New Zealand Journal of Botany abstracts
Phytoliths from loess in Southland, New Zealand
JOHN A. CARTER
School of Earth Sciences
Victoria University of Wellington
P.O. Box 600
Wellington, New Zealand
Abstract This pilot study establishes and quantifies
phytoliths in five cores of loess from different sites in Southland, New
Zealand. A total of 48 samples were processed and phytoliths were present in
the upper portions of all cores. Phytolith analysis provides information on
vegetation changes in Southland in response to climate for about the last 24
000 years. High numbers of both grass and tree phytoliths at about the Oxygen
Isotope Stage 2/3 boundary suggest an open tree-land. This abruptly changes to
a landscape dominated by cold-climate tussock grasses. Problems associated with
phytolith preservation in the bottom of all cores have been identified and
possible solutions suggested.
Keywords phytoliths; loess; Southland; New Zealand;
vegetation change
B99023
Received 1 June 1999; accepted 11 November 1999
PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (880K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)
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