PhD Thesis: Morphometrics of modern and fossil Poaceae pollen from South America

December 19, 2023
WDG

On November 17, 2023, Caixia Wei (魏彩霞) accomplished a pivotal milestone by successfully defending her thesis titled “Morphometrics of Modern and Fossil Poaceae Pollen from South America” at the distinguished Agnietenkapel (University of Amsterdam). During the defense ceremony, Caixia showcased her professional knowledge and expertise in the field of paleoecology in a relaxed and cheerful manner. The committee members, promoters (Carina Hoorn, William Gosling, Phillip Jardine), and attendees (~50 people) responded with frequent smiles, laughter, and numerous rounds of applause! After the defense, a delightful reception and dinner were held, where Caixia was showered with an abundance of hugs, kisses, heartfelt wishes, and thoughtful gifts. These wonderful memories will support Caixia on her journey ahead…

For a glimpse into the event, you can watch Caixia’s insightful 10-minute project presentation here:

Additionally, most of Caixia’s thesis is available for download at this link:

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New funding opportunity for African researchers

November 8, 2023
WDG

A new funding stream is about to open up (1 December 2023) to support African scientists to carry out PhD research at Dutch universities. The GROW research programme (Graduate Research on Worldwide Challenges) will fund 51 PhD positions to be based at one of five Dutch universities, including with the Institute for Biodiversity & Ecosystem Dynamics, at the University of Amsterdam.

To find out more click here.

Applications open 1 December 2023 and close 31 January 2024.

Determinants of above-ground carbon stocks and productivity in secondary forests along a 3000-m elevation gradient in the Ecuadorian Andes 

November 6, 2023
WDG

Pinto, E., Cuesta, F., Bernardi, A., Llerena-Zambrano, M., Pérez, ÁJ., van der Sande, M.T., Gosling, W.D. & Burgess, K.S. (2023) Determinants of above-ground carbon stocks and productivity in secondary forests along a 3000-m elevation gradient in the Ecuadorian Andes. Plant Ecology & Diversity DOI: 10.1080/17550874.2023.2274844

Spatial and temporal abilities of proxies used to detect pre-Columbian Indigenous human activity in Amazonian ecosystems

November 2, 2023
WDG

Open access:

McMichael, C.N.H., Levis, C., Gosling, W.D., Junqueira, A.B., Piperno, D.R., Neves, E.G., Mayle, F., Peña-Claros, M. & Bongers, F. (2023) Spatial and temporal abilities of proxies used to detect pre-Columbian Indigenous human activity in Amazonian ecosystems. Quaternary Science Reviews 321, 108354. DOI: 10.1016/j.quascirev.2023.108354

Grass pollen surface ornamentation is diverse across the phylogeny

September 28, 2023
WDG

Open access:

Wei, C., Jardine, P.E., Mao, L., Mander, L., Li, M., Gosling, W.D. & Hoorn, C. (2023) Grass pollen surface ornamentation is diverse across the phylogeny: Evidence from northern South America and the global literature. Journal of Systematics and Evolution. DOI: 10.1111/jse.13021

Charcoal abundance measurements are affected by freeze-drying

September 11, 2023
WDG

Open access:

Nascimento, M.N., Beltran, J., Bressers, C., van Delft, J., Vermeulen, J., de Ron, S., Bruijn, A., Raczka, M.F., Maezumi, S.Y., Gosling, W.D., Bush, M.B. & McMichael, C.N.H. (2023) Charcoal abundance measurements are affected by freeze-drying. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 629, 111790. DOI: 10.1016/j.palaeo.2023.111790

Palaeoecology course 2023

September 6, 2023
WDG

The pollen and phytolith identification quiz! Is that an Asteraceae phytolith I see…???

The University of Amsterdam “Palaeoecology” course commenced this week with lectures getting students up to speed with the fundamental principles and approaches to the subject, and laboratory practicals training students in the identification of micro- and macro-fossils. Once students have gained a basic understanding of pollen and phytolith identification – and demonstrated this by passing the ‘dreaded’ identification quiz – it is time to commence the group project work.

This year the students are trying to identify from which study site their ‘mystery slides’ come from on the basis of the micro-fossil assemblages (pollen and phytoliths) that they contain. The study sites all come from the area around Hilversum (Netherlands) and (could) include: heathland, pine forest, mix-deciduous forest, and birch woodlands. In addition, just to make it more interesting, one group has samples taken from the medieval palaeosol that is found locally.

Next week is field work week and the students will then need to parameterise the vegetation around the Hilversum area in such a way that they: (i) get a representative sample the variation across the landscape, and (ii) can compare the vegetation data with their micro-fossil data. Then, following the number crunching in the third week of the course, we will find out if the different groups can identify the correct study site from which there samples came…

The Palaeoecology course at the University of Amsterdam is part of the BSc Biology program, it is also frequently taken by students on the BSc Future Planet Studies degree. We also welcome students from other programs, such as BSc Béta-Gamma, and international exchange students.

Mapping Ancient Africa: Scientists (part 3)

September 1, 2023
WDG

The third instalment of interviews with Mapping Ancient Africa scientists is now available. Watch ‘the final four’ below, and check out the other videos by clicking on the names below:

Interview 10: Markus Fisher (University of Potsdam)

Interview 11: Soléne Boisard (University of Montréal) – in French

Interview 12: Trevor Hill (University of KwaZulu-Natal)

Interview 13: Jemma Finch (University of KwaZulu-Natal)

To find out more about the Mapping Ancient Africa project click here.

INQUAlogo

Mapping Ancient Africa: Special Issue

August 31, 2023
WDG

Mapping Ancient Africa participants on the Rome workshop (2023)

The Mapping Ancient Africa (MAA) project has an open call for contributions to a Special Issue of Quaternary International; the journal of our funder the International Union for Quaternary Research (INQUA). The concept for the special issue is agreed in principle with the journals editor-in-chief so now it is our task to collate a collection of manuscripts suitable to published in this international peer reviewed journal. The special issue will be based around papers discussed and presented at the MAA workshop in Rome and session at the INQUA congress in Rome in July 2023, but we are also happy to consider other manuscripts that fit within the MAA project area.

To find out if your manuscript idea might fit either explore the MAA web pages or contact a member of the editorial team:

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