UNIVERSITY OF THE WITWATERSRAND, JOHANNESBURG

Wits Online Phytolith Database - Home

OPPENHEIMER
MEMORIAL
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PAST



This site and the research are made possible by awards from the Oppenheimer Memorial Trust, the Palaeontological Scientific Trust (PAST) and the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. The National Museums of Kenya are thanked for assistance with collection and permits in that country.

The database records phytoliths from several plant communities in Kenya and South Africa. Vegetational environments sampled include Acacia-Commiphora scrubland, grassy bushland, riparian and grassland environments at various altitudes, mangrove swamp, oases and wetlands.

In the future, the database will include modern surface sediment phytolith assemblages from all of the vegetational communities sampled. The database is largely modelled on that of the University of Missouri (Pearsall, 2008) and it is hoped that it prove be a useful resource for phytolitharians.

The research is carried out at the Bernard Price Institute for Palaeontological Research at Wits and forms phase one of LM Pereira?s PhD thesis.

Suggestions and comments are welcomed and can be sent to Pereira.

Reference:

Pearsall, Deborah M. "Phytoliths in the Flora of Ecuador: the University of Missouri Online Phytolith Database." [http://www.missouri.edu/umcasphyto]. With contributions by Ann Biddle, Dr. Karol Chandler Ezell, Shawn Collins, Neil Duncan, Amanda Logan, Meghann O Brien, Sara Stewart, Cesar Veintimilla, Dr. Zhijun Zhao, and Bill Grimm. May 2008.

How to cite the database:

Pereira, L.M. The Wits Online Phytolith Database. University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. [http://www.wits.ac.za/Academic/Science/GeoSciences/BPI/Research/WOPD/]. Accessed *Month Year*.