Pollen Spores Research Articles

Investigation of Organic Carbon and Trace Metal Enrichments of Rocks at the Paleocene-Eocene Boundary, NW Turkey

In this study, organic geochemical and biogeochemical investigations were conducted on various deposit types at the Paleocene-Eocene boundary in the Bolu and Ankara (Ozanköy) regions in northwest Turkey. Investigations yield that clayey and carbonaceous rocks in the Bolu and Ankara regions have high organic carbon (Corg) and Ni, As, Se, Au, W, and Mo contents. Variation range, range difference, and averages of these two parameters in the rocks were computed. In addition, enrichment factors of the elements in the fields were determined with respect to their abundance in the earth crust and shales. The average Corg content in the Bolu and Ankara regions is about 7.51 wt%. However, in various bitumen layers this value ranges from 10–40 wt%. The main source of OM in deposits is sapropelic or algal amorphous Type I kerogen and also Type II kerogen consisting of plant materials such as spore pollen, and leaf cuticle. Enrichment factors of Ni, As, Se, Au, W, and Mo with respect to their abundance in the earth crust are 2.93, 35.73, 144.5, 15.0, 15.25, and 3.2, respectively. Corg and element accumulation levels indicate a periodical property and the presence of a positive correlation among them. Enriched element contents are mostly attributed to an OM-dependent biogenic accumulation level. In addition, diagenetic element exchange and the element exchange particularly between seawater and bituminous material are very effective. Results of this study yielded that bitumoid-rich Bolu and Ankara regions can also be evaluated for their energy and metal sources.

The danger within: endogenous danger signals, atopy and asthma

In allergic asthmatics, airway inflammation is triggered by specific (inhalation of allergen such as house dust mite allergen and pollen spores) or non-specific triggers (such as air pollutants and viral infection). Most of these inhaled particles are immunologically inert. Dendritic cells (DCs) are essential for priming and T helper-2 differentiation of naïve T cells towards aeroallergens. Contamination of antigens with pattern-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS), is required to activate DCs to mount an immune response. Damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), such as uric acid and adenosine triphosphate (ATP), also contribute to the induction of inflammation by activation and recruitment of various inflammatory cells. Compelling evidence suggests that a tight collaboration between PAMPs and DAMPs is needed to start an immune response to allergens. Several studies have recently demonstrated an important role of endogenous danger signals at the inception and maintenance phase of allergic disease. Further research into this area should focus on the possible role of these factors in maintenance of chronic disease and induction of airway remodelling.

An optical tweezer actuated, nanoaperture-grid based Optofluidic Microscope implementation method

We report a novel grid based Optofluidic Microscope (OFM) method where a closely spaced 2D grid of nanoapertures (diameter = 100 nm, separation = 2.5 mum) provided patterned illumination. We achieved a one-to-one mapping of the light transmissions through the nanoapertures onto a high-speed CCD camera. By optically tweezing a targeted sample across the grid in a controlled fashion and recording the time varying light reception from the nanoapertures, we were able to generate high-resolution images of the sample. The achievable resolution limit of the prototype was ~ 110 nm (Sparrow's criterion) under optimal conditions. We demonstrated the technique by imaging polystyrene beads and pollen spores.

Early Jurassic miospores from Ferrar Group of Carapace Nunatak, South Victoria Land, Antarctica

Along the Transantarctic Mountains, the siliciclastic foreland basin deposits of the Beacon Supergroup and the effusive rocks of the Ferrar Group overlay the pre-Devonian metamorphic basement. The Ferrar Group at Carapace Nunatak is composed of fluvial volcanic sandstones of the Carapace Sandstone Formation, which is overlain by the volcanic flows and breccias of the Kirkpatrick Basalt Formation. Fossiliferous horizons are present in both formations. Palynological analyses have been carried out on fifteen samples collected in marly–silty horizons within the Carapace Sandstone and Kirkpatrick Basalt formations. Samples from the Carapace Sandstone Formation contain a scarce but quite well preserved palynoflora, which is orange to light brown in colour. The spore–pollen assemblages lack dominant species and are very similar in composition. The stratigraphically significant taxa Corollina torosa and Podosporites variabilis are present. The two samples from the Kirkpatrick Basalt Formation contain a very rich microflora dominated by Corollina species (mainly C. torosa) and Exesipollenites tumulus. Some representatives of the genus Callialasporites are also present. Comparisons with previous Carapace Nunatak and Antarctic palynological studies are discussed. The Australian Jurassic biostratigraphic zonation suggests a Late Sinemurian to basal Pliensbachian age for the Carapace Sandstone Formation and a Pliensbachian age for the basal part of the Kirkpatrick Basalt Formation, thus implying a revision of the stratigraphy and correlation between the formations in the Transantarctic mountains.

