Understanding nectar sources is crucial for sustainable apiculture with Apis cerana, yet information on these sources remains limited. We conducted pollen analysis of honey and bees' ingested nectar (mainly crop content) to determine the nectar sources of this honeybee species in West Bengal, India. Diverse pollen types were obtained from honey (33) and crop-nectar samples (47). A few pollen types came from non-nectariferous plants, and most came from actual nectariferous plants. Predominant pollen types in honey samples were Calendula officinalis, Eucalyptus tereticornis, and Peltophorum pterocarpum. The very frequent pollen types obtained from crop nectar were Eucalyptus tereticornis, Peltophorum pterocarpum, and Tridax procumbens. In conclusion, versatile pollen types (that were obtained from honey and bees' crop nectar) indicate that the Asian honeybee (Apis cerana) is a generalist visitor, collecting nectar from a large number of plant species. Our results also show that pollen analysis of bees' crop nectar can provide vital information about their nectar sources (excluding a few pollen types of non-nectariferous plants) in addition to the traditional honey analysis.

This study documents the depositional pattern of modern pollen and fungal spores in relation to the different vegetation types and wildlife activities in Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, located in north-east India. The pollen data accurately matches the extant vegetation types and provides additional evidence on the representation and relative abundance of the major pollen taxa in the pollen assemblages. The forest habitat is characterised by the abundance of Bombax, Lagerstroemia, Barringtonia, and Albizia pollen in the pollen assemblage. The swamp habitat is characterised by Cyperaceae, Onagraceae, Nymphaea, and Potamogeton, while the grassland habitat is characterised by the dominance of non-cereal (Poaceae), Asteroideae, Cyperaceae, and Bombax pollen. Also, coprophilous fungal spores were observed and identified. Their presence varies in relation to the different vegetation types and level of wildlife activity in each habitat in the wildlife sanctuary. Rhododendron pollen in the palynoassemblages is indicative of seasonal flooding during periods of high rainfall in and around the study areas. Principal component analysis applied to the quantitative data obtained from the pollen frequency analyses revealed a significant variation that distinguished the three different vegetation types in the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary. This modern pollen and fungal spore data serves as a reliable baseline for the reconstruction of the palaeoecology and palaeoherbivory in the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary and to correlate the types of vegetation present in other parts of the tropical region of Indo-Burma.

Within the UK, the western European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) has suffered a long-term population decline to the point of being considered vulnerable to extinction in Great Britain. Here we test whether the pollen content of hedgehog faeces reflects their dominantly insect diet, rather than atmospheric contamination. Palynological results show that entomophilous pollen is the most common in hedgehog faeces. This implies that the pollen signature of hedgehog faeces reflects the habitat within which they were feeding. This could therefore be used to track hedgehogs through botanically heterogeneous landscapes such as urban and sub-urban gardens. An exploratory study was also performed to assess the presence of microplastics within faecal samples. Microplastics were present in all but two samples.

The botanical literature lacks pollen resources such as atlases and identification keys for bat guano deposits. To address this gap, our dataset describes modern pollen and spore assemblages from five caves in the Carajás region, southeastern Amazonia. A comprehensive atlas featuring illustrations and detailed descriptions of pollen and spores was created using both original and published data. It aims to simplify the identification of various pollen and spore taxa within bat guano deposits, and features light micrographs and descriptions of 105 pollen taxa, including 81 arboreal and shrub taxa, 11 lianas, seven herbaceous taxa, three palm taxa, and three ferns. Among the total pollen assemblage, entomophilous plant taxa represented 42.8%, followed by wind-pollinated taxa at 9.5% and bat-pollinated taxa at 7.6%. Our data indicate that bat guano can provide valuable information on plant taxa that are underrepresented in more traditional pollen sampling sites such as peat bogs and lake sediments.

