Fossil zygospores of Zygnemataceae algae (Chlorophyta) from the Upper Miocene of the Bełchatów Lignite Mine

The Zygnemataceae are an extant family of freshwater filamentous green algae which produce acid-resistant zygospores. Palynomorphs of probable zygnematacean affinity occur in sediments of the Carboniferous to Holocene age (van Geel & Grenfell, 1996). These algae reproduce using four types of spores, but only zygospores and probably aplanospores are acid-resistant and can be preserved in the fossil record. The majority of recent species have zygospores of constant form of three types: elliptical (occurring in genera Debarya and Spirogyra), square (occurring in Mougeotia) or circular (occurring in Zygnema). The zygospores normally have a three-layered wall (exospore, mesospore and endospore), but only mesospore contains a decay and acid-resistant substance (most probably algaenans), so usually only this layer is preserved in fossil state, and is of interest to palynologists. The mesospore layer is smooth or ornamented with various sculptures (Kadłubowska, 1972; Grenfell, 1995). The shape and sculpture are very important features for determination of both the recent and fossil species. Two samples from the Bełchatów Lignite Mine were palynologically examined and two types of probable fossil zygnematacean zygospores, differing in shape, were encountered. The following species have been distinguished: Tetraporina sp., Spintetrapidites quadriformis Krutzsch & Pacltová as well as Ovoidites elongatus (Hunger) Krutzsch, and O. ligneolus Potonié ex Krutzsch. The fossil genus Tetraporina is usually related to the recent zygnematacean algae zygospores of Mougeotia genus, fossil Ovoidites is the nearest the recent zygospores of Spirogyra and Sirogonium, while Spintetrapidites is similar to both zygospores of Zygnemataceae and Tetraedron green algae. Species of recent genera Mougeotia and Spirogyra are usually found in shallow, freshwater, oxygen-rich environments such as ponds, lake margins (paludal or low gradient fluvial), ditches and very slowly moving streams (Kadłubowska, 1972). Occurrence of Tetraporina and Ovoidites zygnematacean zygospores in the material studied from Bełchatów points out at presence of water basin(s) during sedimentation time. That confirms the previous geological results that formation of examined sediments took place in the environment of a meandering river (including ox-bow lakes)

Origin of the palaeokarst in Miocene evaporites on the SW periphery of the Eastern European Platform in the light of palynological studies : a case study of the Zoloushka Cave, Bukovina, Western Ukraine

The Zoloushka Cave belongs to a group of the largest gypsum caves in Western Ukraine (Bukovina region), developed in the middle Miocene (upper Badenian) evaporite series (Tyras Formation) on the SW periphery of the East European Platform. It is developed in the lower part of the evaporite series composed of gypsum, which is covered by a carbonate layer (Ratyn Limestone). The uneven upper surface of the gypsum at the contact with the limestone, the frequent occurrence of palaeokarst forms, and the presence of karstified fissures filled with allochthonous material indicate a sedimentation break between the gypsum and the overlying limestone. To support this thesis and to add new data on the age and palaeoenvironmental conditions of palaeokarst formation in the Bukovina region, palynological studies were carried out on material from the Zoloushka Cave. Palynofacies, sporomorphs and dinoflagellate cysts were studied. In total, over 70 sporomorph taxa and over 25 dinoflagellate cyst taxa have been identified in four samples collected from the filling of the palaeokarstic forms in the cave. The results of the analysis of sporomorphs and dinoflagellate cysts point to the formation of the palaeokarst during the sedimentation break that took place at the end of the late Badenian evaporitic cycle in the Western Ukraine region. The subsequent marine transgression led to the filling of the karst forms in gypsum with chemogenic carbonate material, precipitated from marine water (draperies) and with fine-grained, clastic material (pockets and fissures)

Oligocene plant assemblage from Rebiszow, Lower Silesia: First “volcanic flora” from Poland