Contrasting origins of Early Cretaceous black shales in the Vocontian basin: Evidence from palynological and calcareous nannofossil records

Detailed records of spore–pollen assemblages, particulate organic matter (OM), dinoflagellate cysts and calcareous nannofossils provide new insights into the palaeoclimatic and palaeoceanographic conditions during formation of Early Cretaceous black shales in the Vocontian basin (southeastern France). The early Aptian Niveau Goguel, which corresponds to the OAE1a, and the regionally distributed late Aptian Niveau Jacob have been studied with regard to changes in terrestrial vegetation patterns, terrigenous inputs and palaeofertility conditions. Palynological results from both black shale intervals exhibit a rich and stable floral pattern, dominated by various ferns, different types of cycads, bennettites as well as by several conifer families. Dinoflagellate cyst assemblages and the calcareous nannofossil-based nutrient index show no prominent changes in surface water productivity across the two studied intervals in the Vocontian basin. Significant variations are observed in terrestrial detrital input indicated by changes in absolute abundances of marine and terrestrial palynomorphs. According to our results, the laminated, OM-rich horizons of the Niveau Goguel interval reflect deposition during times of reduced siliciclastic input. Episodes of pronounced condensation were accompanied by anoxic conditions preventing degradation of the predominantly marine-derived OM. In contrast, the Niveau Jacob is characterised by a strong increase in terrestrial palynomorphs, most probably reflecting an abrupt increase in riverine runoff. The enhanced terrestrial OM input may have triggered oxygen-depletion in bottom waters, resulting in turn in increased OM preservation. Our results highlight the variety of processes that controlled the accumulation of OM in the Vocontian basin and they illustrate that enhanced surface water productivity is not an indispensable prerequisite for the formation of mid-Cretaceous black shales.

A novel technique of three-dimensional reconstruction segmentation and analysis for sliced images of biological tissues

A novel technique of three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction, segmentation, display and analysis of series slices of images including microscopic wide field optical sectioning by deconvolution method, cryo-electron microscope slices by Fourier-Bessel synthesis and electron tomography (ET), and a series of computed tomography (CT) was developed to perform simultaneous measurement on the structure and function of biomedical samples. The paper presents the 3D reconstruction segmentation display and analysis results of pollen spore, chaperonin, virus, head, cervical bone, tibia and carpus. At the same time, it also puts forward some potential applications of the new technique in the biomedical realm.

Pressure retardation of organic maturation in clastic reservoirs: a case study from the Banqiao Sag, Eastern China

Three depth-related pressure systems are developed in the Banqiao Sag, Eastern China, as indicated by well logs and direct pressure measurements. There are hydropressure, mild overpressure and high overpressure within the overpressured sediments, the organic maturation profile is nonlinear, with five nonparallel segments. Segments 1 and 3 have abnormally low R o gradients. Such an organic maturity anomaly is distinctly different from those caused by variation in activation energies, thermal conductivity contrasts, and hydrologic effects, and is believed to result from overpressure retardation. The division criteria of diagenetic stages published by China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) most widely used in China cannot be applied to overpressured clastic reservoirs in the Banqiao Sag. Improved division criteria of diagenetic stages are established according to vitrinite reflectance, spore pollen colour, TAI, alteration of clay minerals and geotemperature. Overpressure retardation of maturation is suggested to be important for clearly understanding deep exploration in overpressured sedimentary basins.

Análisis evolutivo de la vegetación cenozoica en las provincias de Chubut y Santa Cruz (Argentina) con especial atención en las comunidades herbáceo-arbustivas

The vegetational evolution from Chubut andSanta Cruzduring the Cenozoic, considering fossil spore-pollen assemblages, was analized. Particular attention was placed on herbaceous and shrubby communities. A vegetation dominated by tropical elements would have developed during the Paleocene. No evidence of open vegetation was recorded. Similar communities were recognized at the Early Eocene, being later replaced by "mixed" forests with both neotropical and antarctic elements occuppying most of emerged lands. Great paleogeographic and tectonic events affectedPatagoniaduring the Oligocene and even more clearly at Early Miocene. An expansion of open vegetation patches with Chenopodiaceae, Ephedraceae, Asteraceae and Poaceae (common in recent patagonian steppe) was registered. However, forests were still abundant. From Late Miocene, xerophitic conditions were established in the patagonian coast, with a shrubby vegetation dominating the area. No spore pollen records for the Pliocene nor for most Quaternary are available. Spore-pollen assemblages for Late Pleistocene and Holocene suggest vegetational changes, likely linked with atmospheric circulation patterns and glaciation, gradually reaching the current phytogeographic configuration.

