The structure of the enigmatic Carboniferous miospore genus Pteroretis Felix & Burbridge 1961 is reinterpreted based on well-preserved assemblages from Pennsylvanian (Duckmantian–Bolsovian) strata in the Machrihanish Coalfield, Kintyre, western Scotland. The genus is emended herein, and evidence is presented of a proximal operculum to justify assignment of the genus to the Infraturma Epitygmati. The complex arrangement of wings, originally described as being perpendicular to the equatorial margin from pole to pole, are demonstrated to be concentric structures in the equatorial and subequatorial regions. Wings developed on the distal surface commonly form a cuppa structure similar to that developed in Fragilipollenites Konyali 1965 emend. McLean 1997. A comparison is made with Vestispora (Wilson & Hoffmeister 1956) Wilson & Venkatachala 1963, the only other operculate Carboniferous miospore genus. Comparisons are also made with other genera such as Columinisporites Peppers 1964 and Fragilipollenites, which are costate and cuppa-bearing respectively. Previous records of Pteroretis from Europe and North America are reviewed, and indicate a Late Mississippian (Late Viséan–Chesterian) to Mid Pennsylvanian (Bolsovian) age. Paleobotanical evidence suggests a sphenophyllalean origin, with Pteroretis miospores being recovered from the fructifications of several species of Bowmanites Binney 1871.

Neotypes are designated herein for certain Paleocene species of juglandaceous pollen that were originally described in 1978. The microscope slides bearing the holotypes have been lost, eliminating the possibility of designating lectotypes and necessitating, instead, the designation of neotype specimens to stabilize the nomenclature of the species, which are biostratigraphically significant. The species for which neotypes are designated are Momipites wyomingensis, Momipites waltmanensis, Momipites ventifluminis, Momipites actinus, Momipites anellus, Momipites leffingwellii, Caryapollenites prodromus, Caryapollenites imparalis, Caryapollenites inelegans, and Caryapollenites wodehousei.

Rich and diverse assemblages of dinoflagellate cysts were recovered from the Gearle Siltstone in the Boologooro-1 stratigraphic well, Southern Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia. The cored interval through the Winning Group is proposed as a reference interval for the Canninginopsis denticulata, Endoceratium ludbrookiae, Dioxya armata and Xenascus asperatus dinoflagellate cyst zones of the Australian dinoflagellate cyst zonal scheme. The ranges of sixty-three dinoflagellate cyst species are documented in detail over this interval. Apart from the bioevents that define the widely-used dinoflagellate cyst subzones, the highest occurrences of Endoceratium turneri, Craspedodinium indistinctum and Litosphaeridium arundum, and the lowest occurrences of Nematosphaeropsis densiradiata, Canninginopsis denticulata, Leberidocysta chlamydata, Aptea? sp. cf. Aptea polymorpha, Litosphaeridium siphoniphorum, Balcattia cirribarbata and Stephodinium australicum are recognized as potential biostratigraphic datums in the Southern Carnarvon Basin. Species diversity increased in the highest Canninginopsis denticulata Zone at approximately the horizon where Diconodinium spp. become dominant. Foraminiferal data indicate the interval from 361.15 m to 312.12 m is marginally inner neritic and corresponds with an interval of abundant Diconodinium spp., and fewer Spiniferites spp. Diversity increased in the Xenascus asperatus Zone with an increase in Spiniferites spp., and a shift to middle neritic paleobathymetry. The age of the top of the Xenascus asperatus Zone is constrained by calcareous nannofossils and dinoflagellate cyst correlations to the latest Albian, or possibly the early Cenomanian. The age of the base of the Canninginopsis denticulata Zone is constrained by dinoflagellate cyst and foraminiferal data to the early Albian, above the earliest Albian. One new species, Chlamydophorella haigii, is erected and aspects of several other dinoflagellate cyst taxa are reviewed.

The extraction of palynomorphs from sedimentary rocks and unconsolidated sediments has traditionally used hydrochloric acid (HCl) and hydrofluoric acid (HF) to remove the matrix by dissolution. The use of these, and other, acids in palynological preparation requires significant laboratory infrastructure, and may produce hazardous and potentially environmentally damaging waste. An effective technique of palynomorph preparation using sodium hexametaphosphate [(NaPO₃)₆] was recently developed. This technique was initially demonstrated on a suite of samples of Early Jurassic to Quaternary age. In this study, non-acid preparation techniques were tested on 11 samples of Ordovician, Carboniferous, Jurassic and Paleogene age from the UK. In four of the six case studies described herein, the rock was prepared quantitatively using both the traditional mineral acid technique and the (NaPO₃)₆ procedure. In the Carboniferous case study, the two samples were prepared quantitatively using HCl/HF, (NaPO₃)₆, and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). In the quantitative preparations, the concentrations of palynomorphs can be directly compared. Two non-quantitative case studies were undertaken using (NaPO₃)₆ only, in order to demonstrate that this method is of practical utility.

