Resumo

NIEVES-RIVERA, Ángel M. Paleobotanical notes on mangrove-like plants of puerto rico. INCI [online]. 2007, vol.32, n.3, pp.175-179. ISSN 0378-1844.

Several new trace fossils (ichnofossils) of mangrove-like plants are reported for Puerto Rico; all these fossils are new records for Puerto Rico. The earliest root casts in Puerto Rico were dated Late Cretaceous (probably Santonian, 85.8-83.5Ma). Earlier paleobotanical studies in Tertiary-dated sites in Puerto Rico are also discussed. Oligocene and Miocene lignitic rocks, traces of amber, and trace fossils (possibly mangrove rhizoliths) also have been found in several geological formations of northern and southern Puerto Rico (e.g., Juana Díaz Formation and Ponce Limestone). Rhizoliths of Scaveola cf. plumieri (L.) Vahl has been collected from coastal Pleistocene eolianite terraces that occur in northern Puerto Rico. The Puerto Rican material is herein described and illustrated, and a brief paleobotanical discussion provided. To date, the data on ichnofossils of mangrove-like plants are too poor to speculate on such subjects as dispersal and island biogeography, especially in Puerto Rico. Most of the taxonomic information presented herein was collected from fragmentary surveys. However, the data herein suggest that the composition of fossilized mangrove-like plants is more complex than previously suspected. Therefore, it would seem important to continue studying such paleoenvironments, in order to contribute to the conservation and knowledge of the paleoecology of mangrove-like plants of Puerto Rico.

Palavras-chave : Mangrove; Paleobotany; Puerto Rico.