Fossil plant macroremains preserved in laminated diatomites from Łysa Góra near Rębiszów, Lower Silesia, have been documented for the first time. The fossil assemblage consists mostly of leaves, but fruits, seeds and sporadic flowers also occur. Forty-three identified taxa represent nineteen plant families: Aceraceae, Berberidaceae, Betulaceae, Cornaceae, Cupressaceae, Elaeocarpaceae, Ericaceae, Fagaceae, Lauraceae, ?Leguminosae, ?Meliaceae, Magnoliaceae, Pinaceae, Rhamnaceae, Rosaceae, Salicaceae, Tilioideae, Ulmaceae, Vitaceae, and one incertae sedis. The prevalence of entire margined leaves, mostly represented by Majanthemophyllum basinerve and Daphnogene cinnamomifolia, and a significant presence of Calocedrus suleticensis and Liriodendron haueri, are characteristic features of the Rębiszów flora. The composition of the plant assemblage points to a mesophytic forest with some riparian elements and suggests favourable, warm climatic conditions. Radiometrically dated basalts overlying fossiliferous layers and composition of palynoflora suggest at least Chattian (late Oligocene) age. The lithology and floristic composition link the Rębiszów flora with the so-called volcanic floras of the Nerchau-Flörsheim or Kleinsaubernitz floristic complex (Oligocene) from Germany and Czech Republic with Suletice-Berand flora being especially close

Spore-pollen and phytoplankton analysis of the Upper Miocene depositsfrom Józefina (Kraków-Silesia Upland, Poland)

Pollen grains, spores and phytoplankton from the Neogene succession of a borehole at Józefina (northern part of the Kraków–Silesia Upland, Poland) have been studied. The composition of the pollen spectra and the mutual ratio of palaeotropical and arctotertiary elementssuggest a Late Miocene age. Among the pollen grains, there are significant elements characteristic of riparian forests (Pterocarya, Caryaand Liquidambar) and mixed mesophytic forests (Pinus, Fagus and Carpinus). Such a pollen and spore association suggests a temperateand mid-wet climate, cooler than during the Early and Mid Miocene period, but still warmer than the present-day climate of Poland. Thismakes the pollen-spore association from Józefina comparable with XII climatic phase represented by the Carpinipites-Juglandaceaespore-pollen zone. The occurrence of aquatic plants and freshwater algae (e.g., Sigmopollis, Zygnemataceae and desmids) indicates alacustrine palaeoenvironment

Palynological analysis of Miocene infill of karst sinkholes at Tarnów Opolski, Upper Silesian Upland - a preliminary report

Pollen analysis of 16 samples of coaly sediments taken from one of sinkholes developed within the Triassic limestones cropping out at Tarnów Opolski, Upper Silesian Upland has been done. The study revealed a taxonomically rich assemblage of excellently preserved sporomorphs (pollen grains and spores) as well as microfossils of fresh-water algae (mainly Chlorophyta). The pollen analysis made it possible to reconstruct a vegetation growing during sedimentation of deposits filling the studied sinkhole and clear facies succession, from open aquatic (with abundant fresh-water algae) to marshy one (e.g. swamp forests composed of Taxodium, Nyssa and Alnus). Riparian forests dominated by deciduous trees, e.g. Pterocarya, Carya and Liquidambar, grew on wet terrains surrounding the water body. Drier elevated terrains were overgrown by mixed mesophytic forests with small admixture of thermophilous plants. Results of the pollen analysis indicate that during the sedimentation of the sinkhole filling the climate was warm temperate and moderately wet. Recorded sporomorphs and a mutual ratio of arctotertiary and palaeotropical taxa point at a Middle Miocene age of the studied deposit

Pliocene freshwater pollen-bearing deposits in the Mizerna-Nowa borehole, West Carpathians, Poland

