Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

ANALYSIS OF TEMPORAL VARIATION OF CLIMATE DURING HOLOCENE BASED ON POLLEN DATA FROM SUBSURFACE SEDIMENTS OF TRIPURA

Abha, Santosh K. Shah & Amalava Bhattacharyya Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India

A great deal of work on Quaternary vegetational history vis-à-vis climate change, based on pollen data, has been carried out from the northern (mainly Himalayas), central and southern parts of India, but little work has been done from the northeastern region. Tripura, one of the small states of northeastern India, is an ideal area to pursue Quaternary palynology. Several sites in this region are suitable for the collection of peat from bogs and marshes. Sediments from relatively shallow lakes, where sedimentation rates are high, provide an opportunity to recover samples with high temporal resolution. The long-term climatic changes would provide database for the effective management of water resources of this region by realistic estimation of the impact of the climatic changes in watershed management, especially in understanding the long-term temporal behavior of floods and droughts of this region. The present exploratory analysis is aimed to reconstruct vegetational history vis-à-vis climate change during Holocene from the region. This study is based on the analysis of pollen and spores from the subsurface sediments collected from southern part of Tripura. These sediments are dated 7 to 3 ka BP. Detailed analysis for the temporal variations in vegetation and corresponding climate changes are under progress.

1 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

FIRST RECORD OF TERMINALIA LINN. FROM THE WARKALLI BEDS (MIOCENE), CANNANORE DISTRICT, KERALA, INDIA

Anil Agarwal1 & K. Ambwani2 1Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India E-mail: [email protected] 2Department of Botany, Lucknow University, Lucknow-226007, India

A number of plant megafossils are known from the lignite of Warkalli Formation (Miocene), exposed at Payangadi Clay Mine in Cannanore District, Kerala. The fossil bearing lignite bed is about 5 m thick and overlies the coarse sandstone. The study reveals occurrence of a new fossil fruit that resembles Terminalia foetidissima Griff. of family Combretaceae. The carbonized fruit is well preserved, black in colour, drupe with one elliptical seed. It is obovate in shape and measures 3.2 cm in length, 2.1 cm in breadth and 1.5 cm in thickness. Its surface is glabrous and slightly undulated. Epicarp is thin and mesocarp is spongy and about 0.5 cm broad consisting of cells of variable nature, including sclerieds. Cells of endocarp are slightly elongate, thick walled and with a small lumen. Seed is enclosed in a papery thin testa. Cells of the endosperm are small, rounded and compact. Starch globules are present in the endosperm. The fossils, referable to the family Combretaceae, are represented by fruits, woods and leaves. They are also known from different Indian Tertiary sediments. Comparable extant species (Terminalia foetidissima Griff.) grows in the rain forests of Malayan peninsula, Myanmar, Borneo, Sumatra and India. Occurrence of Terminalia-like fruit indicates presence of littoral swamp forests with warm humid climate around Payangadi during the time of deposition. The present fossil fruit constitutes first record of Terminalia from the Miocene beds of Kerala.

2 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

CONIFER WOOD FROM KALLAMEDU FORMATION, CAUVERY BASIN

Anil Agarwal & A. Rajanikanth Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India E-mail: [email protected]

The terminal Cretaceous event has a significant bearing on perpetuation of plant life. Cauvery Basin, the southern-most of the east-coast Cretaceous basins, is known for non-marine and marine sediments and related flora and fauna. The Kallamedu Formation (Late Maastrichtian), the youngest formation of Ariyalur Group, is known for dinosaurian remains. This non-marine formation is characterized by sandstones, siltstones and mudstones and exhibits large variations in lithology. Plant fossil contents in the form of spore/pollen and associated dinoflagellates are known and are important to understand plant evolution during the Maastrichtian times. The present paper reports occurrence of silicified wood taxa from these deposits and establishes existence of conifer growth near the depositional site. Further, presence of growth rings in the studied wood suggests seasonal demarcation. Plant evidences of Kallamedu Formation have been evaluated for palaeoecological implications.

3 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

GEOCHEMICAL APPROACH: A CONTEMPORARY TREND IN PALAEOBOTANY

A. K. Arya, S. Chakraborty & C. M. Nautiyal Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India E-mail: [email protected]

In this age of cross disciplinary studies, the application of geometric, geochemical and other parameters is helping in making palaeobotany a more contemporary science. Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany has been a prime centre for radiocarbon dating in the country and has played an important role in palaeoclimatic reconstruction for the late Quaternary Period. Keeping in step with the international trend, it is planned to combine radiocarbon dating, grain size analysis, petrography, mineral separation using heavy density and isodynamic magnetic method and atomic absorption spectrometry and mineralogical analysis, etc. with the new techniques and approaches. They include elemental analysis using HCNS-O Analyzer and stable isotope data for carbon and nitrogen. The range of material to be analyzed is really large and includes modern and sub-fossil plant material, marine and terrestrial sedimentary deposits (both fluvial and lacusterine), biogenic carbonates, etc. The ultimate aim is to build up finer scale palaeoclimate model for the range covered by radiocarbon dating including atmospheric CO2 variation and comparison of inferences based on marine and terrestrial climatic proxy records. In addition to the existing methods of radio carbon dating, grain-size separation, some new methods of elemental analyses using HCNS-O analyzer and stable isotope data are planned to be added. The progress in the work done, its scope and data acquired will be presented.

4 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

SEQUENCE BIOSTRATIGRAPHY OF KAIKALUR-LINGALA AREA, KRISHNA- GODAVARI BASIN, INDIA

H. S. Aswal, S. N. Uniyal & Kamla Singh Palynology Laboratory, K. D. M. Institute of Petroleum Exploration, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited, Dehradun-248195, India

High-resolution sequence biostratigraphic studies in Kaikalur–Lingala area, Krishna–Godavari Basin has been attempted for age, depositional environment and III order depositional sequences. Four III order depositional sequences have been identified in Kanukollu Sandstone (136–112 Ma), fourteen sequences in Raghavapuram Shale (112–75 Ma) and three sequences in Tirupati Sandstone (75–71 Ma). The dinoflagellate cyst studies suggest that Kanukollu Sandstone was deposited under inner neritic to marginal marine depositional environment. Of the three distinguishable lithounits in Raghavapuram Shale, the lower HG-HR shale unit was deposited under outer to middle neritic environment (bathymetry up to 100 m); the middle limestone unit in lagoonal conditions and the upper HG-NR shale unit was deposited under fluctuating inner to outer neritic depositional conditions (bathymetry 30 to 200 m). Biochronostratigrahic studies suggest presence of two hiatuses, one at the top of Early Albian of 8–10 Ma span and other at Cenomanian top of 3 Ma span. Geohistory analyses establish the presence of Kaza-Kaikalur high before the deposition of Kanukollu Sandstone. Marine incursion in the studied area commenced from W–SW during the deposition of seq. 4a but slowly shifted to W–NW direction to S–SE direction during the deposition of Sequence 9c.

5 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

PROTEROZOIC BIOCOMMUNITIES FROM THE SOUTHEASTERN PART OF CHHATTISGARH BASIN

Rupendra Babu & Manoj Shukla Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India E-mail: [email protected]

The origin of life on the terrestrial planet is still considered a complicated and puzzling problem owing to concepts/ theories given by many philosophers and scientists. The signatures of life are known in the form of chemical and biological fossils from the Precambrian strata. The structural evidences of fossils show that single celled life appeared 3500 Ma ago and the abundant multicelled biological forms ~540 Ma ago. The micro-macrofossils (prokaryotes and eukaryotes) and eukaryotic origin substances have been reported from well-dated Palaeoproterozoic sediments. Their significance in understanding the history of life, evolutionary trends and relationship with environs during the sedimentation has been inferred. About 400 m thick sedimentary sequence of Singhora Group is exposed in southeastern part of Chhattisgarh Basin. This group, comprising mildly deformed and weakly metamorphosed rocks mixed with siliciclastics-carbonate-arenaceous sediments, has been classified into four formations. It overlies the basement rocks belonging to Sambalpur granitoids and Sonakhan volcanics and underlies the Chandarpur Group, ranging in age from 2347 to 1600 Ma. There are varied opinions based on geology and allied disciplines, including meagre radiometric dates, on connecting and placing the stratigraphic position of the Singhora Group with Chandarpur and Raipur groups of the Chhattisgarh Supergroup. The heterogeneous biocommunities, comprising microfossils, mesoscopic biological remains (carbonaceous) and stromatolites, from the different formations of Singhora Group exposed in Mahasamund district, Chhattisgarh are dealt here. Twenty one cellularly preserved taxa of two distinct microbial communities, both prokaryotes and eukaryotes, belonging to cyanobacteria and acritarchs are obtained in thin sections and macerated residues of rocks. Palaeobiological evidences presented here from the Singhora Group are significant. These, along with earlier studies on various other aspects, are useful in calibrating the stratigraphic position and environs during the sedimentation of the Singhora Group. Seven taxa of cyanobacterial remains, comparable to extant Chroococcales and Nostocales, are small-sized, unicellular to multicellular, spheroidal, groups of spheroidal cells and fragmentary aseptate-septate trichomes. Eight taxa of sphaeromorphs, both simple and ornamented, are dominant followed by five taxa of spinate/ciliate forms (acanthomorphs) in association with single oblong- shaped taxa belonging to Sphaeromorphida, Sphaerohystrichomorphida and Scaphomorphida subgroups of acritarchs. The compressions/impressions of carbonaceous mesoscopic forms are up to 5 mm with variable morphology: leafy, cordate-shaped, associated with unusual structures comparable to extant forms of Chlorophyta/Phaeophyta. The commonly recorded organo-sedimentary structures are non-branched, coniform forma representing Thyssagates-type with few sedimentary structures (oncolites) from the different formations of this group.

6 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

The biocommunities recovered from the Singhora Group closely resemble assemblages known from the Palaeoproterozoic/Mesoproterozoic sediments of Australia, China, India and Montana. The quantitative and qualitative analyses of the biocommunities suggest that the Singhora Group is possibly older than the other two groups, indicating Statherian to Calymmian age and heterogeneous environments during sedimentation due to some natural calamities.

7 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

MORPHOLOGICAL VARIATION IN PLANT CRYSTALS AND ITS IMPORTANCE

Usha Bajpai Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India

Crystalline deposits in various forms occur in cells of many plants. Crystals are generally considered to constitute deposition of waste products. Crystals are formed in idioblasts, which are specialized cells different from neighbouring cells in size, contents and functions. Most of the crystals are composed of calcium oxalate, but calcium carbonate crystals also occur. Crystal formation in plants may function as a means of removing the oxalate, which may otherwise accumulate in toxic quantities. The most common types of crystals are raphide, needle-shaped, prism-shaped, elongate crystals and druse (spherical aggregate of crystals). The crystals that are being here are morphologically different from the types of crystals already known. SEM study of fine thin sections of fruits of some species of Verbenaceae and Sapotaceae shows that the mesocarp cells are filled with a large number of oil droplets and crystals of various shapes and ornamentation. The crystals are being reported in fruits of Vitex (Verbenaceae) for the first time. All the three species investigated show variation in crystal structure. In Vitex lecoxylon, the crystals are puff-like with numerous needle-like outgrowths emerging from a central point. The electron density of the needles shows that it is a homogeneous structure. In V. pinnata too, the crystals are puff-like but show heterogeneous structure with the central region being an electron dense area. In V. pubescens, the central area forms a triangular structure. The free ends are flattened, ribbon-shaped and the terminal tips are bifurcated. Sapotaceous fruits contain new forms of crystals in one species of Madhuca, two species of Mimosops and one species of Sapota. In Madhuca indica, the crystals are a bunch of raphides joined at one end, the other end showing dichotomy. In Mimosops bourdillonii, the raphides are dumb-bell shaped, many dumb-bells often joining at the centre and the other end being free. In Mimosops elengi, the crystals are rosette-shaped structures, forming fringe-like structure on the periphery. In Sapota sp. too, the crystals are arranged in rosettes and are lanceolate in surface view. The marked differences in the crystal aggregates at high resolution suggest some differences in genetic constitution of different species. Morphological and chemical nature of crystals present in different species of fruits will quite likely be useful in determining the phyletic position of the species.

8 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

CHANGING SCENARIO IN LOWER GONDWANA PALAEOBOTANY, RELATED ENVIRONMENT AND PALAEOGEOGRAPHY

Manju Banerjee Palaeobotany-Palynology Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Calcutta, 35 Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata-700019, India Residential Address: 58 A.N.C. Choudhury Road, Flat 205-206, Kolkata-700042, India E-mail: [email protected]

In the late thirties, Professor Birbal Sahni attracted attention of the earth scientists on the importance of Palaeobotany to understand the palaeogeography of the globe. Since then, enormous useful palaeobotanical data have been accumulated for reevaluating the environment and geography through the geological ages. The recent records from the late Early Permian sediments of Saharjuri Basin, an easterly coal basin of peninsular India, have revealed changing pattern of floral diversity in the Glossopteris floral assemblage, suggesting reevaluation of environment and palaeogeography of the Lower Gondwana continents in the contemporary geological age. The new flora has dominance of equisetalean fertile and sterile plants including the Euramerian index taxa Annularia spp., Sphenophyllum sp. and representatives of ginkgophytes, some new members of incertae sedis, viz. Sharmastachys, Santhalitheca, Saharjuria, Chitraphyllum, also a metzgerinean thalloid bryophyte-like plant together with Glossopteris, Gangamopteris species, upright Glossopteris and Annularia plants. In situ Glossopteris seedlings Deogharia undoubtedly reveals changing pattern in the Indian Lower Gondwana floristics and depositional pattern. The new biodiversity, noted in the late Early Permian sediments of Saharjuri Basin, the occurrence of diverse ginkgophytes in the Hura Basin, another coal basin of eastern peninsular India also similar plant assemblages known from the Early Permian of western extra-peninsular India undoubtedly reveal a changing pattern in the palaeobotany of Indian Lower Gondwana. The new data obtained from the Indian Lower Gondwana, together with the views of “Nothoafroamerican phytoprovince” and “Mixed flora”, generate the new concept of a changed palaeoenvironment and palaeogeography of Lower Gondwana continents at certain stage of deposition of Early Permian.

9 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

SIGNIFICANT ADDITIONS TO THE CONIFER DIVERSITY DURING EARLY CRETACEOUS IN RAJMAHAL BASIN, JHARKHAND, INDIA

Jayasri Banerji & Amit K. Ghosh Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India

Two new conifer taxa, assigned to the families Cupressaceae and Podocarpaceae, are described in the present paper from the Early Cretaceous intertrappean rocks of Rajmahal Basin, Jharkhand. Silicified specimens are found either attached or associated in the intertrappean rocks of Rajmahal Formation exposed at Hiranduba locality. The sterile and fertile shoots bearing scale-like leaves arranged in opposite and decussate manner. Male cones are borne on the ultimate branchlets of similar sterile shoots. Microsporophylls are scale-like; bearing probably 2-5 abaxially attached pollen sacs at the base of each microsporophyll. Female cones are globose-oblong and borne terminally on branchlets. Each cone is with 4-5 pairs of fertile scales. Fertile-scales and bract-scales are completely fused. Scales are with distinct sub-apical rim/umbo and one ovule. Seed number is probably one. On the basis of above characters these specimens are placed under a new genus, Hirandubia cupressoides, showing close affinity with the extant genus Biota Endlicher of the family Cupressaceae. In addition to this, Elatocladus-type shoots and detached leaves are also recovered. Shoots are with spirally attached oblanceolate to linear-lanceolate leaves having a distinct midrib and lateral transfusion tissue. In association with these shoot fragments, detached leaves, a new type of podocarpaceous dispersed seeds with fleshy bract and ovuliferous scales assigned to Rajmahaliospermum podocarpoides gen. nov. and male cone Podostrobus rajmahalensis (Rao) Rao & Bose with bisaccate pollen grains have also been recorded. These conifer remains perhaps belong to the family Podocarpaceae showing some similarity with the extant genus Podocarpus L’Herit ex Pers. The presence of conifer remains indicates that a mixed conifer and bennettitalean vegetation was probably growing there. Pteridophytes were also flourishing in this basin near water bodies and shady places during early Cretaceous.

10 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

PTERIDOPHYTIC PLANT REMAINS FROM THE KAMTHI BEDS OF MAHARASHTRA, INDIA

M. S. Bansode Department of Botany, Krishna Mahavidyalaya, Rethare Bk.-415108, India

Two pteridophytic fossils, Alethopteris lindleyii (Royle) Schimper and Raniganjia bengalensis (Feistmantel) Rigby, are recorded here from the Kamthi beds of Satnavari, Nagpur District, Maharashtra.

11 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

POLLEN ANALYTICAL INVESTIGATION OF SOME PEAT DEPOSITS IN LOWER BENGAL BASIN, KOLKATA

Nimai Chandra Barui Botany Department, Surendranath College, 24/2 Mahatma Gandhi Road, Kolkata-700009, India E-mail: [email protected]

Fresh subsurface peat samples were collected and palynologicaly investigated from High Land Park, Kolkata where work was done in connection with the building construction. The pollen analytical investigation reflected the existence of large number of core mangrove plants associated with some fresh water elements and ferns. The dominant fossil pollen recorded from the samples, viz. Heritiera, Rhizophora, Avicennia, Bruguiera, Sonneratia, Excoecaria, Phoenix paludosa, Nypa and large number of fern spores, such as Achrostichum, and grass pollen reflect vegetational diversity in the peat band and swampy halophytic vegetation comparable to the present day vegetation of the Sunderbans.

12 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

HIGH RESOLUTION PALYNOSTRATIGRAPHY OF THE CRETACEOUS AND PRE-CRETACEOUS SUBSURFACE SEDIMENTS OF CAUVERY BASIN

M. H. Basavaraju & B. S. Pundeer K. D. M. Institute of Petroleum Exploration, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited, Dehradun-248195, India E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]

High-resolution palynostratigraphy on dinoflagellate cysts enabled to date the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous sediments with the precision up to one to two million years. The Permian sediments have already been established in Tanjore sub-basin. The present study on key wells, viz. Andimadam- A, Orthanadu-A and Thirukadiyur-A, from each sub-basin records Cretaceous microfossils from Valanginian-Early Maastrichtian age with 26 dinoflagellate cyst events. The Triassic and Jurassic palynofossils are not recorded from the studied succession. The Andimadam Formation, consisting of dominantly sandstone with intercalation of shale, initiated deposition during Valanginian and continued up to Albian. Nine dinoflagellate events are marked. The top of Valanginian, Hauterivian, Barremian, Aptian and Albian are identified based on the LADs of Egmontodinium torynum, Muderongia simplex, Cassiculosphaeridia magna, Achomosphaera cf. neptuni and Protoellipsodinium spp. respectively. The sediments are inferred to have deposited under inner to outer neritic condition. The Sattapadi Shale was deposited under outer neritic condition for a span of 4 million years during Cenomanian. Four dinoflagellate cyst events are marked. The top of Cenomanian is marked based on LAD of Epelidosphaeridia spinosa. The Bhuvanagiri Formation is dominantly sandstone with intercalation of shale deposited during Turonian. The Turonian top is marked based on the LAD of Scriniodinium ?campanula. The Kudavasal Shale is dated as Coniacian-Early Campanian age. The Santonian top is marked within this formation based on LAD of Xiphohoridium alatum. The sediments of Nannilam Formation, deposited during Early Campanian, are marked by two events based on LADs of Pervosphaeridium truncigerum and Callaiosphaeridium asymmetricum. The overlying sediments of Portonovo Shale are dated as Late Campanian–Early Maastrichtian. Two dinoflagellate events are marked within the Late Campanian and Early Maastrichtian, respectively. The sedimentary sequence from Sattapadi Shale to Portonovo Shale is interpreted to have deposited under outer neritic condition. The events identified by dinoflagellate cysts are correlated and a regional depositional set-up of sediments based on palaeoenvironments is discussed.

13 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

PROPOSAL OF A NEW CLASSIFICATION OF PALAEOZOIC SPHENOPHYLLALEAN CONES

Jiri Bek1 & Milan Libertín2 1Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Palaeoecology, Institute of Geology, Academy of Science, Rozvojova 269, 16500 Prague 6, Czech Republic E-mail: [email protected] 2National Museum, Václavské námìstí 68, 11579 Prague 1, Czech Republic E-mail: [email protected]

The long history of research of bowmanitalean cones began in 1822 when Brongniart erected the genus Sphenophyllites. Presl (1838) was probably the first who described compression specimen of a sphenophyllalean cone as Rotularia marsileafolia. There are several genera concerning sphenophyllalean plants including those of Sphenophyllum, Rotularia, Volkmania, Bowmanites, Sphenophyllostachys and others. There are two main approaches concerning the division of sphenophyllalean cones. The first was published by Hoskins and Cross (1943), who divided sphenophyllalean cones into three groups (Simplices, Jugati and Conferti) based on the number of sporangia per sporangiophore and their position on a sporangiophore. The second approach was suggested by Remy (1955), who proposed three groups-genera of sphenophyllalean cones: Koinostachys, Aspidiostachys and Anastachys. Boureau et al. (1964) proposed the division of sphenophyllalean cones into three families: Sphenophyllaceae (including genera Sphenophyllostachys, Peltastrobus, Sphenostrobus and Litostrobus), Cheirostrobaceae (only genus Cheirostrobus Scott) and Tristachyaceae (only genus Tristachya Lilpop). In situ spores of sphenophylls were reported mainly by Hoskins and Cross (1943), Remy (1955), T. N. Taylor (1969, 1970), Barthel (1976), W. A. Taylor (1968), Good (1978) and Serret and Brousmiche (1987). Previous division and classification of sphenophylls are based only on their pure morphology, excluding evolutionary trends, cones, which are not 3D preserved, and their spores. Most of the papers dealing with Bowmanitaceae reported only formal leafy or organ taxa. Organ taxa are based on anatomical (coal-balls) or on the morphological data (compression-impression). The fundamentals of taxonomic classification are cones and their spores. It is possible to determine and characterize natural taxa and revoke parataxa proposed for the different modes of preservation. Sterile stems with connected reproductive organs are classified as Bowmanites. The genus Sphenophyllum is defined only for leaves which are not associated with reproductive organs. It is possible to divide Westphalian and Stephanian species of Bowmanites into five groups. The first group is represented by sphenophylls with decumbent and only a few decimetres long stems lack climbing organs. Cones are simple with unbranched sporangiophores. These cones produced miospores of the Punctatisporites obesus-type.