Permian, Jurassic and Early Cretaceous palynofloral assemblages from subsurface sedimentary rocks in Chuperbhita Coalfield, Rajmahal Basin, India

The results of a palynological analysis of the sedimentary sequence of Borehole RCH-151, Chuperbhita Coalfield, Rajmahal Basin, Bihar are presented here. The borehole penetrated the Rajmahal Formation (comprising two traps sandwiching an intertrappean bed), the thinly represented Dubrajpur Formation and in its lower part, the Coal Measures. The coal-bearing interval is associated with Scheuringipollenites barakarensis, Faunipollenites varius, Densipollenites indicus, Gondisporites raniganjensis and Densipollenites magnicorpus Assemblage Zones. The presence of these biostratigraphic units indicates correlation with the Barakar Formation (Early Permian) and the Barren Measures and Raniganj Formations (both Late Permian). This is the first record, in the Chuperbhita Coalfield, of Late Permian strata, which appear to represent a condensed sequence. Prior to the present study, the Permian succession was thought to have been associated entirely with the Barakar Formation. The overlying Dubrajpur Formation yielded a distinct spore–pollen assemblage (in association with the first report of dinoflagellate, Phallocysta), which is assigned to the newly identified Callialasporites turbatus palynozone of latest Early to early Middle Jurassic age. The diverse spore–pollen flora of the intertrappean bed (Rajmahal Formation) incorporates several age marker taxa, viz. Undulatisporites, Leptolepidites, Klukisporites, Ruffordiaspora, and Coptospora. The assemblages from intertrappean beds are correlated with the Ruffordiaspora australiensis palynozone of Australia. Thus the palynodating indicates Permian, latest Early to early Mid-Jurassic and Early Cretaceous age for the strata studied. This is the first record of definite Jurassic microfossils from the non-marine sequence of Rajmahal Basin, India.

Environmental Changes from Spore-Pollen Record of Mianyang Region over the Past 10000 Years

依据M1孔孢粉组合特征及¹⁴C年龄数据,结合孢粉数理统计分析,重建了江汉平原沔阳地区一万多年来的古季风气候变迁序列.研究结果表明,该区气候经历了六个阶段的变化.6.7—4.4kaBP间.为水热配置最佳时期.夏季降水显著增多；3.9-12.7kaBP,气温有所下降,但有效湿度很高,为古云梦泽扩张时期,其湿度的增加既受锋面降水带的影响,同时与长江南移,河床迅速抬高有关.约6kaBP后,人类活动在本区就已存在,人与自然环境的关系由早期的依赖至适应再到改造的逐渐发展过程.;According to the analyses of spore—pollen assem blages. 1 4 C data. and numerical method,the palaeomonsoon climatic changes in Mianyang region,Jianghan plain·have been reconstructed in the past lO000 years. The result indicates that climate has undergone changes of six stages in this region. During 6.5-4.4kaBP,the climate came up to its optim um combination between heating and moisture,and the sum mer rainfall area caused m ore precipitation to is region.About 3.9-1.7kaBP, there was a ravid drop in the temperature.but the higher effective hum idity corresponding to the expansion of great lake of Yunmentze was reflected by both rainfalI area and the movement of the Yangtze River from north to south. After 6kaBP,hum an activity occurred in this region,undergoing the nature developing process from depending on the nature environm ent in the early period,to adapting to the environment after 3.5kaBP.and to changing environment after 9.7kaBP.

