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Mazuy A, Ferrara V, Ekblom A, Delhon C. A rapid and simple method for the extraction of biogenic silica (BSi) in phytolith-poor sediments and soils. MethodsX 2024; 12:102634. [PMID: 38435636 PMCID: PMC10907204 DOI: 10.1016/j.mex.2024.102634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Phytoliths can be used to reconstruct human-nature dynamics over the long term (from decennial to centennial and millennial time scales) and may capture activities that cannot be reconstructed through other proxies. Phytoliths consist of fossil biogenic silica (BSi), formed in plant organs and then released into the soil with plant decay. When working in environmental contexts where the phytolith signal is highly diluted, as is the case in environments with a long history of land use, animal-plant interactions and open woody environments, the extraction of phytoliths remains a challenge. To address this issue, we developed an efficient method for the extraction of biogenic silica (BSi) from sediments and soils of contexts characterised by the long-term human and animal presence and disturbance, such as remnants of old agroforestry systems. The method we developed has a number of advantages, including: •An easy and time-efficient methodology to perform (with an overall processing time of 1.5/2 days for a batch of 16 samples)•An extraction method free from dangerous chemicals•A method amenable to non-experts without a prior background in lab extraction procedures.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vincenza Ferrara
- Department of Archaeology and Ancient History, Uppsala University - Engelska Parken, Thunbergsvägen 3H, Uppsala 751 26, Sweden
- Department of Human Geography, Stockholm University - Geovetenskapens hus, Svante Arrhenius väg 8, Frescati, Stockholm 106 91, Sweden
| | - Anneli Ekblom
- Department of Archaeology and Ancient History, Uppsala University - Engelska Parken, Thunbergsvägen 3H, Uppsala 751 26, Sweden
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Khan AL. Silicon: A valuable soil element for improving plant growth and CO 2 sequestration. J Adv Res 2024:S2090-1232(24)00217-0. [PMID: 38806098 DOI: 10.1016/j.jare.2024.05.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2023] [Revised: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Silicon (Si), the second most abundant and quasi-essential soil element, is locked as a recalcitrant silicate mineral in the Earth's crust. The physical abundance of silicates can play an essential role in increasing plant productivity. Plants store Si as biogenic silica (phytoliths), which is mobilized through a chemical weathering process in the soil. AIM OF REVIEW Although Si is a critical element for plant growth, there is still a considerable need to understand its dissolution, uptake, and translocation in agroecosystems. Here, we show recent progress in understanding the interactome of Si, CO2, the microbiome, and soil chemistry, which can sustainably govern silicate dissolution and cycling in agriculture. KEY SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS OF THIS REVIEW Si cycling is directly related to carbon cycling, and the resulting climate stability can be enhanced by negative feedback between atmospheric CO2 and the silicate uptake process. Improved Si mobilization in the rhizosphere by the presence of reactive elements (for example, Ca, Na, Al, Zn, and Fe) and Si uptake through genetic transporters in plants are crucial to achieving the dual objectives of (i) enhancing crop productivity and (ii) abiotic stress tolerance. Furthermore, the microbiome is a symbiotic partner of plants. Bacterial and fungal microbiomes can solubilize silicate minerals through intriguingly complex bioweathering mechanisms by producing beneficial metabolites and enzymes. However, the interaction of Si with CO2 and the microbiome's function in mobilization have been understudied. This review shows that enhancing our understanding of Si, CO2, the microbiome, and soil chemistry can help in sustainable crop production during climatic stress events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdul Latif Khan
- Department of Engineering Technology, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
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3
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Qader W, Dar RA, Rashid I. Phytolith particulate matter and its potential human and environmental effects. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 327:121541. [PMID: 37019257 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2022] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Particulate matter from both natural and anthropogenic sources is known to affect air quality and human health. However, the abundance and varied composition of the suspended particulate matter make it difficult to locate the precise precursors for some of these atmospheric pollutants. Plants deposit appreciable quantities of microscopic biogenic silica in and/or between their cells, known as phytoliths, which get released into the soil surface after the death and decomposition of plants. Dust storms from exposed terrains, forest fires, and stubble burning disperse these phytoliths into the atmosphere. Their durability, chemical composition, and diverse morphology prompt us to view phytoliths as a possible particulate matter that could impact air quality, climate, and human health. Estimating the phytolith particulate matter, its toxicity, and environmental impacts will help take effective and targeted policies for improving air quality and decreasing health risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Waseem Qader
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India
| | - Reyaz Ahmad Dar
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India.
