Crawford Lake, Ontario, Canada (43°28.1′ N, 79°56.9′ W, 278 masl) has varved and AMS dated sediments containing fossil pollen that record native Iroquoian farming ca. AD 1268 to 1520. From before AD 1000 to 1268, bioturbating organisms caused poor varve preservation but since then, well-preserved varves and dung pellets reflect anoxic bottom water due to meromixis. The onset of varve preservation coincides with the occurrences of pollen grains of Zea (maize), Helianthus (sunflower), Phaseolus (bean), Cucurbita (squash) and Portulaca (purslane), and spores of Ustilago cf. maydis (maize smut). These pollen grains and spores are more abundant in pellets between varve laminae than in the surrounding sediment matrix. Analyses of DNA from five pellets demonstrate that they are dung from wild Canada geese (Branta canadensis). In the autumn, as geese foraged in Iroquoian fields, they inadvertently ingested pollen and spores before flying to the lake. There they roosted and cast the pollen-rich dung pellets, which became part of the sediment. This study demonstrates that birds, wild geese and perhaps ducks, can be important vectors of pollen to lake sediments located near agricultural settlements.

Most pre-Quaternary palynology samples are currently prepared by demineralization of the sediment/sedimentary rock matrix using hydrochloric and hydrofluoric acids (HCl and HF respectively). If a consistently effective alternative to this procedure can be developed, palynological processing will be made significantly less hazardous to both laboratory personnel, and to the wider environment. Furthermore, most non-acid processing methods are normally quicker and cheaper than matrix dissolution using acid. Some authors have previously used hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) to extract palynomorphs by the physico–chemical disaggregation of the clay fraction. However, H₂O₂ is a powerful oxidizing agent and hence can potentially destroy sedimentary organic material, including palynomorphs. A new method using hot H₂O₂, where exposure of the sample material to the H₂O₂ is minimized, has been developed. Crushed sample material in a suitable vessel is placed on a hot plate for one minute, treated with 15–30% H₂O₂ for 10 minutes, then the residue is diluted with cold distilled water. Disaggregated sample material tends to float, and is decanted into a large vessel containing distilled water to further dilute the H₂O₂. If any undisaggregated sample remains, the procedure is repeated several times if necessary. Relatively indurated sedimentary lithotypes normally require several treatments. The reason for this stepwise treatment is that the organic material is not exposed to H₂O₂ for sustained periods, thereby reducing the possibility of palynomorph damage/degradation due to oxidation. When the sample matrix has been fully disaggregated, the residue can be further processed as appropriate.

In this study, eight samples of Carboniferous, Jurassic, Paleogene, and Quaternary age were prepared quantitatively using the new H₂O₂ method. These were all prepared using 30% H₂O₂. For comparison, they were also prepared quantitatively using HCl/HF and/or sodium hexametaphosphate [(NaPO₃)₆]. Quantitative preparations allow the concentration of palynomorphs extracted to be determined, and therefore the effectiveness of the techniques used can be compared objectively. The palynomorph residues derived from these three techniques varied markedly. The H₂O₂ method does not consistently disaggregate all the sample material, particularly the older and more indurated lithotypes. Some evidence of oxidation effects was observed. Two samples of Mississippian mudstone from the U.S.A. were prepared using H₂O₂ and (NaPO₃)₆. Both methods produced abundant miospores, however the H₂O₂ procedure yielded far higher palynomorph concentrations than the (NaPO₃)₆ technique. Minor degradation of palynomorphs in the H₂O₂ preparation was noted. The H₂O₂ and HCl/HF methods were compared directly on a palynomorph-rich sample of Upper Carboniferous mudstone from offshore Scotland. Both preparations produced abundant miospores. The HCl/HF method had significantly higher recovery levels than the H₂O₂ procedure. It appears that the H₂O₂ method simultaneously macerates the matrix, and oxidizes any amorphous organic material (AOM) present. In this sample, the HCl/HF residue was relatively rich in AOM. By contrast, the H₂O₂ preparation is virtually clear of this phytoclast type, which partially obscures palynomorphs. Two samples of the Middle Jurassic Grantham Formation of eastern England were processed using H₂O₂ and HCl/HF. The two methods produced abundant palynofloras of similar palynomorph conc

