I co-ordinate the York
Institute for Tropical Ecosystem Dynamics (KITE), a
Marie-Curie funded Excellence Centre [MCRoughGuide],
that will explore the relationship between ecosystem
dynamics, climate change, and human impacts in
Africa [KITE overview]. The key elements of the
proposal are to:
1) Determine ecosystem response to climate change by
focusing on an area of particularly high
biodiversity.
2) Determine the role of human impacts on present
forest composition and long-term ecosystem
functioning.
3) Determine pollen-vegetation relationships and
develop methods to link site-scale fossil data to
landscape.
4) Develop and test models to link past, present and
future ecosystem functioning at different spatial
scales.
5) Produce results to inform management and policy
formation both in the study area and more
generically.
KITE will use the Eastern Arc Mountains of eastern
Kenya and Tanzania as a model system to understand
the patterns and processes on which the evolution of
mountain biodiversity is based. The region is ideal
as it encompasses one of the world's top
biodiversity hotspots at a range of taxonomic
measures (Myers, 2000 Nature 403: 853-858) and is
characterised by steep gradients of natural climatic
variability associated with tropical mountains, the
Indian Ocean monsoon and transition from an oceanic
to continental climate. Despite the pivotal
position, in terms of ecology and climate, for
unravelling ecosystem response to climatic
variability, being politically stable, having a
range of excellent potential sites, and good
logistical infrastructure the area has only a single
pollen-based record of vegetation change - this is
quite remarkable and will be addressed. Some of the
research is site-specific and highly focused whereas
other aspects are more generic to global change
research. KITE will determine why the area is so
biodiverse - do high levels of biodiversity depend
on buffering from global climatic changes, due to
the close proximity of the Indian Ocean monsoon
system, or is this a response to high climatic and
environmental variability, and what role, if any,
have human impacts imparted on the ecosystem (Figure
1). The research will combine social and natural
sciences to deliver results with tangible
socio-economic and policy implications.
Other staff with in the Environment Department
directly involved in the project include Dr. Jon
Lovett for his expertise in tropical ecology and Dr.
Colin McClean for his expertise in GIS applications
to uncertainty associated with ecological data and
bioclimatic model development. This combination of
using an understanding of the past, present and
future to inform policy can be summarized by a
project poster recently presented at the National
Climate Change Conference, South Africa [Pretoria
KITE]
Publications
Papers in peer-reviewed journals
Marchant, R.A.,
Taylor, D.M. and Hamilton, A.C. (1997). Late
Pleistocene and Holocene History at Mubwindi Swamp,
south-west Uganda.
Quaternary Research
47, 316-328.
Marchant, R.A. and Taylor, D.M. (1998). A Late
Holocene record of montane forest dynamics from
south-western Uganda.
The Holocene 8, 375-381.
Marchant, R.A. and Taylor, D.M. (2000). Numerical
analysis of modern pollen spectra and in situ
montane forest - implications for the interpretation
of fossil pollen sequences from tropical Africa. The
New Phytologist 146, 505-515.
Marchant, R.A. and Hooghiemstra, H. (2001). ‘Letter
to the Editor’ Climate of East Africa 6000 14C Yr
B.P. as inferred from pollen data. By Odile Peyron,
Dominique Jolly, Raymonde Bonnefille, Annie Vincens
and Joël Guiot.
Quaternary Research 56, 133-135.
Marchant, R.A. and Hooghiemstra, H. (2001). Plantan
en klimaatverandering. Natuur & Techniek 69, 22-27.
Marchant, R.A., Behling, H., Berrio, J.C., Cleef,
A., Duivenvoorden, J., van Geel, B, van der Hammen,
T., Hooghiemstra, H., Kuhry, P., Melief, B.M., van
Reenen, G. and Wille, M. (2001). Late Holocene
Colombian vegetation dynamics.
Quaternary Science
Reviews 20, 1289-1308.
Marchant, R.A., Behling, H., Berrio, J.C., Cleef,
A., Duivenvoorden, J., van Geel, B, van der Hammen,
T., Hooghiemstra, H., Kuhry, P., Melief, B.M., van
Reenen, G. and Wille, M. (2001). A reconstruction of
Colombian biomes derived from modern pollen data
along an altitude gradient. Review
Palaeobotany and
Palynology 117, 79-92.
Marchant, R.A., Almeida, L., Behling, H., Berrio,
J.C., Bush, M., Cleef, A., Duivenvoorden, J.,
Kappelle, M., De Oliveira, P.E., Trixeira de
Oliveira-Filho, A., Lozano-García, M.S.,
Hooghiemstra, H., Ledru, M-P., Ludlow-Wiechers, B.,
Markgraf, V., Mancini, V., Paez, M., Prieto, A.,
Rangel, O., and Salgado-Labouriau, M.L. (2002).