| | - Irfan Rashid
- Department of Botany, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India
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Peppe DJ, Cote SM, Deino AL, Fox DL, Kingston JD, Kinyanjui RN, Lukens WE, MacLatchy LM, Novello A, Strömberg CAE, Driese SG, Garrett ND, Hillis KR, Jacobs BF, Jenkins KEH, Kityo RM, Lehmann T, Manthi FK, Mbua EN, Michel LA, Miller ER, Mugume AAT, Muteti SN, Nengo IO, Oginga KO, Phelps SR, Polissar P, Rossie JB, Stevens NJ, Uno KT, McNulty KP. Oldest evidence of abundant C 4 grasses and habitat heterogeneity in eastern Africa. Science 2023; 380:173-177. [PMID: 37053309 DOI: 10.1126/science.abq2834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/15/2023]
Abstract
The assembly of Africa's iconic C4 grassland ecosystems is central to evolutionary interpretations of many mammal lineages, including hominins. C4 grasses are thought to have become ecologically dominant in Africa only after 10 million years ago (Ma). However, paleobotanical records older than 10 Ma are sparse, limiting assessment of the timing and nature of C4 biomass expansion. This study uses a multiproxy design to document vegetation structure from nine Early Miocene mammal site complexes across eastern Africa. Results demonstrate that between ~21 and 16 Ma, C4 grasses were locally abundant, contributing to heterogeneous habitats ranging from forests to wooded grasslands. These data push back the oldest evidence of C4 grass-dominated habitats in Africa-and globally-by more than 10 million years, calling for revised paleoecological interpretations of mammalian evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J Peppe
- Department of Geosciences, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798, USA
| | - Susanne M Cote
- Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Alan L Deino
- Berkeley Geochronology Center, Berkeley, CA 94709, USA
| | - David L Fox
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - John D Kingston
- Department of Anthropology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Rahab N Kinyanjui
- Department of Earth Sciences, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi 00100, Kenya
- Max Planck Institute for Geoanthropology, D-07743 Jena, Germany
- Human Origins Program, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20013, USA
| | - William E Lukens
- Department of Geology & Environmental Science, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA 22807, USA
| | - Laura M MacLatchy
- Department of Anthropology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Museum of Paleontology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Alice Novello
- CEREGE, Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, IRD, Collège de France, INRAE, 13545 Aix en Provence, France
- Department of Biology, Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Caroline A E Strömberg
- Department of Biology, Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Steven G Driese
- Department of Geosciences, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798, USA
| | - Nicole D Garrett
- Department of Anthropology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Kayla R Hillis
- Department of Earth Sciences, Tennessee Tech University, Cookeville, TN 38505, USA
| | - Bonnie F Jacobs
- Roy M. Huffington Department of Earth Sciences, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX 75275, USA
| | - Kirsten E H Jenkins
- Department of Social Sciences, Tacoma Community College, Tacoma, WA 98466, USA
| | - Robert M Kityo
- Department of Zoology Entomology and Fisheries Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Thomas Lehmann
- Department Messel Research and Mammalogy, Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum, 60325 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Fredrick K Manthi
- Department of Earth Sciences, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi 00100, Kenya
| | - Emma N Mbua
- Department of Earth Sciences, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi 00100, Kenya
| | - Lauren A Michel
- Department of Earth Sciences, Tennessee Tech University, Cookeville, TN 38505, USA
| | - Ellen R Miller
- Department of Anthropology, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27109, USA
| | - Amon A T Mugume
- Department of Zoology Entomology and Fisheries Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
- Uganda National Museum, Department of Museums and Monuments, Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Samuel N Muteti
- Department of Earth Sciences, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi 00100, Kenya
- Department of Anthropology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Isaiah O Nengo
- Turkana Basin Institute, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
- Department of Anthropology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Kennedy O Oginga
- Department of Geosciences, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798, USA
| | - Samuel R Phelps
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Pratigya Polissar
- Ocean Sciences Department, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - James B Rossie
- Department of Anthropology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Nancy J Stevens
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, and Ohio Center for Ecological and Evolutionary Studies, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA
| | - Kevin T Uno
- Division of Biology and Paleo Environment, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, Palisades, NY 10964, USA
| | - Kieran P McNulty
- Department of Anthropology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
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5
