The occurrence of high molecular weight humic material in recent organic-rich sediment from the Namibian shelf

The molecular size distribution of humic substances has been investigated in two recent sediment samples of different ages taken from a single core sample collected off Walvis Bay, south-west Africa. Extractable humic acids were found to be by far the major form of organic carbon in both sediments, the near-surface younger sample containing predominantly high molecular weight (>100 000 molecular weight) humic acids and little fulvic acids whilst the deeper, older sample contained relatively less humic acid and relatively more fulvic acid of a range of molecular weights. A significant age difference was found between the >300 000 molecular weight and the <30 000 molecular weight fractions of the near-surface sample, the lower molecular weight fraction being older than the higher molecular weight fraction.The data suggest that in this rapidly accumulating, organic-rich sediment the first step en route from the planktonic matter to the humic complexes is direct and rapid incorporation of the biogenic material into high molecular weight humic acids.     

Paleolimnological investigations of anthropogenic environmental change in Lake Tanganyika: IX. Summary of paleorecords of environmental change and catchment deforestation at Lake Tanganyika and impacts on the Lake Tanganyika ecosystem

Paleorecords from multiple indicators of environmental change provide evidence for the interactions between climate, human alteration of watersheds and lake ecosystem processes at Lake Tanganyika, Africa, a lake renowned for its extraordinary biodiversity, endemism and fisheries. This paper synthesizes geochronology, sedimentology, paleoecology, geochemistry and hydrology studies comparing the history of deltaic deposits from watersheds of various sizes and deforestation disturbance levels along the eastern coast of the lake in Tanzania and Burundi. Intersite differences are related to climate change, differences in the histories of forested vs. deforested watersheds, differences related to regional patterns of deforestation, and differences related to interactions of deforestation and climate effects. Climate change is linked to variations in sediment accumulation rates, charcoal accumulation, lake level and water chemistry, especially during the arid-humid fluctuations of the latter part of the Little Ice Age. Differences between forested and deforested watersheds are manifested by major increases in sediment accumulation rates in the latter (outside the range of climatically driven variability and for the last 40 years unprecedented in comparison with other records from the lake in the late Holocene), differences in eroded sediment and watershed stream composition, and compositional or diversity trends in lake faunal communities related to sediment inundation. Variability in regional patterns of deforestation is illustrated by the timing of transitions from numerous sedimentologic, paleoecologic and geochemical indicators. These data suggest that extensive watershed deforestation occurred as early as the late-18th to the early-19th centuries in the northern part of the Lake Tanganyika catchment, in the late-19th to early-20th centuries in the northern parts of modern-day Tanzania, and in the mid-20th century in central Tanzania. Rapid increases in sediment and charcoal accumulation rates, palynological and lake faunal changes occurred in the early-1960s. We interpret this to be the result of greatly enhanced flushing of sediments in previously deforested watersheds triggered by extraordinary rainfall in 1961/62. Regional differences in deforestation histories can be understood in light of the very different cultural and demographic histories of the northern and central parts of the lake shoreline. Incursion of slaving and ivory caravans from the Indian Ocean to the central coast of Lake Tanganyika by the early-19th century, with their attendant diseases, reduced human and elephant populations and therefore maintained forest cover in this region through the late-19th to early-20th centuries. In contrast, the northeastern portion of the lakeshore did not experience the effects of the caravan trades and consequently experienced high human population densities and widespread deforestation much earlier. These studies demonstrate the importance of paleolimnological data for making informed risk assessments of the potential effects of watershed deforestation on long-term lake ecosystem response in the Lake Tanganyika catchment. Differences in sediment yield and lake floor distribution of that yield, linked to factors such as watershed size, slope, and sediment retention, must be accounted for in management plans for both human occupation of currently forested watersheds and the development of future underwater reserves.     

Paleolimnological investigations of anthropogenic environmental change in Lake Tanganyika: II. Geochronologies and mass sedimentation rates based on <Superscript>14</Superscript>C and <Superscript>210</Superscript>Pb data

We established sediment geochronologies for cores from eight deltaic areas in Lake Tanganyika (the Lubulungu, Kabesi, Halembe, Malagarasi, Nyasanga/Kahama, Mwamgongo, Nyamusenyi, and Karonge/Kirasa River deltas), recording a range of watershed disturbance histories from the eastern margin of this African rift valley lake. Cores from currently disturbed sites on the central Tanzanian coast display remarkably uniform and low rates of sediment accumulation from the 18th century until the early 1960s, when a synchronous and dramatic rise in rates occurs. Through this same time interval sedimentation rates offshore from undisturbed Tanzanian watersheds either remain unchanged or decline. Further north, at disturbed sites along the northern Tanzania and Burundi coasts, the pattern of sedimentation rate increase is more complex. Although a mid-late 20th century increase is also evident in these sites, indications of earlier periods of increasing sediment erosion, dating from the mid-late 19th century, are also evident. Synchronous changes in sediment accumulation rates dating from the early 1960s may be the result of exceptionally wet years triggering an increase in the discharge of previously eroded and unconsolidated alluvium and stream/beach terrace deposits, previously accumulated in the deltas and stream valleys of impacted watersheds. Sedimentation rate impacts of deforestation on lake ecosystems are likely modulated by short-term climatic forcing events, which can impact the specific timing and location of sediment discharge to lakes.     