Distribution of C3 and C4 Plants in the Late Pleistocene of South Australia Recorded by Isotope Biogeochemistry of Collagen in Megafauna

Stable carbon-isotope analyses (expressed as a 13C:12C ratio relative to that of a standard: δ13C) on fossilised collagenic material in megafaunal bones can provide information regarding the palaeodiet (e.g. C3 and/or C4 plants) of these animals. Isotope analyses were performed on collagenic material extracted from bones of Sthenurus spp., Diprotodon spp. and Macropus spp. from Cooper Creek, Henschke Cave, Baldina Creek, Dempsey’s Lake and Rocky River in South Australia. The percentage of trees and shrubs estimated from palaeofloral records in south-eastern Australia and the dietary preferences of megafauna were found to be positively correlated. The dietary preferences of megafauna analysed from South Australian localities indicate that megafauna were opportunistic and changed their diet in response to environmental change. This suggests that megafauna diet can not be founded on dental morphology alone. Fossilised collagenic material in vertebrate remains can provide an insight into the broadscale nature of the vegetation. This approach is a good compliment for other palaeoecological data (e.g. sedimentology, spore–pollen, diatoms) by providing evidence for past climates in relation to the proportion of C3 and C4 plants.

Pollen spore morphology and plant evolution

Spores and pollen grains both are resistant to environmental stress and diagnostic by virtue of the unique exine characteristics, by which it has emerged as a reliable tool in evolutionary biology, both of fossils and present day plants, at various taxa levels. “Sporae Dispersae” being the only morphological material reflecting continuity of evolutionary lineage through geological time, there is new scope for its application in fixing stratigraphic successions and phyletic origins. The triphyletic theory of the origin and evolution of angiosperms has been explained to demonstrate the value of pollen grains and spores in phylogenetic taxonomy, and further, the emerging areas of application of the principles of morphological evolution of pollen grains have been indicated.

Dinocyst biostratigraphy of Santonian-Maastrichtian formations of the Western Gulf Coastal Plain, southern United States

This palynological investigation of Santonian-Maastrichtian formations of Texas, U.S.A. consists of an examination of 82 outcrop samples from 19 stratigraphic sections exposed in 9 countries in a north-south trend from about Dallas to Kinney. The Austin Chalk Formation, the Taylor Group, and the lower Navarro Group are examined for palynological data. Most of the samples are rich in dinocysts assemblages. In a total assemblage of 163 palynomorphs species in 95 genera, 111 dinocyst species of 60 genera, 6 acritarch species of 5 genera, and 46 spore pollen species of 33 genera are recognized and their stratigraphic distribution documented. Systematic descriptions and illustrations of all dinocysts and acritarch taxa are given. Spore-pollen taxa occur sporadically in the studied sections and thus are only listed, illustrated and their occurrences noted in the text.
 The stratigraphic distribution of dinocysts species indicating the Santonian age can be recognized by the presence of Chatangiella granulifera, C. robusta, C. spectabilis, Phelodinium gaduatum and Spinidinium lanturnum. The characteristic species of Campanian assemblage are Cannosphaeropsis hyperacantha, C. utinensis, Ceratiopsis subquadra, Chattangiella armata, C. williamsii, Diconodinium martianum, Dinogymnium denticulatum, D. enclaense, D. nelsonense, Impagidinium cristatum, I. microarmum, Rottnestia borusstca, Triblastula utinensis and Xenascus gochtii.
 The appearance of the following dinocysts species viz., Andalusiella acicornula, Areoligera senonensis, Ceratiopsis navarriana, Glaphyrocysta retiintexia, Lejeunecysta decorinassa, L. byalina, Litosphaeridium fenestreconum, Palaeocystodinium australinum, Phelodinium tricuspe and Thalassiphora bononiensis in the Maastrichtian is significant.
 Pollen occurrences indicate that the land area, west of the Senonian epeiric sea, was terrigenous source in the Santonian and the Late Maastrichtian whereas the land on the east of the eperic sea was the source in the Campanian.

Evaluation of paleoclimatic proxies by the rescaled range method: results from Labrador Sea, ODP Site 646

Rescaled range analysis is tested as a method for comparison and evaluation of terrestrial and marine paleoclimatic data from the northwest Atlantic Ocean. We calculated the Hurst exponents (H) of oxygen isotope, foraminifera, dinoflagellate, and pollen–spore records from Ocean Drilling Project Site 646, and compared the Hurst values of these climatic proxies with the corresponding power spectra. Our study reveals differences in Hurst values among several proxy-climatic records from one location. However, higher Hurst values do not contain more information on climatic changes, in contrast to the conclusion of a previous study that compared records from continental and oceanic sites. Therefore, caution is needed when using the Hurst exponent for evaluating the information content of climatic proxies.