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MacLatchy LM, Cote SM, Deino AL, Kityo RM, Mugume AAT, Rossie JB, Sanders WJ, Cosman MN, Driese SG, Fox DL, Freeman AJ, Jansma RJW, Jenkins KEH, Kinyanjui RN, Lukens WE, McNulty KP, Novello A, Peppe DJ, Strömberg CAE, Uno KT, Winkler AJ, Kingston JD. The evolution of hominoid locomotor versatility: Evidence from Moroto, a 21 Ma site in Uganda. Science 2023; 380:eabq2835. [PMID: 37053310 DOI: 10.1126/science.abq2835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/15/2023]
Abstract
Living hominoids are distinguished by upright torsos and versatile locomotion. It is hypothesized that these features evolved for feeding on fruit from terminal branches in forests. To investigate the evolutionary context of hominoid adaptive origins, we analyzed multiple paleoenvironmental proxies in conjunction with hominoid fossils from the Moroto II site in Uganda. The data indicate seasonally dry woodlands with the earliest evidence of abundant C4 grasses in Africa based on a confirmed age of 21 million years ago (Ma). We demonstrate that the leaf-eating hominoid Morotopithecus consumed water-stressed vegetation, and postcrania from the site indicate ape-like locomotor adaptations. These findings suggest that the origin of hominoid locomotor versatility is associated with foraging on leaves in heterogeneous, open woodlands rather than forests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura M MacLatchy
- Department of Anthropology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Museum of Paleontology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Susanne M Cote
- Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Alan L Deino
- Berkeley Geochronology Center, Berkeley, CA 94709, USA
| | - Robert M Kityo
- Department of Zoology, Entomology and Fisheries Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Amon A T Mugume
- Department of Zoology, Entomology and Fisheries Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
- Uganda National Museum, Department of Museums and Monuments, Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Kampala, Uganda
| | - James B Rossie
- Department of Anthropology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - William J Sanders
- Department of Anthropology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Museum of Paleontology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Miranda N Cosman
- Department of Anthropology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Steven G Driese
- Department of Geosciences, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798, USA
| | - David L Fox
- Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - April J Freeman
- Department of Geosciences, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798, USA
| | - Rutger J W Jansma
- Institute of Human Origins, School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Kirsten E H Jenkins
- Department of Social Sciences, Tacoma Community College, Tacoma, WA 98466, USA
| | - Rahab N Kinyanjui
- Earth Sciences Department, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya
- Max Planck Institute for Geoanthropology, Jena D-07743, Germany
- Human Origins Program, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20013, USA
| | - William E Lukens
- Department of Geology & Environmental Science, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA 22807, USA
| | - Kieran P McNulty
- Department of Anthropology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Alice Novello
- CEREGE, Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, IRD, Collège de France, INRAE, Aix en Provence, France
- Department of Biology & Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Daniel J Peppe
- Department of Geosciences, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798, USA
| | - Caroline A E Strömberg
- Department of Biology & Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Kevin T Uno
- Division of Biology and Paleo Environment, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, Palisades, NY 10964, USA
| | - Alisa J Winkler
- Roy M. Huffington Department of Earth Sciences, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX 75275, USA
- Section of Anatomy, Department of Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - John D Kingston
- Department of Anthropology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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Rasbold GG, Calheira L, Domingos-Luz L, Pessenda LCR, Pinheiro U, McGlue MM. A morphological guide of neotropical freshwater sponge spicules for paleolimnological studies. Front Ecol Evol 2023. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.1067432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Freshwater sponges (Porifera: Spongillida) are sessile invertebrates with skeletons composed of siliceous elements termed spicules. Sponge spicules (megascleres, microscleres, and gemmuloscleres) are characterized by widely varying sizes and shapes. These spicules are well-preserved in lacustrine, wetland, and riverine sediments and hold significant ecological and limnological information that can be applied as diagnostic tools in reconstructions of Quaternary environments. However, problems with taxonomy and the absence of systematic guidelines and standards of identification represent major challenges to utilizing freshwater sponges as a paleo-proxy. Here, we present a well-illustrated extraction protocol and morphological guide to the Neotropical freshwater sponge fauna. This guide is intended to introduce researchers and students to the study of freshwater sponges and their use as a diagnostic tool in paleoecology and paleolimnology.
