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<p>Closely related populations or species often occupy ecologically disparate habitats. Adaptation to new habitats can maintain genetic variation within a species or eventually lead to speciation. Local adaptation to different environments has been repeatedly demonstrated in plants and animals, however the traits and genes that underlie this adaptation are poorly understood. This is because many traits differ between divergent populations and species. One way to solve this problem is to separate a trait from its genetic background through genetic manipulation and look for differences in fitness between genetically manipulated individuals. </p><p>My dissertation focuses on investigating the traits and genes that allow two species of Monkey flower, Mimulus laciniatus and Mimulus filicifolius, to survive in a unique habitat. Most closely related Mimulus species, such as M. guttatus, occur in streams and seeps, but M. laciniatus and M. filicifolius have each colonized a harsh granite outcrop environment. Another unique characteristic that both these species share is a lobed leaf shape. Because of the physiological properties of lobed leaves they should be adaptive in a dry, exposed granite outcrop. M. laciniatus also flowers earlier than nearby M. guttatus and is a small flowered self-fertilizing species while M. guttatus has large flowers and is highly outcrossing. Early flowering allows plants to escape the onset of seasonal drought while a self-fertilizing mating system and small flower size is often correlated with the occupation of harsh habitats. </p><p>In chapter one I describe a new granite outcrop endemic species of Mimulus, M. filicifolius based on morphological divergence from M. laciniatus. M. filicifolius was previously categorized as M. laciniatus but it is geographically disjunct and its leaves are more finely dissected (Sexton, Ferris, and Schoenig 2013). In the second chapter I explore whether M. filicifolius is genetically divergent and reproductively isolated from M. laciniatus using genetic sequence, microsattelite, and hybrid fertility data from four members of the M. guttatus species complex with highly overlapping geographic ranges: M. guttatus, M. nasutus, M. lacinaitus, and M. filicifolius. In the third chapter I investigate the genetic basis of leaf shape differences in three members of the M. guttatus species complex, M. laciniatus, M. nudatus, and M. guttatus using bulk segregant analysis to map quantitative trait loci. In the fourth and final chapter I examine the genetic basis of flowering time, floral size, and leaf shape divergence between sympatric M. guttatus and M. laciniatus populations in a common garden using quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping, phenotypic selection on flowering time, flower size, and leaf shape in M. laciniatus x M. guttatus hybrids in a reciprocal transplant experiment in the field, and whether QTL's from my common garden experiment overlap fitness QTL's in the field by genotyping hybrid individuals that survived to flower in the field.</p> / Dissertation

Thesis (MSc (Earth Sciences))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH SUMMARY: Regional mapping of the Stinkbank granite in the south Central Zone of the Damara Belt, focused on an area of ca. 150 km2 in the SW parts of the granite along well exposed sections of the Khan River to the SW of the town of Usakos. The granite forms part of the regionally widespread granite suite of Salem-type granites that intruded at ca. 550-540 Ma into amphibolite-facies rocks of the Damara Supergroup. The Stinkbank granite is intrusive into the regional-scale, NE-trending D2 Kransberg syncline, cored by schists of the Kuiseb Formation and surrounded by marble units of the Karibib Formation. The granite comprises three major lithotypes that have intruded in sequence. The earliest granites are represented by biotite-rich megacrystic granites, followed by leucocratic megacrystic granites and a final stage of voluminous, garnetiferous and tourmaline-bearing, medium-grained leucogranites. Contact relationships with the wall rocks are, for the most part, concordant, documenting the largely sheet-like geometry of the granites. Internal contacts between different granite phases are well preserved and indicate that the granites have intruded as shallowly-dipping, largely concordant sheets. Intrusive contact relationships and petrographic and geochemical characteristics indicate that each of the three major granite phases represented a distinct emplacement pulse. Successive emplacement of the granite sheets point to the assembly of the