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East African Cenozoic vegetation history.
1Institute of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, University of Zurich, Zollikerstrasse, Switzerland.
Evolutionary Anthropology
|December 22, 2017
Summary
East African vegetation evolved from simple woodlands to a complex mosaic, with mountain building and rifting driving significant changes throughout the Cenozoic era.
Area of Science:
- Paleobotany
- Paleogeography
- Ecology
Background:
- East Africa's current vegetation is a diverse mix of forests, savannas, and grasslands.
- Understanding its evolutionary history is key to comprehending regional ecological dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To trace the evolutionary history of East African vegetation through the Cenozoic.
- To correlate vegetation changes with geological and climatic events.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of fossil sites across East Africa.
- Interpretation of geological data, including lava flows and rifting events.
- Isotope analysis of ancient grasslands.
Main Results:
- Paleogene East Africa featured woodlands in a seasonal climate.
- Oligocene mountain building led to rainforest development.
- Miocene uplift and rifting created diverse habitats, with grasslands expanding and then contracting.
- Late Miocene saw the rise of C4 savannas and tropic-alpine vegetation.
Conclusions:
- Orogeny (mountain building) significantly increased East African vegetation complexity during the Neogene.
- The impact of Quaternary climate fluctuations on vegetation remains speculative.
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