Second homes and local development: Issues arising from Cape Town's De Waterkant

The paper aims to make a contribution towards addressing the current paucity of academic reflection on second home development in South Africa. The paper focuses on the intersection between tourism, second homes and local development, as embodied in the empirical realities of a Cape Town neighbourhood — De Waterkant. It is argued that this particular case study presents an example of the types of local development impacts that second home expansion holds for host communities. These impacts include employment generation, urban conservation, a range of forward and backward economic linkages, as well as a flexible tourist accommodation supply. Moreover, the case study elucidates an interesting example of second homes as sites of simultaneous tourism space production and consumption at work. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Geology and Geochemistry of the Pre-early Cambrian Rocks in the Sandikli Area: Implications for the Pan-African Evolution of NW Gondwanaland

The pre-Early Cambrian Sandikli Basement Complex in western Central Anatolia comprises a low-grade meta-sedimentary succession (Güvercinoluk Formation) and meta-rhyolites intruded by meta-quartz porphyry rocks (Kestel Cayi Porphyroid Suite). The Güvercinoluk Formation consists of alternation of meta-siltstones and meta-sandstones with olistostromal conglomerates, rare black chert and cherty meta-dolomite lenses. The Kestel Cayi Porphyroid Suite is a deformed, highly sheared dome-shaped rhyolitic body with quartz porphyry rocks. Quartz porphyry dykes intrude both the volcanic carapace and the meta-sedimentary rocks of the Güvercinoluk Formation. Both the meta-quartz porphyry rocks and meta-rhyolites are typically mylonitic with relict igneous textures. Geochemical data indicate that the felsic rocks of the Kestel Cayi Porphyroid Suite are subalkaline and display characteristic features of post-collisional, I-type granitoids. The basement complex is unconformably overlain by variegated conglomerates, mudstones and arkosic sandstones with andesitic lavas, followed by siliciclastic rocks and carbonates that yielded Early Middle Cambrian fossils.

Based on the geochemical characteristics of the felsic rocks of Kestel Cayi Porphyroid Suite and the depositional features of the associated sediments it is suggested that the Sandikli Basement Complex is related to a post-collisional extension event in NW Gondwanaland. Similar occurrences elsewhere have been related to a transition from continental plate convergence to continental plate divergence along the Pan-African Belt.     

3-D surface wave group velocity distribution in Central-Southern Africa

Group velocities estimated from fundamental mode Love and Rayleigh waves are used in a tomography process in central-southern Africa. The waves were generated by eighteen earthquakes, which occurred along the East African Rift and recorded at BOSA, LBTB and SLR seismic stations in southern Africa. The group velocities from Love and Rayleigh waves were isolated using the Multiple Filter Technique (MFT) at the period range of 10 to 50 seconds. The tomography method developed by Ditmar and Yanovskaya (1987) and Yanovskaya and Ditmar (1990), was applied to calculate the lateral distribution of surface wave group velocities in central-southern Africa. The results of the tomographic inversion were plotted as distribution maps. In addition to the maps, I also produced two velocity cross-sections across the area of study. The velocity distribution maps show the regional tectonic units, though with poor resolution. The azimuthal bias of the surface wave paths is reflected in the distribution of the group velocities. The Moho depth appears to correlate with velocities at a period of about 30 s. A low velocity feature observed beneath the Zimbabwe craton implies a thickening upper asthenosphere and lithospheric thinning beneath the Zimbabwe craton. Also estimated was a shear wave velocity model beneath the Zimbabwe craton.     

Agrarian Dynamics, Population Growth and Resource Management: The Case of Burundi

What role has intense population pressure played (and continues to play) in ancient and contemporary transformations in Burundian agriculture? A considerable disincentive to development and source of imbalance for some, an engine of agricultural growth for others: does this age-old debate still make sense in the present context? Based on an extensive study of agrarian dynamics, the reconstruction of the different agrarian systems that have been in place in Burundi, and an investigation of the phases of major transformations that have enabled the passage of one system to another, the author ventures a rereading of the most commonly cited interpretations of Malthus and Boserup, and proposes a new approach to this fundamental question.