Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39680404›Full record

ArticleAnnals of botany2025

Phytoliths in dicotyledons occurring in Northwest Europe: establishing a baseline.

Rosalie Hermans, Caroline A E Strömberg, Tessi Löffelmann, Luc Vrydaghs, Lien Speleers, Alexandre Chevalier, Karin Nys, Christophe Snoeck

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Annals of botany, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Rosalie HermansArchaeology, Environmental Changes and Geo-Chemistry Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, Elsene 1050, Belgium.ORCID 0000-0003-1675-191X
Caroline A E StrömbergDepartment of Biology and Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-0612-0305
Tessi LöffelmannArchaeology, Environmental Changes and Geo-Chemistry Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, Elsene 1050, Belgium.
Luc VrydaghsArchaeology, Environmental Changes and Geo-Chemistry Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, Elsene 1050, Belgium.
Lien SpeleersRoyal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Quaternary Environments and Humans, Rue Vautier 29, Brussels 1000, Belgium.
Alexandre ChevalierRoyal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Quaternary Environments and Humans, Rue Vautier 29, Brussels 1000, Belgium.
Karin NysArchaeology, Environmental Changes and Geo-Chemistry Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, Elsene 1050, Belgium.
Christophe SnoeckArchaeology, Environmental Changes and Geo-Chemistry Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, Elsene 1050, Belgium.

Funding

by the Research Foundation - Flanders 11A8922N
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND

aimsThe absence of a modern plant-based 'dicotyledon' phytolith reference baseline impedes the accurate interpretation of fossil phytolith records in archaeological and palaeoecological research within Northwest (NW) Europe. This study aims to fill this gap by documenting and analysing the phytolith record from modern dicotyledon taxa occurring in this region.

methodsPhytoliths were extracted from several plant parts of 117 plant specimens representing 74 species (one or two specimens per species). The study employed light microscopy to examine phytolith production (non-producer, trace, common or abundant) and phytolith assemblage composition. The data were analysed statistically to (1) determine the influence of taxonomy and plant part on phytolith presence (absent/present) using a mixed model, (2) assess phytolith assemblage variation using a permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PerMANOVA) and (3) identify patterns among sample groups including segregation for plant part, life form (forbs vs. shrubs/trees) and order using linear discriminant analyses (LDA). KEY

resultsMorphotype analysis revealed diagnostic morphotypes and features for specific plant families, genera and plant parts. LDA effectively segregated plant parts and life forms, though taxonomic groupings showed limited segregation. Phytolith presence (absent/present) was found to vary, influenced by both plant part and taxonomy. For species examined through two specimens, although phytolith production varied considerably, phytolith assemblage composition was consistent.

conclusionsThis study establishes a 'dicotyledon' phytolith baseline for NW Europe, showing that the phytolith record can be informative in terms of plant part and life form and that several phytolith morphotypes and/or features are taxonomically diagnostic below 'dicotyledon' level. The findings constitute a foundation upon which future research can build, refining and expanding our knowledge of the NW European region.

Indexed as

FossilsMagnoliopsidaEuropedicotyledonsnorthwestern EuropePhytolithsreference collection

Identifiers

PMID39680404
PMCPMC12064429

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