PALYNOMORPHSPALYNOMORPHS[pollen]
[embryophyte spores]
[algae]
[fungal spores]
[dinoflagellates]
[microforaminifera]
[chitinozoans]
[acritarchs]
[amoeba]
The figures above represent various kinds of palynomorphs. "Palynomorphs"
include both plant and animal structures that are microscopic in size
(from about 5 µm to about 500 µm), and are composed of compounds that
are highly resistant to most forms of decay other than oxidation, being
composed of
sporopollenin,
chitin,,
or related compounds. In the strict sense, palynomorphs are recognized
as microscopic structures that are abundant in most sediments and
sedimentary rocks, and are resistant to the routine pollen-extraction
procedures including strong acids, bases, acetolysis, and density
separation. In a broader sense, other microfossils sometimes are
given "courtesy appointments" as "palynomorphs" even they do not
survive routine pollen-extraction procedures.
These "other microfossils" have siliceous,
calcareous, phosphatic, or cellulose walls, and most are marine or
freshwater organisms, or parts thereof. Opaline
phytoliths
are neither palynomorphs nor aquatic microfossils, being the siliceous
remains of certain cells of higher plants. And, foraminifera are both!
They have calcareous tests and resistant
chitinous linings.
PALYNOLOGY: The branch of science concerned with
the study of
pollen,
spores ,
and similar
palynomorphs,
living and fossil. Term suggested by Hyde & Williams (1944).
Etymol. Greek 
"to strew or sprinkle", suggestive of
"fine meal" cognate with Latin pollen, "fine flour, dust. "
Pronunciation: (pal-ih-nol-o-jee) the "a" is as in "map," and neither as the "a" in "pail" nor the "o" in "pollen."(Traverse, 1995)
ACRITARCHS:
"an informal utilitarian, 'catch-all' category without status as a class,
order or other supragenieric unit" comprised of "small microfossils of
unknown and probably varied biological affinities consisting of a central
cavity enclosed by a wall of single or multiple layers and a chiefly
organic composition." (Evitt, 1963). Precambrian - Recent, probably of
algal affinity.
AEROALLERGY: the branch of medicine concerned
with the seasonal occurrence, abundance, and allerogenic effect of
spores and pollen.
ACTUOPALYNOLOGY: The study of extant palynomorphs which are either living, still retain their cell contents, or whose cell contents have been removed by maceration. Includes mellisopalynology, pollination ecology, aeroallergy, and criminology. Exclusive of paleopalynology.
ALGA:
the cell walls of certain freshwater green algae are resistant to
standard palynological procedures. The vegetative cells of the
colonial forms Pediastrum and Botryococcus are
frequently recognized in lacustrine sediment, as are the spores of
Spirogyra and certain other Zygnemataceae. Round spores
(leiospheres) are particularly abundant, but are seldom identified.
AMOEBA:
(syn. Rhizopods, Testaceans, Thecamoebae) Protozoans in the subclass
Testacealobios of the Rhizopoda are characterized by shells or tests
enclosing the protoplasm. The tests are 5 - 250 micrometers in size and
are generally resistant to routine pollen extraction. The organisms are
abundant in mesic habitats ranging from damp soil to lakes. The tests
are urn-shaped to flattened, with various sculpturing and ornamentation.
APERTURES: any thinning or modification of the wall of
spores or pollen
that serves as an exit for its contents. In embryophyte
spores these are the monolete or trilete laesura. In
pollen these are the furrows (colpi) and pores.
The arrangement and number of pores and furrows are a chief criteria for
identifying pollen classes.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL PALYNOLOGY:
the analysis of pollen, spores ,
and other palynomorphs from archeological sites.
Applications include the reconstruction of prehistoric diet,
funary practices, artifact function and source, archaeological feature
use, cultivation and domestication of plants, and human impact on vegetation.
CHITIN: The polysaccharide coating of microforaminifera, scolecodonts, and the spores and hyphae of certain fungi. Highly resistant to forms of deterioration other than oxidation.
CHITINOZOANS:
Marine microfossils of uncertain affinity generally shaped like flasks,
occurring individually or in chains. stratigraphic range from uppermost
Cambrian to Devonian. Usually assumed to be animal remains.
(Traverse, 1995))
CRIMINOLOGY:
palynology is sometimes used to determine the
past location of items or persons based on the
pollen and spores
on or in them.
References:
Bryant, V.M., Jr., and Mildenhall, D.C. 1996.
Forensic palynology in the United States of America.
Palynology. 14: 193-208.
Bryant, V.M., Jr., Jones, J.G. and Mildenhall, D.C. 1996.
Chapter 23G. Studies in forensic palynology. p. 957-959
in: Jansonius, J. and McGregor, D.C. (eds.), Palynology:
Principles and Applications. American Association of
Stratigraphic Palynologists Foundation, vol. 3
Faegri, K. and J. Iversen. 1989. (Fourth Edition by K. Faegri,
P.E. Kaland, and K. Krzywinski) Textbook of Pollen Analysis.
