Phytoliths as paleoenvironmental indicators in a dune field on the northern Great Plains

Silicon isotope fractionation in bamboo and its significance to the biogeochemical cycle of silicon

“…The phytoliths in soil have been used as an indicator of paleoclimate (Rovner, 1971;Pearsall and Trimble, 1984;Barboni et al, 1999;Bremond et al, 2004;Boyd, 2005;Lu et al, 2006aLu et al, ,b, 2007Li et al, 2007). The oxygen isotope compositions of phytoliths were also used to infer the oxygen isotope compositions of ground water (Shahack-Gross et al, 1996;Longstaffe, 2000, 2006).…”

Review of typologic and morphometric analysis of phytoliths produced by wheat and barley

“…Fossil phytoliths can be collected from fresh plant tissue using wet oxidation or dry ashing techniques, from paleosols exposed by erosion or excavation using heavy liquid flotation (e.g. Alam et al 2009, Albert et al 2009, Barczi et al 2009, Boyd 2005, Horrocks and Rechtman 2009, Horrocks and Wozniak 2008, Iriarte 2006, Kawano et al 2007, Lu and Liu 2005, Morris et al 2009, Osterrieth et al 2009, Piperno 1988, from ceramics and bricks made from clay upon which vegetation once grew, or to which plant fibers were added, from tooth tartar and coproliths of herbivores (e.g. Armitage 1975, Bryant 1974, Ghosh et al 2008, from food residues (e.g.…”

“…Fossil phytoliths are now used for the reconstruction of paleoenvironments (e.g. Alam et al 2009, Barczi et al 2009, Boyd 2005, Bremond et al 2005, 2008a, 2008b, Delhon et al 2003, Evett et al 2007, Fernandez et al 2006, Gil et al 2007, Ghosh et al 2008, Gu et al 2008, Iriarte 2006, Iriarte and Paz 2009, Lu et al 2006, Lu and Liu 2005, Morris et al 2009, Neff et al 2006, Singh et al 2007, Thorn 2004, as indicators of ancient industrial and agricultural practices (e.g. Cabanes et al 2009, Horrocks and Rechtman 2009, Horrocks and Wozniak 2008, Petoe et al 2008, Tsartsidou et al 2008, to locate occupation surfaces and plant use at excavations (e.g.…”

Can phytoliths provide an insight into past vegetation of the Middle Kalahari palaeolakes during the late Quaternary?

“…Boyd, 2005). Peak D/P ratios occur in samples KAL/05/3/2 (0.05; 4.9 AE 0.4 ka), KAL/05/3/4 (0.05; 13.6 AE 1.3 ka) and KAL/05/3/6 (0.04; 15.1 AE 1.8 ka).…”

“…Despite the importance of such analyses in arid environments, they remain rare (e.g. Boyd, 2005). Most studies tend to be based on phytoliths extracted from pan, lake and peat deposits in semi-arid regions (e.g.…”