This paper describes sedimentology and palynology of freshwater plant-bearing late Cenozoic (Pliocene sensu lato) deposits drilled at Mizerna, the eastern part of the Nowy Targ Intramontane Depression, West Carpathians, South Poland. Our data were obtained from a newly-analysed 39-m thick succession from the Mizerna-Nowa borehole, containing spores, pollen and freshwater organic-walled algal micro-remains. They shed light on the palaeoenvironmental conditions of the Nowy Targ Intramontane Depression, where the Mizerna palaeolake once formed

Palynology of Lower Oligocene brown coal and lowermost Middle Miocene sand deposits from the Łukowa-4 borehole (Carpathian Foredeep, SE Poland) : implications for palaeogeographical reconstructions

Brown coal and overlying sand strata from the Łukowa-4 borehole, located in the northeastern sector of the Carpathian Foredeep in Poland, were studied for palynology. These strata are underlain by Upper Eocene sands, and covered by Middle Miocene rocks. Coal beds yielded infrequent sporomorphs and freshwater algae Botryococcus. The presence of the latter indicates that these deposits accumulated in a freshwater environment whereas sporomorph assemblages point to the presence of mixed forests with a significant portion of thermophilous taxa. Age of the coal beds has been established based both on the presence of species that appear for the last time in the Early Oligocene, and on the similarity with sporomorph spectra from the Lower Oligocene of the Polish Lowlands. Overlying sands yielded marine dinoflagellate cysts, which point to a marine sedimentary setting, and frequent sporomorphs. The latter indicate the presence of mixed mesophytic forests, bush swamps, swamp forests, and riparian forests in the vicinity of lacustrine environments. Stratigraphic analysis of dinoflagellate cyst and sporomorph assemblages suggests that the sands accumulated in early stages of Miocene transgression in the Carpathian Foredeep in the latest Early–early Middle Miocene. Our climatic interpretation of the sporomorph spectra suggests that the climate during deposition of the strata was relatively warm, although less frequent thermophilous taxa recorded in the Miocene sands suggest a slightly cooler climate than that deducted from the spectra yielded by the underlying Lower Oligocene coal beds. Correlation of Lower Oligocene coal beds with neighbouring coeval marine sands suggests diverse morphological conditions in the Carpathian foreland at that time, partly covered by a sea, and partly emerged. A similar, morphologically diverse basement in the Carpathian foreland favoured accumulation of Lower Miocene phytogenic deposits. A similar stratigraphic position of both Lower Oligocene and Lower Miocene coal beds in the Carpathian Foredeep may result in a false correlation of these strata devoid of fossils, which are commonly regarded as Miocene

Pollen assemblage and environmental DNA changes: A 4300-year-old bat guano deposit from Jamaica

The discovery of two undisturbed caves in Jamaica with 14C and 210Pb dating indicating that the oldest layers of guano were ca. 200 years old in the first cave (81 cm long core), and as much as 4300 years old in the second cave (129 cm long core) provides exciting possibilities to examine past ecological communities. We analyzed genetic and pollen profiles in these ancient bat guano deposits and revealed DNA sequences most similar to arthropods, mainly insects such as caddisflies (Trichoptera), butterflies (Lepidoptera) and mayflies (Ephemeroptera), suggesting a potential source for past dietary data. Palynological analysis failed to recover well-preserved pollen grains and spores older than ca. 200 years, however in layers preserving pollen, angiosperms were the most abundant plants observed, with a regular occurrence of the potato (Solanaceae) and pepper families (Piperaceae), which are frequently bat-dispersed. In general, changes in frequency of particular plant taxa appear to reflect changes of vegetation and land use in the cave vicinity; however, some changes could be linked to hurricanes, leading to forest canopy damage and promoting the growth of light-demanding species such as guarumo (Cecropia). Higher amounts of mangrove (Rhizophora) pollen have also been recorded in the periods of heavy hurricane activities. Our data highlight the value of bat guano deposits in caves as a resource for the analysis of past ecological systems and stress the conservation values of these deposits