Abbreviations: D: diameter; P: polar view; E: equatorial view

Pollen analysis of honey reveals information about bee–plant interactions and networks that, in some cases, are lost through mere observation of bees on flowers. This information on bee–plant interactions is valuable for the protection of bees and vegetal species and pollination of crop plants. To provide insights into bee–plant interactions, palynological evidence was developed from the collection of honey. The objective of this study is to determine the plants that the bees (Tetragonisca fiebrigi) visit for honey production in southern Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul). For this, 24 honey samples were collected from five regions of northeastern Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil. A total of 64 pollen types were found in the honey samples from T. fiebrigi in southern Brazil, mainly from trees. The most common pollen types in the samples were from Schinus terebinthifolia, Schizolobium parahyba, Handroanthus sp., Morus nigra, and Rosa cf. grandiflora. The pollen grains show a high diversity of plants, including those with important ecological functions.

Southern Africa's floral, topographic and climatic diversity manifests in distinctive bioregions where aerobiology studies are needed to manage allergenic health problems, especially in urban areas. Previous studies underline different seasonal pollen fluctuations for the biomes, encouraging regional studies. These studies have been previously restricted to large cities such as Cape Town, Johannesburg and Pretoria whereas small cities such as Potchefstroom in the North-West province are understudied. The South African Pollen Monitoring Network (SAPNET) seeks to fill this lacuna, enhancing ecological and health-related knowledge, with regard to the allergenicity of the recorded pollen. Here, we investigate plant phenology and resulting pollen production within the Grassland and Savanna biomes around Potchefstroom, a fast-growing city in the North West province, comparing it with other SAPNET sites. As a SAPNET initiative, pollen monitoring in Potchefstroom involved monthly collections using a Lanzoni 7-day spore trap over 13 months from December 2022 to 2023. This facilitated the development of a preliminary pollen calendar and a pollen atlas, detailing pollen types' morphology, ecology, pollination modes, and allergenicity. Initial findings revealed Potchefstroom's pollen calendar, with tree pollen (60% of the Annual Pollen Index (API)) mainly from northern hemisphere species such as Cupressus (c. 11% of API) and Platanus (c. 18%), which released pollen in spring. Grass pollen was predominant from November to April (c. 18% of API). Potchefstroom recorded South Africa's highest levels of Ambrosia pollen (c. 7% of API), a major allergen, in March and April. Noteworthy is the unusual abundance of pollen of the neophyte Ulmus (c. 14%) in December. This study highlights the pollen patterns of the Grassland and Savanna biomes around Potchefstroom. The region, with its mosaic of urban spaces, natural grass-/woodland, and agricultural land, exhibits distinct characteristics when contrasted with major, more densely populated cities such as Bloemfontein, Pretoria, and Johannesburg.

The tropical rainforests of northwestern Amazonia possess the highest plant diversity of any biome in the world. Understanding their origin, development, maintenance, and future in the face of ongoing global warming requires study of the plant fossil record and a predictive time framework. In this region, palynology is the best biostratigraphic tool because palynomorphs are the most abundant fossils. To construct a biostratigraphic zonation for the Neogene of the Solimões/Amazon basin in northwestern Amazonia, we analyzed palynological information from 25 sections, a total of 143,411 palynomorph grains from 622 samples. Using graphic correlation, we propose seven palynological zones that comprise the Miocene and a portion of the Pleistocene—the Pliocene is absent in the region. We then calibrated these zones against the geological timescale through correlation with a previously calibrated zonation and U/Pb geochronology.

Graphic correlation is a well-known biostratigraphical method that has been widely used for more than 40 years. During the 1980s, Kenneth Hood developed the program GraphCor, which was designed to run graphic correlation projects. However, the software was developed using DOS and it is no longer compatible with modern operating systems. To solve this issue, we developed rGraphCor, an open-source, free, and user-friendly application built within the R-for-computing environment and enhanced with the package Shiny, ensuring compatibility with Linux, macOS, and Windows operating systems. rGraphCor can use information from diverse sources including cores, ditch-cuttings, and outcrops to perform graphic correlation. The interactive nature of rGraphCor allows real-time updates, providing immediate feedback on correlation results. Additional R functions assist users in formatting their data, optimizing the analysis, and reducing errors. To demonstrate rGraphCor's capabilities, we generated a randomized simulation of fossil data, representing hypothetical species across four sites with varying sampling patterns. This simulation showed the flexibility in handling diverse data sets and the robustness of its correlation capabilities. rGraphCor is available for public use, promoting transparency and collaboration in the biostratigraphic community.