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Niu H, Marquer L, Sack D, Gao G, Wang J, Meng M, Jie D. Middle to late Holocene plant cover variation in relation to climate, fire, and human activity in the Songnen grasslands of northeastern China. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 13:1071273. [PMID: 36699848 PMCID: PMC9868567 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1071273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION For future vegetation projections and conservation planning in grassland ecosystems, accurate estimates of past plant cover changes in grassland composition and their responses to the various driving factors are essential. This study quantitatively reconstructs the past regional plant cover in the Songnen grasslands (northeastern China) and explores the relative importance of climate, fire, and human activity on vegetation dynamics. METHODS For this purpose, the Regional Estimates of Vegetation Abundance from Large Sites (REVEALS) model is applied to three pollen records from two areas, two in the center of the Songnen grasslands and one located in an area marginal to the grasslands. RESULTS Results from the most reliable REVEALS scenarios show that from the mid-Holocene, steppe (mean cover 40.6%) and dry steppe (mean cover 54.2%) alternately dominated the central part of the Songnen grasslands while the marginal grasslands were mainly characterized by alternating broadleaved forests (mean cover 26.3%), coniferous forests (mean cover 41.9%) and dry steppes (mean cover 30.1%). DISCUSSION By comparing the plant cover results with previous published regional climate, fire and human activity records, the results show that long term vegetation dynamics were mainly driven by East Asia Summer Monsoon (EASM) and the related precipitation variations, but was also affected by fire frequency and human activity. Moreover, vegetation evolution was sensitive to abrupt cooling events including the 4.2 ka BP and stacked ice-rafted debris (IRD) events; the change from steppe to dry steppe, for example, was driven by these abrupt climate changes. Fire events can alter the original vegetation stability allowing the vegetation to respond rapidly to climate changes while human activity merely has limited influence on vegetation changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Honghao Niu
- School of Geographical Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
| | - Laurent Marquer
- Department of Botany, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Dorothy Sack
- Department of Geography, Ohio University, Athens, OH, United States
| | - Guizai Gao
- School of Geographical Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
- Key Laboratory of Geographical Processes and Ecological Security in Changbai Mountains, Ministry of Education, Changchun, China
- Institute for Peat and Mire Research, State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Vegetation Restoration, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology, Ministry of Education, Changchun, China
| | - Jiangyong Wang
- School of Geographical Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
| | - Meng Meng
- School of Geographical Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
| | - Dongmei Jie
- School of Geographical Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
- Key Laboratory of Geographical Processes and Ecological Security in Changbai Mountains, Ministry of Education, Changchun, China
- Institute for Peat and Mire Research, State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Vegetation Restoration, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology, Ministry of Education, Changchun, China
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8
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Andermann T, Strömberg CAE, Antonelli A, Silvestro D. The origin and evolution of open habitats in North America inferred by Bayesian deep learning models. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4833. [PMID: 35977931 PMCID: PMC9385654 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32300-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Some of the most extensive terrestrial biomes today consist of open vegetation, including temperate grasslands and tropical savannas. These biomes originated relatively recently in Earth’s history, likely replacing forested habitats in the second half of the Cenozoic. However, the timing of their origination and expansion remains disputed. Here, we present a Bayesian deep learning model that utilizes information from fossil evidence, geologic models, and paleoclimatic proxies to reconstruct paleovegetation, placing the emergence of open habitats in North America at around 23 million years ago. By the time of the onset of the Quaternary glacial cycles, open habitats were covering more than 30% of North America and were expanding at peak rates, to eventually become the most prominent natural vegetation type today. Our entirely data-driven approach demonstrates how deep learning can harness unexplored signals from complex data sets to provide insights into the evolution of Earth’s biomes in time and space. The expansion timing and dynamics of open vegetation are disputed. Here, the authors present a model of paleovegetation changes in North America, showing open vegetation beginning around 23 million years ago and accelerating at 5 million years ago to become the most prominent natural vegetation type in North America today.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Andermann
- Department of Organismal Biology, SciLifeLab, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. .,Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden. .,Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
| | - Caroline A E Strömberg
- Department of Biology & Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Alexandre Antonelli
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.,Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UK
| | - Daniele Silvestro
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden. .,Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden. .,Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland. .,Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Fribourg, Switzerland.
