Mud entrapment evolution on the inner shelf off the Guadiana River

Simposio sobre el Margen Ibérico Atlántico (9º. 2018. Coimbra, Portugal)The evolution of a mud entrapment confined to the paleo-Guadiana incised valley was investigated and interpreted in terms of environmental changes. High-resolution seismic data and a gravity core were analyzed. Two distinct intervals were identified. The lower part of the sediment core recorded a transient increase of the gravel and sand fractions and low sedimentation rate, interpreted either as low sediment inputs to the shelf, or the prevalence of erosional processes in this area promoted by high-energy events. The upper part of the core, depicting the recent sedimentation, is dominated by fine-grained sediments and showed increasing abundances of benthic foraminiferal species influenced by river discharges. In general, sedimentological and benthic foraminiferal variations indicated environmental changes that were driven by variable sediment supplies to the shelf promoted by high-energy events, related with the regional record of floods and storms.Centro de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental, Universidade do Algarve, PortugalInstituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra, EspañaGEOMAR Helmholtz-Zentrum für Ozeanforschung Kiel, AlemaniaInstituto Geológico y Minero de España, EspañaDepartment of Coastal and Marine Systems Sciences, Coastal Carolina University, Estados UnidosDepartment of Geosciences, University of Bremen, AlemaniaPeer reviewe