Palynology (Pollen, spores, etc.)

Abstract

Marine palynology is an extremely useful discipline as it may provide information on biostratigraphy in addition to environmental and climatic conditions. In particular, pollen grains and spores may give clues on terrestrial vegetation and climate, whereas the respective proportion of terrestrial and marine palynomorphs may provide indication on the paleogeography. The interpretation of palynological records from marine sediments is not unequivocal, and the transcription of pollen assemblages in terms of vegetation is not straightforward as it requires taking into account specific properties of pollen grains and spores: the species morphology and size as well as taphonomic processes such as dispersion and sedimentation. Nevertheless, marine palynology offers one of the best means for direct land-sea correlations and linkage of paleoceanography with continental paleoclimatology.