14 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

Sphenophylls of the second group possess decumbent stems often more than one metre long. Leaves on older stems are prominently divided with hook-like tips. Cones possess branched and unbranched sporangiophores and yielded miospores of the Vestispora-type. Liana-like sphenophylls with stems a few metres long belong to the third group. Almost all leaves (excluding the youngest) have hook-like tips. Cones are only slightly compact with branched sporangiophores bearing pyriform sporangia produced monolete miospores of the Laevigatosporites- Latosporites-type. Sphenophylls of the fourth group possess more than one metre long stems, leaves usually with hook-like tips (excluding the youngest). Hooky trichomes cover usually the whole stems. Cones are compact with branched sporangiophores. These cones produced miospores of the Pteroretis-type. The last group of sphenophylls produced miospores of the Dictyotriletes-type. Poorly preserved cones possess unbranched sporangiophores.

15 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

STUDY OF POLLEN DEPOSITION IN RELATION TO MACRO AND MICROPHYTIC DIVERSITY IN AND AROUND DEEPOR BEEL, ASSAM: HUMAN IMPACT AND THREAT TO WETLAND ECOSYSTEM

S. K. Bera1, S. K. Basumatary1 & R. Gogoi2 1Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India 2Botanical Survey of India, Shillong, Meghalaya, India

India is blessed with water resources in its numerous rivers and streams. Also, India by virtue of its geographical sketch and varied terrain and climate supports a rich diversity of inland and coastal wetland habitats. “Wetland” is the collective term for marshes, swamps, bogs, and similar areas. These are estimated to occupy nearly 6.4 per cent of the earth’s land surface. India has a total of 67,429 wetlands, covering 4.1 million hectares, of which 2,175 are natural covering an area of 1.5 million hectares. Wetlands are fragile ecosystems and are susceptible to changes even with a little variation in its composition of biotic and abiotic factors. In recent years, there has been increasing concern over the continuing degradation of wetlands which sustains all life and performs some useful functions in the maintenance of overall balance of nature. ‘Wetlands’ or ‘Beels’ usually called by Assamese are most productive and biologically rich ecosystems on earth and are also among the most endangered in north eastern states. They filter sediments and nutrients from surface water and support all life forms through extensive food webs and biodiversity and therefore they are often termed as ‘Kidneys of the landscape’. Wetlands perform enormous functions such as, recycle nutrients, purify water, attenuate floods, maintain stream flow, recharge ground water and also provide drinking water, fish, fodder, fuel, wildlife habitat, control rate of runoff in urban areas, buffer shorelines against erosion, etc. The interaction of man with wetlands during last few decades has been of concern largely due to the rapid population growth accompanied by intensified industrial, commercial and residential development, which further leads to pollution of wetlands by domestic, industrial sewage and agricultural run-offs, such as fertilizers, insecticides and feedlot wastes. Unsustainable levels of grazing and fishing activities have also resulted in degradation of wetlands. Aquatic biodiversity is dependant on the hydrological regime and geological conditions. The present communication is aimed at providing, in a nutshell, the distribution of macro and microphytes in relation to the pollen dispersal and deposition in and around Deepor beel (Latitudes 26º03'26"-26º09'26" N and Longitudes 90º36'39" - 90º41'25"E) situated 10 km southwest of Guwahati city near Brahmaputra river in Assam. The freshwater beel has an actual perennial water holding area of 10 km2 out of total area of about 40 km2 during flood. The beel is connected with a set of inflow and outflow channels and receives water mainly from Pojora stream flowing from Meghalaya and rivulet Basistha-Bahini from the south. The climate is humid, tropical type with prolonged monsoon season, a relatively cool, dry winter and pre-monsoon with occasional storm. The mixed-type flora combines both aquatic and terrestrial macro/microphytes, the tree species occurring in peripheral area and aquatic herbs are found intermixed with terrestrial herbs, shrubs and

16 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

climbers. Aquatic macrophytes are grouped on the basis of their mode of living such as free floating, free submerged, anchored submerged, anchored floating, emergent amphibious, marshy amphibious and woody species. Several medicinal plant taxa are found growing at places in and around beel areas most of which are endangered. The microphytes are categorized as algal filaments and diatoms. Seasonal variations of species diversity of the macrophytes are recorded considering the phenological data. The influence of seasonal factors for emergence and disappearance on the aquatic and terrestrial herbs and appearance of reproductive phases of tree species are also discussed. The paper also points out the aspect of wetland sediment, including sustained monitoring of sites, methods, frequency of measurement and limitation of data set. The palynological examination of ten surface sediments (silty clay to organic mud: pH alkaline) procured from four sectors (east, west, north and south) in and around the Deepor Beel reflects poor frequency of pollen and spores as compared to the existing vegetation setting around the study area. The relative frequency of mixed pollen assemblage includes rank wise ferns (25 per cent), terrestrial herbs (20 per cent), alien taxa (18 per cent), cryptogams like diatom and other alga (14 per cent), aquatic herbs (10 per cent), terrestrial trees and shrubs (8 per cent) and degraded pollen (5 per cent). Occurrence of fair frequency of fungal remains along with degraded pollen is indicative of biological degradation of microbiota during pollen preservation. Ferns dominate the pollen assemblage over existing vegetation among which aquatic herbs represent only 10 per cent. Occurrence of low profile pollen/spore of microphytes (diatom and other alga) and aquatic herbs indicates that the environment is not conducive for pollen production and deposition in the wetland area. This needs detailed investigation. Alien taxa, especially conifers, are represented as the high altitude element in the assemblage despite other broad leaved elements. Though the percentage frequency of pollen and spores is recorded in low profile, the permutation and combination of the palynodata would in turn help in tracing the vegetational history in wetland area of northeast India. It has been observed that the paddy cultivation, regular extensive fishing, illicit felling of important trees/shrubs in the the peripheral zone, construction of roads, railway lines are the major factors that pose a threat to the pristine wetland environment and to prevent preservation of the existing biodiversity. Destruction of natural vegetation leading to rapid weedification by Eichhornia crassipes, Salvinia natans, Ipomoea cornea, etc. and causing clogging of water ways has threatened the wetland’s native vegetation. Diagnostic indicators of human activity found in sediments include pollen, seeds of cultivated crops, charcoal, oil particles from coal or oil-fired power stations and industrial/domestic sources; high concentration of heavy metals (as Pb from leaded fuels and paints) and derivatives from fertilizers and pesticides. Keeping these in view, further study in more wetland areas in northeastern India with multiproxy data is required. The present paper is a beginning in this direction.

17 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

ANTARCTICA - AN UTOPIA TO PALAEOBIOLOGISTS

S. K. Bera & A. Rajanikanth Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India E-mail: [email protected]

Antarctica - a lone, coldest, windiest, driest, geographically isolated and inhospitable southern landmass has been a challenge to the modern man to explore natures’ bounty. This pristine and isolated landmass offers an exciting opportunity for multidisciplinary researches to understand past biological changes and abiotic resources. Throughout the history of its existence, Antarctica has occupied a key position in the growth and lateral motion of the global plates. During the Palaeozoic and early Mesozoic era, it formed a part of Gondwana supercontinent, before separating from other continents 140-160 million years ago. Land based plant and animal fossils found on an icy continent ensured Antarctica’s importance in contemporary palaeobiological and geological studies. Starting from ancient adventurers, seal hunters and whalers, about 350-400 expeditions were conducted in and around antarctic and sub-Antarctic regions. Currently Antarctica has become global research platform for about 30 nations, which have been actively involved in various research programs under the Antarctic Treaty (1959). Besides, Antarctica is one of the earth’s seven rock plates whose margins are constantly changing. It is one of the best places in the globe to study movement of earth’s crust as well as huge continental ice cap, which stores best climatic archives of the past. Terrestrial sediments range up to the last 0.2 Ma and marine sediments range to millions of years on this frozen continent. Occurrence of ancient continental rocks along with coal beds and sediments bearing plant/animal fossils suggests that Antarctica was not always covered with ice. Only 0.4 per cent of Antarctica is free of permanent snow and ice, which constraints support to diverse plant habitats. New species spreading to Antarctica need to cross the southern ocean but also has to hit one of the snow-line patches in order to survive. Despite physical constraints and hostile climatic factors, Antarctica is a home for 300 species of lichens, 100 species of mosses/liverworts, more than 30 species of macrofungi, 2 species of flowering herbs and many species of algae. During the last twenty years, scientists from Australia, Argentina, Italy, Belgium, New Zealand, UK, US and India have been pursuing interdisciplinary researches. Factors affecting colonization of new species and effect of increased ultraviolet radiations on terrestrial communities are vigorously studied. Knowledge on antarctic fauna particularly species of mites, birds (snow petrels, Albatross, Skua, penguins); fishes (krill) and animal (seals) is progressively encouraging. Existence of vast deposits of precious metals, oil and gas reserves beneath the ice sheet is being explored. Report of meteorites (found in blue ice areas) constitute major source of information about the early history of our solar system. A collective effort by palaeobiologists, geologists, glaciologists, palaeolimnologists, seismologists, palaeoclimatologists, biogeographers and environmentalists help to prepare multi-proxy data to trace the glacial history of Antarctica. India, with a sustained presence in Antarctica, has set up state-of-the-art instrumentation systems for continuous monitoring atmospheric parameters like green house gases, column ozone, water vapor, UV-B radiation, aerosol optical depth and vertical profiles of ozone, etc. Exciting display of aurora in polar winter, snow blizzards, huge icebergs, deep snow laden fresh water lakes in higher Antarctic mountains are some of the other interests of researchers. The present communication highlights how this single piece of landmass has proved

18 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

itself as a continent for science, offering insights into issues possessing both a contemporary and future significance. Evolutionary linkages through geological times should form part of antarctic palaeobiological investigations. There is a dire need to protect and conserve this frozen asset for future.

19 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

POLLEN/VEGETATION RELATIONSHIP IN AND AROUND COPPER AND MANGANESE ORE RICH AREAS OF BALAGHAT DISTRICT, MADHYA PRADESH: MINERAL INDICATOR PLANTS AND STATUS OF POLLEN PRESERVATION

S. K. Bera & D. C. Saini Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India E-mail: [email protected]

The present communication records the first comprehensive report on palynological investigation of mineral rich subsurface soils procured from undisturbed hillock close to copper and manganese mineral exploration areas of Malanjkhand (Lat. 22°00'05"N: Long. 80°42'33"E) and Okwa (Lat. 21°59'N: Long. 80°21'E) mines of Balaghat District, Madhya Pradesh. The ore body and the country rocks in both the mine areas belong to the Archean age. The tropical deciduous forest elements are sparsely distributed in vast hillock in vicinity of mine areas. Preliminary geobotanical and biogeochemical studies considered three plant taxa, i.e. Borreria pusilla (Wall.) DC., Hyptis suaveolens Poit. and Cassia tora Linn., belonging to the families Rubiaceae, Lamiaceae and Fabaceae respectively, as local indicators of copper and manganese in central India. The palynological studies from ore rich soil reflect paucity of pollen and spores (tree/shrub-8%; grass/herb-5%; fern-5%; exotic-10%; degraded-8%; fungal remains-60%; unknown-4%) as compared to the existing vegetation in and around mine areas. Occurrence of higher frequency of fungal spores, hyphae, fruiting body of Microthyriales and ascospores along with degraded pollen/spores is indicative of biodegradation of microbiota in mineralized condition and inconducive for pollen preservation too. However, the occurrence of exotic plant taxa including conifers indicates long distance transport of thermophilic pollen. The elemental analysis of major plant parts and underlying soil has been made to understand the concentration pattern of six important elements like Fe, Mn Zn, Cu, Pb and Cd. The possible reasons for the poor pollen preservation in ore rich areas have also been discussed.

20 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

PALYNOSTRATIGRAPHY OF CENOZOIC SEDIMENTS OF BENGAL BASIN, INDIA WITH REMARKS ON PALAEOENVIRONMENT AND PALAEOGEOGRAPHY

Subir Bera & Manju Banerjee Palaeobotany-Palynology Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Calcutta, 35 Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata-700019, India

Microfloristic study of the samples from 7 bore cores, viz. PGD 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 drilled by Geological Survey of India in the western margin of Bengal Basin, India records 180 species and 132 genera of palynotaxa belonging to diverse groups of plant kingdom. Six palynostratigraphic zones BCPAZ I-VI are established corresponding to six palynostratigraphic environment zones (BbPEZ I- VI). The geological age of the entire sequence ranges from Middle–Upper Eocene to Late Miocene to Pliocene. Marine transgression, initiated during earliest Early Miocene, became more pronounced during Middle Miocene and declined in the Late Miocene-Pliocene. Consistent occurrence of conifer pollen during Early Miocene to Late Miocene-Pliocene indicates a continuous rise of topography in the vicinity of the area of deposition, coinciding with the great Himalayan uplift.

21 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

PROBABLE CORRELATIONS BETWEEN INTERGLACIAL MEGAFLORISTIC ASSOCIATIONS OF THE GONDWANALAND

Mary E. C. Bernardes-de-Oliveira1,2, Rosemarie Rohn3, Fresia Ricardi-Branco4, Sandra E. Mune1 & Rajni Tewari5 1USP-Institute of Geosciences, São Paulo (SP), Brazil E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected] 2UnG-Post Graduation, Research and Specialization Centre, Guarulhos (SP), Brazil 3UNESP-Institute of Geosciences and Exact Sciences, Rio Claro (SP), Brazil E-mail: [email protected] 4UNICAMP-Institute of Geosciences, Campinas (SP), Brazil E-mail: [email protected] 5Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India E-mail: [email protected]

The Gondwana continent was modified continuously in relation to environmental, climatic and latitudinal conditions mainly during the Late Carboniferous-Early Permian, when it was next to the South Pole. These modifications related to the variations of the level of the sea, palaeolatitudinal position, oceanic circulation, besides other factors, had contributed for the installation of the known Permo-Carboniferous glaciation. Immense areas of the Gondwana had been recovered by glaciers having registers of movements of glaciers from the centre-south of Africa in direction to the southeastern region of the South America, from Antarctica towards the southwestern region of Australia and from Antarctica to the region north-northeast of India. The glaciation was characterized, not only for the low temperatures in the polar or sub-polars regions, but also for the droughting of the subtropical regions, having caused great extinctions in floras and accentuated provincialism. There are evidences that some interglacial phases had occurred, when the glaciers had withdrawn and other environments (fluvial, deltaic, lacustrine and marine) established themselves in the gondwanic sedimentary basins. By these times, floristic associations succeeded one to the other, due to vegetational or evolutionary factors. Registers of these interglacial associations are, diachronically or coetaneously present in the gondwanic sediments of Brazil, Argentina, Africa, India and Australia. A new attempt of correlation among the interglacial floristic successions of these gondwanic areas is presented here on the basis of more detailed palaeobotanical studies carried out/accomplished on outcrops of the Itararé Subgroup, in the northeast flank of the Parana Basin (Brazil). Pennsylvanian megafloristic interglacial associations are observed in Brazil (Parana Basin, in the middle-lower portion of the Itararé Subgroup, from base to top, viz. Dwykea-Sublagenicula-Calamospora association, Eusphenopteris- Nothorhacopteris-Botrychiopsis association, Paranocladus-Ginkgophyllum-Brasilodendron association and a recurrent Dwykea association), in Argentina (basins of the NW region: Paganzo, Uspallata-Iglesia, San Rafael and Tepuel-Genoa with the associations NBG-Biozone = Nothorhacopteris, Botrychiopsis, Ginkgophyllum of age Tupense and Biozona Interval of age Trampeaderense) and in Australia (basins of Drummond and Sydney, successive from base to top assemblage zones of Nothorhacopteris, Fedekurtzia and Botrychiopsis). On the other hand, the Lower Cisuralian (Asselian to Sakmarian) interglacial megafloristic associations are observed in Brazil (in northeast of the Parana Basin, middle-

22 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

upper portion of the Itararé Subgroup: Gangamopteris-Rubidgea-Arberia association and in the south of the Parana Basin, upper portion of the Itararé Subgroup: Subzona (Gangamopteris obovata), in Argentina (Basin of Paganzo, Bajo de Véliz, La Colina, Arroyo Totoral and De la Cuesta formations: lower subunit of Gangamopteris zone or lower portion of Lubeckense Stage), in Africa (Basin of the Karroo, Dwyka Formation: Palaeovittaria goedehoopensis Zone of the Glossopteris Superzone), in Australia (basins of Perth and Canning: Gangamopteris Flora) and in India (Talchir Formation: Noeggerathiopsis-Paranocladus indicus zone of the Gangamopteris superzone and Karharbari Formation: Noeggerathiopsis-Buriadi zone of the Gangamopteris superzone).

23 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

BICARPELAROCARPON SINGHPURII, A NEW SPECIES OF DICOT, BILOCULAR FRUIT FROM THE DECCAN INTERTRAPPEAN BEDS OF SINGHPUR, MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA

Mousumi Bhowal1 & M. T. Sheikh2 1Department of Botany, Hislop College, Nagpur, India 2Department of Botany, Institute of Science, Nagpur, India

The Deccan Intertrappean Flora is the oldest in the Indian Palaeocene and is of special interest as all the major groups of the plant kingdom existed in this flora. The petrified fruit under investigation was collected from Singhpur, Madhya Pradesh, situated at a distance of about 3 km from the well- known fossiliferous locality Mohgaonkalan. The fruit is bilocular, sessile, ovoid, measuring 660 mm across its diameter. Of the two locules, one is with a seed whereas the other is empty. There is an air chamber in the septa. This can be interpreted as an adaptive chamber meant for buoyancy. Pericarp is well formed. Epicarp is 240 mm in width, demarcated into outer and inner region. Outer region has lacunar fibrous bundles whereas the inner region has parenchymatous tissue with empty raised cavities. Mesocarp is differentiated into three well-defined zones of crushed tissue and the inner zone of thick-walled sclerenchymatous tissue. Endocarp is single layered. Seed single, bitegmic, seed coat is with ridges and furrows differentiated into testa and tegmen. Fruit is a capsule with loculicidal dehiscence. This fruit could not be assigned to any living family, although family Salvadoraceae has substantial similarities, varying only in the nature of the fruit, which is a very important determining factor. It does not also bear resemblance to any other previously described fossil fruits from this locality, hence named after the bicarpellary and bilocular nature of the fruit.

24 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

A NEW SPECIES OF GLANDULATAENIA PANT FROM THE TRIASSIC OF NIDHPURI, MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA

Nupur Bhowmik & Neelam Department of Botany, University of Allahabad, Allahabad-211002, India

The present paper embodies an account of the morphological features of Glandulataenia pantii, a new species of the leaf genus Glandulataenia Pant. The form genus is preserved in the form of compressions on the siliceous shales of the Triassic of Nidhpuri. Glandulataenia pantii differs from the two earlier described species of Glandulataenia, viz. G. glandulata and G. triassicus in a number of features. Glandulataenia pantii is not only comparatively smaller in size and narrower in width but the concentration of lateral veins per centimetre is also much higher. Another distinctive morphological feature is the midrib which is weak to strong yet narrower than the earlier described species. It is persistent up to apex, sometimes slightly extended beyond giving the appearance of a mucronate tip. The number of vascular traces entering the midrib at the base is 5 to 7. The lateral veins arising from midrib form an angle of 20-30° near the base, 60-65° along the middle and 40-50° near the apex. In between the lateral veins are interstitial glands numbering 4-8 and having a diameter of 150 mm. The glands are stalked and usually circular in outline, and are comprised of 6-8 thick-walled cells. On maceration, the leaf yields a gland-bearing upper cuticle, which is thicker and made up of undulate to sinuous-walled cells. The lower cuticle is thinner and lacks glands and is made up of thin, sinuous- walled cells. The glandular upper cuticle sometimes shows circular gaps in place of glands. Leaves are amphistomatic, frequency of stomata being higher in the lower cuticle. Normally, stomata are found in areas between lateral veins but sometimes they occur on the midrib as well as lateral veins. Stomata are haplocheilic, showing scattered distribution and irregular orientation. But in some leaves they seem to be oriented transversely between veins. Guard cells are sunken, stomatal pore is narrow, guard cell walls show poral and polar thickening in the shape of an “I”. Guard cells are surrounded by 4 to 6 subsidiary cells. Subsidiary cells undifferentiated from epidermal cells and overarching guard cells. Epidermal cells over midrib and lateral veins, of both upper and lower epidermis, are elongated, rectangular, narrow, usually thin and straight walled and lie parallel to veins. Some naturally macerated specimens show structurally preserved tracheids of lateral veins, which show scalariformly thickend secondary walls. Sometimes two-winged pollen grains of various sizes are found sticking to the surface of glands.