The Oligocene to Lower Miocene of Site 1148, Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Leg 184 was investigated palynologically to explore environmental change within the newly formed rifted South China Sea. The basin first developed 32.8 Ma ago during an initial rifting phase, and before sea floor spreading. Palynomorph Assemblage A contains abundant coastal and neritic dinoflagellate cysts (for example, Lingulodinium and Spiniferites) and a small number of oceanic Impagidinium species, together with abundant pollen, spores, and terrigenous phytoplankton. Offshore transportation induced by basement subsidence played an important role in the makeup of this assemblage. Paleoenvironments during the earliest Oligocene include shallow shelf, shelf/slope boundary, and mid slope regimes. The latter is indicated by the intermittent and rare occurrences of Impagidinium. Later, in the Early Oligocene to earliest Late Oligocene, there was a deepening of the basin with increasing influence of lower slope environments, indicated by increasing abundances of Impagidinium. A barren zone corresponding to a period of sea floor spreading during the latest Oligocene to the earliest Miocene effectively separates assemblages A and B. The Early Miocene environment deepened to a lower slope (>1500 m) regime, indicated by Assemblage B with consistent Impagidinium. This regime was relatively stable with much less terrigenous input, indicated by the rare occurrence of pollen and spores, and the absence of terrigenous phytoplankton.

Six new species of dinoflagellate cysts and one new combination from the Paleocene to ?lowermost Eocene succession in the Alo-1 well, southeast Nigeria, are proposed herein. The new species are Achomosphaera quadrata, Diphyes bifidum, Ifecysta fusiforma, Ifecysta heterospinosa, Palaeocystodinium rafii, and Wilsonidium stellatum. Furthermore, Fibrocysta lappacea (Drugg 1970) Stover & Evitt 1978 is transferred to Ifecysta, and the diagnosis of Ifecysta is emended.

A melissopalynological study of Omani honeys was undertaken to determine floral sources, and identify pollen types, that would indicate the ecological origins. The study comprised the analysis of 48 honey samples collected during 2001–2003 from 14 locations in the Muscat and Al Batinah regions of Oman. The beehives and nests examined were either those of Apis florea or Apis mellifera bee colonies. A total of 122 pollen types, representing 50 plant families, were identified. Each taxon was categorized as representing a major or minor source of nectar and pollen. Thirty-two honey samples are unifloral types, and the remaining 16 are multifloral. Honey is harvested twice a year in Oman, once in the summer and again in the winter. The pollen data indicate that Ziziphus spina-christi, Prosopis juliflora, Prosopis cineraria and constitute the chief nectar and pollen sources for honeybees in this area during the winter. By contrast during the summer, Acacia tortilis, Citrus sp., Maerua crassifolia, Phoenix dactylifera, Prosopis cineraria, and Prosopis juliflora are the more important nectar sources. This study has identified a wide range of foraging plant sources for honeybees and demonstrates adequate potential for expanding and sustaining beekeeping in Muscat, and in the Al Batinah region. A modern pollen reference collection of 105 local floral species enabled the identification of the pollen types. Seventy-four pollen types were found in the 48 honey samples. The identifications of pollen types are based on both light and scanning electron microscope (SEM) studies of the pollen in the honey and reference samples.

The boll weevil (Anthonomus grandis Boheman) remains a devastating insect pest on cotton (Gossypium hirsutum C. Linnaeus), particularly where it has not been eradicated. Identifying and understanding the survival of overwintered boll weevils, when cotton is not available, is important in designing mitigation programs and controlling this insect pest, especially in areas where boll weevils are active all year. Many non-malvaceous taxa have been listed as possible overwintering adult food sources. The purpose of this research was to determine if pollen from three non-malvaceous taxa could be used as food sources for overwintering boll weevils in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas, where weevils are active year-round and during cotton-free periods. The taxa are almond [Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D.A. Webb], melon (Cucumis melo C. Linnaeus subsp. melo), and pigweed (Amaranthus sp.), Furthermore, it was intended to determine the retention of these pollen types in the boll weevil gut. More weevils (84%) contained almond pollen when they had additional water than those (30%) that did not have additional water. Almond pollen was found in 100% of the examined weevils after 72 hours, and in 80% after 96 hours. Pigweed and melon pollen were never found after 48 hours. Overall, almond pollen was found in more weevils (96%) than pigweed (40%), or melon (12%). In addition, a greater number of almond pollen grains (539) were found than pigweed (41), or melon (21). This shows that these types of pollen were consumed, and could play a part in the survival of overwintering weevils. However, more research is needed to examine the nutritional value of these, and other, pollen grains for overwintering boll weevil survival, and to determine the length of time weevils can survive feeding on these pollen types.

