Lec 11

Question 1

What are Phytoliths?

Answer 1

• Plants take in water, other stuff comes as a result (ex. Silica - pasty when polymerized)
• Plant precipitates Silicon Dioxide, and takes on cell shape when plant dies
• meant to reconstruct environment or phytoliths to dispose of things.

Question 2

Stable Isotopes?

Answer 2

Can show info on:
- Sources of compounds
- Processes undergone by said compounds (ex. Food webs)
- Temp at which materials are found

Question 3

C3 vs C4 Plants?

Answer 3

C3 - Wood, forestry, cool (ex. grasses, trees)
C4 - Open, dry, warm (ex. tropical)

Question 4

Biomarkers?

Answer 4

General Biomarkers
 Long chain n-alkaline
o Specific Biomarkers
 Botryococaine