Soil carbon isotopes reveal ancient grassland under forest in Hluhluwe, KwaZulu-Natal

Authors
West, AG Bond, WJ Midgley, JJ
Citation
Ag. West et al., Soil carbon isotopes reveal ancient grassland under forest in Hluhluwe, KwaZulu-Natal, S AFR J SCI, 96(5), 2000, pp. 252-254
Citations number
42
Categorie Soggetti
Multidisciplinary,Multidisciplinary
Journal title
SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF SCIENCE
ISSN journal
00382353 → ACNP
Volume
96
Issue
5
Year of publication
2000
Pages
252 - 254
Database
ISI
SICI code
0038-2353(200005)96:5<252:SCIRAG>2.0.ZU;2-C
Abstract
We investigated stable carbon isotope ratios of soil organic matter in the forests of the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal. Analysis of s oil profiles in the forest indicated a shift from C-3 to C-4 vegetation wit h depth. These results suggest that the area now covered by mature, tall fo rest in the region was once grassland. These findings support the hypothesi s that the grasslands of KwaZulu-Natal are older than previously thought.