Stinkbank granite from the top down, with younger sheets intruding structurally below earlier emplaced granite sheets. This has created a pseudostratigraphy within the Stinkbank granite. The mapping of the internal contacts shows that the granite sheets were progressively folded into NE-trending, upright folds, parallel to D2 folds in the surrounding wall rocks. NE-trending magmatic and solid-state foliations in all granite phases are axial planar to the folds and underline the syntectonic emplacement of the Stinkbank granite during the D2 NW-SE subhorizontal shortening. Based on the intrusive relationships and the progressive deformation of granite phases, an intrusive sequence can be developed for the Stinkbank granite. The earliest granite phases were emplaced during the onset of the regional D2 deformation, parallel to the subhorizontal bedding. Continued granite sheeting led to the vertical growth of the sheet-like granite and bending of the wall rocks above the inflating granite sheets, leading to the laccolithic geometry of the SW parts iii of the Stinkbank granite. Progressive deformation, folding of the granite sheets and fold amplification resulted in fold interference patterns in the SW parts of the Stinkbank granite. The Stinkbank granite represents a mid-crustal granite with well-preserved granite sheeting that was assembled during regional deformation. Granite sheeting and progressive deformation illustrate the interplay between (1) regional strains, and (2) the orientation and presence of pre-existing wall-rock anisotropies (bedding) and their significance for the magmatic assembly and progressive deformation of the granite. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Regionale kartering van die Stinkbank graniet in die suidelike Sentrale Sone (sSS) van die Damara Gordel. Die studie fokus op die area van ongeveer 150 km2 in die SW dele van die graniet, langs n goed blootgestelde seksie van die Khan Rivier, SW van Usakos. Die graniet vorm deel van n wydverspreide suite van Salem- tipe graniete wat tussen 550-540 Ma in die amfiboliet fasies gesteentes van die Damara Supregroep ingedring het. Die Stinkbank graniet kom voor in regionale –skaal , NE – neigende D2 Kransberg Sinklinorium, wat bestaan uit skis van die Kuiseb Formasie en marmer van die Karibib Formasie. Die graniet bestaan uit drie hoof fases wat in volgorde ingedring het. Die oudste graniet is die biotiet-ryke megakristiese graniet, gevolg deur die leukokratiese megakristiese graniet en laastens die leukograniet. Kontak verhoudings met die wandgesteentes is grootendeels konkordant en dit dui op die feit dat die graniet uit lae bestaan. Die interne kontakte tussen die verskillende graniete is goed preserveer en dui aan dat die graniete voorkom as vlak lêende lae. Kontakverhoudings, petrografie en geochemiese karakteristieke dui aan dat elk van die die drie tiepes graniet uniek is. Die volgorde van intrusie van die Stinkbank graniet het voorgekom van bo na onder. Dit het n “skyn-stratigrafie” tot gevolg gehad. Kartering van die interne kontakte tussen die graniete het getoon dat die graniet lae is deurentyds gevou na NE- neigende, regop voue, parallel aan die D2 voue in die omringende wandegesteentes. NE- neigende magmatiese en soliede stadium foliasies in al die graniete is asvlak planêr aan die voue en dui ook op die syn-tektoniese intrusie van die Stinkbank graniet gedurende die D2 , NW-SE subhorisontale verkorting. Intrusiewe verhoudings en die progressiewe deformasie van die graniet, dui dat n volgorde verkry kan word vir die Stinkbank graniet. Die oudste graniet fase het ingedring gedurende die begin van die streekse D2 deformasie, parallel aan die subhorisontale gelaagdheid. Aanhoudende graniet-lae intrusies het gely tot die groei van n laag-ryke graniet en die buiging van die omliggende wangesteentes om dit n lakoliet vorm te gee in die SW dele van die Stinkbank graniet. Progressiewe deformasie, vouing van graniet lae en vergroting van voue het tot vou-interferensie patrone in die SW dele van die Stinkbank graniet tot gevolg gehad. Die Stinkbank graniet stel n middel- kors graniet met goed gepreserveerde gelaagdheid, wat gedurende regional deformasie ingedring het, voor. Graniet lae en progressiewe deformasie illustreer die verhouding tussen (1) regionale spanning en (2) die orientasie en teenwoordigheid van voorafbestaande wandgesteente anisotropie (gelaagdheid) en hulle belangrikheid vir die opbou en deformasie van die graniet.