Detecting environmental change and anthropogenic activities on Laikipia Plateau, Kenya

Pollen, spore and charcoal analysis of deposits from Marura and Ewaso Narok swamps in Laikipia, Kenya, reveals anthropogenic activities and climate variability during the Late Holocene. Specifically, there was a shift from relatively closed to open woodland dominated by Acacia and grassland as suggested by an increase in Poaceae and herbaceous taxa indicative of an increase in disturbance. The reduction of Afromantane taxa such as Podocarpus, Olea and Rapanea, and the increase of Justicia and Asteraceae support the indication of an increase of human activities. This ecosystem change may result from a period of disturbance of bush clearance and agriculture intensification and/or climate variability during the last 2000 years. This ecosystem shift may further have been as a result of associated fire intensity in the savanna biome as indicated by increases in charcoal.