T310 Palynology in Geoarchaeological and Environmental Studies (Posters)

Wednesday, 22 October 2014
9:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Exhibition Hall C

USING NON-POLLEN PALYNOMORPHS AS PROXIES OF WATER QUALITY

Paper number: T310-4
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM

Authors

Abstract

The acid-resistant remains of algae, protozoans, and invertebrate animals have been largely overlooked as proxies of water quality despite their presence in samples processed for pollen analysis. Because their abundance in lakes is enhanced by eutrophication and their preservation in lacustrine sediments is enhanced by the dysoxic conditions resulting from biochemical oxygen demand, non-pollen palynomorphs (NPP) have been noted in several geoarcheological studies (Burden et al., 1986; Turton and McAndrews, 2006; Krueger, 2012). Combining synoptic measurements of water quality parameters with palynological analyses of surface samples and comparing elemental analyses with palynological assemblages in cores from the Great Lakes region and from eastern Massachusetts has recently illustrated the use of algal palynomorphs in identifying cultural eutrophication (McCarthy et al., 2011; Danesh et al., 2013; Volik, 2013; Volik et al., 2013; Drljepan, 2014; Drljepan et al., in press). Improved understanding of the role of taphonomy on NPP assemblages and of the taxonomy of dinoflagellate cysts will increase the value of these generally ignored microfossils in palynological preparations in the monitoring and management of freshwater resources.

References cited:

Burden ET, McAndrews JH, Norris G, 1986. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 23: 43–54.

Danesh, D, McCarthy, FMG, Volik, O, Drljepan, M, 2013. Palynology, 37: 231-245

Drljepan, M, 2014. Master’s thesis, Brock University.

Drljepan, M, McCarthy, FMG, Hubeny, JB, in press. The Holocene.

Krueger AM 2012. Master’s thesis, Brock University.

McCarthy, FMG, Mertens, KN, Ellegaard, M, Sherman, K, Pospelova, V, Ribeiro, S, Blasco, S, Vercauteren, D, 2011. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 166: 46 – 62,

Turton CL, McAndrews JH. 2006. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 141: 1–6.

Volik, O, 2013. Master’s thesis, Brock University.

Volik, O, McCarthy, FMG, Danesh, D, Drljepan, M, 2013. Ukrainian Geographical Journal, 80 (4) p. 14-22.