Anel Geer

Anel Geer’s research investigated vegetation history in the Karkloof Area using a 12,000 year old sedimentary core extracted from the Dartmoor Vlei. The Midlands region of KwaZulu-Natal in particular is characterised by a mosaic of Southern Mistbelt Forests and Midlands Mistbelt Grasslands, making Dartmoor Vlei a very interesting site for palaeoenvironmental research. Pollen and isotope analysis was used to reconstruct past environmental changes while radiocarbon dating provided chronological control. This research was funded by the Palaeontological Scientific Trust (PAST) and the South African National Grasslands Programme.