John Wiley & Sons New York 328 p. (criminology, p. 174)
Links:
CRYPTOSPORES:
Spores and other cells of ancient organisms of unknown affinity. Not
strictly palynomorphs because the cell walls are destroyed by routine
palynological processing. Cryptospores are generally small (10 - 20 µm)
cylinders and spheres, smooth to ornamented. They are the primary
indication of life during the Archean (3.5 - 2.5 GY) and Proterozoic
(2.5 - 0.5 GY). However similar remains can be recovered by similar
processes in Cenozoic sediments and in meteorites.
 |
DIATOMS: Microscopic photosynthetic organisms with siliceous secondary plant walls termed "frustules." Mostly 20 - 100 µm, and generally of two forms: pennate or centric. |
DINOFLAGELLATES:
Unicellular aquatic organisms, motile and heterotrophic, parasitic, or
photosynthetic. Generally with two flagella, one within an encircling
sulcus, the second (longitudinal) oriented posteriorly.
Life cycles various, but often with motile thecate stage having a
cellulose cell wall, and a resting cyst (hypnozygote) with a
chitinous or "dinosporinous" wall forming inside the theca. Form of the
cyst ranges from similar to the theca (proximate) to bearing several
trumpet-shaped processes (chorate). Theca and cyst often comprised
of polygonal plates separated by sutures.
ENVIRONMENTAL PALYNOLOGY: The use of palynomorphs, their identification, distribution, and abundance to determine past changes in the biota, climate, or surficial geology of an area. Includes Quaternary palynology and Archaeological palynology . Exclusive of stratigraphic palynology,, but the study of sedimentary sequences often includes both stratigraphic and environmental palynology.
FORENSIC PALYNOLOGY: (see CRIMINOLOGY)
FUNGAL SPORES:
Unicellular or multicellular, reproductive or distributional cells
developing into a number of different phases of the complex life
cycles of the fungi.
MELLISOPALYNOLOGY:
the study of pollen in honey or other bee products
such as "bee baskets."
Link to Mellisopalynology Webb Sites
MICROFORAMINIFERA:
Calcareous, unicellular marine organisms, with alternating or
spirally-arranged progressively larger cells. The
chitin ous inner linings are common in pollen
preparations of marine or estuarine sediment.
PALEOPALYNOLOGY: The study of fossil
palynomorphs, where "fossil" is defined as
"any indication of past life" including the term "sub-fossil."
Fossil palynomorphs are comprised of sporopollenin, chitin, or
pseudochitin little modified from their original composition.
Specific applications include
stratigraphic palynology,
archaeological palynology, and
environmental palynology.
Exclusive of actuopalynology.
References:
PHYTOLITHS:
the siliceous secondary cell walls of certain terrestrial
plants. Phytoliths are destroyed by hydrofluoric acid so they are
never present in routine palynological preparations, and phytoliths
processing involves treatment with strong oxidizing agents, which
destroy pollen. Studied phytoliths generally range from ca. 20 - 50 µm.
POLLEN:
The multinucleate reproductive microgametophyte of seed plants, enclosed
in the microspore wall. Fossil pollen consists of the microspore wall,
comprised of sporopollenin, and generally
identified by its apertures and sculpture.
Unlike "spore" the word "pollen" is a collective noun like the word
"flour" from which the word palynology is derived.
Therefore, the plural "pollens" should not be used.
POLLINATION ECOLOGY: the branch of agriculture or ecology concerned with the distribution of pollen by wind or animals and its efficacy in fertilization and seed set.
QUATERNARY PALYNOLOGY:
The branch of environmental palynology
dealing with palynomorphs of Quaternary age,
ca. the last 2.5 million years; typically using radiometrically- or
paleomagnetically- dated sedimentary sequences.
SCOLECODONTS:
the scleroprotein teeth, jaws, and associated features of polychaet
annelid worms. Size from 100 - 4000 µm. Present in marine sediments
from the Ordovician (ca. 480 Ma) to the Recent, but used for stratigraphic
purposes primarily in the Paleozoic.
SCULPTURE: the external texture or pollen grains and spores . For example spines or reticulations.
EMBRYOPHYTE SPORES:
A wide variety of microscopic unicellular reproductive cells
developing into gametophytes. Examples include liverworts,
club mosses, horse tails, ferns, and many extinct forms.
Typically with a triangular or oval outline and various scultpure.
STRATIGRAPHIC PALYNOLOGY:
The use of palynomorphs, their identification,
distribution, and abundance to correlate among sedimentary sequences
of any age, or to provide chronological control for these sedimentary
sequences. Exclusive of environmental palynology,,
but the study of sedimentary sequences often includes both stratigraphic
and environmental palynology.
SPOROPOLLENIN: The carotenoid-like polymer comprising the outer wall of pollen grains and certain spores , and apparently dinoflagellates and acritarchs. Highly resistant to forms of deterioration other than oxidation.
PALYNOLOGY
Owen Davis 12/99