Palynology

Palynology is the science of the study of contemporary and fossil palynomorphs as well as associated particulate organic matter (POM) in sedimentary strata. Palynomorphs are microscopic, decay-resistant remains of certain plants and animals. Micro-fossils classed as palynomorphs include acritarchs, chitinozoans, dinoflagellate cysts (dinoflagellates are marine organisms, comprising the red algae which make up the "red tides" in modern oceans), pollen, spores and scolecodonts. Palynomorphs posses an organic outer wall which then render distinctive fossils.

Pollen and spores can be dispersed by wind and water and may be deposited over a very wide range. Since pollen and spores are transported over extensive distances before deposition, they are not consistently good sources of information for the environment in which they were deposited having originated elsewhere. They can however be used for the study of ancient climates (e.g. they may be used to study glacial and interglacial periods) and biostratigraphy. Organic chemicals become darker in hotter environments. This characteristic can be used to assess the temperature of the strata during the deposition of the palynomorphs. The color of fossils is useful in determining the possible presence of petroleum or gas since heat from burial in the Earth is a critical component of the process of forming oil and gas from organic deposits.

Palynology is an interdisciplinary field overlapping with geological and biological sciences.

Interdisciplinary Links in Citizendium

• Earth science
• Stage (geology)
• Age (geology)
• Geologic time scale
• Geologic ages of earth history
• Chronostratigraphy
• Geochronology
• Geochronometry
• Hydrology
• Biostratigraphy