The (NaPO₃)₆ and H₂O₂ methods generally proved to be as effective as the mineral acid procedure. However the results from the three Paleozoic samples proved somewhat variable. The Early Ordovician sample 1 did not break down in (NaPO₃)₆, and consequently the palynomorph yield from this sample was extremely poor, compared to the acid preparation. Two Lower Carboniferous samples were prepared using all three methods. In sample 2, all the methods were effective, although the H₂O₂ technique proved less effective than those using mineral acids and (NaPO₃)₆. In this sample, both the non-acid methods produced palynomorph assemblages cleaner of extraneous woody material than the residue produced by the acid digestion method. By contrast, in Carboniferous sample 3, the acid preparation was far better than those from the two non-acid preparations. It appears that mudrocks which are relatively indurated are not consistently disaggregated using (NaPO₃)₆ and/or H₂O₂. It may be possible to adapt these non-acid techniques so that they are more efficient on these relatively hard lithotypes. The samples would need to be softened prior to treatment with (NaPO₃)₆ and/or H₂O₂. Even on relatively hard lithotypes, some palynomorphs were extracted using (NaPO₃)₆ and H₂O₂. This confirms that non-acid methods can be used on harder rocks if a preliminary age assessment is required and/or the full laboratory facilities are unavailable.

The (NaPO₃)₆ technique proved extremely effective in the two quantitative Jurassic case studies. These were on the Oxford Clay and Kimmeridge Clay formations (Callovian–Oxfordian and Kimmeridgian respectively). In samples 4, 6 and 7, both methods gave similar palynomorph yields. However in sample 5 from the Oxford Clay Formation, the acid preparation proved less palynologically productive than the material prepared using (NaPO₃)₆. Palynomorph diversity was also higher in Oxford Clay Formation samples 4 and 5, prepared with (NaPO₃)₆. In samples 6 and 7 from the Kimmeridge Clay Formation, the palynomorph diversity, preservation and yield were closely comparable. However, the HCl/HF preparations proved extremely rich in amorphous organic material as compared to the (NaPO₃)₆ slides. It th

A small but diverse assemblage of pollen and spores recovered from marine sediments of the Avon Park Formation (middle Eocene) in west central Florida, represents the oldest land flora described from the state. Twenty-one pollen taxa from terrestrial plants, are identified from the Dolime Minerals and Gulf Hammock quarries. The presence of mangrove pollen associates such as Acrostichum, Nypa, and Pelliciera associated with seagrass macrofossils, combined with evidence from invertebrate fossils and sedimentary structures, suggest that the sediments of the Avon Park Formation, at these quarry sites, were deposited in a shallow marine lagoon, perhaps near the mouth of a river or stream in a protected area that had some tidal influence. This is the earliest report of terrestrial vegetation and near marine vegetation of Florida and documents the presence of a Florida landmass during middle Eocene time.

A properly documented pollen and spore reference collection is a valuable tool in systematic/taxonomic studies, paleoenvironmental reconstruction, forensic palynology, archaeology, aerobiology and other areas of research. The collection of pollen or spore samples is best made from vouchered herbarium specimens that have been identified by trained systematists. The collection procedure, although simple, requires careful attention to each specimen so that the material collected contains mature pollen or spores, that the relevant, associated data are recorded and that the herbarium specimen is not damaged during the collection procedure.