The fungal spore genus Mediaverrunites Jarzen & Elsik 1986 from the Miocene of Mizoram, northeast India is herein validated. It is a monoaperturate fungal amerospore with verrucae along the equatorial region that either remain free, or merge to form an equatorial band. Two new species, Mediaverrunites elsikii and Mediaverrunites mulleri, are described; the latter is designated as the type. Mediaverrunites appears to have a reliable range base within the Miocene, and is an index for warm tropical paleoclimates.

A new biozone for the late Viséan miospores from the Cortaderas Formation in western Argentina is proposed. It is the Reticulatisporites magnidictyus-Verrucosisporites quasigobbettii (MQ) Interval Biozone. The base of the biozone is defined by the range bases of Apiculiretusispora microseta, Dibolisporites disfacies, Reticulatisporites magnidictyus, Rugospora australiensis, and Verrucosisporites quasigobbettii. The upper limit of the MQ Interval Biozone is marked by the appearance of monosaccate pollen. Two distinct associations are recognized; Association A is characterized by the range bases of the diagnostic species, and the presence of a group of long-ranging species. Association B is characterized by the range bases of Anapiculatisporites austrinus, Anapiculatisporites kekiktukensis, Apiculatisporis variornatus, Crassispora kosankei, Cristatisporites menendezii, Kraeuselisporites tendatus, Kraeuselisporites volkheimerii, Raistrickia paganciana, Raistrickia rotunda, and Spinozonotriletes hirsutus, and is represented in the upper part of the Cortaderas Formation.

An exploration well drilled at the Middle Eocene fossil site of Messel, near Darmstadt, Germany proved that the famous Messel oil shale was deposited in a maar lake. During a quantitative palynological investigation of the entire succession of lake sediments, a monospecific population of dinoflagellate cysts was encountered. Based on transmitted light and scanning electron microscope (SEM) studies, they are assigned to the new peridinioid taxon Messelodinium thielepfeifferae gen. et sp. nov. because they are acavate and lack distinct apical or antapical horns. The dinoflagellate cysts exhibit considerable intraspecific variation in surface ornamentation. Messelodinium thielepfeifferae gen. et sp. nov. is abundant in sediments of the early holomictic stage of Lake Messel, but generally is reduced in frequency in the oil shale which represents the meromictic stage. These dinoflagellate cysts appear in peak abundances in mass flow and debris flow deposits in which material from the lake shore was transported downslope to the basin center. Thus, major concentrations of Messelodinium thielepfeifferae gen. et sp. nov. occurred in nearshore environments either due to primary population density of the parent motile stage, or due to secondary cyst accumulation by wind and wave action. The dinoflagellate cysts are notably absent in the uppermost 25 m of the core, where Botryococcus dominates. This shift in algal populations is interpreted as a response to changes in the chemistry of the water body.

The application of palynology to forensic investigations relies on the similarity of pollen assemblages from forensic items, such as footwear, with control samples from a crime scene. The pollen from material adhering to footwear is likely to reflect some combination of pollen from the locations where the boots/shoes have been worn most recently. This study investigated the changes in pollen assemblages on footwear that had been worn at different sites. Six rural sites in the East Midlands of England, United Kingdom were visited wearing pristine boots (i.e. no mixing), and boots that were previously worn at other localities (i.e. potential mixing). Samples of adherent soil from these items of footwear, and control samples, were analysed palynologically in order to assess the degree and significance of mixing of the pollen assemblages. With the exception of one sample, the pollen adherent to footwear or in the soil samples from each of the six sites (no mixing) had a characteristic signature. This supports the general distinctiveness of pollen from individual sites, the concept of widespread palynological heterogeneity, and the utility of palynology in forensic geoscience.