25 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

NIDIANTHUS GEN. NOV., A CAYTONANTHUS- LIKE POLLEN ORGAN FROM THE TRIASSIC OF NIDPURI, MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA

Nupur Bhowmik & Shabnam Parveen Department of Botany, University of Allahabad, Allahabad-211002, India

Nidianthus indicus gen. et sp. nov. is an anther-like synangiate pollen organ represented by more than 30 specimens. The compressed synangia were isolated from the Nidpuri beds by bulk maceration of shale in HF. Each synangium is quadrilocular, radially symmetrical, appearing four-winged. The four elongated pollen sacs remain attached at the base and apex and are separated from one another in the middle leaving 4 gaps. In many specimens the apex of pollen sacs were seen to lie apart. The apical region of each pollen sac is pointed and bent inwards towards the centre of synangium. Each pollen sac dehisces by a longitudinal slit along the midline of inner face. Inrolling of slit margins after dehiscence presumably caused separation of pollen sacs along the middle. There appears to be no tissue or a vascular strand between the 4 pollen sacs of a synangium. The surface of pollen sacs shows longitudinal striations. Some of the specimens showed an attached stalk-like structure and in one of the specimens a quadrangular scar is visible at the base of synangium, indicating the point of attachment possibly to an ultimate branchlet of an axis or stalk. The wall of the pollen sacs shows a cuticle having elongated rectangular to hexagonal cells seemingly arranged in longitudinal files. Anticlinal walls thin, obscure straight or slightly waved. Cells become narrow towards the inner margin. Numerous scattered median hair bases are present in cells of pollen sac wall, but near the apical region cutinized unicellular hairs are seen. Some macerated pollen sacs also showed remains of an inner, obscurely cellular, granular membrane possibly representing a tapetal layer. Inside each pollen sac is a single mass of pollen grains. Pollen grains bisaccate, bladders hemispherical or pear- shaped showing irregular reticulum. Surface of corpus appears smooth. Sulcus appears as a narrow slit. Nidianthus gen. nov. closely resembles the anther-like pollen organ Caytonanthus of Caytoniales. Caytoniales first appeared in Late Triassic beds and extended up to Middle Cretaceous and show widespread distribution in the northern hemisphere. The order has so far not been reported from Gondwana countries. Leaves of Caytoniales are named Sagenopteris and each leaflet closely resembles the leaf of the Gondwana leaf genus Glossopteris. The report of Nidianthus is important, being the first report of a Caytonanthus-like pollen organ from Gondwanaland. Similarity between Sagenopteris leaflet and Glossopteris leaf suggests a glossopteridalean ancestry of Caytoniales (Krassilov 1977). Barret (2006) even suggested that at some stage Caytoniales must have had Pangean or Gondwana ancestors. Report of Caytonanthus-like Nidianthus from the Indian Gondwana not only supports these ideas of a gondwanalandic ancestor for Caytoniales but also indicated presence of the Caytoniales in the southern hemisphere as well. Although leaves of Glossopteris (resembling leaflets of Sagenopteris) have been reported from the Triassic shales of Nidpuri (Pant & Pant 1983), which could have prompted us to assign the new genus to Caytonanthus, we refrain from doing so, until there is report of Caytonia-like fruiting bodies and associated plant parts from the Nidpuri shales and presently institute a new genus Nidianthus for the Indian tetralocular, synangiate pollen organ. 26 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

PALYNOFLORA RECORDED FROM MAKARDHOKADA AREA, WARDHA VALLEY COALFIELD, MAHARASHTRA

S. D. Bhute1, S. A. Kalkar1 & O. S. Sarate2 1Department of Botany, Institute of Science, Nagpur, India 2Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India

Makardhokada area is located at a distance of about 7 km west of Umred Mine, and as such represents the western extension of the Umred Coalfield, Nagpur District, Maharashtra. Palynological investigation has been carried out on the sub-surface samples collected from Bore-hole No. MR-157, drilled by the Directorate of Geology and Mining, Government of Maharashtra, near Makardhokada township. The palynoflora recovered is characterized by the dominance of Striatopodocarpites followed by Faunipollenites. Other important palynotaxa are Densipollenites, Lahirites, Lunatisporites, Rhizomaspora, Crescentipollenites, Verticipollenites and Navalesporites, etc. The palynofloral assemblage is closely comparable with the palynofloras recorded from the Raniganj Formation and its time equivalents in the Satpura Basin and Wardha and Godavari Valley coalfields. The palynofloral evidence reflects existence of Late Permian sediments (=Raniganj Formation) in this part of the Wardha Valley.

27 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

MUSOSTROBOCAULON SKUTCHII GEN. ET SP. NOV., A PERMINERALIZED MUSACEOUS INFLORESCENCE AXIS AND SHEATHING LEAF BASE FROM THE DECCAN INTERTRAPPEAN BEDS OF MOHGAONKALAN, INDIA

S. D. Bonde Agharkar Research Institute, G. G. Agarkar Road, Pune-411004, India E-mail: [email protected]

A complete inflorescence axis embedded in a chert matrix has been described from the Deccan Intertrappean beds exposed at Mohgaonkalan, Chhindwada District, Madhya Pradesh. The axis is cylindrical, 2.3 cm in diameter having epidermis, hypodermis, thin cortex and vascular region divisible into peripheral and central regions. The peripheral region is characterized by aerenchymatous ground tissue consisting of large squarish air spaces and dumb-bell shaped vascular bundles, and the small central region with high frequency of vascular bundles embedded in compact parenchymatous ground tissue typical to Scitamineae. The ground parenchyma cells are filled with starch grains. Latex vessels are frequent. On comparison with the structure of inflorescence axis of Musa, Ensete, Heliconia, Strelitzia, Ravenala, Phenacospermum, Canna, Zingiber, Maranta, Costus and other members of Scitamineae, the inflorescence axis of Musostrobocaulon skutchii gen. et sp. nov. is found to be closest to Musa.

28 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

RHIZOPALMOXYLON SINGULARE SP. NOV. - PERMINERALIZED PALM AERIAL MANTLE ROOTS FROM THE DECCAN INTERTRAPPEAN BEDS OF NAWARGAON, WARDHA DISTRICT, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA

S. D. Bonde, S. V. Chate & P. G. Gamre Agharkar Research Institute, G. G. Agarkar Road, Pune-411004, India E-mail: [email protected]

Rhizopalmoxylon singulare sp. nov. is the coralloid abortive mantle palm root reported from the Deccan Intertrappean beds of Nawargaon, Wardha District, Maharashtra, India. They are produced endogeneously in thousands forming a thick mantle generally at the basal or epibasal region around the palm trunk. These are small and large roots making a compact arrangement and possibly grow downwards at various angles but do not reach the soil. They are characterized by epidermis, exodermis, cortex differentiated into narrow outer and inner zones from a broad middle cortex with air chambers, central cylindrical polyarch stele with thick walled parenchymatous pith and medullary bundles. Occurrence of thick walled fibre cells in the cortex and the general anatomy show their resemblance with coralloid mantle roots of Hyphaene dichotoma.

29 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

LONG TREE-RING RECORDS OF TECTONA GRANDIS (TEAK) FROM PENINSULAR INDIA AND THEIR RESPONSE TO CLIMATE

H. P. Borgaonkar, A. B. Sikder & Somaru Rama Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pashan, Pune-411008, India

The tree-ring chronologies, though shorter in palaeoclimatic time-frame, are accurate and their time resolution is to a specific season and year. Over Indian region few tropical species and Himalayan conifers exhibit high dendroclimatic potentiality. The tree-ring analysis of teak from peninsular India revealed the usefulness of the species in reconstructing the past vagaries of monsoon and drought/flood events. In this paper we present the long tree-ring chronologies of teak from peninsular India (504 years) and discuss their dendroclimatic potential to reconstruct past climate. Microscopic observation of tree-ring of Tectona grandis indicates that occurrence of false rings is common over most of the sites and confined to both earlywood and latewood zone. However, events of occurrence in earlywood part are higher than those observed in latewood portion. Pre-monsoon showers followed by prolong dry spell in beginning of growing season of the teak may cause high frequency of earlywood false rings. Moderately high value of mean sensitivity, common variance and signal to noise ratio indicate high dendroclimatic potential of the species. Dendroclimatic models based on correlation and response function analyses show negative association of pre-monsoon temperature and strong positive relationship with pre-monsoon and monsoon rainfall. These relationships are mainly related to availability of moisture which is a function of both temperature and precipitation. Pre-monsoon higher temperature creates severe moisture stress condition during the early phase of growing season of teak. However, small amount of precipitation during pre-monsoon is conducive for tree growth. Rainfall influences cambial activity in teak. Pre-monsoon showers break cambial dormancy, and higher rainfall contributes to a greater amount of wood formation. The dendroclimatic analysis is to be extended further to look into the possible relationship with global parameters such as ENSO, El Nino, etc.

30 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

RADIOCARBON ANALYSIS OF A BANDED CORAL FROM THE EASTERN COAST OF AUSTRALIA: IMPLICATIONS TO OCEAN CIRCULATION

S. Chakraborty1 & R. Bhushan2 1Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India 2Physical Research Laboratory, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad-380009, India

Radiocarbon analysis of annual bands of a Porites coral was carried out for the period of 1969 to 1987. The coral sample was collected from the Stanley Reef (Lat. 19o15'S: Long. 148o07'E), Australia in December 1986 at a water depth of a few metres during the low tide. In 1970 the coral d14C showed a value over 100‰. Thereafter, it gradually increased and reached to the maximum value of 157‰ in 1980. In the subsequent years, coral d14C showed a cyclic variation with a decreasing trend and reached to the value of 91‰ in 1987. Although, the maximum amplitude of d14C of this coral agrees well with other measurements in the neighbouring region but the amplitude is shifted by a few years. Another characteristic is an apparent cyclicity of 4-5 years in d14C. This cyclicity appears to be controlled by the oceanic circulation and carbon dioxide exchange between air and sea.

31 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

LATE QUATERNARY PALAEOCLIMATIC FRAMEWORK OF WESTERN INDIA: AN UPDATE AND SCOPE FOR FURTHER STUDIES

L. S. Chamyal Department of Geology, M. S. University of Baroda, Vadodara-390002, India

Palaeoclimatic studies in India have generated significant amount of data especially during the last 2-3 decades from different parts of the country, viz. Himalaya, Indo-gangetic Plain, Thar Desert, Gujarat Alluvial Plain, East and West coasts of India, Continental Shelves, etc. The climatic events have been categorized in terms of humid to semi-arid to arid with wet spells. Widespread aridity and weakening of SW monsoon during LGM is reported from the aeolian deposits of the Thar desert and its margins and continental shelves. New data has been generated on Holocene climatic variations from the lake records. Fluctuations in climate and sea level are in conformity with global trends. The deformation of the Indian plate, due to its continued northward movement, has been the main forcing mechanism leading to the evolution of the present landscape. Large-scale continental sedimentation occurred during the Lower and Middle Pleistocene in western India and the last glacial cycle has been eventful in terms of climatic fluctuations. The exposed sequences, however, date back to the Late Pleistocene. A marine clay, deposited during the last interglacial high sea (~125 ka), is found at the base of the Late Pleistocene fluvial sediments in Gujarat. Fluvial sediments were deposited on regression of this sea in Gujarat, which are capped by aeolian sediments deposited during last glacial maximum. In the lower Mahi basin, the last major fluvial aggradation is dated 50-30 ka and shows widespread fluvial aggradation under persistent hydrological flow. Available chronology of the fluvial sequences studied in the Sabarmati, lower Mahi and Orsang basins indicate that a regionally extensive fluvial phase operated in the southern margin of Thar Desert during MIS-3. Sediments of finer facies intercalated with palaeosols overlying the alluvial fan sediments in the lower Narmada basin suggest that the bulk of these were deposited between ~60 ka and the onset of LGM corresponding to the fluvial aggradation from ~50 ka to 10 ka in other parts of peninsular India. Fluvial aggradation and pedogenesis between 59-39 ka in the Sabarmati basin have been reported. The upper fluvial sequence in the Sabarmati basin is consistent with the widespread evidence of enhanced fluvial conditions between 54 and 30 ka, when runoff must have been higher. In Luni basin semi-arid to arid climate during Late Quaternary is inferred based on aeolian-alluvial sequences where evidence suggests increase in aridity around 100 ka and followed by two wetter interludes at 70 and 5 ka. Overall, the 50-25 ka period is a period of fluvial aggradation in India as seen from the studies on alluvial sequences. LGM is well represented in western India by weakened SW monsoon, low sea level on the western continental shelf, aeolian deposition in Mainland Gujarat and enhanced dune building activity in the Thar desert. In the Mahi basin, it is suggested that the dune building activity ceased during the period 12-10 ka. Similarly, the age data from Langhnaj and Aakhaj in the Sabarmati basin indicates that the dune deposition continued until around 6-5 ka in these areas. After the Early Holocene (11-8 ka) humid phase, conditions favourable for dune deposition progressively shifted northwards in the Sabarmati basin. This implies that since the early Holocene humid phase in the Mahi basin,

32 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

environmental conditions could not have exceeded the geomorphic threshold for dune deposition. The Mid-Late Holocene has been a period of aggradation in estuarine- tidal to fluvial environments up to 2 ka. The data on Late Pleistocene-Holocene erosional and depositional phases and tectonic activity in Western India have been quite revealing. The palaeoclimatic changes have been in conformity with the observed global trends. A synthesis of available data reveals that the major palaeoclimatic events are synchronous. However, the geological effects of these events have been variable in different areas. So far, no concentrated effort has been made to study the full potential of the region for palaeoclimatic studies. Paucity of absolute dates from most of the Quaternary terrains has been a major handicap in providing a firm chronology of events. High resolution palaeoclimatic data are not available from several parts and a few promising areas still remain unattended. Large database on palaeoclimates from glacial, fluvial, lacustrine and marine records needs to be created along with their chronology for bracketing the various climatic events.

33 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

TWO NEW SPECIES OF BELEMNOPTERIS FEISTMANTEL FROM LOWER GONDWANA OF INDIA

D. K. Chauhan & S. P. Tiwari Department of Botany, University of Allahabad, Allahabad-211002, India E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]

Several compressed leaves of Belemnopteris Feistmantel have been collected from the Raniganj Formation of West Bengal, India. The new species are named as Belemnopteris pantii and Belemnopteris feistmantelii. The leaves are characterized by their sagittate or slightly hastate bases with tricostate venation having hexagonal meshes. The epidermal details of the two new species are preserved in the form of naturally macerated compressions. Leaves of both Belemnopteris pantii and Belemnopteris feistmantelii are hypostomatic. These two new species are different from the previously described species of Belemnopteris in epidermal features and other details. The petioles of Belemnopteris pantii are stout and directed towards a common point of attachment and inserted at an angle to the bedding plane, bearing the leaf laminae. This suggests a geophilous habit of the plant like some ferns (Hamionites). The species is also comparable with certain extant members of family Araceae, e.g. Alocasia, Calocasia and Caladium in having cordate or hastate bases. The apparently thin lamina of leaves and also geophilous habit suggest that Belemnopteris was a constituent of the herbaceous understorey vegetation that had covered the floor of Permian Gondwana forests. The biostratigraphic value of the genus Belemnopteris has also been considered. The presence of Belemnopteris pellucida (Kovacs Endrody 1990) in the Ecca Group, South Africa offers additional evidence towards a correlation of the late Permian Raniganj Formation flora of India with Ecca Group of South Africa.

34 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

POLLEN PROXY RECORDS OF LATE QUATERNARY VEGETATION AND CLIMATE CHANGE IN SOUTHEASTERN MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA

M. S. Chauhan Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India E-mail: [email protected]

Pollen analytical investigation of a 2 m deep sediment core from Padauna Swamp (Amarkantak) in Shahdol District has provided some very valuable information concerning the vegetation dynamics and contemporary climatic events in the region since early Holocene. The pollen evidence portrays that between 8.6 ka and 7.5 ka BP, open tree-savannahs, mainly constituted of grasses followed by sedges, Artemisia, Chenopodiaceae/Amaranthaceae and Asteraceae together with sprinkle of trees, viz. Schleichera, Aegel marmelos, Sterculia, etc. and thickets of Fabaceae, Acanthaceae and Oleaceae. These simultaneously grew in the region under a cool and dry climatic regime with an ameliorating trend. Between 7.5 ka and 6.2 ka BP, the tree-savannahs were succeeded by open mixed tropical deciduous forests with the immigration of a few more trees such as Madhuca indica, Holoptelea, Emblica officinalis, Mitragyna and members of Anacardiaceae as well as shrubby elements such as Strobilanthes and Grewia, though sporadically, in response to onset of a warm and moist climate. The presence of pollen of ruderal plant, Artemisia in appreciable frequency along with Chenopodiaceae/ Amaranthaceae and Urticaceae infers some-sort of human activities in the region. Subsequently, between 6.2 ka and 2.7 ka BP, the mixed deciduous forests became more dense and diversified in composition with the improvement in Madhuca indica, Emblica officinalis, Schleichera, Holoptelea and incursion of Shorea robusta (Sal), around 5 ka BP, along with Lagerstroemia, Terminalia, Diospyros, Butea, members of Sapotaceae, etc. into the forest floristic. This is also well substantiated by a simultaneous decline in grasses and other herbaceous elements. Such a change in the overall vegetation mosaic envisages that a warm and more-moist climate prevailed in the region, probably attributed to the invigoration of southwest monsoon. The modern Sal dominated tropical deciduous forests got established around 2.7 ka BP. as clearly manifested by the consistent occurrence of pollen of Shorea robusta with increased frequency. This significant alteration in the vegetation scenario might have occurred in response to the propagation and proliferation of Shorea robusta (Sal), in particular. Noticeably, much expansion of members of Asteraceae and better representation of other ruderal plant taxa such as, Artemisia, Chenopodiaceae/Amaranthaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Urticaceae, etc. with the commencement of this phase suggest an enhanced pastoral and other anthropogenic activities in the region during the last two and half millennium.

35 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

NEW LYCOPSID CONES FROM THE UPPER DEVONIAN CLEVELAND SHALE OF OHIO, USA

Shya Chitaley Cleveland Museum of Natural History, 1, Wade Oval, University Circle, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, U.S.A.

Two new compressions of lycopsid heterosporous cones are being presented in this paper under a new genus Arnoldea with two new species, A. clevelandensis and A. gaulii. Lepidostrobus gallowayi Arnold (1935), described from the Pocono Sandstone of Pennsylvania (now known as Upper Devonian), is emended and is transferred to the new genus Arnoldea as a new combination. All the three cones look very much alike but differ in their details, especially in their spore structure. Like the slender sub- arborescent Clevelandodendron ohioensis Chitaley & Pigg (1996), the presence of Polysporia-like spores in the two cones from the Cleveland Shale, support the root origin of the Isoetalean line of lycopsids from the Upper Devonian Cleveland Shale of Ohio, to the present day lycopsid plant Isoetes.

36 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

OCCURRENCE OF PROTOTAXOXYLON CHITALEYII, A NEW SPECIES OF CONIFEROUS WOOD FROM DHANOLI, CHANDRAPUR DISTRICT, MAHARASHTRA

Padmaja M. Chougule Srimati Kasturbai Walchand College, Woodhouse Road, Rajnemi Campus, Sangli-416416, India

Several petrified coniferous wood specimens, assigned to a new species Prototaxoxylom chitaleyii, have been collected from the Kamthi Formation (Upper Permian) exposed at Dhanoli, Chandrapur District, Maharashtra. The woods are characterized by 1-2 seriate xylem rays, spiral thickening and uniseriate circular pitting associated with single and double spiral thickenings, uniseriate hexagonal pits and 2-6 oval cross-field pits.

37 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

CLIMATE CHANGE FROM TREE RINGS IN INDIA: PROGRESS, PROSPECTS AND NEEDS

Edward R. Cook Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, U.S.A.

Changes in climate due to greenhouse warming are expected to increasingly impact the Indian subcontinent in the future. While these changes may be unavoidable, it is still important to understand the range of natural climate variability in India over the past several centuries to millennia, especially that related to the Southwest Monsoon. For this purpose one of the best sources of palaeoclimatic information comes from the exactly dated annual growth rings of long-lived trees. Climate reconstructions from such records can be used to determine how past climate variability has impacted societies and human activities. They may also provide important new insights into the processes that determine monsoon variability, information that could lead to the development of better predictive models of the Southwest Monsoon. Over the past several years, tremendous progress has been made in the development of long tree- ring chronologies for dendroclimatic studies in the Indian Himalayas, the Karakoram of northern Pakistan, and the Himalayan countries of Nepal and Bhutan. Climate reconstructions from tree rings in these regions, based mostly on old-growth conifer chronologies extending back many centuries to even a millennium or more, have revealed some provocative changes in past and present temperature. Precipitation reconstructions have been more difficult to obtain, perhaps as much because of the difficulty of obtaining representative precipitation records in high mountain environments. Yet with all this success, most of the Indian subcontinent still remains a “blank slate” with respect to the development of long tree-ring chronologies and associated reconstructions of past climate. Some notable progress has been made in dendroclimatic studies of Teak (Tectona grandis) in central and southern India. However, relatively few long chronologies (>200-250 years) of this species have been developed to date, and the climate information in the ring widths of teak is not always easy to interpret. This being said, there may be opportunities to sample teak stumps in previously logged areas to extend living chronologies back hundreds of additional years into the past. This should be made a high priority in India, in the same way that it has been successfully applied in Thailand. Also, the distribution of teak is probably not sufficient to generate a network of tree-ring chronologies necessary to reconstruct spatial patterns of climate over India for the past several centuries. For this reason, considerable effort should be made to test the dendroclimatic potential of other tree species, especially the drought-deciduous species that can be found growing in rock outcrop upland environments that have escaped serious deforestation. Doing so will require considerable effort, but the identification of important new long-lived tree species suitable for dendroclimatic research in India may lead to significant breakthroughs in the reconstruction of past climate over the subcontinent.

38 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

THE FOSSIL RECORD OF ANGIOSPERM EVOLUTION

David Dilcher Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, Fl. 32611-7800, U.S.A.

Molecular systematics has provided a revised and sound framework for understanding the relationships of extant angiosperms. This record is most often presented as a cladogram with distinct branching points that are frequently placed in a historical context. The age of the various branch points has been determined both by the use of data derived from extant angiosperms and applied to a molecular clock as well as data derived from the record of fossil angiosperms. These fossils are placed in extant lineages at the class or ordinal levels and used as first known occurrences to date the branching points of the cladograms. Molecular systematics provides important and useful data concerning the basal angiosperms and a construct of the relationships of extant flowering plants. These data can be used in concert with the fossil data. The ancestry of the angiosperms and the ancestral group that gave rise to the angiosperms can only be understood from the fossil record. Therefore the fossil record of early angiosperms, their characters and details of their morphology are important data that needs to be included with the molecular data. Archaefructus is an example of one such ancestral angiosperm that provides key characters and opens key questions related to angiosperm ancestry. When we can establish a fossil record that tracks the reproductive morphology of ancestral angiosperms we can then assess early character evolution in time for the earliest historical record of flowers. By this means we can document floral evolution and assess the presence of extinct and extant angiosperm lineages in time. We can now recognize some extinct families in the fossil record and should be able to present a more complete and robust record and angiosperm evolution than can be seen from examination of only extant angiosperms.

