Late Holocene palaeoenvironmental reconstruction from Mpumalanga Province (South Africa) inferred from geochemical and biogenic proxies

Sjöström, Jenny K.; Norström, Elin; Risberg, Jan; Schoeman, Maria H.

doi:10.1016/j.revpalbo.2017.06.011

Cited by 12 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…The period encompassing the so-called Medieval Climate Anomaly (MCA; AD 900–1250) is generally associated with a highly variable, sometimes relatively wet, hydro-climate in southern Africa (Holmgren et al, 1999, 2003; Lee-Thorp et al, 2001; Sjöström et al, 2017; Woodborne et al, 2016). Although the weakness in Ladybird chronology impedes a robust regional comparison, proxies suggest unstable MCA hydroclimate and tentatively warmer conditions, particularly over the AD 900–1100 phase (Figure 6).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Late-Holocene climate and vegetation dynamics in eastern Lesotho highlands

et al. 2018

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The eastern Lesotho highlands are of considerable hydrological importance to southern Africa as a so-called ‘water tower’ for the surrounding region. Here, we contribute proxy-data inferring climate and vegetation changes over the past 1600 years, assessing in parallel inorganic and organic chemical analyses on a sediment core from Ladybird wetland, eastern Lesotho. Several proxies were used to determine changes in local vegetation dynamics, productivity, hydrology (δ13 C, δ15 N, C/N, TOC) and the input and source of the detrital components (Ca/Ti, CIA). The first part of the multi-proxy record (AD 400–800) shows stable terrestrial conditions and low detrital input, followed by higher variability in almost all proxies between ca. AD 900 and 1200. The δ13 C record infers a higher proportion of C4 vegetation, tentatively associated with higher temperatures during this phase, coeval with the Medieval Climate Anomaly (MCA). After AD 1200, local conditions change gradually from purely terrestrial, towards the typical wetland environment prevailing today. A higher proportion of C3 plants and possibly an increase in aquatic organisms within the organic matrix corresponds with decreasing detrital input, suggesting locally high available moisture in this part of Lesotho during the Little Ice Age (LIA). Although age-model constraints impedes a robust regional comparison, the inferred climate variability is discussed as a tentative response to enhanced mid-latitude cyclonic activity during LIA, and the variable MCA climate conditions as indirectly dictated by changes in solar activity.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Late-Holocene climate and vegetation dynamics in eastern Lesotho highlands

et al. 2018

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“…Around the same time, the pollen sequence from Mount Gorongosa (Fig. 1: MTG) in central Meadows and Sugden, 1991;Baxter and Davies, 1994;Hahn et al, 2021 Pollen of likely cultivated cereals Larger Poaceae >40-50 µm E.g., Turner and Plater, 2004;Hahn et al, 2021 Pollen of ruderal species Tribulus E.g., Gil-Romera et al, 2007Spores of coprophilous fungi Sporormiella, Gelasinospora, Coniochaeta, Sordaria E.g., Carrion et al, 2000Neumann et al, 2014 Charred particles Macro-and micro-charcoal particles E.g., Scott, 2002;Li et al, 2008;Lebamba et al, 2016 Phytoliths Shift from C 4 to C 3 vegetation E.g., Sjöström et al, 2017 Mozambique suggests the impact of pastoralism (e.g., Gelasinospora) ~1700 cal. BP.…”

Section: Savannamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Phytolith analysis at Thaba Chweu Fen (formerly Lydenburg) (Fig. 1: MF) in northeastern South Africa records a shift from the dominance of C 4 to C 3 vegetation (Sjöström et al, 2017). However, the local vegetation change reconstructed at Thaba Chweu Fen was limited to the increase in grasses only.…”

Section: Grasslandmentioning

confidence: 99%

Archaeobotanical evidence for the emergence of pastoralism and farming in southern Africa

Olatoyan¹,

Neumann²,

Orijemie³

et al. 2022

Acta Palaeobot.

