Palynology is the branch of science dealing with microscopic, decay-resistant remains of certain plants and animals. It has many applications including archaeological palynology, Quaternary palynology, and stratigraphic palynology. Palynology is a common stratigraphic tool in geology because pollen and spores are the most abundant fossils of terrestrial organisms. It is also an important technique in archeology, providing evidence of human environmental impact and diet, and in the study of climate change.
Faculty
Owen Davis (Emeritus) - Quaternary Paleoecology
Faculty with related interests
Steve Buchmann - Entomology
Susan Fish - Archeology, Palynology
Mary Kay O'Rourke- Aerobiology
Facilities, Equipment, and Resources
The Department of Geosciences Palynology Laboratory has cold storage facilities for cores, a chemical lab with 3 fume hoods for pollen extraction; and a pollen-counting lab with 10 microscopes, 5,100 pollen identification books and reprints, and 10,200 pollen and spore reference slides.