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Full-Text Articles in Geology

A Microwave Digestion Technique For The Extraction Of Fossil Diatoms From Coastal Lake And Swamp Sediments, Jeffrey Parr, Kathryn Taffs, Christopher Lane Jul 2009

A Microwave Digestion Technique For The Extraction Of Fossil Diatoms From Coastal Lake And Swamp Sediments, Jeffrey Parr, Kathryn Taffs, Christopher Lane

Jeffrey Parr

This study provides an introduction to a microwave digestion technique for the extraction of fossil diatoms from sediments. The microwave technique is compared with the standard diatom extraction technique of Battarbee (Diatom analysis. In: Berglund B.E. (ed.), Handbook of Holocene Palaeoecology and Palaeohydrology. John Wiley and Sons) that uses a combination of dilute hydrochloric acid and hydrogen peroxide and the advantages and disadvantages of their use are discussed. The results suggest that the microwave technique is fast, inexpensive and most importantly produces replicable fossil diatom assemblage data. Small samples sizes are used (0.3 g) for the microwave method thus lower …


Late Quaternary Distribution And Biogeography Of The Southern Lake Eyre Basin (Sleb) Megafauna, South Australia, Steve Webb May 2009

Late Quaternary Distribution And Biogeography Of The Southern Lake Eyre Basin (Sleb) Megafauna, South Australia, Steve Webb

Steve Webb

Understanding the population demography, species distribution and biogeography of Australia’s megafauna is essential for understanding their extinction. This process is only just beginning, and this article discusses these aspects while concentrating on a particular region; the southern Lake Eyre Basin (SLEB). It is also the first detailed description of the distribution of megafauna across that region of central Australia. The data are based on an extensive longitudinal study of 41 palaeontological sites spread across 250 000km2. Megafauna adaptation and response to extensive environmental change during the late Quaternary is reflected in the composition and distribution of 21 megafauna species found …