## 3 Results and Discussion  
### Phytolith Composition, Taphonomy and Seasonality  
A major aim in the current study was to assess variations in phytolith distributions and morphotype composition and whether these may be related to different animal defecators and livestock management, grazing and foddering practices, as well to seasonality of these particular plant microfossil assemblages that are embedded within the dung. The estimated phytolith numbers are based on abundances per weight of ashed dung material (Table 4). The relative abundances of the main consistent morphotypes identified in the whole assemblages are expressed as averages of percentages of the total identifiable phytoliths (Figures 3-5). Those phytoliths which were unidentifiable because of pitting and etching were recorded as weathered morphotypes. Ratios between individual (single-celled phytoliths) and multicellular phytoliths (multi-celled or in anatomical connection) were also calculated. Both the weathered and multicellular records are widely used as indicators of the state of preservation of phytolith assemblages, as well as regarding the extent of silicification of plant cells e.g., [10; 17; 27; 50]. In modern fresh dung standards it is recognized that phytolith morphological integrity and preservation may also be affected by either the extent of silicification of plant cells ingested, as well as their solubility during digestion and excretion and variation in gut and bowel conditions [25], closely related to ecology and variability in dietary practices, seasonality, animal producers and age-based aspects, among others. \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c c c c c} \hline \hline
**Sample n.** & **Location-Month** & **Prystoluts 1 g of Ashed Material (Million)** & **Prystoluts (\%)** & **Multicelled** & **Individual/Multicelled** & **Class Phylotills** & **Ratio Grass** (\%)** & **Random/Concent/Leave-** & **Description** \\ \hline
1 & AN-S & 0.7 & 5.3 & 9.6 & 9.4 & 88.1 & 0.53 & Cow (15 days) \\
6 & AN-S & 12.6 & 1.6 & 55 & 3.6 & 96.3 & 1.48 & Cow (10 days) \\
7 & AN-S & 10.9 & 2.1 & 13.2 & 6.5 & 93.8 & 0.33 & Sheep (1 month) \\
8 & AN-S & 7.1 & 3.6 & 4.5 & 21.2 & 97.4 & 8.76 & Pig (1 month) \\
11 & TD-S & 10.2 & 0.8 & 6.3 & 14.9 & 94.6 & 0.48 & Cow (1 month) \\
12 & TD-S & 9.9 & 3.6 & 11.7 & 7.6 & 92.4 & 0.37 & Cow (1 month) \\
13 & TD-S & 12.6 & 3.3 & 3.7 & 26 & 91 & 0.38 & Sheep (1 month) \\
18 & CF-S & 7.5 & 4.8 & 13.5 & 6.4 & 91.3 & 5.25 & Pig (1 month) \\
22 & CF-S & 8.4 & 1.9 & 5.8 & 16.1 & 95.4 & 8.2 & Pig (1 month) \\
23 & CF-S & 6.6 & 0.9 & 4.7 & 20.4 & 98 & 8.6 & Pig (10 days) \\
26 & CF-S & 11.9 & 0.4 & 12.1 & 7.2 & 95.5 & 0.63 & Cow (1 month) \\  
month) \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 4: Main quantitative phytoplankton results obtained from modern dung samples with indication of animal producer and known age (based on data from informants). Provenance (arm): AN: Alsdenard Nou; TD: Talat de Dalt; CF: Es Capell de Ferro. Month; S: September 2018; F. February 2019; J: June 2019. Figure 4: Relative abundances of main phytolith morphotypes obtained from sheep dung samples with indication of sample number-farm-month. B = bulliform flabellate/blocky, EA H = Epidermal appendage hair, EA PA = Epidermal appendage _apillate_ (_apillate_), EA TR = Epidermal appendage trichome (acute bulbosus), ELO DEN = Elongate dendritic, ELO DEN = Elongate dentate, ELO SIN = Elongate sinuate entire (psilate), MC DEN = Multicelled phytoliths of elongate dendritics (silica skeleton with dendritic/_apillate_/short cells/stomata), MC DEN = Multicellular structure of elongate dentate (silica skeleton with dentates/with _apillate_/short cells), MC PSI = Multicellular structure of elongate psilate (smooth), SHC= Short cell (rondel/trapeziform/bilobate). Figure 3: Relative abundances of main phytolith morphotypes obtained from cow dung samples with indication of sample number-farm-month.