Dinoflagellate and spore pollen biostratigraphy of the S.A.D.M.E. MC63 bore, western Murray Basin

Spores, pollen and dinoflagellates have been recovered from all strata from the Mid-Late Eocene to the Early Pliocene in borehole MC63. The sequence includes the Early-Mid Miocene marine transgression. The Mid-Late Eocene and Oligocene part of the sequence is similar to that of the eastern part of the Basin; there are a few dinoflagellates throughout. The Early-Mid Miocene marine transgression has relatively few spores and pollen but the dinoflagellate flora is diverse. About 30 species of dinoflagellates have been described. The Late Miocene-Early Pliocene part of the sequence is generally similar to that in the Lachlan River Valley. The Late Miocene-Early Pliocene Nothofagus phase, which forms an excellent marker horizon in the river valleys of the western slopes of the Eastern Highlands has been identified here, albeit in a modified form in accordance with the drier climate of this locality.

Spore–pollen evidence for early Oligocene high-latitude cool climatic episode in northern Canada

Climatic cooling in the Eocene leading to markedly lower temperatures in the Oligocene has been documented in oxygen isotope studies in the North Pacific1,2, New Zealand3, South Pacific4 and North Sea5. These lower temperatures in the Oligocene correspond to palaeoclimatic interpretations of North American leaf floras6,7 which suggest a profound cooling occurring towards the end of the Eocene, indicated also in the southeastern United States from studies on mid-Tertiary spores and pollen8. Recently, Collinson et al.9 have shown palaeobotanically that in southern England cooling occurred gradually starting in the latest early Eocene leading to two major periods of floristic change before the end of the Eocene. Thick Tertiary sections in the subsurface Mackenzie Delta region, Northwest Territories10,11 provide well-preserved Palaeogene palynofloras12 discussed here which indicate a cooler climate in the Oligocene following warm-temperate conditions in the Eocene. This widespread early–middle Oligocene cool episode is thus represented in both high-latitude and lower-latitude floras and seems to have been of global extent, persisting until towards the end of the Oligocene, but its precise dating remains a problem. In northern Canada it is followed by an amelioration of the climate in the late Oligocene which persisted probably until the middle Miocene. The rate of cooling during the Eocene and Oligocene may have varied depending on locality, but once established the cooler Oligocene climate exerted a profound influence on biotic development.

Palynological evidence for recycling of Upper Devonian into Lower Cretaceous of the Moose River Basin, James Bay Lowland, Ontario

Cored drill hole on a high electromagnetic conductivity anomaly near the Onakawana lignite field penetrated 50.3 m of Pleistocene, Cretaceous, and Devonian strata. Spore–pollen floras from the Cretaceous interval indicate an early middle Albian age and a correlation with the lower part of the Mattagami Formation. Spores, acritarchs, and tasmanitids from the Devonian interval indicate that the upper part of the Long Rapids Formation is marine and is Frasnian–Famennian in age. Multiple recycling events are documented between the Devonian and Cretaceous and between the Cretaceous and Pleistocene, provenances being local near the margins of the basin.

Palynology of the North Karanpura Basin, Bihar, India- 2. Barakar Exposures near Lungatoo, Hazaribagh District

The present paper deals with the palynological investigation of Barakar exposures near Lungatoo, Hazaribagh District, Bihar, India. 34 spore pollen genera and 62 species have been recovered from the sediments, out of which 11 species are new. The new species have been described and illustrated. The present assemblage is comparable to "Zone C" of the Barakar assemblage described by the authors (1968a).

Occurrence of Gnetalean Pollen Grains in the Katrol Formation (Upper Jurassic) of Kutch, India

WHILE carrying out palynological investigations of the samples from the Katrol formation (Upper Jurassic) of Kutch, pollen, grains with close morphological affinity to Ephedra and Welwitschia pollen grains were observed along with plenty of Upper Jurassic spore pollen types and microplanktons (Hystrichosphaeridium, Baltisphaeridium, Michrystridium).

Analyse palynologique de quelques echantillons de marne a lignite (Oligocene superieur) du bassin de Bagnasco (Italie, prov. de Cuneo)

Abstract The Oligocene of the Bagnasco basin in the Piedmont of northwestern Italy is poor in microflora in general, but pollen spores from a bed of lignitic marl indicate the presence of a swampy forest of Taxodiaceae and Cupressaceae surrounded by mountainous terrain with a predominantly pine forest.