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Hošková K, Neustupa J, Pokorný P, Pokorná A. Phylogenetic, ecological and intraindividual variability patterns in grass phytolith shape. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2022; 129:303-314. [PMID: 34849559 PMCID: PMC8835630 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcab143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Grass silica short cell (GSSC) phytoliths appear to be the most reliable source of fossil evidence for tracking the evolutionary history and paleoecology of grasses. In recent years, modern techniques that quantitatively assess phytolith shape variation have widened opportunities for the classification of grass fossil phytoliths. However, phylogenetic, ecological and intraindividual variability patterns in phytolith shape remain largely unexplored. METHODS The full range of intraindividual phytolith shape variation [3650 two-dimensional (2-D) outlines] from 73 extant grass species, 48 genera, 18 tribes and eight subfamilies (particularly Pooideae) was analysed using geometric morphometric analysis based on semi-landmarks spanning phytolith outlines. KEY RESULTS The 2-D phytolith shape is mainly driven by deep-time diversification of grass subfamilies. There is distinct phytolith shape variation in early-diverging lineages of Pooideae (Meliceae, Stipeae). The amount of intraindividual variation in phytolith shape varies among species, resulting in a remarkable pattern across grass phylogeny. CONCLUSIONS The phylogenetic pattern in phytolith shape was successfully revealed by applying geometric morphometrics to 2-D phytolith shape outlines, strengthening the potential of phytoliths to track the evolutionary history and paleoecology of grasses. Geometric morphometrics of 2-D phytolith shape is an excellent tool for analysis requiring large numbers of phytolith outlines, making it useful for quantitative palaeoecological reconstruction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristýna Hošková
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Sciences, Charles University in Prague, Benátská, 2, CZ-128 01 Praha 2, Czech Republic
- Institute of Botany, Academy of Science of the Czech Republic, CZ-252 43 Průhonice, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Neustupa
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Sciences, Charles University in Prague, Benátská, 2, CZ-128 01 Praha 2, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Pokorný
- Center for Theoretical Study, Joint Research Institute of Charles University and Czech Academy of Sciences, Husova 4, CZ-110 00 Praha 1, Czech Republic
| | - Adéla Pokorná
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Sciences, Charles University in Prague, Benátská, 2, CZ-128 01 Praha 2, Czech Republic
- Institute of Archaeology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Letenská 4, CZ-11801 Praha 1, Czech Republic
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10
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Mercader J, Clarke S, Itambu M, Mohamed A, Mwitondi M, Siljedal G, Soto M, Bushozi P. Phytolith Palaeoenvironments at Mumba Rock Shelter. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.699609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The rock shelter site of Mumba in northern Tanzania plays a pivotal role in the overall study of the late Pleistocene archaeology of East Africa with an emphasis on the Middle to Later Stone Age transition. We used phytolith analysis to reconstruct general plant habitat physiognomy around the site from the onset of the late Pleistocene to recent times, tallying 4246 individual phytoliths from 19 archaeological samples. Statistical analysis explored phytolith richness, diversity, dominance, and evenness, along with principal components to compare phytolith distributions over the site’s sequence with known plant habitats today. Generally, the phytolith record of Mumba signifies paleoenvironments with analogs in the Somalia – Masai bushland and grassland, as well as Zambezian woodlands.
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11
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Hošková K, Pokorná A, Neustupa J, Pokorný P. Inter- and intraspecific variation in grass phytolith shape and size: a geometric morphometrics perspective. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2021; 127:191-201. [PMID: 32463863 PMCID: PMC7789106 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcaa102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS The relative contributions of inter- and intraspecific variation to phytolith shape and size have only been investigated in a limited number of studies. However, a detailed understanding of phytolith variation patterns among populations or even within a single plant specimen is of key importance for the correct taxonomic identification of grass taxa in fossil samples and for the reconstruction of vegetation and environmental conditions in the past. In this study, we used geometric morphometric analysis for the quantification of different sources of phytolith shape and size variation. METHODS We used landmark-based geometric morphometric methods for the analysis of phytolith shapes in two extant grass species (Brachypodium pinnatum and B. sylvaticum). For each species, 1200 phytoliths were analysed from 12 leaves originating from six plants growing in three populations. Phytolith shape and size data were subjected to multivariate Procrustes analysis of variance (ANOVA), multivariate regression, principal component analysis and linear discriminant analysis. KEY RESULTS Interspecific variation largely outweighed intraspecific variation with respect to phytolith shape. Individual phytolith shapes were classified with 83 % accuracy into their respective species. Conversely, variation in phytolith shapes within species but among populations, possibly related to environmental heterogeneity, was comparatively low. CONCLUSIONS Our results imply that phytolith shape relatively closely corresponds to the taxonomic identity of closely related grass species. Moreover, our methodological approach, applied here in phytolith analysis for the first time, enabled the quantification and separation of variation that is not related to species discrimination. Our findings strengthen the role of grass phytoliths in the reconstruction of past vegetation dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristýna Hošková