Distribution and ecology of parent taxa of pollen
lodged within the Latin American Pollen Database.
Review Palaeobotany and Palynology. 120, 1-75. [RAM
Rev Paleobot 2002]
Marchant, R.A., Boom, A. and Hooghiemstra, H.
(2002). Pollen-based biome reconstructions for the
past 450,000 yr from the Funza-2 core, Colombia:
comparisons with model-based vegetation
reconstructions.
Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology,
Palaeoecology 177, 29-45.
Marchant, R.A., Behling, H., Berrio, J.C., Cleef,
A., Duivenvoorden, J., van Geel, B, van der Hammen,
T., Hooghiemstra, H., Kuhry, P., Melief, B.M., van
Reenen, G. and Wille, M. (2002). Colombian
vegetation derived from pollen data at 0, 3000,
6000, 9000, 12,000, 15,000 and 18,000 radiocarbon
year before present.
Journal of Quaternary Science
17, 113-129.
Marchant, R.A., Boom, A. Behling, H., Berrío, J.C.,
van Geel, B, van der Hammen, T., Hooghiemstra, H.,
Kuhry and Wille, M. 2004a. Colombian vegetation at
the Late Glacial Maximum – a comparison of model and
pollen-based biome reconstructions.
Journal of
Quaternary Science 19, 721-732
Marchant, R.A., Behling, H., Berrío, J.C., Cleef,
A., Duivenvoorden, J., van Geel, B, van der Hammen,
T., Hooghiemstra, H., Kuhry, P., Melief, B.M., van
Reenen, G. and Wille, M. 2004b. Mid to Late Holocene
vegetation disturbance in Colombia – a regional
reconstruction. Antiquity 78, 828-838
Marchant, R.A. and Hooghiemstra, H. 2004. Rapid
environmental change in tropical Africa and Latin
America about 4000 years before present: a review.
Earth Science Reviews 66, 217-260.
Marchant, R.A., Berrío, J.C., Behling, H., Boom, A.
Hooghiemstra, H., in press. Colombian dry moist
forest transitions in the Llanos Orientales – a
comparison of model and pollen-based biome
reconstructions. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology,
Palaeoecology.
Marchant, R.A., Behling, H., (2005). Late Quaternary
tropical Ecosystem Dynamics.
Quaternary Research 64,
283.
Berrío, J.C, Hooghiemstra, H., Marchant, R. and
Rangel, O. (2002). Lateglacial and Holocene history
of the dry forest area in the south Colombian Cauca
Valley. Journal of Quaternary Science 17, 667-682.
Boom, A., Marchant, R. A., Hooghiemstra, H. &
Sinninghe Damste, J. S. (2002) CO2 and
temperature-controlled altitudinal shifts of C4- and
C3- dominated grasslands allow reconstruction of
CO2. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology,
Palaeoecology. 177, 29-45
Elenga, H., Peryon, O., Bonnefille, R., Prentice,
I.C., Jolly, D., Cheddadi, R., Guiot, J., Andrieu,
V., Bottema, S., Buchet, G., De Beaulieu, J.L.,
Hamilton, A.C., Maley, J., Marchant, R., Perez-Obiol,
R., Reille, M., Riollet, G., Scott, L., Straka, H.,
Taylor, D., Van Campo, E., Vincens, A., Laarif, F.
and Jonson, H. (1998). Pollen-based reconstruction
for Southern Europe and Africa 18,000 years ago.
Journal of Biogeography 27, 621-634.
Jolly, D., Taylor, D.M., Marchant, R.A., Hamilton, A.C., Bonnefille, R., Buchet, G. and Riolett, G.
(1997). Vegetation dynamics in central Africa since
18,000 yr BP: pollen records from the
interlacustrine highlands of Burundi, Rwanda and
western Uganda. Journal of Biogeography 24, 495-512.
Prentice, I.C., Jolly, D. and BIOME 6000
participants (2000). Mid-Holocene and
glacial-maximum vegetation: geography of the
northern continents and Africa. Journal of
Biogeography 27, 507-519.
Taylor, D.M. and Marchant, R.A. (1996). Human impact
in the interlacustrine region: long-term pollen
records from the Rukiga Highlands. Azania 29-30,
283-295.
Taylor, D.M., Marchant, R. and Robertshaw, P.
(1999). A sediment-based history of medium altitude
forest in central Africa: a record from Kabata
Swamp, Ndale volcanic field, Uganda.
Journal of
Ecology 87, 303-315.
Taylor, D.M., Robetshaw, P. and Marchant, R.A.
(2000). Environmental change and political upheavel
in precolonial western Uganda. The Holocene 10,
527-536.
Chapters in edited books
Marchant, R.A.,
Taylor, D.M. (2000). Modern pollen - vegetation
relationships in montane rainforest of Uganda: an
aid to interpretation of fossil sequences from
central Africa. In Pollen and Spores: Morphology and
Bilology M. Harley, C. Morton and S. Blackmore
(Eds.). Kew Press, London pp 312-334.
