Palynology is the study of microorganisms, and microscopic fragments of mega-organisms, that occur in sediments. “Palynomorph” is a broad term for a variety of acid-resistant microfossils produced by plants, animals, or Protista that have existed since the late Proterozoic (approximately one billion years ago). The oldest known palynomorphs are arcritarchs (Figure P46), which are likely marine algal bodies that appeared in the Proterozoic eon. Other palynomorphs that appeared in the Paleozoic and are frequently studied are chitinozoans (marine fossils of uncertain origin); scolecodonts (annelid worm jaws); microscopic colonial algae; embryophyte spores; megaspores; pollen (Figures P47–P51); and dinoflagellates. All of these are still present except the chitinozoans. Chitinous fungal spores are first found in Jurassic rocks, and microforaminiferal inner tests can be dated to the Lower Cretaceous (Traverse, 1988). Fragments of wood and cuticle are additional acid-resistant plant...
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Bibliography
Cornet, B., 1977. The Palynology and Age of the Newark Supergroup. Unpublished PhD thesis, Pennsylvania State University.
Dunn, M.T., 2001. Palynology of the Carboniferous–Permian boundary stratotype, Aidaralash Creek, Kazakhstan. Rev. Palaeobot. Palynol., 116, 175–194.
Traverse, A., 1988. Paleopalynology. Winchester, MA: Allen & Unwin Inc., 600pp.
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Kneller, M., Fowell, S. (2009). Palynology. In: Gornitz, V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Paleoclimatology and Ancient Environments. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-4411-3_182
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