lagoons, for it was frequently observed that soil around 
the bases of streamside Hymenaea, where resin often 
accumulates, has been washed away, exposing the roots. 
In general, it has been observed that present-day habi- 
tats of A. Courbaril offer a number of possibilities for 
resin to be deposited in a site dominated by mangrove 
vegetation. 
Interpretation of Rhizophora Pollen Data from A mber- 
bearing Sediments 
Muller (1959) studied the pollen of mangrove and asso- 
ciated vegetation in sediments of the Orinoco delta and 
the Gu-f of Paria near Trinidad. He was also able to 
define palynological provinces in these sediments on the 
basis of pollen composition and abundance. He has shown 
that the major factor influencing pollen deposition there 
is water transportation. He further points out that pollen 
studies may be of use in facies determination and recon- 
struction of ancient basins of sedimentation. Van der 
Hammen (1963) extends Muller’s observations and con- 
cludes the following in regard to deposition of mangrove 
pollen in British Guiana (pp. 140-141): 
1) *‘{n a Mangrove forest the percentage of Rhizo- 
phora +- Avicennia may be between 45 and 95%. If the 
Mangrove forest forms only a narrow fringe, the sedi- 
ment tends to have lower percentage, as for instance 80." 
2) ‘‘Mud deposited in front of the coast-line, may 
have percentages of Rhizophora + Avicennia pollen of 
30-50%. Further offshore the percentage of Rhizophora 
pollen increases and may be up to 70% or more.” 
3) ‘Swamp forests immediately behind the Mangrove 
forest may have 45-10% (or less) and Swamp forests 
farther inland may have 10-09% Rhizophora pollen in 
the sediment." 
{ 811 ] 
