-Yvan Gomat, Suspense Averti Ifo, Jean Maley, Pierre Giresse
KEYWORDS:
Paleoenvironments, Climate, C61 Marine Core, Pollen, Central Africa, Cameroon, Holocene
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.13 No.12,
December
4,
2025
ABSTRACT: The palynological study of core C61, retrieved from the Cameroonian shelf near the Sanaga Delta, offers new insights into the evolution of coastal environments and vegetation dynamics in Central Africa since the end of the Last Glacial Maximum. This 6-meter-long marine sequence spans the transition from the Late Pleistocene to the Late Holocene. Pollen analysis of 26 stratigraphic levels revealed rich and diverse assemblages (224 taxa, 93 families), allowing the identification of three major paleoecological phases: 1) a warm and humid period dominated by shrub savannas (Cyperaceae, Bridelia, Combretaceae) inland and Rhizophora mangroves along the coast; 2) a more open landscape phase marked by the expansion of grasses (Poaceae), Commelina, and spores, though without strong evidence of aridification; 3) a phase characterized by alternating humid and drier intervals, reflected in the decline of herbaceous taxa and the development of forest species (Caesalpiniaceae, Sapotaceae, Sacoglottis, Podocarpus). These stages roughly correspond to the Early, Middle, and Late Holocene. While the sequence captures broad environmental trends, gaps in chronological resolution limit the detection of short-term climatic events such as the ca. 2.5 ka dry phase observed in nearby lake archives. The C61 record highlights the high sensitivity of coastal vegetation in Central Africa to Holocene climatic variability, particularly to latitudinal shifts of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). By linking marine pollen signals to regional vegetation dynamics, this study contributes to refining our understanding of the long-term ecological responses of tropical coastal systems to climate forcing.