Poaceae phytoliths from the Niassa Rift, Mozambique

Mercader, Julio; Astudillo, Fernando J.; Barkworth, Mary E.; Bennett, Tim; Esselmont, Chris; Kinyanjui, Rahab; Grossman, Dyan Laskin; Simpson, Steven; Walde, Dale

doi:10.1016/j.jas.2010.03.001

Cited by 93 publications

(81 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…[28,37]), therefore it is anticipated that the Poa genus is present in fossil phytolith assemblages. Poa pratensis shoots (leaf blades and sheaths) accumulate silica mainly in their epidermis cells, both in short and long cells, as this feature is typical in most Poales [13,38].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Phytolith extraction and biogenic silica content (bSi) measurements were accomplished through the dry-ashing technique based on the methodological guidelines published by Albert and Weiner [27] and Mercader et al [28,29]. The ashes were mixed thoroughly, then mounted on light microscope slides in immersion oil and observed with a Zeiss Axioskop 2+ microscope at a magnification of 1000×.…”

Section: Laboratory Procedures and Data Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Their morphological classification was accomplished based on Twiss et al [3], whilst the denomination of individual morphotypes was accomplished according to the International Code for Phytolith Nomenclature 1.0 (ICPN 1.0 [30]). The classification and nomenclature work was complemented with the system of other authors (e.g., [16,28,[31][32][33][34]). Meanwhile we documented the phytolith morphotypes by taking microphotographs.…”

Section: Laboratory Procedures and Data Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

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Quantifiable differences between phytolith assemblages detected at species level: analysis of the leaves of nine Poa species (Poaceae)

et al. 2015

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The taxonomic value of phytolith assemblages and their degree of variability within different species of the same genus is still an undervalued issue in the botanical range of phytolith studies. However the understanding of grass phytolith variance and its implications to plant systematics is doubtless.In the present study phytoliths of the lateral shoots (leaves) of nine, globally distributed Poa species (Pooideae -Poaceae) are described. Phytoliths were recovered from Poa specimens by the dry ashing technique. Altogether 6223 disarticulated phytoliths were counted (approximately 500-700 phytoliths per species) in 54 plant samples, which cover six shoots of nine species. Not only the relative frequency of each morphotype was calculated, but measurements were conducted to determine the biogenic silica content of Poa lateral shoots. A phytolith reference collection for the nine selected species of a worldwide importance was also compiled. The description of the most significant phytolith morphotypes and their taxonomic relationships are given here.Results suggest that the biogenic silica content of the Poa lateral shoots was determined to be relatively high within all nine species. Phytolith assemblage data was subjected to multivariate statistical analyses (e.g., CA and PCA) in order to find differences and similarities among the nine Poa species. Results show that the two closely related Poa of the P. pratensis species group, namely the P. pratensis and P. angustifolia, only slightly differ from the other Poa species if we consider their rondel-trapeziform short cells (SC) phytolith frequencies.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Laboratory Procedures and Data Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Laboratory Procedures and Data Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

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Quantifiable differences between phytolith assemblages detected at species level: analysis of the leaves of nine Poa species (Poaceae)

et al. 2015

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“…Elongate long-cell morphotypes of Poa pratensis leaves are larger than medium sized (>20 µm; Mercader et al, 2010). The average length (or diameter) of rondel-trapeziform short cells was between 4.9 and 13.0 µm, and the average width was 7.2-9.3 µm.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Five shoots of each specimen were compounded and treated as 1 sample. Phytolith extraction from the leaf blades and leaf sheaths was accomplished through dry ashing (Albert and Weiner, 2001) based on Mercader (2009Mercader ( , 2010. The mass of the leaves was weighed before and after drying, then the mass of the ash was weighed before and after adding a hydrochloric (HCl) and nitric acid (HNO 3 ) (1:1) solution Phytoliths (500-600 per specimen) were counted in adjacent but not overlapping lines across the cover slip (22 mm in width and length).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phytolith analysis of Poa pratensis (Poaceae) leaves

Lisztes‐Szabó¹,

Kovács

Pető³

2014

Turk J Bot

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Phytoliths in Poa pratensis L. (Poaceae) leaf blades and sheaths are described in this study. The role of plant opal particlesknown as phytoliths-is considerable in taxonomical studies, and their long-term preservation in sediments makes them a useful tool in the reconstruction of ancient plant communities and plant-human interactions. All together, 2244 phytoliths were counted and analyzed in 25 plant samples (5 shoots of 5 specimens and approximately 500-600 phytoliths per specimen). The biogenic silica content of P. pratensis leaves was determined at 2.61%, and 27 morphotypes have been described using the International Code for Phytolith Nomenclature. Two morphotypes are described for the first time in this study. Long cells (elongate psilate and sinuate morphotypes) and short cells (rondel-trapeziform elongated and rounded morphotypes) are frequently present in this species. Differences in morphotype frequency and significant differences in a few simple morphometric data (length, width, height) of long cells and short cells were found among specimens, which suggests that these features vary depending on environmental factors and the maturity of leaf tissues.

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Plant wax biomarkers in human evolutionary studies

Patalano

Roberts

Boivin

et al. 2021

Evolutionary Anthropology

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Plant wax biomarkers are an innovative proxy for reconstructing vegetation composition and structure, rainfall intensity, temperature, and other climatic and environmental dynamics. Traditionally used in earth sciences and climate studies from “off‐site” ocean and lake records, biomarker research is now incorporated in archeology and paleoanthropology to answer questions relating to past human‐environment interactions and human evolution. Biomarker research is generating new and exciting information on the ecological context in which Homo and its closest relatives evolved, adapted, and invented stone tool technologies. In this review, we examine plant wax biomarkers and their use in reconstructing past plant landscapes and hydroclimates. We summarize the applications of plant wax molecular proxies in archeological research, assess challenges relating to taphonomy, consider the role of modern plant ecosystems in interpreting ancient habitats, and examine case studies conducted at key paleoanthropological locations in eastern and southern Africa and Europe.

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Poaceae phytoliths from the Niassa Rift, Mozambique

Cited by 93 publications

References 55 publications

Quantifiable differences between phytolith assemblages detected at species level: analysis of the leaves of nine Poa species (Poaceae)

Quantifiable differences between phytolith assemblages detected at species level: analysis of the leaves of nine Poa species (Poaceae)

Phytolith analysis of Poa pratensis (Poaceae) leaves

Plant wax biomarkers in human evolutionary studies

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