39 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

MIGRATION OF TREELINE SPECIES IN RESPONSE TO RECENT CLIMATE CHANGE IN WESTERN HIMALAYA, INDIA

Bhasha Dubey & Ram R. Yadav Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India E-mail: [email protected]

The instrumental climate records from the western Himalayan region show an increase in mean atmospheric temperature during the past one century. Such change in climatic conditions may perturb the equilibrium state of vegetation at high ecotonal zones as the vegetation at these zones is at the threshold of their climatic limit. The impact of warming on vegetation system of the higher Himalayas in India, even being crucial to humanity, has not been documented so far. Visualizing its significance, we have studied the species recruitment pattern at the treeline sites in western Himalaya. To work out the altitudinal migration, regeneration pattern of various treeline species, viz. Pinus wallichiana, Abies spectabilis, Juniperus macropoda and Betula utilis was studied along the altitudinal transects. Migration rate of Pinus wallichiana has been found to vary between 11-160 m asl/10 yrs at various sites. The variation in migration rate has been found to be site-specific. Abies spectabilis, Juniperus macropoda and Betula utilis also migrated upwards. However, the rate of migration of these species is lower than that of pine. Though the exact causal factor for this is yet to be identified, the most potent factor in case of Himalayan pine is warming of October, November and December. With the projected climate scenario under the background influence of greenhouse gases the migration rate is likely to increase several folds. This will lead to significant change in the biodiversity of fragile Himalayan ecosystem. The results obtained through such studies would provide valuable insight to adopt suitable measures to conserve valuable bioresources, which might be threatened under the projected warming scenarios.

40 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

CYCLICITY OF CLIMATE, SEA LEVEL AND VEGETATION SINCE 20 ka FROM BAY OF BENGAL, INDIA

Anjum Farooqui1, M. Venkateswara Rao2, D. Rajashekhar Reddy2 & Supriyo Chakraborty1 1Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India 2Delta Studies Institute, Sivajipalem, Vishakhapatnam, India

Marginal sea variability shows virtually immediate responses to climatic perturbations, in an amplified fashion. The small volume and restricted communication of the Bay of Bengal with the open ocean, moreso, represents excellent monitoring sites for even the smallest climate perturbations. Sediments eroded from land and transported into the oceans by rivers settle down through a stratified water column bearing signatures of climate induced ecology and vegetation on land both aquatic and terrestrial. To establish the exact temporal relationship between records from land and those from the sea a 2.1 m gravity core (SK-187-GC-30) off Bengal was studied through palynology and sedimentology. Its correlation with the Radiocarbon dates and net rate of sedimentation provides a millennial to sub-millennial change in the vegetation type and marine palynomorphs in succession since Cal BP -20280 yrs. Altogether six highstand system tracts (HST) and six lowstand system tracts (LST) were recorded each revealing an average duration of 1500 to 2000 years but of varied magnitude. Results indicate very high rate of net sedimentation, the dominance of winter monsoon, and two extreme dry and arid climatic events until 15 ka. However, four periods of weak monsoon coupled with dry and arid climate correspond to LST since 20 ka. This offers insight into the contemporary land-climate and sea level conditions revealing well-defined cyclicity in events perhaps controlled by changes in ocean circulation or generally accepted variations in the Earth’s orbit around the Sun.

41 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

EOCENE CORALLINE ALGAE FROM PRANG LIMESTONE (SHELLA FORMATION) OF JAINTIA HILLS, MEGHALAYA, INDIA

Amit K. Ghosh1 & Ajanta Sarma2 1Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India 2Department of Geology, G.C. College, Silchar-788004, India E-mail: [email protected]

Palaeogene carbonates of shallow marine sequence belonging to the Shella Formation of Jaintia Group are well developed in the southern part of Jaintia Hills. These outcrops are exposed along the southern fringe of Shillong plateau. The Prang Limestone is the uppermost lithounit of the Shella Formation within the Jaintia Group. It is overlain by sand-shale alternation of Kopili Formation and underlain by the Nurpuh Sandstone. It is endowed with a rich assemblage of larger foraminifera, viz. Assilina, Nummulites, Discocyclina, etc. Based on the foraminiferal assemblage, a Middle Eocene to early Late Eocene age can be assigned to the Prang Limestone and it can be correlated with the Kirthars of Sind-Beluchistan and Babian Stage of Kutch. Thin section analyses of the Prang Limestones revealed abundance of well preserved coralline red algae. The genera identified in the present study belong to families Sporolithaceae and Corallinaceae. The corallinacean forms are represented by subfamilies Mastophoroideae, Melobesioideae, Lithophylloideae and Corallinoideae. Preponderance of mastophoroid forms is the characteristic feature of this algal assemblage. They occur mostly in encrusting condition with orbitoid foraminifera. The foraminiferal assemblage denotes that these limestones were deposited under shallow, warm, self environment of normal salinity. On this basis it can be inferred that these coralline algal forms also thrived in the same palaeoenvironmental condition.

42 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

PHYTOLITHS AS INDICATORS OF GRASSLAND DYNAMICS DURING THE LATE HOLOCENE IN GANGETIC WEST BENGAL

Ruby Ghosh1, Subir Bera1, Manju Banerjee1 & Supriyo Chakraborty2 1Palaeobotany-Palynology Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Calcutta, 35 Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata-700019, India 2Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India

Phytoliths, the opaline silica bodies of plant origin are not only used to trace the spreading pattern of culturally important food plants but also used to identify grassland community types both in recent time as well as in archaeological periods. Recent application of phytolith assemblages recovered from two archaeological sites, viz. Pakhanna (Bankura District; 3720 to 2000 years BP) and Moghalmari (Midnapur District; 900/1000 B.C. to 7th Century AD) of Gangetic West Bengal is attempted to sketch a scenario of minor change in climatic condition with reference to human activity during archaeological past. The study calibrates the relationship between phytolith indices, i.e. Humidity –aridity index [Iph (%)] and Climatic index (Ic) and vegetation structure with emphasis on climatic oscillations between ca. 3500 years BP to 7th Century AD in two archaeological sites. A change from initial warm humid climate during Chalcolithic Period to slightly drier condition during Early Historic to Historic Period in Gangetic West Bengal is suggested.

43 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

MICROSCOPIC ANALYSIS OF CA. 2500 YEARS OLD CATTLE DUNG FROM YANG-HAI TOMB AT XINJIANG PROVINCE, CHINA WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO CATTLE DIET, PALAEOVEGETATION AND PALAEOCLIMATE

Ruby Ghosh1, Sudha Gupta1, Subir Bera1, Hong-en Jiang2, Xiao Li3 & Cheng-Sen Li2 1Palaeobotany-Palynology Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Calcutta, 35 Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata-700019, India 2Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China 3Bureau of Cultural Relics of Turpan Prefecture, Turpan 838000, Xinjiang, China

Diverse palynomorphs and phytoliths recovered from coprolite of cattle (sheep/goat) collected from Yang-Hai Tombs at Xinjiang Province, China have been used to know the diet pattern of ancient cattle and to reconstruct the palaeovegetation and palaeoclimate of the region ca. 2500 years BP. A rich assemblage of palynomorphs, viz. Pterospermum sp., Crataeva sp., Platea sp., Gynostemma sp., Porana sp., Eriophyton sp., Cuscuta sp., etc. along with phytolith taxa cf. Phragmites australis, cf. Kengylia hirsuta, cf. Diarrhena manshurica, etc. of various poaceous taxa suggests that a rich, dry temperate vegetation prevailed in the area during the said period. Grassland dynamics of the area has been explored using phytolith indices, i.e. humidity–aridity index [Iph (%)] and climatic index (Ic).

44 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

PALAEOECOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF TERTIARY BRYOZOAN ASSEMBLAGES FROM KACHCHH, GUJARAT

Asit K. Guha1 & K. Gopikrishna2 1Department of Geology and Geophysics, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur-721302, India Present Address: 14/56 Uday Sankar Sarani, Kolkata-700033, India E-mail: [email protected] 214/56 Uday Sankar Sarani, Kolkata 700033-India Present Address: CGWB, Ankit Puram, 2 G. M. S. Road, Dehradun-248001, India

The bryozoa has been a useful palaeoecological indicator of sediments from the Ordovician to Holocene. The Tertiary sequences (Middle Eocene-Early Miocene) of western Kachchh, Gujarat have yielded rich and diversified bryozoan assemblages comprising 99 taxa belonging to 62 genera in 38 families (Guha & Gopikrishna 2005). The earlier database on the Tertiary bryozoa from Kachchh (Tewari et al. 1960; Tewari & Srivastava 1967) stands updated with a nine-time increase in species number. The study of species diversity (s) and frequency of colonies (z) under different zoarial growth types reveals that the encrusting unilaminar (ENul) growth-forms are most taxonomically diverse in species abundance (s = 55) representing 48% of total colonies. Encrusting multilaminar (ENml) growth-form, though represented by only three species, comprises 16% of total colonies. The erect-foliaceous (ERfo) growth-forms with 12 species represent an important constituent of this assemblage having 13% of the total colonies. Erect-rigid (ER) vinculariform growth-type, only next to encrusters (EN) in species abundance (s = 17), accounts for 12% of the total colonies. The free-living (FL) and erect-fenestrate (ERfe) growth habits, shared by 4 species each, consist of 5% and 3% of the total colonies, respectively. Erect flexible (EF) and erect robust (ERro) growth-forms account for a meagre 2% and 1% of the total colonies with two and one species respectively. The presence of rich and varied benthic faunal assemblages in these sequences of western Kachchh indicates that these developed in warm, tropical, shallow water condition. An assessment of relative abundance of various zoarial growth-forms, in terms of their density and diversity in different formations and the correlation of growth habits with habitats revealed that the general depth of the basin had two episodes of deepening (Rupelian-Chattian and Burdigalian) between periods of shallowing (Lutetian and Aquitanian). Beginning from the Lutetian stage when the bryozoans shared restricted niches the ambience gradually opened up with great variation and reached its peak during the Khari Nadi Formation (Aquitanian) when all the growth forms flourished.

45 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF ANGIOSPERMS IN THE HIMALAYAN FLORA

J. S. Guleria Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India E-mail: [email protected]

Angiosperms or flowering plants are the dominant plants of the world today. However, in evolutionary terms they are relatively recent, with fossil evidence indicating their first appearance at around 140 Ma ago in the early Cretaceous, followed by rapid diversification and radiation in the mid-Cretaceous. By early Tertiary (~65 Ma), angiosperms had attained ecological dominance in a majority of habitats over a wide geographical area. The Himalaya grew south of the Pamir and covers a distance of about 2500 km from northwest to southeast terminating at both the ends with syntaxial bends. The width of Himalayan belt varies from 250 to 300 km. The collision of Indian and Asian plates is perhaps the most profound tectonic event to have occurred in the early Tertiary and led to the uplift of Himalaya and consequent climatic changes. The collision and closure of Tethys resulted in the formation of continental sedimentary basins and divided the Himalayan arc into three distinct zones. From south to north, these zones are: (i) Sub-Himalaya/Outer Himalaya/Foothills/Foredeep or Siwaliks; (ii) Lesser Himalaya or Southern Himalaya; and (iii) Higher Himalaya or Tethyan Himalaya. The paper presents history and development of the angiosperms in different zones of Himalaya. For the sake of convenience, the floras of the three zones have been divided age-wise, as pre-Siwalik and Siwalik or equivalent floras. Since its birth, the Himalaya has played a significant role in the immigration of plants from the adjoining regions, i.e. east, west and north, thereby enriching the Indian flora.

46 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

EVOLUTION OF COCOSEAE

Bee F. Gunn Missouri Botanical Garden, P. O. Box 299, St. Louis, Missouri, 63166-0299, U.S.A.

The tribe Cocoseae (Arecaceae; 18:206 spp) is mainly neotropical with three Old World taxa and the pan-tropical Cocos nucifera. The molecular phylogeny of Cocoseae based on the nuclear prk gene sequences and fossil evidence may be used to understand evolution of this tribe. Dates of divergence of the clades were estimated using four fossils as calibration. The synapomorphy of the Cocoseae is the presence of three or more “eyes” or germination pores on the hard endocarp. The fruits possess a layer of fibrous mesocarp often highly developed for flotation, especially in the coconut. These characters usually fossilize well and are useful for distinguishing the group amongst palms. Cocoseae is monophyletic and is composed of the Elaeidinae, Bactridinae and Attaleinae clades. The (Elaeidinae+Bactridinae) and Attaleinae form sister clades and are estimated to have diverged around 50-60 Ma ago. Elaeis, basal in the former clade, diverged from its ancestors 42 Ma ago. It has characteristic trichotomosulcate pollen, also found in Acrocomia and Gastrococos. Elaeis pollen is known from the Miocene (11-22.5 Ma) from West Africa. Within the Attaleinae, the Malagasy clade is basal and diverged from the ancestral lineage about 40-51 Ma ago. The South African Jubaeopsis caffra diverged from the rest of the Attaleinae 36-38 Ma ago. Cocos nucifera is embedded within the neotropical clade and its closest relative is Parajubaea, with cladogenesis occuring around 22-27 Ma ago. In the maximum likelihood tree, Cocos nucifera, is on a long branch and, together with the assemblage of fossils, suggests that the coconut is probably the only extant member of an extinct lineage. Cocos zeylandica (15-12 Ma) from New Zealand is similar to the extant Parajubaea torallyi. Several fossil endocarps (12-45 Ma) have been found in New Zealand, with distinctive Cocoseae pores. Fossil Cocos fruit (latest Pliocene) from Queensland (Australia), resembles the extant Cocos nucifera. Kaul (1951) recorded Cocos sahnii (Early Tertiary) from Western Rajasthan, India; Patil and Upadhye (1984) described Cocos intertrappeansis (Tertiary, Mohgaonkalan) and Tripathi (1999) illustrated Cocos nucifera - like fossil (Tertiary, Amarkantak). Butia, an entirely South American genus is sister to Jubaea chilensis, a monotypic palm from Chile. The endocarps of Jubaea chilensis are comparable to the now extinct Paschalococos disperta (820 years BP) from Easter Island described by Dransfield et al. (1984). Cocoseae originated in South America possibly in the Palaeogene era and diversified during the Eocene. They radiated and spread to Africa, Madagascar and India by evolving means of flotation. The adaptation of the thick fibrous mesocarp and the enclosed vessel to protect the developing embryo enabled, putative ancestors of the coconut, the most well known member of this tribe to cross ocean-barriers and successfully establish on strand environments.

47 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

PALYNOSTRATIGRAPHY AND PALAEOENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS OF THE AREA AROUND NARDIPUR DEPRESSION, AHMEDABAD BLOCK, NORTH CAMBAY BASIN

Anand Gupta & Raju Grover K. D. M. Institute of Petroleum Exploration, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited, 9 Kaulagarh Road, Dehradun-248195, India E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]

Palynofloras from the Olpad, Cambay Shale and Kalol formations have been studied for their significance in palynostratigraphy and in deducing depositional environment. Three palynofloral assemblage zones, viz. Meliapollis quadrangularis-Dandotiaspora dilata Zone-I, Pellicieroipollis langenheimii- Striacolporites striatus Zone-II and Proxapertites cursus-Polycolpites flavatus Zone-III corresponding to Palaeocene, Early Eocene and Middle Eocene, respectively, were identified. Moderately rich fossiliferous nature of Olpad Formation and its lithological associations are suggestive of brackish water condition of deposition. The occurrence of low salinity mangrove and marine microplankton complexes is indicative of supra-littoral to littoral condition for the Cambay Shale Formation. The Kalol and lower part of Tarapur Formation show dominance of mangrove and phytoplankton complexes, suggestive of littoral to shallow marine condition of deposition. The sediments of Sertha and Wavel members of Kalol Formation were laid down in tidal conditions under delta front environment, while prodelta condition prevailed during the deposition of Kansari Shale.

48 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

INDIAN MONSOON VARIABILITY OVER THE PAST 188 ka AS OBSERVED IN THE MARINE RECORD

Anil K. Gupta, S. De & M. Das Department of Geology & Geophysics, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur-721302, India E-mail: [email protected]

The Indian monsoon, also called as South Asian monsoon, is an important component of the climate system affecting large parts of the most densely-populated regions of Asia. The monsoon winds show seasonal reversals: in winter the winds are northeasterly whereas in summer the winds are southwesterly. For people of India, monsoon means summer or southwest (SW) monsoon because during summer monsoon season the winds are wet and stronger as compared to winter monsoon season. The monsoon is the lifeline to the people of India as region’s water needs for agriculture and domestic use are largely dependent on the monsoon rainfall. Thus, monsoon constitutes a critical resource for the region’s largely agrarian economies. A good monsoon means a booming India whereas a failed or an over intensified monsoon will bring misery to the large component of the region’s population. Considerable efforts have been made towards high resolution (high density sampling of the marine cores) reconstruction of proxy records of monsoon that have helped in the understanding of monsoon evolution, its variability over various time scales, and forcing factors that drive the monsoon on orbital and sub-orbital time scales. However, there are still unresolved questions as to the timing of the advent of monsoon and driving mechanisms of the monsoon variability. There are different propositions that suggest the beginning of the Asian monsoon some time between 30 and 7.5 Ma. While the marine records indicate a major shift in the monsoon system between 9 and 8 Ma, the continental records suggest a range from 22 to 7.5 Ma during which time the monsoon may have evolved. The model studies, on the other hand, put the origin further back in time at ~30 Ma. Thus, to resolve this issue, a coordinated effort is required to analyze high resolution marine cores from high sedimentation areas as well as continental records of continuity. Numerous recent studies have shown that monsoon has varied at orbital (eccentricity, obliquity and precession) and sub-orbital (centennial to millennial) time scales. The centennial to millennial scale changes in the monsoon have been linked to both the internal (linked to North Atlantic Oscillation, ENSO, etc.) and external (solar) forcings, but mechanistic links of monsoon variability to these forcing factors require further studies. The testing hypotheses regarding the monsoon variability seen in the palaeo-records is an important thrust area that is fast growing.

49 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

MULTIPROXY ANALYSIS OF QUATERNARY DEPOSITS FROM KUMAUN HIMALAYA – AN ASSESSMENT OF PAST ORGANIC MATTER AND CLIMATE

Asha Gupta Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India

Himalaya is an intercontinental and highly unstable, mountain chain. Continued northward movement of Indian Plate is causing not only its upheaval but also considerable deformations at the region. The changes in elevation (due to upheaval/deformation) and climate effect existing biota. Quaternary deposits from Indian Himalaya have been analyzed since early part of nineteenth century and past climate is deciphered on the basis of reconstructed vegetation based on palynological investigations. There are other proxies capable to provide clue for past vegetation and corresponding climate. Bio-remains above 200 µm in size are covered under palaeontological analysis. Likewise, total organic matter and total carbonate contents are analyzed through geochemical analysis. The multiproxy analysis is useful to provide more authenticity, particularly in disturbed areas. Present contribution deals with the study of lacustrine sediments from temperate zone of Kumaun (which is neotectonically highly disturbed, as it lies between main boundary thrust and main central thrust). Knowledge on this region since Early Holocene is mostly based on radiocarbon dating. Geochemical analysis of the studied sequence showed inverse relation in total organic matter and total carbonate contents throughout. In the beginning of sequence (around 8700±170 years BP), the area had sufficient amount of total organic matter and low total carbonate contents, indicating humid climate. Subsequently, near onset of Middle Holocene organic matter contents decline with corresponding enhancement of carbonate contents, reflecting change in climate to dry conditions. During Late Holocene organic matter again became high with decline of carbonate contents – indicating restoration of humid conditions. Palynological investigation showed poor yield. Recovered assemblage is qualitatively rich, having pollen of a large number of arboreals and nonarboreals with variety of spores and aquatics. Among arboreals Quercus and Pinus were chief elements and among nonarboreals Poaceae and Cyperaceae. On the basis of variation in significant elements, the sequence has been divided into zones. In the beginning (Zone-I), area had predominance of nonarboreals with pine in or around the region and rare broad-leaved arboreals. Spores were recovered from the upper part of the zone but aquatic vegetation was absent. Whole scenario reflects presence of open type of vegetation at the region with cold and less humid climate. Thereafter (Zone-II), broad-leaved arboreals, particularly Quercus, increased with corresponding decline of nonarboreals. Spore producing taxa flourished and aquatics appeared. Such change indicates establishment of mixed oak forest with warm and humid climate. These forests persisted for sometime and declined later. During Middle Holocene (Zone-III), broad- leaved arboreals showed decline with rise in Pinus and nonarboreals with decline of spores – reflecting deterioration of climate. Aquatics, however, increased possibly due to local factors. At onset of Late Holocene (Zone-IV), broad-leaved arboreals restored with fall in nonarboreals except culture taxa.

50 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

Spores as well as aquatics increased – indicating amelioration of climatic conditions. Palaeontological analysis was extended to molluscan shells which are qualitatively poor but quantitatively rich and show specific distribution. The early part of sequence, i.e. Early Holocene – Middle Holocene, had no shell but near onset of Late Holocene a large number of molluscan shells encountered – indicating change in climate to suitable humid conditions which allowed molluscs to flourish at the region. Since they feed on plant material, presence of sufficient vegetation at the region is reflected. Different proxies deal with different types of parameters which may differ in climate susceptibility, but climatic inferences drawn from them broadly corroborate each other.