Palynological studies have been conducted for the first time in the Renukaji Wildlife Sanctuary (RWS), a Sal-dominated region within the foothills of Northwestern (NW) Himalaya in Himachal Pradesh, India. This research enhances our understanding of the relationship between modern pollen rain and vegetation, as well as pollen representation in sediments. Furthermore, it contributes to palaeovegetation reconstruction based on paleoclimatic trends by improving our interpretation of pollen deposition patterns. The study area was delineated into three distinct zones based on biological niche characteristics: Zone 1 (Recreation Zone), Zone 2 (Buffer Zone), and Zone 3 (Core Zone). Pollen analysis conducted on 30 surface soil samples and moss cushions, collected from all three zones, reveals the dominance of dry deciduous taxa, followed by highland taxa and wet deciduous taxa. Land Use Land Cover (LULC) analysis performed using satellite data reveals that Shorea robusta (Sal) mixed forest covers 32% of land, followed by Pinus spp. (8%) and their associates (25%). Shorea robusta, a mixed wet deciduous taxon and high pollen producer, exhibits low pollen counts, possibly due to chemical and microbial decomposition or low pollen dispersal efficiency. This study utilises a comparative database correlating pollen data with contemporary vegetation patterns to establish a robust framework for assessing sedimentary pollen sequences. Through this approach, we aim to elucidate past vegetation dynamics and infer climate fluctuations within the NW Himalaya.

Pollen micromorphology and ultrastructure of Colchicum kotschyi and Colchicum robustum were examined by Light Microscopy (LM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The observations showed that all quantitative characters of pollen micromorphology varied in the studied taxa. Although, pollen grains in both species were oblate. Two pollen types, two major exine ornamentations in the equatorial surface of pollen grain with two kinds of pore intine ornamentation were seen during this research. Regarding sporoderm data, the thickness of the pollen wall layer, state of the endexine layer, and number of intine layers of C. kotschyi were different from C. robustum. Sporoderm characters strongly supported the unique position of C. robustum resulting from previous palynological research.

The palynology of fern spores has proven to be an immensely useful tool in the identification and phylogenetic characterization of various fern taxa. A diverse range of spore morphologies have been studied; nevertheless, the present investigation of 21 species of Adiantum under light microscopy (LM) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) is a maiden attempt from India to develop a spore micro-morphometric dataset that reflects taxonomic traits, fossil counterparts, and evolutionary changes. The studied spores of Adiantum species possess significant differences in lete character (aperture, primary character), exospore ornamentation (secondary character), and spore shape (tertiary character). The sexine pattern varies from psilate to verrucate, scabrate to granulate, and rugulate to fossulate (eurypalynous type). The perine is a characteristic feature of fern spores, as evident in A. myriosorum, A. zollingeri and A. philippense, suggesting the diversity among different Adiantum spores. The multivariate statistical analysis indicates three major clusters based on spore morphological characteristics. The evolutionary outcome of this micro-morphometric analysis showed that the spore of A. formosum includes the most primitive characters (such as unconstricted lete arm, smooth exospore, and non-perinate sclerine), whereas the spores of A. zollingeri and A. myriosorum possess advanced characters (such as constricted lete arms, rugulate exospores, and perinate sclerine). This extensive spore morphological examination will provide a comprehensive dataset for the identification of fossil spores (to the species level) and for the taxonomic characterization of Adiantum species in India and comparison of them with other species around the world.