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The close spatial and temporal relationship of shear-zones and magmas is commonly interpreted to indicate positive feedback between magma migration, granitic emplacement and shear-zone-associated deformation. Emplacement geometries and structural fabrics are however rarely preserved, hampering the study of shear-zones and granitic magmas interactions. This study focuses on an area around the Pofadder Shear Zone (PSZ) in Namibia and South Africa as a case study for granitic bodies, mainly as pegmatite sills and dykes, and their spatial and temporal relationships to a crustal-scale shear-zone. The PSZ is a NW-SE trending, dextral, Mesoproterozoic-Neoproterozoic transpressional shear-zone in Namaqualand, interpreted to have accommodated late-stage lateral escape of the Namaqua Metamorphic Complex in response to southward indentation of the Kaapvaal Craton around 1030 – 1080 Ma. In this study it is shown that the shear-core records an asymmetrical strain variation across the PSZ. This is indicated by pervasively banded ultramylonites, mylonites and the significant development of pervasive phyllonites at the southern margin, defining the internal ductile to brittle-ductile fabrics of the shear, during a progressive deformational evolution. Mapping of the PSZ fabrics and associated pegmatites documents how pegmatites are emplaced in structurally distinctive sites within, and adjacent to the PSZ. New U-Pb monazite ages derived from this study, show how pegmatite emplacement has occurred at different times of shear-zone development. The pegmatites are emplaced into earlier ductile to later brittle-retrograde fabrics that accompanied the ca. 45 Ma shear-zone exhumation. Pegmatites concentrated along the northern PSZ-margin are interpreted to be controlled by anisotropies developed axial planar to large km-scale and parasitic folds during the initial, predominately strike-slip stages of shearzone deformation that occurred as early as 1005 ± 5 Ma. Within the PSZ core, pegmatite emplacement is controlled by the syn-kinematic development of (a) subvertical, mylonitic and phyllonitic foliations and (b) fracture permeabilities created by synthetic Riedel shears and dextral dilatant jogs. The most significant pegmatite development around the PSZ is the Skimmelberg Pegmatite Stockwork (SPS) which forms an extensive interconnecting network of concurrent, foliation-parallel sills and thick (> 50 m) discordant dykes within the southern footwall of the PSZ. The dykes intrude as late as 958 ± 5 Ma into feather-shaped N-S extensional fractures (mode I) that developed due to episodic stick-slip at the boundary between the PSZ core and footwall rocks during periods of late-stage transpression. The SPS forms a steeply dipping fracture network that not only creates space needed for emplacement but effectively acts as a conduit for magma transport along the margin of the PSZ. The large extensional fractures of SPS create the necessary hydraulic gradients to tap the magma source of a regional trending pegmatite belt and form a sheeted complex adjacent to the PSZ. Therefore, this study documents how, during the progressive exhumation of a largescale transcurrent shear-zone, magma emplacement is not only concentrated within the highly permeable, high-strain domains (cores) of shear-zones but may be concentrated in diachronous, structurally controlled sites along the shear-zone margins. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die noue ruimte-tydsverband tussen skuifskeure en magmas word algemeen geïnterpreteer as ‘n aanduiding van positiewe terugkoppeling tussen magma migrasie, graniet-inplasing en skuifskeurgeassosieerde vervorming. Geometrie en struktuurmaaksels van inplasings word egter selde bewaar en belemmer die studie van interaksies tussen skuifskeure en graniet-magmas. Die studie fokus op ‘n area rondom die Pofadder Skuifskeur (PSS) in Namibië en Suid-Afrika as ‘n gevallestudie vir graniet-liggame, hoofsaaklik as pegmatiet plate en gange, asook voorafgenoemde se ruimte-tydsverband met ‘n grootskaalse skuifskeur. Die PSS is ‘n NW-SO-waarts strekkende, regs-laterale, Mesoproterosoïse-Neoproterosoïse transpressieskuifskeur in Namakwaland, wat geïnterpreteer word om die latere-stadium laterale ontsnapping van die Namakwa Metamorfiese Kompleks te akkomodeer in reaksie op die suidwaartse indrukking van die Kaapvaal Kraton omstreeks 1030-1080 Ma. In hierdie studie word getoon dat asimmetriese vervormingsvariasie deur die skuifskeurkern aangeteken word. Hierdie word aangetoon deur gebande ultramilioniete, milioniete en die noemenswaardige ontwikkeling van filoniete wat die suidelike rand deurtrek en definiëer die interne plastiese- tot bros-plastiese maaksels van die skuifskeur gedurende ‘n progressiewe vervormingsevolusie. Kartering van die PSS maaksels