51 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

CHANGING PATTERN OF VEGETATION AND ENVIRONMENT DURING CENOZOIC IN GANGA BASIN, INDIA THROUGH HIGH RESOLUTION PALYNOSTRATIGRAPHY

Sudha Gupta, Subir Bera & Manju Banerjee Palaeobotany-Palynology Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Calcutta, 35 Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata-700019, India

High resolution palynostratigraphic investigation has been done on samples from four key exploratory wells lying in two depressions of Ganga Basin, i.e. Sarda and Gandak, separated by the Faizabad Basement Ridge. Puranpur and Matera wells are from Sarda Depression in the west whereas Gandak and Raxaul wells are from Gandak Depression in the east. A rich and diverse palynoflora belonging to 311 species under 199 genera of different groups of plant kingdom are recorded from the entire Cenozoic sequences of Ganga Basin. A total of ten palynostratigraphic zones (GBTPNZ I-X) are identified from the Tertiary succession of the basin. The Palaeocene – Eocene age is suggested for zones GBTPNZ I-VI on the basis of marker taxa, viz. Dandotiaspora plicata, Proxapertites cursus, P. microreticulatus, Matanomadhiasulcites sp., Palmaepollenites eocenicus, Dicolpopollis sp., Lakiapollis ovatus, Minutitricolporites minutus, Striacolporites striatus, Psilodiporites hammenii, P. erdtmanii including the first record of 6 genera of Normapolles pollen in the assemblage. The occurrence of Normapolles pollen in the present assemblage is significant in understanding palaeophytogeography as the group was so far known to be the marker of Late Cretaceous-Early Tertiary Euramerian ‘Normapolles’ phytoprovince. Change in the depositional pattern is marked by the disappearance of the Palaeocene-Eocene marker taxa and abundance of Oligocene marker taxa, viz. Striatriletes spp., Meyeripolis naharkotensis in Puranpur and Matera wells. This observation indicates the presence of Oligocene sediments (GBTPNZ VII) only in Sarda Depression but not in the two wells studied so far in Gandak Depression. The first appearance of high altitude plant pollen, viz. Pinuspollenites, Abietineaepollenites, is encountered in an assemblage of tropical moist environment with significant abundance of shallow marine microfossils, viz. Leiosphaeridia, dinocysts, Veryhachium, occasional records of Gloeocapsomorpha and frequent occurrence of resin droplets. This palynoassemblage is dated as Early Miocene (GBTPNZ VIII). GBTPNZ IX is different from the earlier zone in the poor representation of palynomorphs and moderate occurrence of poaceous pollen together with fungal spores in high frequency suggesting abrupt change in the climatic condition. Recurrence of temperate climate indicator taxa in GBTPNZ X indicates change in the depositional environment from dry to temperate-moist condition. The palynostratigraphic zones GBTPNZ IX and GBTPNZ X are suggestive of a change in the depositional condition that may be correlated with the Mid Miocene– Pliocene Himalayan orogenic event and also global shift to cool climate in Late Miocene. Comparison of the palynological record with extant taxa suggests tropical, humid, near-shore condition to tropical, humid, freshwater environment. Mild effect of marine incursions in the Palaeocene-Eocene and comparatively more intense effects in the Early Miocene have been noted. Influence of high altitude, temperate climate-loving plants since Early Miocene can be linked with the orogenic uplift in the source area and global climatic changes.

52 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

RESPONSES OF MANGROVE ECOSYSTEM TO HOLOCENE ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE, SUNDARBAN MANGROVE FOREST, GANGA-BRAHMAPUTRA DELTA, INDIA

Arghya K. Hait1 & Hermann Behling2 1Department of Botany, City College, Kolkata-700009, India 2Georg-August University of Göttingen, Department of Palynology and Climate Dynamics, 37073 Göttingen, Germany E-mail: [email protected]

The Indian Sundarban mangrove forests located at the mouth of the Ganga-Brahmaputra delta, is the most diverse mangrove ecosystem in the world. Two sediment cores were taken from the Chamta and Sudhyanyakhali Islands to study the Holocene dynamics of this unique ecosystem. The pollen analytical study reveals the existence of the mangrove forest at least since the last 6000 Cal year BP. The development and dynamics of mangrove at the two sites within the same broad environmental framework is different and was influenced by local ecological and geomorphological processes that are also continuing till the recent times. Modern pollen rain study reveals high rate of pollen production of Phoenix palludosa and a correlation between modern day Avicennia dominated forest and modern pollen rain data.

53 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

RICCIA THONGJAOROKENSIS – A NEW SPECIES OF RICCIA FROM IMPHAL VALLEY

R. K. Hemanta Singh1 & R. K. Kishor2 1Department of Geology, Imphal College, Imphal-795001, India 2Institute of Bioresources & Sustainable Development, Takyelpat, Imphal-795001, India

A gametophytic thallus, resembling Riccia L. (Bryophyta), from the Barail Sandstone (Early Oligocene) of the Thongjaorok Stream section (Lat. 24°27'41"N & Long. 93°44'49"E) is reported as a new species Riccia thongjaorokensis. Description of the new species is based on six well preserved impression specimens. This fossil species is named after locality of its occurrence. Palaeoecology of the area is also dealt with.

54 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

AGE OF THE PURPORTED JURASSIC OR CRETACEOUS KUAR BET BEDS (KACHCHH, GUJARAT, INDIA): A REINVESTIGATION OF MEGA AND MICROFOSSIL ASSEMBLAGES

B. N. Jana1 & Jason Hilton2 1Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India 2School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, U.K. E-mail: [email protected]

Within the Mesozoic sedimentary sequences of India, the age of the Kuar Bet beds of Kachchh, Gujarat has been hotly contested with faunal evidence suggesting a Bathonian (Middle Jurassic) age based on ammonite and foraminifera occurrences, and palaeobotanical evidence suggesting an Early Cretaceous age based on the occurrence of the index fossil Onychiopsis sp. cf. psilotoides (Stokes and Webb) Ward. Previously reported palynological evidence has documented numerous angiosperm pollen taxa, lending further support to an Early Cretaceous age. The present paper reinvestigates the mega and microfloral assemblages from the Kuar Bet beds, considering specimens to represent a new species of the genus Coniopteris, i.e. C. kuarbetensis sp. nov., and discounts previous identifications of Onychiopsis. The macrofloral assemblage also contains ovulate scales of Araucarites Presl and well preserved but rooting organs. Palynological preparations revealed a diverse assemblage that includes ?Sphagnumsporites, Cyathidites, Dictyophyllidites, Todisporites, Concavissimisporites, Klukisporites, Densoisporites, Callialasporites (2 spp.), Alisporites spp., ?Podocarpidites, Araucariacites and Ginkgocycadophytes, all of which are long-ranging Mesozoic forms that occur in both Jurassic and Cretaceous sediments. Angiosperm pollen have not been observed and those of previous accounts are explained as laboratory contaminations. Refuting the presence of Onychiopsis and angiosperm pollen from the Kuar Bet beds discounts an Early Cretaceous age. The plant fossils, palynofloral assemblage and faunal data, by and large, agree with a Middle Jurassic age. However, precise position within the Middle Jurassic remains uncertain with palaeobotanical and palynological results being most comparable with a late Middle Jurassic (Bathonian or Callovian) age while fauna evidence supports an early Middle Jurassic (Bajocian) age.

55 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

HISTORY OF NEOTROPICAL PLANT DIVERSIFICATION

C. Jaramillo Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Unit 0948, APO AA 34002, U.S.A. E-mail: [email protected]

The Neotropics holds the greatest plant diversity in the world. Many mechanisms have been proposed to explain it, but little is known about diversification patterns of Neotropical floras through geological time. We have been studying tropical floras from diverse sites across the geological time, since the rise of the angiosperms at the beginning of the Cretaceous. During most of the Cretaceous, the diversity and abundance of angiosperms in neotropical latitudes was lower than or similar to those in temperate latitudes. Tropical floras were dominated by ferns and Gnetales, while angiosperms were a minor element. The latitudinal plant diversity gradient that we see today many have been reversed. A major floristic change is observed at the Cretaceous-Palaeocene boundary. There is a taxon extinction of 70% associated with the boundary, and a significant change in the rate of extinction. The Palaeocene floras are fully dominated by angiosperms, while the Maastrichtian is co-dominated by angiosperms, ferns, and gymnosperms. Floristic changes are far more intense than in temperate regions. During the Cenozoic, the record shows a low diversity Palaeocene flora, a significantly more diverse early to middle Eocene flora exceeding Quaternary levels, with a decline at the end of the Eocene and early Oligocene. The fluctuations in diversity correlate with global mean annual temperature. However, climate change is unlikely by itself to drive the observed diversity pattern, because tropical terrestrial temperature does not seem to change significantly over time. Rather, the correspondence results from the control climate exerts on the area available for tropical plants to grow. Larger tropical areas during global warmings support more species locally in the tropical latitudes, while global cooling reduces tropical areas, driving extinction in the tropics. Modern high neotropical diversity seems to be a recent phenomena, possibly linked to the rising of the Andes mountains 4-6 Ma ago.

56 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

WHAT DO THE PETRIFIED WOODS OF THE SRIPERUMBUDUR FORMATION TELL US?

D. E. P. Jeyasingh 16(14) Maruthi Nagar, 2nd Main Road, Rajakilpakkam, Chennai-600073, India

Of the several Upper Gondwana exposures along the East Coast of the Indian Peninsula, the Sriperumbudur Formation near Chennai has yielded many well-preserved petrified woods. Anatomical studies carried out on these woods during the past decade at Tambaram, Madras, tell us about: (i) the diversity of the palaeoflora in this region during Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous times; (ii) the variation in the wood structure that existed among the various palaeotaxa; (iii) the climatic conditions prevailing during the time in this region; and (iv) some evolutionary trends seen among these woods.

57 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

PERMIAN AND TRIASSIC PALYNOFLORAS IN CHINTALPUDI SUB-BASIN, ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA

Neerja Jha Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India

Chintalpudi sub-basin, one of the four sub-basins of Godavari Graben, represents southeasterly continuation of the Kothagudem sub-basin. To its southeast lies coastal Gondwana tract of Krishna- Godavari sub-basin. The stratigraphy of Chintalpudi sub-basin is not well understood. In order to date and correlate the sediments and to understand the stratigraphy, palynological investigations were undertaken in different parts of the sub-basin. The studies carried out on bore cores, cutting across the various Gondwana formations, in Ayyanapalli-Gompana, Chintalpudi and Sattupalli areas on western margin, Amavaram and Bottapagudem on eastern margin and Gattugudem in central part of the sub-basin have provided evidence for the presence of Talchir, Karharbari, Barakar, Raniganj and Panchet palynofloras. This indicates presence of an almost complete Lower Gondwana sequence, similar to the main Godavari Basin, in Chintalpudi sub-basin. These findings contradict Raja Rao (1982), that Chintalpudi sub-basin was formed during Kamthi sedimentation. The present study indicates that Chintalpudi sub-basin is coeval with the Lower Gondwana of Kothagudem and Godavari sub-basins. It was not possible to differentiate the sequence on the basis of lithological attributes as the coal bearing horizon in Chintalpudi sub-basin occurs as a single stratigraphic unit due to the reduction of thickness of Barren Measures. On the basis of palynological studies in this sub-basin, existence of two coal bearing horizons, one belonging to Early Permian (Barakar Formation) and the other to Late Permian (Raniganj Formation) have been identified. Barren Measures palynoflora has not been recorded so far in any of the areas in this sub-basin. Triassic palynoassemblages, one characterized by high percentage of Lunatisporites and the other by high percentage of cingulate- cavate, trilete spores have been recorded in Sattupalli area of this sub-basin. Palynological studies tagged with lithological attributes support our earlier view that Kamthi Formation is Triassic (Scythian- Annesian) and overlies coal bearing Raniganj Formation with a gradational contact.

58 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

EARLY CRETACEOUS PALYNOFLORAS AND PALAEOCLIMATE OF THE SOUTHWESTERN TARIM BASIN, CHINA

Dexin Jiang1, Yongdong Wang2 & Jiang Wei3 1Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, China 2Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China E-mail: [email protected] 3Norfolk State University, Norfork VA 23504, U.S.A.

Seventy-nine species of fossil spores and pollen grains referred to 52 genera have been investigated from the Lower Cretaceous Kizilsu Group in the Wuqia region of the southwestern Tarim Basin, Xinjiang, N.W. China. The palynoflora of the Lower Kizilsu Group is represented by the predominance of gymnosperm pollen, followed by the subdominance of pteridophytic spores and the occurrence of limited primitive angiosperm pollen. Coniferous pollen are dominant and are represented by Classopollis (43-52%, including C. classoides, C. annulatus, C. xinjiangensis, C. minor), Alisporites bilateralis, Abietineaepollenites microalatus, Pinuspollenites insignis, Cedripites cretaceous, C. canadensis, Parvisaccites radiatus, and Podocarpidites canadensis. Important pteridophytic spore taxa are Lygodiumsporites subsimplex, Lygodioisporites gemmatus, Concavissimisporites verrucosus, Cyathidites australis, C. minor, C. punctatus, Cibotiumspora juncta, Osmundacidites wellmanii, Biretisporites potoniaei and Gleicheniidites senonicus. The composition of palynological assemblage indicates a Neocomian age for the Lower Kizilsu Group. The palynoflora of the Upper Kizilsu Group is characterized by the dominance of coniferous pollen, with a subdominance of pteridophytic spores and the occurrence of primitive angiosperm pollen. This palynoflora shows distinct increase in abundance of pteridophytic spores accompanied by a great reduction of Classopollis pollen. Most of the pollen and spores occurring in the Lower Kizilsu Group palynoflora are also present. The most common spores include Cicatricosisporites australiensis, C. pseudotripartitus, C. subrotundus, Concavissimisporites penolaensis, Trilobosporites marylandensis, T. trioreticulosus, Klukisporites scaberis, Converrucosisporites platyverrucosus, C. minimus, Lycopodiumsporites eminulus, L. nodosus, Lycopodiacidites asperatus, Camarozonosporites ambigens, Densoisporites microrugulatus and Microreticulatisporites uniformis. This palynoflora suggests an Aptian to Albian age for the Upper Kizilsu Group. Analysis of the palynoflora indicates that the early Cretaceous palaeoclimate in the southwestern Tarim Basin belongs to the arid or semi-arid type of the subtropic zone. Further study shows that the climate in this region is represented by the temperate-warm and arid in the Neocomian, whereas the climate is warm-hot and semi-arid during Aptian-Albian.

59 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

VEGETATION AND ENVIRONMENT DURING MIDDLE-LATE PALAEOLITHIC AGE OF LINGNAN AREA, CHINA

Jin Jianhua & Liao Wenbo School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China

The fossil plants and sporos-pollens during the Middle-Late Palaeolithic Age (i.e. late Middle Pleistocene to Late Pleistocene) of Lingnan area of China are mainly distributed in Pearl River mouth basin, Pearl River Delta, Shenzhen, Yunfu, Zhanjiang and Leizhou Peninsula. These are categorized under Calymperaceae, Angiopteridaceae, Acrostichaceae, Osmundaceae, Lygodiaceae, Gleicheniaceae, Cyatheaceae, Pteridiaceae, Dennstaedtiaceae, Dicksoniaceae, Pteridaceae, Polypodiaceae, Cycadaceae, Pinaceae, Podocarpaceae, Juglandaceae, Betulaceae, Fagaceae, Ulmaceae, Moraceae, Proteaceae, Polygonaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Magnoliaceae, Lauraceae, Ranunculaceae, Saururaceae, Piperaceae, Theaceae, Cruciferae, Hamamelidaceae, Leguminosae, Euphorbiaceae, Rutaceae, Anacardiaceae, Samydaceae, Aquifoliaceae, Elaeocarpaceae, Tiliaceae, Myrtaceae, Sonneratiaceae, Rhizophoraceae, Nyssaceae, Araliaceae, Ericaceae, Myrsinaceae, Sapotaceae, Symplocaceae, Oleaceae, Rubiaceae, Gesneriaceae, Compositae, Potamogetonaceae, Cyperaceae, Gramineae, Palmae and Pandanaceae. Fossil plants and sporos-pollens characters indicate that the vegetation types of Lingnan area during the late Middle Pleistocene to Late Pleistocene were mainly the subtropical evergreen broad- leaved forest, evergreen and deciduous broad-leaved mixed forest, and alpine coniferous forest. During the early Late Pleistocene marine transgression occurred and the climate got hotter. Mangrove communities developed in the littoral area. Reviewing from the various vegetation types and climate of Lingnan area in Middle-Late Palaeolithic Age, the total characters gradually approached the modern status in this area. Foundation item: The Foundation of Sun Yat-sen University Advanced Research Centre (No. 05A1) and the Project of Science and Technology of Guangdong Province.

60 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

TECTONIC GEOMORPHOLOGY OF BILASPUR DISTRICT, HIMACHAL PRADESH

Moulishree Joshi Department of Geology, Kumaun University, Nainital, India

Neotectonic studies were carried out in Bilaspur District, southwestern Himachal Pradesh with the help of morphometry. Morphometric analysis combines neotectonism and morphological analysis to study the landscape evolution in tectonically active areas (Wells et al. 1988; Meritts & Vincent 1989; Rhea 1993; Krzyszkowski & Stachura 1998; Lagarde et al. 2000). Morphometric parameters such as drainage, sinuosity character, Gradient Index (GI), Pseudo Hypsometric Integral (PSI) and longitudinal profile are useful in assessing the nature and extent of tectonic activity in a region (Raj et al. 2003). These parameters of Satluj river and its tributary Ali Khad were studied with the help of Survey of India toposheet. On the basis of the morphometric data, Ghagas along Ali Khad (stream) and Kandror to Sog along the Satluj river were selected for the neotectonic studies. In these area the river Satluj shows high TSI (Topographic Sinuosity Index). High TSI values point towards a dominant role of topography in controlling sinuosity of a river in response to the tectonic uplift in that area (Raj et al. 2003). This is based on the premise that the topography in the drainage basins is formed by rejuvenation. Longitudinal profile of the Satluj river shows prominent breaks near Kandror, Sog and Ghagas. Also, the Gradient Index is very high at these places which points towards the differential uplift in the region. Morphometric analysis was strengthened by field investigations and a large number of geomorphic features pointing towards neotectonic activity in the region were identified such as unpaired terraces, triangular fault facets, deep gorges and fault breccia in the area. Bilaspur region lies close to the MBT. Movements along MBT and the related thrusts have resulted in the development of NNW-SSE trending Ali Khad fault. Movement along this fault has resulted in the formation of these geomorphic features. Normal faulting has been observed in the Quaternary sequence which also reflects recent movements along the fault.

61 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

DISCOVERY OF ASIAN MILLETS AND AFRICAN CULTIGENS FROM NORTH INDIAN ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES

M. D. Kajale, L. S. Rao, V. Tripathy, M. Chauley, V. Shobha, R. Bandhokar & D. Pujari Archaeology Department, Deccan College, Postgraduate & Research Institute (Deemed University), Pune-411006, India E-mail: [email protected]

The paper embodies initial results of intensive and systematic application of specially modified floatation techniques concurrently with excavations to three important archaeological sites in north India. This has yielded a vast array of plant remains, of which only the millets are being reported here. The field techniques have enabled recovery of not only macro-plant remains but also lesser millets of Asian and African origin. On the basis of stratigraphic and ceramic traditions, the first site belongs to Early to Mature Harappan periods, the second represents sequence from Chalcolithic, Iron age, Maurya, Shung-Kushan, Gupta and Medieval levels and the 3rd site spans from Rajput, Early Medieval and Late Historical periods. The total millet assemblage includes wild and cultivated Asian millets and African cultigens, this is helping us to understand relative preservational dominance/visible importance of various millets with reference to each other as well as other food remains from ca. 3000 B.C. to 1500 AD in the first instance and appreciation of floristic and Asian-African bilaterial cultural contacts with wider perspectives. The paper attempts to elaborate along these lines.

62 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

REPORT OF A BILOCULAR CAPSULAR FRUIT FROM THE DECCAN INTERTRAPPEAN BEDS OF PATAN, CHANDRAPUR DISTRICT, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA

D. K. Kapgate1, R. R. Dahegaokar2 & M. T. Sheikh3 1Botany Department, J. M. Patel College, Bhandara, India 2Botany Department, Ambedkar College, Chandrapur, India 3Botany Department, Institute of Science, Nagpur, India

The petrified bilocular fruit was collected from a new locality, Patan of Jiwati taluka in Chandrapur District, Maharashtra. Patan is nearly 80 km away from Chandrapur and 220 km from Nagpur. The outcrop shows well preserved black and brown fossiliferous cherts similar to cherts of well known Mohgaonkalan locality of Madhya Pradesh. It is noticed that these exposures are not continuous for a long stretch, but they are present in patches. After itching with hydrofluoric acid, the fruit was exposed transversely on black silicified chert. Serial peel sections were prepared from its part and counterpart and studied in details. It measures 2.88 mm in length and 1.82 mm in breadth. It is oblongate, bilocular capsule with two chambers with dome-shaped receptacle. Pericarp is 300-350 µm thick, differentiated into 130-150 µm thick epicarp; 110-120 µm thick mesocarp and 60-70 µm thick endocarp. Both locules consist of single large seed occupying complete lumen. Each seed is anatropous, oblong, 1.32 mm in length and 0.65 mm in breadth. Bitegmic seed coat is 44-50 µm thick. Tissue of cotyledons and embryo are not well preserved. The fruit shows septicidal dehiscence. The fossil fruit is compared with bilocular fruits of families Oleaceae, Salvadoraceae, Apocynaceae, Asclepiadaceae, Gentianaceae and reported fossil bilocular fruits, but it differs from all of them and hence it is named as “Patanocarpon deccanensis” gen. et sp. nov. The generic name is after the locality Patan and specific name is after Deccan Intertraps.

63 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

PALAEOENVIRONMENT WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO FOSSIL MYCOFLORA OF THE DECCAN INTERTRAPPEAN BEDS OF INDIA

V. D. Kapgate1, D. K. Kapgate1 & M. T. Sheikh2 1Botany Department, J. M. Patel College, Bhandara, India 2Botany Department, Institute of Science, Nagpur, India

The Deccan Intertrappean Beds of India occur as sedimentary beds, between the successive lava flows. These are rich in both fossil flora and fauna. They are exposed between latitudes 20º30' and 22º50'N and longitudes 79º15' and 79º20'E in the eastern section of Chhindwara District, Madhya Pradesh. Palaeoclimate is evaluated on the basis of presence of characteristic plants, the composition of communities and by morphoanatomical characters, which may change their climatic affinity with time. The possibility of reconstructing past environment depends on the accurate identification of diverse fossil assemblage. In order to infer the climate of Deccan traps, a critical analysis of the flora has been made. The fossil florule of Mohgaonkalan is quite abundant in variety of its components in comparison to other Deccan Intertrappean florules. The assemblage is primarily angiospermous with Dicotyledons and Palm woods. Other plant groups, viz. Algae, Fungi, Bryophyta, Pteridophyta and Conifers are also represented. The chert from which the microflora is worked out has been collected from Mohgaonkalan, Chhindwara District, Madhya Pradesh. The chert was etched by Hydrofluoric acid and serial peel sections were taken out by cellulose acetate peel method. Three types of fungal spores are described in this paper. These belong to Erysyphyles, Ustaliginales and Erysyphyles. Spores of Erysyphyles are with conidiophores scattered in rotten plant tissue. The mature conidia are hyaline, one-celled spores deep brown to pale in colour, ovoid to rounded 6 to 8 µm in diameter, epispore thick and smooth, 0.1 to 0.2 µm thick. The spore balls of Ustiliginales were observed in disintegrated plant tissue. The spores are rounded, dark brown, variable in size, 10 to 25 µm in diameter, epispore 0.55 to 0.66 µm thick with spiny ornamentation. Another spore of Ustilaginales, parasite on petrified dicot fruit and leaf, is with oestiole, mycelium and mycelial cavity. Spore sac heterosporous, 22 to 45 µm in diameter containing unicellular and bicellular spores in groups. Unicellular spores are deep brown to pale-yellow in colour, 10 to 25 µm in diameter. Bicelled spores are deep brown with rich granular contents, 18 to 30 µm in diameter, epispore 0.22 µm thick and smooth. Various workers have reported such type of fungal forms from Mohgaonkalan since 1942. Deposition of such type of saprophytic fungi suggests marshy habitat of Mohgaonkalan vegetation during the deposition of intertrappean beds, unquestionably suitable for luxuriant growth of microflora. Deccan intertrappean exposures have revealed a number of fungi (Jain 1974). The present fungal forms indicate a warm and humid climate for the Deccan Intertrappean period in which these cherts were formed.