Both climatic change and human activity are currently driving the dynamic of vegetation, which may vary from region to region. On Lushan Mountain, located in eastern China, the subtropical secondary forests during the natural succession endure the pressure from ongoing climate warming on the one hand. They are influenced by anthropogenic disturbance on the other hand for recent decades. Previously, palynological research has discovered that the pollen assemblages from surface soil samples on Lushan reflect the characteristics of local vegetation. Here, we did a comparative study by using pollen analysis to investigate the vegetation changes of Lushan from 1959 to 2020. We compared the composition of pollen assemblages obtained in 1959 with that in 2020 along different altitudes. Further, the biomisation method was employed to discover the changes of different vegetation types, which were reflected by the pollen-based reconstructed biomes. Meanwhile, the temporal beta diversity analysis was used to extract the sites that experienced significant vegetation shift and the most important taxa change. Results showed that the pollen composition over the past 60 years on Lushan had altered remarkably. The vegetation shifted at all altitudes. The current vegetation pattern of Lushan: evergreen broadleaved forest at low elevation, temperate deciduous broadleaved forest at middle elevation and cool mixed forest at high elevation, is the successional consequence of the past 60 years. The forces driving the vegetation dynamics might be from multiple sources. However, human disturbance seems to play quite an important role during forest succession. Our study is potentially useful both for paleoecological reconstructions and wider understanding of current climate change that are relevant to subtropical forests of Asia.

Paullinia is the second-largest genus within the Sapindaceae, with approximately 200 species. It predominantly comprises lianas that inhabit humid forests, mainly the Amazon and Atlantic forests in Brazil. This study aimed to characterize the pollen morphology of 60 species of Paullinia, examining the potential of pollen characters as morphological markers to support the systematics of the genus. The pollen material was obtained from exsiccatae of flower buds from major herbaria. Pollen grains were acetolyzed, measured, described, and illustrated using light microscopy. Scanning electron microscopy was used for accurate descriptions of surface features. The analyzed characters included pollen shape, size, aperture type and number, and exine ornamentation. The similarity of pollen characters between species was analyzed using hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA). The results showed that pollen grains of Paullinia species are shed in monads, heteropolar in most species and isopolar in others, medium or large in size, oblate or suboblate, and 3- or 3–4-porate, with perforate sexine ornamentation in most species and microreticulate ornamentation in others. Multivariate analyses revealed that pollen morphology is informative and holds taxonomic potential, enabling grouping based on the similarity of the unique pollen characters of the genus. Species dispersion on the PCA biplot showed that the five clusters formed by HCA were robust, suggesting that quantitative and qualitative pollen characters exhibit consistency with regard to the similarity of species. The palynological findings presented here contribute to enhancing our understanding of the morphological characters, aiding in the taxonomy and systematics of the genus.

Here we present a new global compilation of modern pollen and spore data for use in testing and evaluating palaeoclimate reconstruction methods. The resulting dataset contains 21,503 pollen assemblages from all continents excluding Antarctica. All pollen assemblages have geographical coordinates listed, and the majority have an elevation measurement. Taxonomic nomenclature has been standardised.

Eurypterid setae and fragments of cuticle are encountered in palynological samples from different areas in Gondwana. In the literature published in the past seven decades, eurypterid remains are recorded as a part of Paleozoic palynological assemblages without giving significance to their biostratigraphic potential. This is because of the absence of a taxonomic classification that allows tracking the occurrence of similar specimens from different samples and regions. In the present study, a rich assemblage of eurypterids is found in the Devonian Ora Formation in the Akkas-3 well in Iraq. The assemblage includes isolated setae and cuticular sheets that still have attached setae. The detached setae show great variation in dimensions including the length, base width and length/width ratios. This is in addition to other important morphological characteristics such as segmentation and flexible ends. The cuticular sheets, in contrast, bear many setae that are identical in shape and size. The observation of cuticular sheets bearing many identical setae is an indication that individual eurypterids produce certain classes of similar setae. This can be used as a basis to establish a taxonomy for the setae after more extensive study. Such a taxonomy will facilitate tracking the setae throughout successive sampling intervals, and their biostratigraphic classification. At least 23 types of setae are documented here from the studied samples in the Ora Formation, with some stratigraphic variations documented for five of them. The results of this study establish a basis for taxonomic nomenclature of eurypterid remains that may benefit biostratigraphic studies in the Paleozoic of Gondwana. The main morphological characteristics of the eurypterid cuticles and setae recorded in the present study are compared to those from other parts of Gondwana. The morphological differences and similarities are documented.