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Sciences, Charles University in Prague, Benátská, Praha, Czech Republic
| | - Adéla Pokorná
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Sciences, Charles University in Prague, Benátská, Praha, Czech Republic
- Institute of Archaeology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Letenská, Praha, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Neustupa
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Sciences, Charles University in Prague, Benátská, Praha, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Pokorný
- Center for Theoretical Study, Joint Research Institute of Charles University and Czech Academy of Sciences, Husova, Praha, Czech Republic
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Gallaher TJ, Akbar SZ, Klahs PC, Marvet CR, Senske AM, Clark LG, Strömberg CAE. 3D shape analysis of grass silica short cell phytoliths: a new method for fossil classification and analysis of shape evolution. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2020; 228:376-392. [PMID: 32446281 DOI: 10.1111/nph.16677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Fossil grass silica short cell phytoliths (GSSCP) have been used to reconstruct the biogeography of Poaceae, untangle crop domestication history and detect past vegetation shifts. These inferences depend on accurately identifying the clade to which the fossils belong. Patterns of GSSCP shape and size variation across the family have not been established and current classification methods are subjective or based on a 2D view that ignores important 3D shape variation. Focusing on Poaceae subfamilies Anomochlooideae, Pharoideae, Pueliodieae, Bambusoideae and Oryzoideae, we observed in situ GSSCP to establish their orientation and imaged isolated GSSCP using confocal microscopy to produce 3D models. 3D geometric morphometrics was used to analyze GSSCP shape and size. Classification models were applied to GSSCP from Eocene sediments from Nebraska, USA, and Anatolia, Turkey. There were significant shape differences between nearly all recognized GSSCP morphotypes and between clades with shared morphotypes. Most of the Eocene GSSCP were classified as woody bamboos with some distinctive Nebraska GSSCP classified as herbaceous bamboos. 3D morphometrics hold great promise for GSSCP classification. It accounts for the complete GSSCP shape, automates size measurements and accommodates the complete range of morphotypes within a single analytical framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy J Gallaher
- University of Washington Biology Department, Life Sciences Building, Seattle, WA, 98105, USA
- Bishop Museum, 1525 Bernice St, Honolulu, HI, 96817, USA
| | - Sultan Z Akbar
- University of Washington Biology Department, Life Sciences Building, Seattle, WA, 98105, USA
| | - Phillip C Klahs
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, 251 Bessey Hall, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
| | - Claire R Marvet
- University of Washington Biology Department, Life Sciences Building, Seattle, WA, 98105, USA
| | - Ashly M Senske
- Department of Horticulture, Iowa State University, 106 Horticulture Hall, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
| | - Lynn G Clark
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, 251 Bessey Hall, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
| | - Caroline A E Strömberg
- University of Washington Biology Department, Life Sciences Building, Seattle, WA, 98105, USA
- Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, 4300 15th Ave NE, Seattle, WA, 98105, USA
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13
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Hodson MJ, Song Z, Ball TB, Elbaum R, Struyf E. Editorial: Frontiers in Phytolith Research. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:454. [PMID: 32362906 PMCID: PMC7180188 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.00454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Accepted: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Martin J. Hodson
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Zhaoliang Song
- Institute of the Surface-Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Terry B. Ball
- Department of Ancient Scripture, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - Rivka Elbaum
- R.H. Smith Institute of Plant Sciences and Genetics in Agriculture, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Eric Struyf
- Department of Biology, Global Change Ecology Centre, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
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14
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Mercader J, Clarke S, Bundala M, Favreau J, Inwood J, Itambu M, Larter F, Lee P, Lewiski-McQuaid G, Mollel N, Mwambwiga A, Patalano R, Soto M, Tucker L, Walde D. Soil and plant phytoliths from the Acacia-Commiphora mosaics at Oldupai Gorge (Tanzania). PeerJ 2019; 7:e8211. [PMID: 31844589 PMCID: PMC6911344 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.8211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2019] [Accepted: 11/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
This article studies soil and plant phytoliths from the Eastern Serengeti Plains, specifically the Acacia-Commiphora mosaics from Oldupai Gorge, Tanzania, as present-day analogue for the environment that was contemporaneous with the emergence of the genus Homo. We investigate whether phytolith assemblages from recent soil surfaces reflect plant community structure and composition with fidelity. The materials included 35 topsoil samples and 29 plant species (20 genera, 15 families). Phytoliths were extracted from both soil and botanical samples. Quantification aimed at discovering relationships amongst the soil and plant phytoliths relative distributions through Chi-square independence tests, establishing the statistical significance of the relationship between categorical variables within the two populations. Soil assemblages form a spectrum, or cohort of co-ocurring phytolith classes, that will allow identifying environments similar to those in the Acacia-Commiphora ecozone in the fossil record.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julio Mercader
- Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
- Department of Archaeology, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, Jena, Germany
| | - Siobhán Clarke
- Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Mariam Bundala
- Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
- Department of Archaeology and Heritage Studies, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Julien Favreau
- Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Jamie Inwood
- Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Makarius Itambu
- Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
- Department of Archaeology and Heritage Studies, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Fergus Larter
- Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Patrick Lee
- Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
- Department of Anthropology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | | | - Neduvoto Mollel
- Tropical Pesticides Research Institute, National Herbarium of Tanzania, Arusha, Tanzania
| | - Aloyce Mwambwiga
- Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
- Arusha National Natural History Museum, Arusha, Tanzania
| | - Robert Patalano
- Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - María Soto
- Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Laura Tucker
- Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
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15
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Neumann K, Strömberg CAE, Ball T, Albert RM, Vrydaghs L, Cummings LS. International Code for Phytolith Nomenclature (ICPN) 2.0. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2019; 124:189-199. [PMID: 31334810 PMCID: PMC6758648 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcz064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2018] [Accepted: 04/10/2019] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Opal phytoliths (microscopic silica bodies produced in and between the cells of many plants) are a very resilient, often preserved type of plant microfossil. With the exponentially growing number of phytolith studies, standardization of phytolith morphotype names and description is essential. As a first effort in standardization, the International Code for Phytolith Nomenclature 1.0 was published by the ICPN Working Group in Annals of Botany in 2005. A decade of use of the code has prompted the need to revise, update, expand and improve it. SCOPE ICPN 2.0 formulates the principles recommended for naming and describing phytolith morphotypes. According to these principles, it presents the revised names, diagnosis, images and drawings of the morphotypes that were included in ICPN 1.0, plus three others. These 19 morphotypes are those most commonly encountered in phytolith assemblages from modern and fossil soils, sediments and archaeological deposits. An illustrated glossary of common terms for description is also provided.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Katharina Neumann
- Goethe University, Institut for Archaeological Sciences, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Caroline A E Strömberg
- Department of Biology and Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Terry Ball
- 210H JSB, Department of Ancient Scripture, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Rosa Maria Albert
- ICREA, Barcelona, Spain
- ERAAUB, Department of History and Archaeology, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Luc Vrydaghs
- Centre de Recherches en Archéologie et Patrimoine, Université libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
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16
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Reichgelt T, D'Andrea WJ. Plant carbon assimilation rates in atmospheric CO 2 reconstructions. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2019; 223:1844-1855. [PMID: 31081929 DOI: 10.1111/nph.15914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Accepted: 05/08/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Fossil plant gas-exchange-based CO2 reconstructions use carbon (C) assimilation rates of extant plant species as substitutes for assimilation rates of fossil plants. However, assumptions in model species adoption can lead to systematic error propagation. We used a dataset of c. 2500 extant species to investigate the role of phylogenetic relatedness and ecology in determining C assimilation, an essential variable in gas-exchange-based CO2 models. We evaluated the effect on random and systematic error propagation in atmospheric CO2 caused by adopting different model species. Phylogenetic relatedness, growth form, and solar exposure are important predictors of C assimilation rate. CO2 reconstructions that apply C assimilation rates from modern species based solely on phylogenetic relatedness to fossil species can result in CO2 estimates that are systematically biased by a factor of > 2. C assimilation rates used in CO2 reconstructions should be determined by averaging assimilation rates of modern plant species that are (1) in the same family and (2) have a similar habit and habitat as the fossil plant. In addition, systematic bias potential and random error propagation are greatly reduced when CO2 is reconstructed from multiple fossil plant species with different modern relatives at the same site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tammo Reichgelt
- Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University, 61 Route 9W, Palisades, NY, 10964, USA
| | - William J D'Andrea
- Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University, 61 Route 9W, Palisades, NY, 10964, USA
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