64 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

GEOMORPHOLOGICAL AND PALYNOLOGICAL STUDIES OF THE FLUVIO-GLACIAL SEDIMENTS AROUND CHAURABARI GLACIER (KEDARNATH): A CASE STUDY FOR PALAEOCLIMATIC IMPLICATIONS DURING THE HOLOCENE

Ratan Kar & R. S. Singh Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India E-mail: [email protected]

The recession of the Himalayan glaciers during the present times is a subject of great concern and debate. Climate is the prime factor controlling the advance and retreat of glaciers and is also responsible for the periodic vegetation shifts in a particular region. The past climatic changes are well manifested by the different glacial geomorphic features. The Chaurabari Glacier, situated in the revered place of Kedarnath and source of Mandakini River, was taken up as a case study to decipher the climatic fluctuations during the Holocene. The Mandakini River originates from the Chaurabari Glacier and the adjoining unnamed companion glacier, which previously formed one glacier system. The snout of the river lies at an elevation of 3840 m. The Chaurabari Glacier is about seven km long and half a km wide and is bounded by the left and right lateral moraines. The ablation zone of the glacier is completely covered by supra-glacial moraines. The presence of multiple serrac faces, recessional moraines and dead ice-mounts in front of the snout, are evidence of the retreating nature of the glacier. The outwash plain of the glacier, where the holy township of Kedarnath is situated, is around one km long and half a km wide. It is bounded by lateral moraines on both the sides forming kame-terraces, which preserve the signatures of past episodes of glacier retreat. A number of trenches were dug on the outwash plain for collection of sediment samples for palynological analysis and C14 dating. Studies initiated in one of the trial trenches (KC) reveal that the lower part of the trench is characterized by the dominance of arboreal taxa, mainly represented by Cedrus, Abies, Pinus, Betula, Alnus and Rhododendron. Ferns and Potamogeton are also found to be quite abundant. The middle part of the trench shows a decrease in the frequency of arboreal taxa and a corresponding increase in the non-arboreals. The dominant elements include members of Brassicaceae, Rosaceae, Ranunculaceae, Tubuliflorae, Liguliflorae, Saxifragaceae and Poaceae. Though winged pollen are still encountered, their percentage shows a marked decline. Ferns and Potamogeton also show a decreasing trend compared to the lower part of the profile. The upper part of the trench is characterized by a change in the overall vegetational pattern. The arboreal taxa show a gradual increase upwards in the sequence, with maximum values at the top. Selected samples are being processed for C14 dating for chronological correlation of the past climatic oscillations vis-à-vis the vegetational changes during the Holocene.

65 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

PALAEOPHYTOGEOGRAPHIC RECONSTRUCTIONS OF THE CARBONIFEROUS AND PERMIAN

Sun Keqin China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China E-mail: [email protected]

This study focuses on the Cathaysian flora and its comparison with global contemporaneous floras and deals with some aspects of palaeophytogeographic reconstructions of the Carboniferous and Permian. There were four phytogeographic provinces in the world during the Late Carboniferous and Permian, namely, the Cathaysian, Euramerican, Angaran and Gondwanan. This work focuses on the Cathaysian flora and its comparison with global contemporaneous floras and also deals with some aspects of palaeophytogeographic reconstructions of the Carboniferous and Permian. Attempts have been made to provide some palaeobotanical proofs for the palaeoclimatic and palaeocontinental reconstructions. The Cathaysian and Euramerican floral provinces were both located more or less in the equatorial regions in tropical climates during Carboniferous and Permian time. Therefore, the two floras have many identical and similar elements, which show that they shared some common ancestors, occupying the same latitudes and similar ecological environments. The morphological similarity of some plant elements of the Cathaysian and Euramerican floras in the Northern Hemisphere (“Cathaysian” terranes) might be the cause of plant evolution in similar climatic conditions, palaeogeographical environments and identical latitudes during Carboniferous and Permian. The elements of the Cathaysia flora are quite different from those of the Angara and Gondwana floras. In addition, the Cathaysia flora indicates a tropical climate, whereas the Angara flora represents a temperate climate. The climate of Gondwana flora was essentially cool to warm temperate during the Late Carboniferous and Permian. Differences of the Cathaysia flora and its contemporaneous floras reflect variations of floristic composition, palaeoclimate, palaeogeographic position and terrestrial ecosystem in time and space. The distribution of the Cathaysian elements in the Southern Hemisphere land masses (“Cimmerian” terranes) (Tibet, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, New Guinea and Iraq) was mainly controlled by tectonic movements and oceanic climates during Permian time. The morphological similarity of plant elements of the Cathaysia flora and the Euramerica floras in the Northern Hemisphere and the distribution of the Cathaysian elements in some land masses in the Southern Hemisphere (Tibet, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, New Guinea and Iraq) might be due to similar climatic conditions, continental positions, tectonic movements, oceanic circulation, palaeogeographical environments during the Carboniferous and Permian.

66 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

ANGIOSPERMIC PLANT REMAINS FROM THE MIDDLE AND UPPER SIWALIK SEDIMENTS OF ARUNACHAL PRADESH AND THEIR PALAEOCLIMATIC SIGNIFICANCE

Mahasin Ali Khan1, Subir Bera1 & Bimalendu De2 1Palaeobotany-Palynology Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Calcutta, 35 Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata-700019, India 2Tentulberia, Garia, Kolkata-700084

Angiospermic plant megafossils, comprising leaf and fruit remains recovered from the Middle Siwalik sediments (Subansiri Formation) of East Kameng and West Kameng districts and Upper Siwalik sediments (Kimin Formation) of Papumpare District, Arunachal Pradesh, have been described. The Middle Siwalik (Subansiri Formation) assemblage consists of Chrysophyllum cainito (Sapotaceae), Calophyllum inophyllum (Clusiaceae), Aglaia nepalensis (Meliaceae), Zizyphus jujuba (Rhamnaceae), Shorea assamica (Dipterocarpaceae), Terminalia tomentosa (Combretaceae) and Dalbergia sisso (Fabaceae). On the other hand, the Upper Siwalik (Kimin Formation) assemblage consists of taxa resembling Mangifera indica (Anacardiaceae), Pterygota alata (Sterculiaceae), Dysoxylum procerum (Meliaceae), Macaranga sp. (Euphorbiaceae), Litsea monopetalla (Euphorbiaceae), Calophyllum inophyllum (Clusiaceae), Pongamia pinnata (Fabaceae), Bambusa sp. (Bambusaceae) and Cyperus flabelliformis (Cyperaceae). An analysis of the floral assemblage, with respect to the distribution pattern of modern equivalent taxa, reveals the prevalence of warm and humid climate and tropical evergreen – semi-evergreen - moist deciduous forests in the region during the deposition of Middle Siwalik (Pliocene) and Upper Siwalik sediments (Pliocene-Lower Pleistocene) in contrast to the modern tropical semi evergreen forests.

67 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

PALYNOLOGICAL RECORDS OF MANGROVE DEGRADATION AROUND CHILKA LAKE, ORISSA, INDIA

Asha Khandelwal Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India E-mail: [email protected]

The pear-shaped Chilka Lake, lying along the eastern coast of Orissa State, is one of the ecologically and socio-economically important wetlands of India. This open lagoon is identified as a nationally important and internationally renowned ecosystem, which harbours a range of marine, brackish and freshwater biodiversity. Mangroves are tropical trees and shrubs that grow in intertidal areas. They play a significant role in coastal stabilization and promoting land accretion, fixation of mud banks, dissipation of winds, tidal and wave energy. Traditionally, people have used mangroves for the benefit of the local community, but increasing population has led to an increasing non-sustainable abuse of the resources. A wide range of human activities, such as charcoal and firewood utilization, expansion of agricultural areas, aquaculture, urban and industrial development, harbour construction, mining, and housing projects, have put mangroves at risk. Chilka Lake is presently under threat both from natural and anthropogenic pressures. Hence, litho-bio-and chronostratigraphic methods have been applied to unveil the nature of depositional environment, Holocene evolution of mangrove vegetation in association with the events of marine transgression and regression. A synthesis based on palynological results of several investigated mid- late Holocene profiles (Balugaon, Rambha, Nalabana, Dangmal, Bhowania) has been made by comparing them with the upper part of core CHI 9 encompassing period of 13,000 years. Mangroves colonized in response to marine transgression in early and upper middle part of the Holocene and got established as Rhizophora-dominated mangroves. The other core and peripheral mangrove taxa were represented by Sonneratia, Avicennia, Excoecaria, Heritiera, Acanthus, Acrostichum, Lumnitzera, Barringtonia, Pandanus, Cocus, Borassus, Phoenix, Terminalia, Fabaceae, Meliaceae, etc. It has been observed from the pollen records that tropical dense mangrove forest, thriving luxuriantly during early Holocene, has decreased considerably with the passage of time. The present mangrove ecosystem, though more restricted, is fairly stable with maintenance of conserved mangrove forests in protected prograding bays in Mahanadi delta and in estuaries kept open by adequate river flow. However, siltation, eutrophication and industrial development are major threatening factors affecting the sensitivity of lake, its shrinkage and total disappearance of surrounding vegetation. It has been indicated that certain metals such as Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, V, Zn As, Pb, Cd are responsible for the environmental stress of the ecosystem which are continuously incorporated by the use of fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture. Conserving mangroves as natural reserves is urgently needed. There should be an appeal and educational effort to stop the destruction and fragmentation of mangroves. The planned eco-friendly rehabilitation of mangroves, alongwith harmonious urban development and industrialization is suggested in order to restore the past glory of Chilka Lake.

68 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

EARLY CRETACEOUS FLORA OF SATPURA BASIN: ITS IMPLICATION IN LATE GONDWANA PHYTOGEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE

Madhav Kumar & Neeru Prakash Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India

Sedimentary sequences, ranging from Permian to Early Cretaceous, in the Satpura Basin display rich fossil flora exhibiting vegetational history of Gondwanas. The Early Cretaceous deposits of various sedimentary sequences exposed at Sehora, Chui Hills, Madhya Pradesh and Bairam and Belkher of Maharashtra embody palaeoflora of: (i). conifers belonging to the families Araucariaceae, Podocarpaceae, Pinaceae and Taxodiaceae; (ii). cycadophytes (Bennetitales, Cycadales and Ginkgoales); (iii). pteridosperms (Corystopspermaceae); and (iv). long ranging pteridophytes of the families Osmundaceae, Gleicheniaceae, Matoniaceae, Schizaeaceae, Dicksoniaceae, Polypodiaceae, Lycopodiaceae and Equisetaceae. Occurrence of these plant groups in particular stratum or in successive sequences and its integrated study are used in deducing local ecological niche and depositional process of the bed. An attempt has also been made to associate sporomorphs together with their megafloral counterparts. Among these most of the taxa are widely distributed in Upper Gondwana of Southern Hemisphere and their dispersal was controlled by specific environment. The palynostratigraphic and palaeofloral distribution spectrum, its comparison with non-marine Early Cretaceous flora of Southern Hemisphere and its phytogeography, palaeoclimate and vegetation pattern have been interpreted.

69 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

LATE JURASSIC-EARLY CRETACEOUS PALYNOFLORAL TRANSITION IN SOUTH REWA BASIN, MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA

Madhav Kumar & Ram-Awatar Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]

Palynological analysis of Mesozoic sediments exposed along the tributaries of Mahanadi River near Jhala and Bansa villages around Chandia (Lat. 23°36'0"N: Long. 80°44'50"E) has been discussed. Carbonaceous shale and clay lenses sandwiched between the sandstone units have yielded diversified palynofloral assemblages. The floral composition near Jhala exhibits dominance of Callialasporites trilobatus, C. segmentatus, C. dampieri, Araucariacites ghuneriensis in association with Aequitriradites spinulosus, Microcachryidites antarcticus, Podosporites rarus, Densoisporites velatus, Ceratosporites rarus, Alisporites grandis, Murospora florida, Klukisporites scaberis, Cooksonites reticulates, Contignisporites cooksonii and Dictyophyllidites sp. Besides, Foraminisporis wonthaggiensis, Coptospora paradoxa, Crybelosporites stylosus and C. striatus. have also been recorded from the sediments exposed along the Machrar River section near Bansa and considered to be Early Cretaceous in age. The relationship of palynozones - Murospora florida (Kimmeridgian), Callialasporites turbatus and Callialasporites segmentatus (Tithonian), Cicatricosisporites australiensis (Berriasian) Foraminisporis wonthaggiensis (Valanginian) and Microcachryidites antarcticus (Hauterivian) are the significant palynotaxa extended from the Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous sequence in South Rewa Basin and other basins of peninsular Indian Gondwana. The FADs of Appendicisporites sp., Coptospora paradoxa, Crybelosporites striatus and Foraminisporis wonthaggiensis, Cicatricosisporites australiensis have also been record in the assemblage, which tag it with Cyclosporites hughesii zone of Australia and suggest an Aptian age. It is envisaged that transition and restriction of the palynoflora in these sedimentary sequences were basically controlled by the regional topography and the then- prevailing environment. The floral assemblages, containing various plant groups, are highlighted in regional and global context.

70 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

STUDIES ON POLLEN BIOLOGY OF SAFFLOWER (CARTHAMUS TINCTORIUS L.)

Aloka Kumari Bose Institute, 93/1 A. P. C. Road, Kolkata-700009, India

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) is an important oilseed crop of considerable economic importance. India is largest producer of safflower in the world. In Bihar, safflower is cultivated on a small scale in certain localities as a rabi crop. Some of the lacking information on various aspects of reproduction in safflower, particularly the pollen biology of the crop is provided in present work. The genus Carthamus belongs to the tribe Cardueae of the family Asteraceae. The genus includes ca. 17 species, of which only 3 species are found in India. Structural detail of pollen development in safflower was studied in the microtome sections of floral buds at different stages of development. Attempts to germinate the pollen grains in vitro were successful upto some extent in the present study. Although small protuberances in the region of germ pores were observed in very high concentrations (i.e. 50% sucrose), no measurable growth of the pollen tubes could be achieved. Pollen grains, however, successfully germinated in vivo. Viability of the pollen grains was estimated by two different methods, viz. tetrazolium (TTC) test and acetocarmine test and the results were compared. Pollen grains of safflower have been found to have a very short life and maximum viability (about 93%) was retained only up to 4 hours after anthesis. Anthesis takes place at 6:30-8:00 am. Anthesis of single head takes 3-4 days, one or two rings of disc floret opening per day in centripetal sequence. Safflower is entomophilous and is extremely attractive to insects. Insect visitors to safflower fall into five orders: Lepidoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera, Odonata and Coleoptera. Apis sp. are main pollinators. The bifid stigma of safflower is dry and papillate. Protein analysis using PAGE (Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) indicates that three protein bands were common in both pollen and stigma. The percentage similarity is just 50% thus indicating 50% chances of crossability/ compatibility. Safflower is self-incompatible as well as self-compatible. Bagging experiments conducted in the present study showed that there is about 85.99% seed set in open heads, while in bagged condition seed setting was about 35.09%.

71 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

TERTIARY VEGETATION OF EUROPE AND ITS DYNAMICS AND CLIMATIC SIGNAL – NEW APPROACHES IN GEOBOTANY OF THE PAST

Zlatko Kvacek Charles University, Faculty of Science, Albertov 6, 12843 Prague 2, Czech Republic E-mail: [email protected]

A summary of the European Tertiary vegetation is given. Besides already published attempts to reconstruct Tertiary vegetation in its dynamics and climatic signals, new approaches in this respect are presented with the aim to obtain more objective reconstructions and palaeoclimatic data. The sites of fossil plants in Europe are variously widely spaced and are of different age and quality. The Neogene vegetation has been recently analyzed at certain time slices of late Early Miocene, early Late Miocene and Miocene-Pliocene boundary based on the floristic and physiognomic diversity of plant assemblages (leaves, fruits and seeds and spores & pollen). Limits of newly characterized vegetation units are given in the percentages of taxa of the whole assemblage, hence more or less objectively. The stressed differences between zonal, azonal and extrazonal formations and impact of precipitation are to be considered. Objective definitions of units based on diversity percentages of components, both woody and herbaceous have been prepared for the Miocene and Pliocene but it is still to be elaborated for the Palaeogene. An attempt has been made to follow the extent of the defined zonal forest types in time and space over Europe and over a more limited space of the Central Paratethys and expressed on palaeophytogeographic maps. Problems that hinder producing such geobotanical maps of potential Tertiary vegetation are basically in different palaeogeographic configuration of dry land with profoundly changing orogeny, in variation of global climate, atmospheric circulation and the world ocean, and the extinct floral components. To overcome these problems, palinspastic maps and well determined and independently dated spectra of leaf, fruit & seeds and spore & pollen records are relevant. Each plant organ is differently biased and expresses parts of vegetation. It is difficult to transfer the fossil spectra quantitatively into a community due to overproduction of fossil organs and taphonomic processes, although abundance of elements may indicate vegetation changes (NAP vs. AP). On the basis of refined floristic spectra, the palaeoclimatic data in larger scale have been obtained on new objective approaches - Co-existence Approach (by Mossbruger and Utescher) and CLAMP (by Wolfe and Spicer). Plant physiology method (stomata index variation) has been employed for assessing CO2 content in ancient atmosphere and climatic oscillations. Advantages and drawbacks of these new methodologies have been verified on several, mainly Oligocene and Miocene, sites in Europe and used to rectify previous views on palaeoclimate at this time.

72 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

CENOZOIC VEGETATION AND ENVIRONMENT IN SOUTHWEST CHINA

Cheng-Sen Li1, R. C. Mehrotra2 & Xiang-Yu Kou3 1Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiangshan, Beijing, 100093, China; Beijing Museum of Natural History, Tianqiao, Beijing, 100050, China 2Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India 3Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiangshan, Beijing, 100093

1. Neogene vegetation, climate and uplift of mountains in West Yunnan, China: The Eryuan palynoflora from the Late Pliocene of western Yunnan, China is compared with two contemporary palynofloras from Yangyi and Longling. The palynological data of the three locations are analyzed to reconstruct the climatic parameters of these areas at that time by using the Coexistence Approach. The Late Pliocene climatic parameters of Eryuan are estimated, i.e. the mean annual temperature ranged from 13.3 to 18.6°C, the mean temperature of the warmest month from 24.6 to 27.5°C, the mean temperature of the coldest month from 1.9 to 12.1°C, the difference in temperatures of coldest and warmest month from 14.2 to 16.6°C, the mean annual precipitation from 619.9 to 1484.3 mm, the mean maximum monthly precipitation from 143.8 to 245.6 mm, and the mean minimum monthly precipitation from 12.7 to 16.4 mm. Both palaeovegetation and palaeoclimate of the three localities are compared with the modern data at each location. The present study suggests a MAT decrease accompanied by a doubling of the MAP in the Longling area between the Late Pliocene and the present. This seems to be related to the uplift of Gaoligong Mountain in Longling which is now part of the eastern portion (Western Yunnan) of the Tibetan Plateau. 2. Plant migration and uplift of Himalaya in Cenozoic: A comparison has been made between the Tertiary floras of Southwest China and Northeast India in order to trace the antiquity of the Chinese elements in the present Himalayan flora of Northeast India. The fossil flora on the either sides of the border is quite different from each other as the Chinese flora is marked by temperate and sub-tropical elements, while that in Northeast India was typically tropical during the Tertiary. The last major uplift of the Himalayas, that had taken place during the Pleistocene, increased the height of the mountains too high to permit any migration of floral elements in the region during the interglacials. Therefore, a new route for the migration of Chinese elements into the Northeast Himalayas was formed and this is traced through Tibet and Kashmir on the basis of the fossil evidence occurring therein.

73 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

EARLY WHEAT AND RICE AGRICULTURE IN NORTHWEST CHINA

Xiaoqiang Li1, John Dodson2, Xinying Zhou1, 3, Hongbin Zhang1, 3 & Ryo Masutomoto4 1State Key Lab of Loess & Quaternary Geology, Institute of Earth Environment, CAS, Xi’an Hi-Tech zone, Xi’an, 710075, P.R. China 2Institute for the Environment, Brunel University, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UB8 3PH, U.K. 3Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yuquan Road 19, Beijing, 100049, P.R. China 4Department of Earth & Planetary Science, University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan

Rain-fed crops and wetland rice based agriculture were developed in the Yellow and Yangtze River basins by the early Holocene. These times approximately coincide with crop based agricultural origins in the Fertile Crescent of Southwest Asia. Here we show that rice, wheat, barley, millet, oats, and buckwheat were grown together in Xishanping in northwest China by 4,650-4,300 cal yr BP from direct dating of individual seeds and charcoal. The agricultural complexity and the early cultivated wheat (4650 cal yr BP) in China and cultivated rice in northwest China (5070 cal yr BP) show a flourishing agriculture culture in northwest China at this time. The establishment of crops corresponds with a substantial reduction of tree cover. The data appears to show that crops from SW Asia spread to China about 2500 years earlier than previously thought, and long before the “Silk Road” route was known to be used. This raises the question as to why crops from China do not appear to have been exchanged westward at this time.

