Changing Climates, Ecosystems and Environments within Arid Southern Africa and Adjoining Regions Palaeoecology of Africa 33 Palaeoecology of Africa Series

This book is volume 33 of the yearbook series ?Palaeoecology of Africa? presenting the outcome of a ?tribute conference? to the internationally recognized South African researcher and palynologist Professor Louis Scott. He has recently retired, but is continuing his active research career. The conference proceedings and articles published here highlight and celebrate Prof. Scott?s contribution to palaeoscience and to the natural sciences in general. The conference was organized in July 2014 by the National Museum, Bloemfontein and the University of the Free State, South Africa, and focused on both past and present environments, ecosystems and climates of the arid regions of southern Africa, an area that serves as major focus of Prof. Scott's research.

Louis Scott?s research interests include stratigraphic palynology, long-term continental environmental change during the Cainozoic, and interpretation of palaeoenvironmental records associated with archaeological sites. His research has contributed insights into the origin of our current environment by identifying long-term patterns of climate change. Results have been applied in numerical models of vegetation change in Africa and globally. The results of these studies are relevant across the fields of botany, geology, climatology, archaeology, anthropology and palaeontology.

The chapters revisit and discuss the scientific work of Prof. Scott: among others the reconstructions of vegetation and climatic history in various areas of southern Africa, including the Tswaing Crater with a record of 200 000 years, that give insights into environmental conditions during the Last Glacial Period and the subsequent development of modern conditions. Some observations also provide key baseline information, contributing to understanding past human and environmental contexts and climatic change and the effects of global warming.

Louis Scott Tribute
Runge, J. & Seaman, M.T.Geomorphology and Quaternary environmental change; the case of central South Africa
Holmes, P.Dry Lakes or Pans of the western Free State, South Africa: Environmental History and possible Human Impact at Deelpan
Butzer, K.W. & Oswald, J.FHomo habilis and Australopithecus africanus, in the context of a chronospecies and climatic chang
Thackeray, J.F.The Fauresmith and Archaeological Systematics
Chazan, S.A reconstruction of the skull of Megalotragus priscus (Broom, 1909), based on a find from the Erfkroon fossil site, Free State Province, South Africa, with notes on the chronology and biogeography of the species
Brink, J.S.Ostrich eggshell as a source of palaeoenvironmental information for the arid interior of South Africa
Ecker, M., Botha-Brink, J., Lee-Thorp, J.A. & Horwitz, L.K.Baden-Baden: A fossil spring site in the western Free State, South Africa
van Aardt, A.C., Bousman, C.B., Brink, J.S., Brook, G.A., Jacobs, Z., du Preez, P.J. & Scott, L.Charcoal from pre-Holocene Stratum 5, Wonderwerk Cave, South Africa
Bamford, M.
Rediscovering the intriguing patrimonies depicted in rock shelters of Iringa, Tanzania
Peter, M.I.The effects of global warming on the rock art in the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park World Heritage Site, South Africa
Nhundu, A.Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation through Agro forestry systems in Wolaita Zone, Southern Highland of Ethiopia
Hailesilassie, W.T.

Jurgen Runge is Professor of Physical Geography and Geoecology at the Goethe-University Frankfurt, Germany. As an environmentalist and consultant he has worked on the evolution of tropical landscapes and former and recent climate changes in lower latitudes for many years. He is the editor of the series "Palaeoecology of Africa" and a member in several scientific editorial boards. The outcome and results of his research has been used for many applied purposes such as regional planning, remote sensing, land use, infrastructure projects and management of natural resources.