Phytolith assemblages in grasses native to central Argentina.
OBJECTIVE
Phytolith reference collections are a prerequisite for accurate interpretation of soil phytolith assemblages aimed at reconstructing past vegetation. In this study a phytolith reference collection has been developed for several grasses native to central Argentina: Poa ligularis, Piptochaetium napostaense, Stipa clarazii, Stipa tenuis, Stipa tenuissima, Stipa eriostachya, Stipa ambigua, Stipa brachychaeta, Pappophorum subbulbosum, Digitaria californica, Bothriochloa edwardsiana and Aristida subulata.


METHODS
For each species, phytoliths present in the leaf blades were classified into 47 morphotypes, and their relative frequency determined by observing 300-400 phytoliths per sample (n = 5). Data were analyzed by complete linkage cluster analysis, using the Morisita Index as measure of association.


RESULTS
The results showed differentiation among phytolith assemblages at species level or at plant functional type level. Cluster analysis separated C3 from C4 species and palatable from non-palatable species.


CONCLUSIONS
This study highlights the possibility of reconstructing past vegetation in central Argentina grasslands through the analysis of soil phytolith assemblages.
Gallego
Lucrecia
L
Departamento de Agronomía, Universidad Nacional del Sur and CERZOS, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas de la República Argentina, San Andrés 800, 8000-Bahía Blanca, Argentina.
Distel
Roberto A
RA
D001118:Argentina; D008853:Microscopy; D006109:Poaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis*; D013045:Species Specificity
D012822:Silicon Dioxide