2014 GSA Annual Meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia (19–22 October 2014)

Paper No. 297-4
Presentation Time: 9:45 AM

USING NON-POLLEN PALYNOMORPHS AS PROXIES OF WATER QUALITY


MCCARTHY, Francine M.G.1, DRLJEPAN, Matea1, VOLIK, Olena2, KRUEGER, Andrea3 and DANESH, Donya4, (1)Earth Sciences, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON L2S 3A1, Canada, (2)Geography and Environmental Management, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada, (3)Biological Sciences, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON L2S 3A1, Canada, (4)Queens University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada

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.

Session No. 297

T108. Palynology in Geoarchaeological and Environmental Studies (Posters)
Wednesday, 22 October 2014: 9:00 AM-6:30 PM
Exhibition Hall C (Vancouver Convention Centre-West)
Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 46, No. 6, p.721
© Copyright 2014 The Geological Society of America (GSA), all rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to the author(s) of this abstract to reproduce and distribute it freely, for noncommercial purposes. Permission is hereby granted to any individual scientist to download a single copy of this electronic file and reproduce up to 20 paper copies for noncommercial purposes advancing science and education, including classroom use, providing all reproductions include the complete content shown here, including the author information. All other forms of reproduction and/or transmittal are prohibited without written permission from GSA Copyright Permissions.
Back to: T108. Palynology in Geoarchaeological and Environmental Studies (Posters)
<< Previous Abstract | Next Abstract >>