POST001 Devonian Ecosystems Fieldtrip (fly to Gqeberha) FULL
Diverse biota from both the early and late Devonian strata of the Eastern Cape reveal an unexpected abundant continental biota, considering their extremely high palaeolatitude. Whilst strata of the uppermost Table Mountain Group have one of the most diverse known Lochkovian floras, Famennian strata of the Witpoort Formation of the Witteberg group present an equally rich floral diversity, including for example southern Africa’s earliest (Archaeopteris) tees.
The Waterloo Farm lagerstatte combines flora and terrestrial invertebrate remains, as well as the only comprehensive vertebrate biota from southern Gondwana, including tetrapods. Exceptional soft tissue preservation at the site manifests in, for example, the most complete known growth series of a palaeozoic lamprey species.
The geological context of the above sites will be examined, as well as the Bokkeveld marine invertebrate locality. The fieldtrip will end up at the Devonian Ecosystems Project lab and gallery in Makhanda to view the displays of Waterloo Farm material and temporary displays of early Devonian material.
Click here for detailed itinerary
As accommodation is limited in certain areas, field leaders will assign sharing rooms, if you are sharing with someone specific, please inform the registration secretariat - ipc7@allevents.co.za
POST002 Karoo Transect: Trans-Karoo Excursion from ice floes to desert dunes. FULL
A geological and palaeontological journey through 100My of evolving terrestrial ecosystems in the Main Karoo Basin.
A 9 day transect through 100 million years of continental sedimentation in the Karoo Basin characterised by progressive aridification punctuated by glaciations, tectonic pulses, volcanic outpourings.
The leaders demonstrate how these changes affected the terrestrial vertebrate communities as they walk participants through Carboniferous glacio-marine beds, Permian floodplains. well known terrestrial P/T and T/J boundary sections ending in the Jurassic erg.
Highlights include spectacular crevasse splay palaeosurfaces, cliff section exposures of a variety of channel forms, hunting for mammal-like reptile and dinosaur fossils, palaeosols of wet, dry and loessic floodplains and for the structural people, two transects through the Cape Fold belt.
Touristic highlights include lots of clean Karoo air, semi-desert scenery, spectacular sundowner/star gazing spots. A visit to a traditional sheep farms, game parks, country hotels and farm style cooking are all part of this unique Gondwanan experience.
Click here for detailed itinerary
As accommodation is limited in certain areas, field leaders will assign sharing rooms, if you are sharing with someone specific, please inform the registration secretariat - ipc7@allevents.co.za