74 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

PRELIMINARY STUDY OF FORAMINIFERA FROM THE BHUBAN FORMATION, MIZORAM, NORTHEASTERN INDIA

Kapesa Lokho1 & D. S. N. Raju2 1Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, 33 General Mahadeo Singh Road, Dehradun-248001, India E-mail: [email protected] 210th Siddharth Enclave, 33 General Mahadeo Singh Road, Dehradun-248001, India

The Mizo-fold belt is composed of a series of longitudinal folds arranged en-echelon. The anticlines are long, narrow and tight but the intervening synclines are broad and gentle. On the basis of image characters, five stratigraphic lithounits have been identified in Mizoram, viz. Lower Bhuban, Middle Bhuban, Upper Bhuban, Bokabil and Tipam (Ram & Venkataraman 1984). Samples for the present study were collected from an Upper Bhubans outcrop of Bawngkawn section, Aizawl District, Mizoram. Main rock facies in the area are sandstone, siltstone and shale and their admixture in various proportions. The recorded foraminiferal assemblage, containing both benthic and planktic foraminifera, includes six genera and four families of the order foraminiferida. Most of the foraminifera recovered are badly preserved and some of them are deformed. Record of badly preserved foraminifera is interpreted as due to transportation and compaction. Planktic foraminifera are better represented than the benthic ones. High percentage of planktic foraminifera with only a few benthic foraminifera suggests subanoxic/anoxic conditions. Sediments deposited under anoxic conditions are considered to be a good source rock for hydrocarbon (Chandra et al. 1993). Indian plate tectonics created a very favourable locale for oil prospecting with predictions of possible giant field in Upper Assam, Cachar, Tripura and Mizoram (Rangaraju 2006). The preliminary investigation of the foraminiferal assemblage envisaged that the Upper Bhubans in the studied area were deposited under middle shelf bathymetric conditions. In the subsurface of Cachar area, foraminiferal evidences were presented in favour of outer neritic to upper bathyal conditions during Lower and Middle Bhubans (Ramesh 2004). The foraminiferal age markers of the present finding suggest latest Early to earliest Middle Miocene age for this part of Upper Bhuban of Mizoram.

75 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

RECORD OF PALYNOFOSSILS FROM THE FULRA LIMESTONE FORMATION OF KUTCH BASIN, INDIA AND ITS PALAEOENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATION

J. Mandal & Samir Sarkar Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India E-mail: [email protected]

The present paper deals with the first record of a palynofloral assemblage recovered from the Fulra Limestone Formation exposed at the confluence of Fulra and Panandhro Nalas in the west of Babia Hill, Kutch Basin. The recovered palynoflora consists of dinoflagellate cysts, fungal spores and ascostromata, pteridophytic spores, and angiosperm pollen. Some of the important constituents of the palynofloral assemblage are: Lygodiumsporites, Polypodiaceaesporites, Polypodiisporites, Margocolporites, Tricolporopilites, Tricolporopollis, Graminidites, Aplanosporites, Phragmothyrites, Spiniferites, Operculodinium and Achomosphaera. Two distinct palynozones have been recognized on the basis of abundance and distribution of stratigraphically significant palynofossils in the succession. The present day distribution of the extant counterparts of the palynotaxa indicates prevalence of tropical (warm-humid) climate during the deposition of the Fulra Limestone Formation in the area of investigation. Palynological data further suggest that the Fulra Limestone Formation was mostly laid down in a shallow marine environment. The palynoflora has been compared with the Eocene palynofloral assemblages recorded from various sedimentary basins of India and abroad and has been assigned a Late Middle Eocene age for the Fulra Limestone Formation. This dating is in agreement with the faunal age determination. Abundance of terrestrial palynofossils in some samples clearly points towards the relative proximity of the shore.

76 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

PALYNOSTRATIGRAPHIC EVOLUTION AND PALAEOENVIRONMENT OF UPPER BHUBAN FORMATION (EARLY MIOCENE) DILTLANG, CHHIMTUIPUI DISTRICT, MIZORAM, INDIA

B. D. Mandaokar Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India

The present paper incorporates results of palynostratigraphical evolution of the Tertiary sediments from Diltlang area of Mizoram. A total number of 90 genera and 120 species of pteridophytic spores, gymnospermous and angiospermous pollen, fungal remains and dinoflagellate cysts are recorded. The distribution pattern of palynotaxa demonstrates the reliability of palynofloral assemblages in the demarcation of different lithounits as well as for long distance correlation. Based on frequency analysis and vertical distribution of palynofossils, three distinct cenozones, viz. Pteridacidites fistulosus Cenozone, Compositoipollenites africanus Cenozone and Tricolpites crassireticulatus Cenozone, have been recognized. Each of these zones can be identified by its characteristic palynofossils. The presence of Pteridacidites, Compositoipollenites, Hibisceaepollenites, Retitrescolpites, Graminidites, Trisyncolpites, etc. indicates an early Miocene age. The representation of families Cyatheaceae, Osmundaceae, Polypodiaceae, Gleicheniaceae, Arecaceae, Meliaceae, Gunneraceae, Araliaceae, Oleaceae, Rubiaceae, Caesalpiniaceae, Bombacaceae, Betulaceae, etc. indicates the prevalence of a tropical to subtropical climate with plenty of rainfall during sedimentation of the studied stratigraphic sequence. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of the palynotaxa show distinct development of wet semi-evergreen type of vegetation. Environment of deposition of these sediments is also inferred.

77 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

BIODIVERSITY OF ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI THROUGH TIME

C. Manoharachari Department of Botany, Osmania University, Hyderabad-500007, India

The fungi represent a heterogeneous assemblage of eukaryotic micro-organisms with heterotrophic nutrition or assimilation of carbon and non-elemental source of nitrogen. Fungal cell walls imbibe or absorb nutrients and have rigid cell walls of chitin. These fungi reproduce either sexually or asexually through spores. The thallus is unicellular or multicellular. The absence of chlorophyll has enforced them to become parasites or saprophytes. Fungi are ubiquitous, world wide in distribution and colonize a wide variety of habitats. Fungi have invaded every conceivable ecological niche, especially saprobic fungi around the decayed organic debris while pathogenic forms exist with both plant and animal hosts. The metabolic capacities of fungi have attracted much interest in natural products chemistry and in the production of antibiotics or other bioactive compounds besides performing fermentation, production of enzymes and food industry. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi have originated more than 460 million years ago (Redecker et al. 2000a, b) and represent an ancient phylogenetic clade within the fungi. Schubler et al. (2001) have presented a new classification based on SSU rRNA analysis. There are about 7 valid genera, of which Glomus has been found occurring predominantly in all the geographic and climatic regions of the world. Around 150 AM fungal species are reported from all over the world representing Glomus, Paraglomus, Diversispora, Scutellospora, Entrophospora, Archaespora and Geosiphon. Geosiphon, a monotypic genus, is a putative zygomycete which is a mycobiont in symbiosis with Nostoc (Cyanobacterium). AM fungal symbiosis is highly dynamic in interaction that affects nearly all physiological and biochemical interactions of host. AM fungi mobilize and transport phosphorus and other elements, offer tolerance to disease, stress and drought, increase the plant growth and yield besides being obligate symbionts and benefactor to the host. AM fungi produce inter and intra cellular hyphae bearing spores and sporocarps outside the cortex. Mycorrhizal network helps in enhancing soil binding, soil fertility and soil stability. Glomalian fungi comprise the fourth group of Zygomycotina that independently lost flagella, possibly during colonization of land in association with terrestrial plants. However, the question arises that: were terrestrial plants available as food source when these fungi were radiating? Some of the earliest fossil evidences for land plants come in the form of dispersed microfossils of spores and tracheid-like structures, some of them are from Ordovician (460 million years). The recent phylogenetic tree suggests that the first divergences of Endogonales and Glomales occurred about 600 million years or even earlier. This is about 140 million years before any evidence of vascular plants that are now available for hosts of these AM fungi and is about 160 million years older than the age of divergences. Glomites was symbiotic with Agalophyton, Rhynia and Nothjia. The fungus lived in the dark ring, visible in the transverse sections of the stems and is related to the present AM fungus, Glomus. Fungal hyphae and arbuscules penetrating the outer cortex of an Agalophyton major stem were observed. Glomus like fungus was also recorded in dinosaur dung. Probably the endosymbiosis between fungus

78 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

and cyanobacterium might have happened more than 900 million years ago which is similar to Gosiphon. Fossil fungi tend to be microscopic and mostly lack reproductive structures. The association of Glomus with modern liverworts, hornworts, etc. indicates that relatives of such land plants existed around 450 million years ago. This earliest record of AM fungus, in association with vascular plants, came from the 460 million years old Ordovician fungus of Wisconsin and resembles the modern AM fungi. Confirmation of such a finding came from experiments estimating divergence times based on ribosomal DNA sequences, in which they were consistent with existence of a lineage of Glomales in the Ordovician Period. The newly discovered fossil fungal spores push the age of terrestrial fungi back to 600 million years, to the same era when the green plants pulled themselves on to land. Interestingly, fossil fungi from the Rhynie chert (Early Devonian, 400 million years) present another area of current research. This site has provided exceptional fungi representing all the major fungal groups except the Basidiomycetes. There are numerous examples of cyanobacteria, other fungi and bacteria present in the chert matrix and associated with the other plants and animals in the Rhynie chert. In spite of having an account of fossil fungi, it is difficult to establish evolution of fungi from the available fossil record because: (i) the vegetative states of fungi that are same in fossil record and in nature lack traits required for accurate taxonomic determination; (ii) the most important aspects which have all the traits required for reliable taxonomic identification, the sexual identification, the sexual states, are so tiny and short lived; (iii) algae and fungi also make structures similar to fungi; and (iv) fungi can expand into rocks long after the deposition and modern fungal spores present in the air and water may enter as contaminants thus posing problems in separating them. The present paper discusses the pertinent aspects of AM fungi of the past and present.

79 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

MAGNETIC MINERALS IN SAMBHAR LAKE AND THEIR RESPONSE TO CLIMATE CHANGE

Narendra K. Meena1, Satish J. Sangode2 & G. J. Chakarpani1 1Department of Earth Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee-247667, India E-mail: [email protected] 2Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, 33 General Mahadeo Singh Road, Dehradun-248001, India

Iron is the most common element in the earth’s crust and occurs in different forms of iron oxides, which are highly sensitive to changes in environmental conditions. Environmental magnetism is an ideal tool, which allows for qualitative and quantitative estimation of iron oxides in rocks/sediments. The closed sedimentary basin of Sambhar playa lake in Rajasthan, situated adjacent to the eastern margin of Thar Desert, is a suitable site to assess the past-climatic changes based on magnetic character of major iron oxides. The lake is fed by a major stream, namely Mendha, which is highly seasonal and brings sediments from the catchment. The value of concentration dependent parameters clf and SIRM decrease downstream from source to sink. ARM/clf shows significant decrease towards downstream and suggests change in grains size towards fine single domain (SD) to coarse multi- domain (MD). The positive linear correlation (r2 = 0.8) between IRM100 vs ARM for catchment to lake samples indicates that the dominant source of sediments in the Sambhar lake is catchment rock weathering. From the variations in form and concentration of magnetic minerals, temporal climate changes using two shallow cores constrained by 210Pb sedimentation rate and OSL/IRSL have been reconstructed. A total of five magnetic units I, II, III, IV, V were identified in both the core samples. Unit I is characterized by a moderate wet condition during ca. 975 AD to 1292 AD with few short wet and dry spells. Unit II indicates intense wet and warm condition, with six cyclic wet and dry periods in ca. 1292 AD to 1703 AD. Unit III indicates a long dry phase during ca. 1702 AD to 1822

AD, characterized by very low clf, SIRM and high S-ratio and Bo(cr) Unit IV shows significant cyclic intense wet and dry periods with increase in catchment erosion and aeolian input. Unit V indicates increasing rainfall from ca. 1822 AD to 2003 AD.

80 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

STATUS OF MARAVALIA LEAF AND TWIG RUST OF DALBERGIA SISSOO, ITS MANAGEMENT AND FORECASTING OF RUST DEVELOPMENT IN EPIDEMIC FORM IN DOON VALLEY

Arushi Mehrotra & M. D. Mehrotra 294-II, Vasant Vihar, Dehradun, India

Leaf and twig rust of Dalbergia sissoo caused by Maravalia achroa is endemic in Doon Valley and tends to become epidemic in territorial nurseries and young plantations which are shaded by adjoining tree stands and shadehouses where D. sissoo is macropropagated. The rust usually appears around mid-February and continues attacking young twigs of current year’s growth till April or first week of May and declines thereafter. Studies undertaken to determine the status of the rust in Doon Valley over a period of 8 years from 1992-1999 revealed that the rust assumed epidemic form in nurseries at Lacchiwalla and Karuapani in 1993, 1996, 1997 and 1998, whereas it was moderate in 1994, poor in 1995 and 1999 and absent in 1992. In the years when the rust developed in epidemic form, the rust incidence was 100% with 30-60%, 40-75%, 60-80% and 45-65% of leaves infected in Lacchiwalla nursery and with 50-90%, 40-80%, 40-90% and 70-100% of leaves infected in Karuapani nursery in 1993, 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively. Heavy rust infection in nurseries caused stunting and weakening of seedlings which collapsed in large numbers (20-30%) in winter being unable to withstand frost. The rust incidence in two of the three young plantations (3-4yr old) at New Forest was 100% with 25- 60%, 30-70% and 40-70% and 40-60%, 40-75% and 50-80% of leaves infected in 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively. The rust, hitherto known to attack leaves and young twigs, was recorded for the first time to infect flowers and young fruits as well in young plantations, of which the former shriveled, whereas the latter, on infection, developed abortive seeds. In shadehouses, where the conditions were warm and highly humid, the rust incidence was 100% with 60-80% of leaves infected resulting in 80% mortality of young sprouts. Rust epidemical model was developed by correlating the disease status with meteorological data. Accordingly, the rust assumed epidemic form in years when normal winter rains in Doon Valley were followed by premonsoon showers in March and first week of April amounting to 93 mm and above. Shading of nurseries and young plantations by adjoining tree stands was an important factor besides rainfall contributing significantly to the rust assuming epidemic form. Management of the rust was accomplished by foliar application of bayleton (0.08%) twice at fortnightly intervals in March and this may be put to judicious use for rust control when it is expected to become epidemic.

81 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

EVOLUTIONARY HISTORY OF ANGIOSPERMS IN INDIA ON THE BASIS OF THEIR MEGAFOSSILS

R. C. Mehrotra Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India E-mail: [email protected]

It is difficult to define an angiosperm. However, complete enclosing of the ovules in a carpel is considered as one of the most important characters for the identification of angiosperms. Most of the herbivorous animals, including human beings, depend heavily on the angiosperms or flowering plants for food and many other useful products. Their utility to man has created interest in their origin, evolution and migration. The earliest definite angiospermous macrofossil record is from the Early Cretaceous (Barremian- Aptian) of northeast China. In this regard, it is important to note that during this period India was not geographically connected with China. The position of India, especially during the Cretaceous-Tertiary - the period of angiosperm origin and early diversification on the earth, was very important as it had performed a long northward journey after being separated from the other Gondwanaland continents. Thus it would be interesting to know the evolutionary pattern of angiosperms that took place on this subcontinent during this time span. In India, the earliest angiospermous records, that are in the form of fruits and ?flowers, can be traced from the Early Cretaceous (Aptian) sediments of Rajmahal Hills, Bihar. Unfortunately, their Early and Middle Cretaceous records are poor as compared to those found in the other continents. The definite angiosperm fossils started appearing in the Lameta Formation, which is considered to be Maastrichtian in age. Soon they became the most dominant element in the flora, e.g. Deccan Intertrappean flora of Upper Maastrichtian-Danian age. They are equally represented by both monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous taxa. This was also the time when one of the most important mass extinctions in the history of the earth took place due to which the dinosaurs became extinct from all over the world including India. Being one of the important biotic elements, their extinction must have influenced the evolution of angiosperms in various ways. The effect of K/T Boundary mass extinction can be noticed in the flora as only 2% of palms and 6.5% of dicots continued into the Late Palaeocene flora known from northeast and western India. During the Late Palaeocene, there was an increase in the dicot forms (88%) in comparison to the monocots which were only 10% of the total number of forms of the flora. There was an important change observed in the beginning of the Neogene when an influx of Southeast Asian elements was noticed in the flora. The Dipterocarpaceae, an important family considered as native to Southeast Asia, is known in the Indian fossil records only from the Miocene onwards. This clearly shows that during the early part of Miocene the land connections between India and Southeast Asia were completely established to facilitate the migration of plants including angiosperms. During most of the part of Tertiary, the flora of the Indian subcontinent was dominated by the

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tropical elements. However, with the upheaval of the Himalayas the climatic conditions got changed drastically and this paved the way for the migration of the temperate angiosperms from the adjoining areas of Tibet and Southwest China, where they flourished luxuriantly in the equable climatic conditions. This remarkable change, that took place during the Late Plio-Pleistocene, is well represented by the recovery of temperate megafossils from the Karewa flora of Kashmir. Hence, the present day flora of angiosperms in India is an admixture of several elements migrated from various countries via different routes.

83 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

SATLUJ RIVER FLOW VARIABILITY RECORDED FROM TREE-RING SERIES FROM KINNAUR, HIMACHAL PRADESH

Krishna G. Misra & Ram R. Yadav Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India E-mail: [email protected]

Water availability is one of the main limitations for future development and economic activities including hydroelectricity, irrigation and tourism. Atmospheric changes affect the global climate and hydrologic cycle, in turn affecting precipitation and solar energy regime of a given region. The observed climatic changes are known to have serious impact on hydrology affecting water resources and agriculture. Water resources are the lifeblood for the semiarid to arid Western Himalayan region. Careful planning and management of water resources in such a region requires information on the likelihood of extreme events. It is essential to understand the variability of the climate on time scales of decades to centuries to assign reasonable probabilities to such events. However, our understanding on river flow variability is largely based on observational records limited to around past century. High-resolution proxy records could be used to supplement the observational records back to several centuries required to understand the pattern of river flow in longer perspective. The Satluj River is originated in Tibetan plateau from Mansarovar and Rakastal lakes at an elevation of more than 4500 m. It is one of the important tributaries of the Indus river system and flows through different topographic and climatic regions. The majority of Himalayan Rivers have their upper catchment in snow and ice covered areas and flow through deep gorges. The lower part of the Satluj River basin experiences a considerably higher rainfall than the upper river basin. Variations in the precipitation and its distribution with the time over the river basin account for changes in the river flow. Tree-ring series developed from moisture stressed sites could be used to develop precipitation influenced river flow variability beyond the short period covered by the instrumental records. Here, the potential of tree-rings to develop Satluj River flow is being presented for the first time. For this, the samples of Himalayan cedar (Cedrus deodara) were collected from a moisture stressed site near Kalpa, Kinnaur District, Himachal Pradesh during September-October, 2005. Well replicated ring-width chronology extending from AD 1388-2005 was prepared. This series showed strong positive correlation with total monthly February to July river flow at Bhakra. This strong relationship enabled to reconstruct total February to July river flow for around 350 years. The reconstructed river flow has shown high annual to decadal scale variability. However, for better understanding of the long-term variability in river flow this reconstruction needs to be strengthened further using tree-ring data network from Satluj river basin.

84 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

CRETACEOUS GREEN ALGAE FROM THE NIMAR SANDSTONE FORMATION, PIPALDEHLA, JHABUA DISTRICT, MADHYA PRADESH

P. K. Misra1, A. K. Jauhri2, S. Kishore1, S. K. Singh1 & A. Rajanikanth3 1Department of Botany, Lucknow University, Lucknow-226007, India 2Department of Geology, Lucknow University, Lucknow-226007, India 3Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India E-mail: [email protected]

The Bagh beds have been dated as Cenomanian-Turonian on the basis of associated fauna comprising foraminifera, ammonoids, etc. Nimar Sandstone Formation is the basal lithounit of the Bagh beds and is exposed at Pipaldehla, Jhabua District, Madhya Pradesh. The samples from the top part of this formation have yielded six species of Chlorophycean algae (Neomeris cretaceae, Salpingoporella muehlberghii, Acicularia elongata, Boueina cf. pygmaea, Arabicodium aegagrapiloides and Halimeda praemonilis). Of these, four species are new to India and one species is new to the study area. Though calcareous algae are generally less significant biostratigraphically, dasycladacean members of green algae are important and have been found to be useful in biostratigraphic subdivision and correlation of strata. The dasyclads, which constitute the present algal assemblage, are commonly known from the Cretaceous successions in different parts of the world and can be used to establish correlation with coeval algal horizons of other areas. Because of their wide geographic distribution, they are also of palaeoecological and biogeographical interest. Neomeris, Acicularia, Salpingoporalla and Halimeda, which are common in the assemblage, are indicative of warm waters of inner-ramp lagoon as deep as 30 m.