The decline in Ulmus pollen frequencies that occurred ca. 5000 ¹⁴C years ago before present (BP) is a key biostratigraphic marker horizon in northwest European pollen diagrams, although its causes are still a subject of debate. To investigate this event further, fungal spore analyses were carried out across the Ulmus decline at Moel y Gerddi, north Wales, United Kingdom. The Ulmus decline was in three phases, with a primary decline with low cereal and Rumex pollen records as the only agricultural indicators. This was followed by a more significant decline, with general forest opening and the grassland/pasture indicator Plantago lanceolata. A third, less significant, decline was again accompanied by cereal-type pollen. Tree pollen frequencies subsequently recovered, with cereal-type pollen remaining well represented. The fungal data recorded woodland taxa and a background level of the obligate dung fungus Sporormiella, a proxy for local herbivore abundance. Sporormiella frequencies increased greatly after the main Ulmus decline, around which there were high percentages of the ascospores of the wood rot fungus Kretzschmaria deusta. The neoecology of Kretzschmaria deusta, and the behavior of its spore curve suggests the colonisation of local populations of already severely wounded trees. At this site Ulmus, and perhaps Tilia were infected at a time of markedly increased inferred herbivore concentrations. Neolithic farming techniques could have provided mortally wounded trees while enhancing livestock grazing, although the role of disease must also be considered. Elevated Kretzschmaria deusta values may be of ecological significance in the interpretation of the causes and nature of the Ulmus decline and similar forest disturbance events, and the indicator role of this fungus in forest paleoecology requires further study.

A comprehensive review of the lithology, megafloras and palynology of the Dubrajpur Formation of the Rajmahal Basin, eastern India indicates that this important unit comprises strata of Early and Late Triassic, late Early to early Mid Jurassic and latest Jurassic to Early Cretaceous age. The age range of the Dubrajpur Formation is concluded to be Early Triassic (Induan) to Early Cretaceous (Berriasian–Hauterivian) based on palynological evidence. It is hence a profoundly diachronous succession.

Fifty-seven samples taken from ten piston cores collected along a transect off the continental margin of the Northern Basin, Ross Sea, Antarctica were analyzed for palynomorphs. Moderately diverse assemblages of marine microplankton and terrestrial palynomorphs were recovered. The palynomorph assemblages have been subdivided into two main groups: the in-situ flora (including acritarchs, dinoflagellate cysts, leiospheres and prasinophyte algae mainly composed of cymatiosphaerids), and the reworked flora (including dinoflagellate cysts, pollen and spores). The leiospheres are the most abundant palynomorphs. This prominence in the relative abundance of leiospheres has been reported as typical of assemblages found today at the limit between seasonal and pack ice in the Arctic. In-situ dinoflagellate cysts are sparse. They are mainly represented by Lejeunecysta, which, based on species similarities to those from Cape Roberts, are believed to be of Oligocene to Pliocene age. All other dinoflagellate cysts recovered are the result of reworking from Eocene to Oligocene sediments. Reworked spores and pollen comprise the second most abundant group. They are of moderate diversity and include an Eocene or older assemblage of Nothofagidites, Podocarpaceae and Proteaceae. Other taxa are representative of warmer rainforest vegetation, with Oligocene and Neogene taxa that include representatives of woodland to herbaceous/low shrubby tundra vegetation growing in colder subpolar climates. These assemblages indicate either different periods of deposition or reworking from diverse sources.

Through seismic correlation and diatom analysis, the sediments are believed to be Late Pliocene in age. On this basis, it is postulated that the major glacial advance, RSU 2 of Brancolini et al. (1995) or Unconformity 10 (U10) of Bart et al. (2000), occurred before 2.3 Ma, which is the oldest age of in-situ species recovered in units above U10. As both terrestrial and marine reworked taxa include assemblages of Eocene to Oligocene age, it is assumed that those reworked components were yielded from a single source; most probably Eocene to Oligocene shallow marine strata eroded and transported from the area of Ross Island to the shelf margin through ice streams located in the Drygalsky and Joides basins.

Small peridinioid dinoflagellate cysts are abundant in Paleocene strata underlying the Savannah River Site and surrounding area of South Carolina, U.S.A. They are thin-walled and light colored, have one apical and two antapical horns, and show a high degree of intraspecific variability. They occur in low diversity assemblages. The samples in this study are from three lithostratigraphic units, the lower Ellenton, upper Ellenton, and Snapp formations. Some of the species are useful stratigraphic markers in the Paleocene strata of this area. Paleoenvironments include upper delta plain, lower delta plain, and shallow clastic shelf; some may represent fresh or brackish water environments. All species studied belong to the family Peridiniaceae and are assigned to eight genera. These are Alterbidinium, Arvalidinium, Deflandrea, ?Isabelidinium, Phthanoperidinium, Senegalinium, Spinidinium, and Vozzhennikovia. The seven new species described here are Alterbidinium ellentonense, Arvalidinium cristatum, Deflandrea lucyedwardsiae, Phthanoperidinium paleocenicum, Senegalinium pallidum, Senegalinium simplex, and Spinidinium bellum.