The data from this study show that when mixing occurs from wearing footwear at different sites, the pollen/spore content of the boots etc. dominantly reflects that of the last site. This was evident from a visual examination of the raw data, and was confirmed using detrended correspondence analysis applied to the eleven dominant taxa. These data showed clustering of samples based on the last site visited. The more abundant the pollen/spores, the closer the samples were clustered. The clustering was less convincing at localities that yielded relatively sparse palynomorphs. However, sample material from footwear that was potentially contaminated with soil from previous localities typically exhibited some subtle differences. These were normally slight increases in diversity, and small variations in certain pollen types. The relative insignificance of these differences means that they would be difficult to discern consistently and quantify. It is thus critical that, in relevant forensic investigations, footwear belonging to suspects is seized as soon as possible after a crime is committed.

A palynological study of the Cerrejon Formation was conducted in order to date the formation and understand the floristic composition and diversity of a Paleocene tropical site. The Cerrejon Formation outcrops in the Cerrejon Coal Mine, the largest open cast coal mine in the world. Two cores (725 m) were provided by Carbones del Cerrejon LLC for study. Two hundred samples were prepared for palynology, and at least 150 palynomorphs were counted per sample where possible. Several statistical techniques including rarefaction, species accumulation curves, detrended correspondence analysis, and Anosim were used to analyze the floristic composition and diversity of the palynofloras. Palynomorph assemblages indicate that the age of the Cerrejon Formation and the overlying Tabaco Formation is Middle to Late Paleocene (ca. 60–58 Ma). Major structural repetitions were not found in the Cerrejon Formation in the Cerrejon coal mine, and there is little floral variation throughout. The floral composition, diversity, and lithofacies do not change significantly. Lithofacies associations and floral composition indicate deposition fluctuating from an estuarine-influenced coastal plain at the base to a fluvial-influenced coastal plain at the top. There are, however, significant differences in the composition and diversity of coal and siliciclastic samples. Coal palynofloras have fewer morphospecies, and a distinct and more homogeneous floral assemblage compared to assemblages from the intervening sisliciclastic strata, suggesting that tropical swampy environments supported fewer plant species and had a distinct vegetation adapted to permanently wet environments.

Veryhachium Deunff 1954, originally described from the Ordovician of western France, is one of the most frequently recorded acritarch genera. Over 250 species and subspecies, from the Cambrian to the Neogene, have been attributed to the genus. This genus has a simple morphology; it displays a triangular, rectangular, or polygonal central vesicle, with a few, simple processes drawn out from the angles of the vesicle in a single plane, and sometimes with supplementary or auxillary processes arising from the vesicle body. Veryhachium has been emended and revised numerous times. The number of valid species is excessive: most are probably synonyms. To facilitate effective classification, only a few morphological categories should be retained. For the Lower Paleozoic, the use of two informal groups is proposed. These are the Veryhachium trispinosum group for triangular specimens, and the Veryhachium lairdii group for rectangular forms. Although generally abundant and widespread throughout the Phanerozoic, Veryhachium is of limited biostratigraphic, paleoecologic, or paleogeo-graphic value. However, its First Appearance Datum (FAD) is of great importance for Ordovician stratigraphy; the first Veryhachium morphotypes appear in the Tremadocian Stage, making the genus an important biostratigraphic marker.

The ‘Middle’ Cretaceous of the Northern California Coast Ranges has yielded unusually well-preserved specimens of Litosphaeridium, some of which (Litosphaeridium arundum, Litosphaeridium bacar, Litosphaeridium conispinum, and Litosphaeridium siphoniphorum subsp. glabrum) have been analyzed in detail previously. Two other species, which were discovered later, are Litosphaeridium adnatum sp. nov. and Litosphaeridium gaponoffiae sp. nov. Litospheridium adnatum sp. nov. is most similar to Litosphaeridium siphoniphorum, but has an adnate operculum, sulcal processes, a more elongate central body, and less of the central body is covered by processes. The other, Litosphaeridium gaponoffiae sp. nov., is most similar to Litosphaeridium arundum and Litospheridium fucosum, but has goblet-shaped processes, a free operculum, a more spherical central body, and its cingular processes are not reduced as they are in Litospheridium arundum. The two species are from the late Albian based on the associated dinoflagellate cysts.