Opal Phytoliths, their Nature and Application

Methodological concerns for analysis of phytolith assemblages: Does count size matter?

“…The various indices discussed above are in most cases reported without standard error or confidence intervals (e.g., Alexandre et al, 1999;Feam, 1998;Stromberg, 2002Stromberg, , 2003Twiss et al, 1987, but see Bremond et al, 2005a, 2005b. The same is true for the traditional relative frequency diagrams and tables (e.g., Kondo et al, 1994;Rovner, 2001), and assemblage data used in paleoecological multivariate analysis (e.g., Blinnikov et al, 2001;Kealhofer, 1996).…”

“…More precisely, it involves comparison of counts of different morphotypes or classes of morphotypes to summarize the information stored in the soil record of biosilica. Thus, a change from grassland to forest is reflected in it phytolith assemblages as an increase in forest indicator forms relative to grass phytoliths; a change from cool-season grassland to warm-season grassland is indicated by a change in the ratio of morphotypes typical of these grass groups; an increase in land-use may be marked by a relative increase in phytoliths from domesticated palm species (e.g., Barboni et al, 2007;Kondo et al, 1994;Runge, 1999;Shulmeister et al, 2001). Several indices have been devised to express both absolute and relative aspects of vegetation type.…”

Composition of lignin-degradation products, lipids, and opal phytoliths in a peat profile accumulated since 32,000 years b. p. in central Japan

“…Opal phytolith analysis. According to Kondo and Sase (1986), the peat sample was digested with a mixed acid solution of HCIO4, HNO~, and H2SO4 (4: 10: 1), and treated with ultrasonics (150 W, 10 kc s -1, 5-10 min). Particles smaller than 10 -6 m were removed by the sedimentation method, and opal phytoliths were separated by floating on a heavy liquid with a specific gravity of 2.3.…”

Temperature Trends at the National Agricultural Research Center for Hokkaido Region in the 40 Years from 1966 to 2005

“…Further study of the impact of ongoing global warming on agriculture in Japan requires that RTI in agricultural areas be more thoroughly evaluated. To achieve this, as pointed out by Kondo (2006), monitoring of RTI at more locations free from urbanization effects is needed. …”