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Shaping of Modern Southern African Biomes: Neogene Vegetation and Climate Changes See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/281116241 Shaping of modern southern African biomes: Neogene vegetation and climate changes Article in Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa · August 2015 DOI: 10.1080/0035919X.2015.1072859 CITATIONS READS 15 331 2 authors: Frank Neumann Marion Bamford University of the Witwatersrand University of the Witwatersrand 70 PUBLICATIONS 1,252 CITATIONS 150 PUBLICATIONS 3,367 CITATIONS SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects: The Unique Hypatia diamond meteorite: a puzzling sample of a pre-Solar nebula View project Graphic correlation of deep offshore Niger Delta, Nigeria View project All content following this page was uploaded by Frank Neumann on 21 August 2015. The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file. This article was downloaded by: [Institut Fuer Tierernaehrung/Fli] On: 21 August 2015, At: 03:24 Publisher: Taylor & Francis Informa Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954 Registered office: 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/ttrs20 Shaping of modern southern African biomes: Neogene vegetation and climate changes Frank H. Neumannab & Marion K. Bamfordb a Forschungsstelle für Paläobotanik am Geologisch-Paläontologischen Institut, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Heisenbergstrasse 2, 48149 Münster, Germany b Evolutionary Studies Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, P Bag 3, Wits 2050, Johannesburg, South Africa Published online: 21 Aug 2015. Click for updates To cite this article: Frank H. Neumann & Marion K. Bamford (2015): Shaping of modern southern African biomes: Neogene vegetation and climate changes, Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa, DOI: 10.1080/0035919X.2015.1072859 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/0035919X.2015.1072859 PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Taylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the “Content”) contained in the publications on our platform. However, Taylor & Francis, our agents, and our licensors make no representations or warranties whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of the Content. Any opinions and views expressed in this publication are the opinions and views of the authors, and are not the views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis. The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arising out of the use of the Content. This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http:// www.tandfonline.com/page/terms-and-conditions Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa, 2015 http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/0035919X.2015.1072859 Shaping of modern southern African biomes: Neogene vegetation and climate changes Frank H. Neumann1,2* & Marion K. Bamford2 1Forschungsstelle für Paläobotanik am Geologisch-Paläontologischen Institut, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Heisenbergstrasse 2, 48149 Münster, Germany; 2Evolutionary Studies Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, P Bag 3, Wits 2050, Johannesburg, South Africa *Author for correspondence E-mail: [email protected] Long-term trends in climate, hydrology and geomorphology contributed to the formation of the current biomes of southern Africa. The Neogene terrestrial fossil record is patchy, due to the geomorphological evolution of the subcontinent and the restricted distribution of suitable sediment deposits. Here we review the hypotheses on the evolution of the topography and environment and concentrate on the fossil record, especially pollen, wood, charcoal, leaves and biomarkers. Tectonic studies suggest a lower relief landscape than at present at the onset of the Neogene. Southern Africa was drained by two river systems – the Kalahari and the Karoo Rivers – and was affected by an initially weak, cool Benguela current along the western coastline, gradually promoting an aridity trend along the southwestern coast. The Cape region during the Miocene, when the Great Escarpment began to evolve, was characterised by humid, subtropical forests not unlike those still occurring on the much wetter subtropical eastern shore of southern Africa. Southern Namibia (Sperrgebiet) was probably covered by a “proto-savanna”; hyper-aridity developed further north along the Namibian coast. Probably with more uplift, the hydrological regime changed c. 15 Ma when the palaeo Karoo and Koa Rivers were captured by the Kalahari/Orange River and drained western South Africa. Miocene fossil sites are missing in southeastern Africa. In southwestern Africa an enhanced aridity trend and the shift to a winter rainfall regime during the late Miocene-Pliocene was triggered by the development of the Westerly wind system and further strengthening of the cold Benguela current enhanced by the development of the Antarctic sheet and opening of the Drake passage. Eastern southern Africa was dominated by the Great Escarpment and relatively shorter deeply incised rivers and higher rainfall than the west. The Pliocene saw the evolution of the Fynbos and Succulent Karoo biomes including the further radiation of several drought adapted plant families encompassing the Asteraceae and Aizoaceae. At the transition towards the Pleistocene, the region around Sterkfontein in eastern central southern Africa, important for hominid evolution, experienced a shift from a woody environment towards more xeric, open conditions. The Savanna biome today stretches from northeastern South Africa as far north as East Africa; the Grassland and Fynbos biomes are unique and the more arid biomes are dominant in the western half of southern Africa. Keywords: Neogene; biomes; vegetation history; southern Africa INTRODUCTION Scott et al., 1997) or focus on selected biomes or regions Southern Africa has a rich variety of biomes, which were for (e.g. Linder, 2003; Cowling et al., 2005). Even rather recent Downloaded by [Institut Fuer Tierernaehrung/Fli] at 03:24 21 August 2015 example mapped by Pole Evans (1936), Adamson (1938), reviews of global vegetation dynamics during the Neogene Acocks (1953) and Rutherford & Westfall (1994)(Figure 1). indicate that Neogene profiles in southern Africa are scarce These biomes stretch from the winter rainfall regions encom- and that dating is often problematic in comparison to other passing the Fynbos biome and the Succulent Karoo biome in regions (e.g. Pound et al., 2012). Additionally many Neogene the west to the summer rainfall region in the eastern and profiles from southern Africa are presented in unpublished central interior incorporating the Grassland biome, unique to theses (e.g. Sciscio, 2011). Due to arid climate and the erosional southern Africa, and the southernmost extension of the character of the interior, most fossiliferous sediments accumu- Savanna biome. The latter extends as far north as eastern lated along the coasts and offshore (Scott, 1995). The scarcity of Africa and has a prominent role in the evolution of early homi- terrestrial Neogene sites in southern Africa makes the study of nins (Mucina & Rutherford, 2006; Cerling et al., 2011). The veg- marine records invaluable as this allows, at least to a limited etation of southern Africa underwent profound changes degree, an indication of the vegetation onshore (e.g. van during the Neogene, although some biomes might have a Zinderen Bakker, 1984; Dupont et al., 2005; Udeze & Oboh-I- Palaeogene origin (e.g. Albany thicket, see Cowling et al., kuenobe, 2005; Hoetzel et al., 2015). Although direct palaeobo- 2005). Existing reviews are partly outdated (e.g. Scott, 1995; tanical evidence in Neogene terrestrial sites is often lacking, © 2015 Royal Society of South Africa 2 Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa Figure 1. Major biomes of southern Africa: biome map modified after Russo et al. 2010 (Low & Rebelo, 1996; Mucina & Rutherford, 2006), wind systems and ocean currents after Roberts et al.(2013); Neogene and Palaeogene fossil sites mentioned in text are indicated by black numbers (see text for references), red: cities and landscapes. geochemical approaches (e.g. studies of stable isotopes of spe- recognised by King (1955, 1962), was formed and is still pre- leothems [see Hopley et al., 2007] or stable carbon and oxygen served in some major basins, such as the Kalahari, Congo isotopic compositions of eggshells of Struthioniformes [see and Chad Basins (Burke & Gunnell, 2008). During the Ségalen et al., 2006, Dupont et al., 2013]) complete the knowl- Eocene (c. 56–34 Myr) the eastern continental margin of edge of fossil environments. The Neogene changes of southern Africa was inundated; while in the subsequent climate and vegetation are a consequence of several factors Oligocene (34–23 Myr) a regression followed (Perissinotto
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