en geassosieerde pegmatiete dokumenteer hoe pegmatiete, aangrensend en binne die PSS, in eiesoortige strukturele terreine binnedring. Nuwe U-Pb monasiet ouderdomme, afgelei vanuit hierdie studie, toon aan hoe inplasing plaasgevind het gedurende verskillende tye van skuifskeurontwikkeling. Pegmatiete het vroeëre plastiesetot latere bros-retrogressiewe maaksels binnegedring wat die herontbloting van die ca. 45 Ma skuifskeur meegaan. Pegmatiete, gekonsentreerd langs die noordelike rand van die PSS, word geïnterpreteer as beheer deur anisotrope wat parallel aan die asvlak van groot km-skaalse en ondergeskikte plooie ontwikkel gedurende die aanvanklike, hoofsaaklik strekkingwaarste, stadiums van skuifskeurontwikkeling wat so vroeg as 1005 ±5 Ma plaasgevind het. Binne die kern van die PSS word die inplasing van pegmatiete beheer deur die sinkenimatiese ontwikkeling van (a) subvertikale, milionitiese- en filonitiese foliasies en (b) breukdeurdringbaarheid wat gevorm is deur sintetiese riedelskuifskeure en regslaterale uitsettende “jogs”. Die mees noemenswaardige pegmatiet ontwikkeling rondom die PSS is die Skimmelberg Pegmatiet Stokwerk (SPS) wat ‘n intensiewe netwerk vorm van intergekonnekteerde konkurrente plate, parallel aan die foliasie, en dik (>50m) diskordante gange binne die suidelike vloer van die PSS. Die gange dring in so laat as 958 ± 5 Ma binne-in veervormige N-S uitbreidende breuke (modus1) wat ontwikkel het as gevolg van die episodiese hak-en-glip op die grens tussen die PSS kern- en vloergesteentes gedurende periodes van laat-stadium transpressie. Die SPS vorm ‘n styl hellende breuk-netwerk wat nie net spasie maak vir indringing nie, maar dien ook effektief as ‘n geleidingsweg vir die vervoer van magma langs die rand van die PSS. Die groot uitbreidende breuke van die SPS skep die nodige hidroliese gradiënt om die magma bron van ‘n regionale pegmatiet gordel te tap en vorm ‘n bladvormige kompleks aangrensend tot die PSS. Gevolglik dokumenteer die studie hoe, gedurende die progressiewe ontbloting van ‘n grootskaalse torsieskuifskeur, magma inplasing nie net gekonsentreer is binne die hoogs deurdringbare, hoogsvervormde areas (kerne) van skuifskeure nie, maar ook hoe magma kan konsentreer in diachroniese, struktuur beheerde gebiede teen die rande van skuifskeure.

published_or_final_version / Civil Engineering / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / abstract / Civil Engineering / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Applied Geosciences / Master / Master of Science

published_or_final_version / abstract / Earth Sciences / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / abstract / Earth Sciences / Master / Master of Philosophy

The Silurian-Devonian metasedimentary rocks of the Connecticut Valley-Gaspé trough (CVGT) were subjected to multiple deformational and metamorphic events during the Acadian orogeny in the Middle-Late Devonian. Plutons intruding the Devonian Waits River and Gile Mountain Formations have been considered post-tectonic, but microstructural studies of the intrusions and their metamorphic aureoles indicate some of these plutons intruded syntectonically. This study investigates the relationship between Acadian deformation and intrusion of the Knox Mountain pluton (KMP) of central Vermont. Structural and geochronological data were collected along a c. 15 km transect from the western limit of the CVGT, where the unconformable Richardson Memorial Contact coincides with the Dog River Fault Zone, into the margin of the KMP in the east. Field and microstructural observations indicate the KMP intruded syntectonically. Evidence for Acadian deformation post-dating intrusion includes folded and boudinaged granitic dikes at the margin of the KMP, and microstructures such as flame perthite, myrmekite, deformation twins, and textures associated with grain-boundary migration recrystallization in the granite. In the metamorphic aureole, biotite porphyroblasts overgrow S3, the earliest Acadian secondary foliation, and were deformed during S4 crenulation cleavage development. The KMP intruded at 377±5.2 Ma based on a U-Th-total Pb monazite crystallization age, which is concordant with the published age of the nearby Barre granite. The timing of S4 foliation development in the CVGT is constrained locally by 40Ar/39Ar geochronology at ~365 Ma, consistent with the microstructurally-inferred relative-age relationships. Plateau/weighted mean 40Ar/39Ar ages from across the transect and minimum ages from argon-loss profiles show a general trend of younging towards the east, suggesting these rocks have been affected by Alleghanian and Mesozoic deformation and exhumation.