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Several models which remain equivocal and controversial cite migration and/or diffusion for the emergence and spread of pastoralism and farming in southern Africa during the first millennium AD. A synthesis of archaeobotanical proxies (e.g., palynology, phytoliths, anthracology) consistent with existing archaeobotanical and archaeological data leads to new insights into anthropogenic impacts in palaeorecords. Harnessing such archaeobotanical evidence is viable for tracing the spread of pastoralism and farming in the first millennium AD because the impact of anthropogenic practices is likely to result in distinct patterns of vegetation change. We assess this impact through the synthesis of published archaeobotanical evidence of pastoralism and farming, as well as vegetation changes in southern Africa during the first millennium AD. It has been argued that the decline of forests during the first millennium AD in southern Africa predominantly relates to climate change. This argument often precludes anthropogenic effects on vegetation. Our reassessment of the relationship between vegetation, climate, and human activities in southern Africa reveals evidence of human impact during the same period. We also highlight gaps in the current knowledge of early pastoralism and farming and potential future research directions. We hypothesize that the pattern exhibited by the decline of forest tree pollen, coupled with the increase of open-land indicators, the occurrence of pioneer trees, as well as the spores of coprophilous fungi, and possible changes in the fire regime are reflective of, and consistent with, anthropogenic activities of pre-European pastoralists and farmers.

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“…The high level of preservation of phytoliths in African lake and wetland sediments from the Quaternary (e.g. Albert et al, 2006; Alexandre et al, 1997; Barboni et al, 1999; Finné et al, 2010; Mercader et al, 2000; Sjöström et al, 2017) makes them promising as a proxy to study past ecosystem change. The morpho-ecological studies performed on phytoliths in modern plants and soils facilitate calibration and interpretation of fossil records from tropical Africa (Albert et al, 2006; Barboni and Bremond, 2009; Bremond et al, 2005, 2008; Runge, 1999; Shahack-Gross et al, 2003, 2004), including the Miombo ecotone in Mozambique (Mercader et al, 2009, 2010, 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vegetation dynamics within the savanna biome in southern Mozambique during the late Holocene

et al. 2017

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This study explores temporal dynamics within grassland and Miombo woodland ecosystems in southern Mozambique and their potential coupling to hydro-climate change during the late-Holocene period. Palaeo-reconstructions are based on phytolith and diatom assemblages and mineral magnetic properties in fossil sediments from Lake Chilau, southern Mozambique. Phytolith interpretation was aided by previous ecological studies on modern plants and soils. The Lake Chilau record suggests high abundance of Panicoideae and other mesophytic grasses during the AD 1200s and 1300s, followed by an increase in Chloridoideae and grasses of more xerophytic affinity between ca. AD 1400 and 1550. This vegetation transition takes place during the early phase of the so-called 'Little Ice Age' (LIA), when regional palaeoclimate records report a shift from warmer and wetter towards drier and cooler conditions in southern Africa. Concurrent to these shifts within the grassland biome, the Chilau record reports an increase in phytoliths associated with arboreal vegetation (ca. AD 1400-1550), probably associated with the woody component of the Miombo savanna ecosystem. This supports previous studies hypothesizing that the forest component of the Miombo savanna was favoured by LIA dryness, although at Chilau, this expansion may have been amplified by a decline in fire disturbance. These tentative responses in the woody components of the savanna biome to shifts in moisture availability in the past have implications for future management and sustainability of the Miombo ecosystem in southern Mozambique under a changing climate.

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Late Holocene palaeoenvironmental reconstruction from Mpumalanga Province (South Africa) inferred from geochemical and biogenic proxies

Cited by 12 publications

References 51 publications

Late-Holocene climate and vegetation dynamics in eastern Lesotho highlands

Late-Holocene climate and vegetation dynamics in eastern Lesotho highlands

Archaeobotanical evidence for the emergence of pastoralism and farming in southern Africa

Vegetation dynamics within the savanna biome in southern Mozambique during the late Holocene

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