Reconstruction of late Holocene vegetation and climate of Hluhluwe Mfolozi area using phytoliths

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dc.contributor.advisorGillson, Lindseyen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorGallaher, Kirsten S Len_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2017-12-12T14:25:11Z
dc.date.available2017-12-12T14:25:11Z
dc.date.issued2010en_ZA
dc.description.abstractThis study presents a phytolith record from a late Holocene sedimentary core from the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi area in northeastern KwaZulu-Natal. Radiocarbon dating showed the oldest sediments to be from 23 80 ± 40 BP. Phytoliths are present throughout the record. There was a high degree of unclassifiable phytoliths (>79% per sub-sample), but preliminary trends identified include a dominance of C₄ grasses throughout (Chloridoideae and Panicoideae; adapted to higher temperatures and greater insolation), and slightly more C₃ grasses (Pooideae; adapted to cooler temperatures and/or winter rainfall) towards the base. The tree cover density index (D/P) does not reflect increased bush encroachment at this site, but appears to show a closed forest at 36cm depth and relatively densely-wooded savannas throughout, while the humidity-aridity index (lph) and water stress index (Fs) suggest a move towards a xerophytic short grass savanna, and increased water stress at the top of the sequence, which could reflect the climate becoming hotter and drier due to global warming. Future studies should be done to identify phytoliths specific to the vegetation of the study site and to calibrate the indices used to confirm their utility for this area.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationGallaher, K. S. L. (2010). <i>Reconstruction of late Holocene vegetation and climate of Hluhluwe Mfolozi area using phytoliths</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/26585en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationGallaher, Kirsten S L. <i>"Reconstruction of late Holocene vegetation and climate of Hluhluwe Mfolozi area using phytoliths."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/26585en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationGallaher, K. 2010. Reconstruction of late Holocene vegetation and climate of Hluhluwe Mfolozi area using phytoliths. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Gallaher, Kirsten S L AB - This study presents a phytolith record from a late Holocene sedimentary core from the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi area in northeastern KwaZulu-Natal. Radiocarbon dating showed the oldest sediments to be from 23 80 ± 40 BP. Phytoliths are present throughout the record. There was a high degree of unclassifiable phytoliths (>79% per sub-sample), but preliminary trends identified include a dominance of C₄ grasses throughout (Chloridoideae and Panicoideae; adapted to higher temperatures and greater insolation), and slightly more C₃ grasses (Pooideae; adapted to cooler temperatures and/or winter rainfall) towards the base. The tree cover density index (D/P) does not reflect increased bush encroachment at this site, but appears to show a closed forest at 36cm depth and relatively densely-wooded savannas throughout, while the humidity-aridity index (lph) and water stress index (Fs) suggest a move towards a xerophytic short grass savanna, and increased water stress at the top of the sequence, which could reflect the climate becoming hotter and drier due to global warming. Future studies should be done to identify phytoliths specific to the vegetation of the study site and to calibrate the indices used to confirm their utility for this area. DA - 2010 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2010 T1 - Reconstruction of late Holocene vegetation and climate of Hluhluwe Mfolozi area using phytoliths TI - Reconstruction of late Holocene vegetation and climate of Hluhluwe Mfolozi area using phytoliths UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/26585 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/26585
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationGallaher KSL. Reconstruction of late Holocene vegetation and climate of Hluhluwe Mfolozi area using phytoliths. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences, 2010 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/26585en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Biological Sciencesen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Scienceen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherBotanyen_ZA
dc.subject.otherPalaebotanyen_ZA
dc.titleReconstruction of late Holocene vegetation and climate of Hluhluwe Mfolozi area using phytolithsen_ZA
dc.typeBachelor Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelHonours
dc.type.qualificationnameBSc (Hons)en_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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