Marchant, R.A. and de Vries, B. (2002). The
Holocene: Global change and local response. In
Mappae Mundi, human and their habitats in a
long-term socio-ecological perspective, myths, maps
and models. Bert de Vries and Johan Goudsblom
(Eds.), Amsterdam University Press / Cambridge
University Press pp 47-70.
Marchant, R., Hooghiemstra, H. and Islebe, G.
(2004). The rise and fall of Peruvian and Central
American civilisations: interconnections with
Holocene climatic change - a necessarily complex
model. In Monsoons and Civilization Yoshinori Yasuda
and Vasant Shinde (Eds.) Roli Books.
Marchant, R. A. (in press). Late Holocene
environmental change and cultural response in
south-western Uganda. In Wetlands of the World S.
Ellis and M. Lille (Eds.). Routledge.
de Vries, B. and Marchant, R.A. (2002). Environment
and the great transitions:agrarianization. In Mappae
Mundi, human and their habitats in a long-term
socio-ecological perspective, myths, maps and
models. Bert de Vries and Johan Goudsblom (Eds.),
Amsterdam University Press / Cambridge University
Press.
de Vries, B., Marchant, R.A. and De Greef, P.
(2002). In Mappae Mundi, human and their habitats in
a long-term socio-ecological perspective, myths,
maps and models. Bert de Vries and Johan Goudsblom
(Eds.), Amsterdam University Press / Cambridge
University Press pp 111-146.
Lovett, J.C., Marchant, R., Taplin, J., Küper, W.
(2005). The oldest rainforests in Africa: stability
or resilience for survival and diversity? In
Phylogeny and Conservation. Andy Purvis, J Gittleman
and Thomas Brooks Eds. Conservation Biology 8
Taylor, D.M., Marchant, R.A. and Lamb, H. (1998).
Long-term dynamics of forests in western Uganda:
implications for monitoring and management. In The Rwenzori Mountains National Park, Uganda H. Osmaston
(Ed.). Makerere university Press, Kampala pp
135-153.
Taylor, D.M., Marchant, R.A. and Hamilton, A.C.
(2001). A re-analysis and interpretation of
palynological data from Kalambo Falls Prehistoric
Site. In Kalambo Falls Prehistoric Site II: The
Later Prehistoric Cultures J.D. Clark (Ed.).
Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
Robertshaw P., Taylor D., Doyle S., and Marchant R.
2003. Famine, climate and crisis in Western Uganda.
In: Battarbee R.W., Gasse F., and Stickley C.E. (eds),
Past Climate Variability through Europe and Africa.
Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, the
Netherlands, pp. 000-000.
Selected conference presentations
Marchant, R.A.
(1999). Pollen-based biome reconstructions for Latin
America at 0, 6000 and 18,000 radiocarbon years. Paleoclimatic and Modelling Intercomparisons ESF
Science meeting Albuferia, Portugal.
Marchant, R.A. and Taylor, D.M. (1999). Numerical
analysis of modern pollen spectra and in situ
montane forest - implications for the interpretation
of fossil pollen sequences from tropical Africa.
INQUA XV International Congress, Durban.
Marchant, R.A., Behling, H., Hooghiemstra, H.,
Markgraf, V., Harrison, S.P., Prentice, C. (2000).
Pollen-based biome reconstructions for Colombia at
0, 6000 and 18,000 radiocarbon years ago.
International Palynological Congress, Nanjing,
China.
Marchant R.A and Ledru, M-P. (2000). The migration
of Podocarpus and Fitzroya from the Andes during the
Late Quaternary. Southern connections meeting of
OSTOM, São Paulo, Brazil.
Marchant R.A and Jolly, D. (2001). A comparison of
Late Quaternary montane vegetation dynamic between
central Africa and the northern Andes.
Inter-tropical comparisons meeting, Havana, Cuba.
Marchant, R.A. and Hooghiemstra, H. (2002) Rapid
environmental change in tropical Africa and Latin
America about 4000 years before present: a review.
Environmental Catastrophes in The Holocene, London.
Marchant R., Mitchell., F. (2003). The Irish Pollen
Database – an introduction. Irish Quaternary
Association Spring meeting, Trinity College Dublin.
Marchant, R.A., Behling, H., Berrio, J.C., Cleef,
A., Duivenvoorden, J., van Geel, B, van der Hammen,
T., Harrison, S., Hooghiemstra, H., Kuhry, P.,
Melief, B.M., Prentice, C. van Reenen, G., Wille, M.
(2003). Comparisons of data and model-derived
palaeovegetation from Latin America at 0, 6000 and
18,000 yr BP. INQUA 14th International Congress,
Reno Nevada.