85 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

INDIAN LATE CRETACEOUS DINOSAURS, PALAEOECOLOGY AND ANIMAL-PLANT INTERACTION, PALAEOZOOGEOGRAPHY AND EXTINCTION: A RESPONSE TO DECCAN VOLCANISM

D. M. Mohabey Geological Survey of India, Palaeontology Division, Seminary Hills, Nagpur-440006 E-mail: [email protected]

Indian Late Cretaceous dinosaur fauna, dominated by titanosaurid-abelisaurid, is mostly known from the infratrappean Lameta sediments. A few intertrappean beds are contemporary with the Lameta. Claims have been made about laterally contiguous infratrappean and intertrappean sequences. However, till date, there is not a single locality where such a physical relationship can be observed in the field. The sediments in these two contrasting settings are deposited in different environments as evident from their lithofacies and biofacies analyses. Consequence of such hypothetical claims can be misleading, as the effect of the Deccan volcanism on the contemporary sediments and biota of these two distinctly different and sensitive ecosystems is expected to be different. It is presently considered that the infratrappean Lameta sediments were deposited during the Maastrichitan (30N- 29R), whereas intertrappean beds are considered to have deposited during the extended period (Maastrichtian-Palaeocene), commensurating with Deccan volcanic activity. The dinosaur eggs, nests and nest-site localities, which exclusively occur within the Lameta, are numerous and geographically extensive. The eggshells are most diversified. Contemporary vertebrates from the fossiliferous Lameta include fishes, amphibians, turtles, squamates and mammals, which are often disarticulated. The flora from different Lameta basins is poorly recorded, except from the Nand-Dongargaon basin wherefrom well-preserved remains of conifers, pteridophytes and angiosperms have been reported. Recently found plant-bearing coprolites, attributed to titanosauriforms, have provided not only a new insight into the floral scenario during the Lameta sedimentation with bearing on the evolution of angiosperms, but also dietary habits and feeding behaviour of sauropods and the animal-plant interaction in the ecosystem. These herbivores are indicated to be dwelling in the semi-arid, low land alluvial plains with mosaics of small vegetation units such as shrub-lands and intermittent patches of wood lands around lakes and ponds. The intertrappean beds are rich in their floral content having a wide diversity. A very well marked response of the inland Maastrichtian flora to the Deccan volcanism has been observed recently in the N-D basin, including appearance of the diatoms (Aulocoseira dominated) and dinoflagellate (Palaeoperidiniales dominated) in the freshwater ecosystem. A fine stratigraphic resolution for the continental Maastrichtian sediments is now possible, based on the new palynological observations. The Lameta sediments were deposited during the critical time, when the Indian subcontinent was drifting northerly towards Asia. The sediment have an important bearing on the most dynamic palaeobiogeography of the Indian Plate during the Maastrichtian. The Indian dinosaur fauna is indicated to be endemic in nature at least at the species level. Though having a Gondwanan affinity, the Indian

86 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

abelisaurids are closer to their Madagascarien counterparts. There is no record of pre-Maastrichtian titanosauriforms and abelisuroids in the Indian subcontinent. It is indicated that in the Maastrichtian, these reptiles appeared for the first time, diversified and enjoyed an acme of their breeding and nesting. Implicitly, the environment offered a most suitable habitat to these reptiles. However, they disappeared from the subcontinents before reaching the KTB. The cause and consequence of their extinction is a matter of debate, but the Deccan Volcanism appears as the most probable culprit responsible for bringing hostilities through physiographic, atmospheric and climatic changes. The emerging evidences strongly suggest that as a first response to the initiation of volcanism locally, the dinosaurs migrated to the safer areas away from the eruptive centres. The earliest recorded Maastrichtian dinosaurs are from the sediments deposited during the 30 N in Kheda-Kutch region. They appear subsequently to the east (Jabalpur region) and to the south (N-D basin) during the Maastrichtian 29R. The scarcity or absence of dinosaur in the intertrappean sediments suggests that they unsuccessfully struggled to survive the onslaught caused by the volcanism.

87 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

INTERPRETATION OF DEPOSITIONAL ENVIRONMENT OF KOPILI FORMATION IN NORTH ASSAM SHELF BASED ON INTEGRATED STUDIES

S. Nanjundaswamy & P. N. Kapoor K. D. M. Institute of Petroleum Exploration, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited, 9 Kaulagarh Road, Dehradun-248195, India E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]

Synergistic approach on palynological, palaeontological and sedimentological studies of the selected wells drilled in Assam Shelf has brought out palaeoenvironmental reconstruction during the deposition of Kopili Formation. Spores-pollen, dinoflagellate cysts and foraminifera from wells located in North Assam Shelf enabled precise dating of the sediments. Various flooding surfaces (FS), with maximum flooding surfaces (MFS) and transgressive/regressive (T/R) cycles have added valuable data on sequence biostratigraphy. In addition, data on sedimentological study helped in interpreting porosity and permeability of the Kopili Formation. Sediments are dated on spores-pollen, dinoflagellate cysts and foraminiferal data; palaeoenvironments are interpreted on the calculation of palynological marine index (PMI) and also palaeoecological complexes. Relative sea level changes have been reconstructed, deducing T/R cycles in the area. This has facilitated identification of FS, MFS, based on dinoflagellate cysts species diversity. The palaeoenvironment in the lower unit of Kopili Formation was mainly inner neritic below the regional MFS, within the transgressive phase, in these areas. This was followed by a regressive phase with prevalent shallow inner neritic environment. The integrated studies of the Kopili Formation on dating of sediments, palaeoenvironment, sea level changes, flooding surfaces and transgressive/regressive cycles serve for interpreting sequence stratigraphy and depositional model for further hydrocarbon exploration.

88 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

A NEW PTERIDOPHYTIC STROBILUS FROM THE DECCAN INTERTRAPPEAN BEDS OF MOHGAONKALAN, MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA

S. D. Narkhede1 & Sayeda Parveen Qurashi2 1Botany Department, Institute of Science, Nagpur, India 2J. M. Patel College, Bhandara, India E-mail: [email protected]

The present paper deals with a longitudinally exposed petrified pteridophytic strobilus from Deccan Intertrappean beds of Mohgaonkalan measuring 2.8 mm in length and 1.2 mm in breadth. It shows the presence of six to eight sporangia with a well-preserved central axis. The axis bears the sporophylls at an angle of 90 degrees. The sporangia are borne on sporophylls and are somewhat circular to oval in outline with thick sporangial wall. The two, lowermost sporangia are sterile without any spores and the remaining six sporangia are fertile containing many large spores. All the spores show homosporous condition. Ligules are not seen, thus the strobilus appears eligulate. After comparison, it was placed in a new form genus, Homosporophyllostrobus lycopodii gen et sp. nov. The genus is named after its homosporous condition and presence of well-developed sporophyll and the species is named after the genus Lycopodium due to its close affinities.

89 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

GEOCHRONOMETRIC AND CARBON- NITROGEN STUDY IN LAKE SEDIMENTS TO DECIPHER PALAEOCLIMATE

C. M. Nautiyal Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India E-mail: [email protected]

The sediments of lake and similar sedimentary deposits are proxy storehouse of past climatic variations. Therefore, radiocarbon dating, along with carbon and nitrogen measurements, is expected to provide a peep into the past climate. Based on such studies, sediments from Motiya Dol Lake, Shahdol District, Madhya Pradesh, revealed a pattern in the climate changes during the Holocene. Such changes are also seen in the pollen record (Chauhan 2006). The radiocarbon dating was carried out following standard procedure of combustion, conversion to acetylene and trimerization to benzene, followed by counting in Liquid Scintillation Counter. The C/N ratio in samples at depth 40-45 cm (7000 years BP), 35-40 cm (6200 years BP) and 30-35 cm (about 5400 years BP) were found to be about 17, 12 and 12. However, measurements on younger samples indicate that about 3000 years BP, the ratio started increasing and exceeded 30 indicating relative domination of terrestrial flora as independently borne out by pollen record (Chauhan 2006). The implications for the climate change and comparison with other parameters will be discussed.

90 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

A REVIEW OF THE ARCHAEOBOTANICAL RESEARCHES IN ALLAHABAD UNIVERSITY

J. N. Pal & Pragya Misra Department of Ancient History, Culture and Archaeology, University of Allahabad, Allahabad-211002, India

University of Allahabad has been one of the premier centres of the archaeological studies in India, where multidisciplinary approach to reveal the human cultures has been adopted right from the beginning. A complete cultural sequence right from the Lower Palaeolithic to historical period in the Vindhyas and from late Upper Palaeolithic to historical period in the middle Gangetic plain has been unearthed during the last four decades. These investigations have resulted in the discovery of thousands of animal bones and plant remains from different geological formations and cultural deposits both in the Vindhyas as well as the mid Ganga Valley. The fossilized plant remains have been found from the Pleistocene formation in the Son Valley. In the early excavations the floatation technique to recover the charred grains was not in practice, only dry sieve was used and therefore there was very little possibility of recovering the charred grains. Even then the evidence of wild rice in burnt clay at Mesolithic Chopani Mando and domesticated and wild varieties of rice husk in the pottery at Neolithic Koldihwa is significant. Subsequently with active collaboration of palaeobotanists from Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, Lucknow; Department of Archaeology, Deccan College, Pune and Institute of Archaeology, University College, London and by the use of wet sieve and floatation technique along with dry sieve, we gathered ample evidence of plant remains in the form of wild and domesticated grains. The study of phytoliths and pollen also has been fruitful. Now we can reconstruct to some extent the vegetarian diet of the people of different cultures of Mesolithic, Neolithic, Chalcolithic and historical period. Needless to say, these discoveries throw a welcome light not only on the range of botanical data pertaining to different epochs but also on the antecedents of agriculture in the Vindhyas. Present paper proposes to review the archaeobotanical studies of these cultures and attempts to reconstruct the vegetation during these cultures on the basis of the data at our disposal.

91 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

ADDITION TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF MEGAFLORAL DIVERSITY FROM THE RAJMAHAL FORMATION

Pankaj K. Pal & M. B. Arefin Palaeobotany and Palynology Section, Botany Department, Burdwan University, Golapbag, Burdwan-713104, India E-mail: pankaj_bot@ yahoo.com

The flora known from the Rajmahal Formation represents one of the most diversified Upper Mesozoic floras of the world, comprising mainly cycadophytes, ferns, conifers and Pentoxylon in association with lycopods, sphenopsids, pteridosperms, ginkgophytes and a few incertae sedis. McClelland (1850) described, for the first time, a few plant remains from the Rajmahal Formation. Since then significant contributions to the palaeofloristics of this formation have been made from time to time by a number of workers. During the megafloral investigation through the successive intertrappean beds of Rajmahal Formation, the present authors have recorded some specimens, which either provided additional knowledge to previously known forms or constituted a new report from the formation. Accordingly, circumscriptions of Equisetites rajmahalensis Oldham & Morris, Marattiopsis macrocarpa (Oldham & Morris) Seward & Sahni and Cladophlebis salicifilia (Morris) comb. nov. have been revised. Also a specimen of pinnately compound leaf bearing ovate-orbicular pinnae with reticulate venation has been described for the first time from the Rajmahal Formation.

92 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

OCCURRENCE OF PACHYPTERIS IN THE TRIASSIC OF INDIA

Pankaj K. Pal & M. Basu Palaeobotany and Palynology Section, Botany Department, Burdwan University, Golapbag, Burdwan-713104, India E-mail: pankaj_bot @ yahoo.com

Leaves belonging to the genus Pachypteris Brongniart occur commonly in the Mesozoic sediments throughout the world. In India, the genus has hitherto been known only from Lower Cretaceous strata of Rajmahal, Jabalpur and Bhuj formations. However, a few specimens collected from the Janar River beds of Tiki Formation, in their gross features and cuticular details, evidently represent a new species of the genus. The species has been named as Pachypteris hirsuta sp. nov. In addition to its obvious hypostomatic lamina, P. hirsuta is characterized by the presence of polygonal trichome bases. Each trichome base is surrounded by a ring of radially elongated cells. From the Tiki Formation, species of Lepidopteris, Dicroidium, Xylopteris, Sphenobaiera, Baiera, Elatocladus, Pagiophyllum, Desmiophyllum, Yabiella and a few equisetaceous remains have been described earlier. Pachypteris is a further addition to this assemblage. On the basis of tetrapod fauna and floral remains, Tiki Formation has been dated as Upper Triassic. Occurrence of Pachypteris is hereby recorded for the first time from Indian Triassic strata.

93 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

GENUS CULCITITES APPERT FROM THE INDIAN MESOZOIC SEDIMENTS

Pankaj K. Pal1 & P. Karmakar1, 2 1Palaeobotany and Palynology Section, Botany Department, Burdwan University, Golapbag, Burdwan-713104, India 1, 2Present address: Department of Botany and Forestry, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore-721102, India E-mail: pankaj_bot @ yahoo.com

The genus Culcitites Appert is represented by at least four species, viz. Culcitites madagascariensis Appert, C. khatangiensis (Sengupta) Pal & Karmakar comb. nov., C. lobatus (Oldham) Pal & Karmakar comb. nov. and C. bindrabunensis (Feistmantel) Pal & Karmakar comb. nov., in the Upper Gondwana sequence of the Rajmahal Basin, India. These species have been described in detail. Among the four species, C. madagascariensis and C. khatangiensis occur in the Dubrajpur Formation whereas C. lobatus and C. bindrabunensis occur in the Rajmahal Formation. Beyond the Rajmahal Basin, Culcitites is not known to occur elsewhere in the Indian Gondwanas.

94 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

A NEW SPECIES OF PETRIFIED PALM WOOD FROM THE INTERTRAPPEAN BEDS OF MALCHALMA, MEDAK DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA

R. S. Patil Palaeontology Division, Geological Survey of India, Southern Region, Hyderabad-500068, India E-mail: [email protected]

A piece of well preserved, petrified, monocotyledonous stem was collected from a hillock near Malchalma Village, Medak District, Andhra Pradesh. The present paper describes, for the first time, a petrified palm wood from the intertrappean rocks of Andhra Pradesh. The anatomy of the specimen, as observed from the transverse sections of the stem, shows that the fibrovascular bundles are uniform in size and shape and the bundles other than the central region show normal orientation. The fibrovascular bundles are elliptically oval in shape and show characteristic lunate dorsal cap. The base of the sclerenchyma is cordate and the ground parenchymatous tissue is made up of elongate cells, especially around the vascular part of the bundle showing radiating nature. As the present specimen does not agree with the structure of any of the hitherto known species of Palmoxylon, it is assigned to a new species Palmoxylon medakensis. The palaeoenvironmental and the palaeobiogeographical implications of the floral assemblages are discussed.

95 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

FOSSIL OSTRICH EGGSHELLS FROM INDIA

Rajeev Patnaik Centre of Advanced Studies in Geology, Panjab University, Chandigarh-160014, India E-mail: [email protected]

Today, ostriches are confined to Africa. It is widely accepted that these huge flightless birds originated and evolved in Africa. Recently, ostrich eggshells have been found at the famous hominoid locality of Haritalyangar (Himachal Pradesh). These have been dated to ~10.1 Ma and have been found to be strikingly similar to those of the African ostrich Struthio camelus. From Pakistan Siwaliks, there is a continuous record of ostrich type eggshells from 11.35 to 0.58 Ma old sediments. Ostrich eggshell fragments also come from over 40 Upper Palaeolithic sites (ranging in age from 25 to 40 ka BP) in the Indian Peninsula. Based on an extended fossil record (Late Miocene to Late Pleistocene) of ostrich eggshells in the Indian subcontinent; their relationship to the African forms and Neogene- Quaternary palaeoclimatic conditions of Africa and India, a plausible hypothesis of an Asian origin for the modern ostrich is proposed here.

96 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

PALAEOSEISMIC IMPORTANCE OF THE QUATERNARY SEDIMENTS OF LADAKH, NORTHWEST HIMALAYAS, INDIA

Binita Phartiyal, Anupam Sharma, Supriyo Chakraborty & Ram-Awatar Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India

Ladakh, situated in the tectonically active terrain in the vicinity of the Indus Suture Zone and the Karakoram thrust, is rich in Quaternary deposits, truly a treasure-trove for Quaternary researches. This work highlights the palaeoseismic signatures present in the Quaternary sediments of the Spituk- Leh (Indus Suture Zone) and the Khalsar palaeolake (Karakoram Thrust). Ten levels of deformation or palaeoseismic structures are recorded from a >27 m thick, clay, sand sequence of the Spituk-Leh palaeolake. The levels are confined to the lower 13 m of the sequence (0.50, 2.7, 3.2, 3.65, 5.5-5.9, 8.1, 9.8, 12.2 and 13.1 m levels). The upper part of the palaeolake seems to have stable tectonic conditions. About 90 km north of this section and separated by the Ladakh batholith, the 10.6 m Khalsar palaeolake section shows 5 levels of deformation structures at 1.0, 1.5, 4.3, 9.1 and 10.5 m levels. Deformation sediments, composed of alternations of clay, silt and sand, are restricted to a single stratigraphic layer bounded by undeformed beds suggesting synsedimentary deformation. They are simple and complex convolutes, pinch and swell structures, microfolds and micorfaults, flame structures, pseudonodules, clay diapers, sand dykes and mud lenses, etc. Radiocarbon dates of the Spituk-Leh Section range between ~50 and 30 ka BP and the same of Khalsar palaeolake range between ~35 and 20 ka BP. However, a detailed TL chronology of all the deformation levels is under progress. There is an immense possibility of research on Quaternary deposits in this area, which has received very little attention perhaps because of its rugged topography, high altitude (3000-6000 m) and strategic restrictions. The vast exposures of these deposits hold immense opportunity for palaeoseismic as well as palaeoclimatic studies.

97 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

ARCHAEOBOTANICAL EVIDENCE OF KITCHEN GARDENING IN ANCIENT INDIA

Anil K. Pokharia & Shantanu Chatterjee Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India

The economic base of cultures during Dark Ages is generally considered to be agriculture. However, ancient settlers were far more sophisticated in exploiting the herbs for vegetable, culinary and medicinal purposes. Gardens, producing flavouring plants and vegetables for human consumption, are known as kitchen gardens, located adjacent to homes. These gardens require regular attention and demand a different set of skills and techniques as compared to the crop fields. The archaeological sites in India have thrown significant light on the parts of plants used as flavouring material and vegetables in association with field-crops. These include remains of Trigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek), Allium sativum (garlic), Coriandrum sativum (coriander), Cuminum cyminum (cumin), Carum copticum (ajwain), Piper nigrum (black pepper), Zingiber officinale (ginger), Allium cepa (onion) and Lablab purpureus (hyacinth bean). The evidences are fragmentary and widely scattered in the time and space, from about 2nd millennium B.C. to Early Historic times, but they indubitably suggest the highly advanced knowledge of kitchen gardening in ancient India. The present database is the outcome of critical study of the existing record of crop remains from different archaeological sites in cultural perspective.

98 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

BIOSTRATIGRAPHIC AND EVOLUTIONARY SIGNIFICANCE OF PROTEROZOIC ORGANIC- WALLED MICROFOSSILS FROM THE VINDHYAN BASIN, INDIA

Bijai Prasad K. D. M. Institute of Petroleum Exploration, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited, 9 Kaulagarh Road, Dehradun-248195, India E-mail: [email protected]

Latest biostratigraphic studies on the Vindhyan succession of Son Valley have revealed the pro- lific occurrence of well-preserved and age-potential organic-walled microfossils of diverse assem- blages. They include acritarchs, nematomorphs and synaplomorphs that mostly characterize the Up- per Palaeoproterozoic to Terminal Proterozoic sediments. Distribution of selected organic-walled microfossils in the Vindhyan succession is outlined with remarks on their range and biostratigraphic significance in the milieu of latest radiometric dates for some litho-units of this sequence. The Kajrahat Limestone, in basal Semri succession (Mirzapur Subgroup), recorded abundant fila- mentous microfossils (Polythrichoides, Siphonophycus) in association with a low diversity acritarch as- semblage, represented by unornamented sphaeromorphs (Leiosphaeridia spp.) only. The assemblage broadly correlates with Late Palaeoproterozoic asemblages, and broadly corroborates with the latest absolute dates of the Kajrahat Limestone as 1729±110 Ma. The appearance of acanthomorph acritarchs (Tappania spp.) and coccoid forms, viz. Satka and Eomicrocystis in Deonar Formation, their abundance in the Koldaha Shale with appearance of netromorphs (Navifusa) and pteromorphs (Pterospermopsimorpha, Simia), and disappearance of Tappania spp. in Rampur Formation observed to be very important biostratigraphic events. Latest SHRIMP age for the Deonar and Rampur forma- tions as 1631±5 Ma and 1599±8 Ma suggest that above forms made their appearance during latest Palaeoproterozoic and constitute important elements of the Early Mesoproterozoic assemblages. The occurrence of budding leiosphaerids, vase-shaped microfossils, and Vandalosphaeridium in the Rampur Formation, known for their appearances close to the Meso-Neoproterozoic boundary (ca.1000 Ma), seem to be appeared during Early Mesoproterozoic. Although, the recent absolute date for Rohtas Subgroup is also estimated as 1599±48 Ma, the associated microfossil assemblage, having Trachsphaeridium laminaritum, Stictosphaeridium sinapticulum and Lophosphaeridium sp., suggests little younger age of upper Early Mesoproterozoic (ca. 1450-1400 Ma). Sediments of Kaimur Group are marked by abundant coccoidal microfossils (small leiosphaerids), in association with Bavlinella, suggesting an Early Neoproterozoic age. However, K/Ar dates for this unit are estimated ca.1140-940 Ma, suggesting latest Mesoproterozoic-Lower Neoproterozoic age. Rewa Group shows the appearance of Late Neoproterozoic marker acritarch Octoedryxium truncatum, in addition to the Kaimur microfossils, suggesting Upper Cryogenian (ca.700-630 Ma) age. The Bhander Group recorded characteristic Terminal Proterozoic microfossils, viz. Obruchevella, Cymatiosphaera, Dictytidium, Megahystrichosphaera and small micrhystrids, suggesting Ediacaran (ca.630-542 Ma) age. Radiometric dates for Rewa and Bhander groups as 710-675 Ma and 625±24 Ma corroborates the microfossil evidences.

99 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

The record of Upper Palaeoproterozoic-Lower Mesoproterozoic, latest Mesoproterozoic-Lower Neoproterozoic and Upper Neoproterozoic-Terminal Proterozoic organic-walled microfossil asemblages respectively in Semri, Kaimur and Rewa-Bhander groups, ranging from ca. 1700 Ma to 542 Ma with very long time-span of about 1150 Ma, reveals that these units are essentially bounded by major unconformities of ca. 100-300 Ma. Although, its age ranges from ca. 1700 Ma to 542 Ma, the actual sedimentation time observed to be only 300-350 Ma, and the major time-span are repre- sented by the non-depositional/erosional hiatuses. The span of hiatus between the Semri and Kaimur groups is about 325 Ma and between the Kaimur and Rewa-Bhander groups is about 250 Ma. In addition, hiatuses of ca. 25-50 Ma are also predicted between Mirzapur and Deonar-Kheinjua sub- groups and between Kheinjua and Rohtas subgroups. Latest seismic, microfossil and radiometric evidences suggest that the Vindhyan succession tectonically represents atleast three sedimentary basins at different Proterozoic times. The Upper Palaeoproterozoic-Lower Mesoproterozoic (ca.1700- 1450 Ma) basin is represented by the Semri Group, latest Mesoproterozoic-Lower Neoproterozoic (ca. 1140-940 Ma) basin by the Kaimur Group and the latest Neoproterozoic-Terminal Proterozoic basin (ca.700-550 Ma) by the Rewa-Bhander groups.

100 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

VEGETATION AND CLIMATE CHANGES DURING SIWALIK (MIO-PLIOCENE) IN THE HIMALAYAN FOOT-HILLS OF WEST BENGAL, INDIA

Mahesh Prasad Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India E-mail: [email protected]

The Siwalik sediments (average thickness 6000 m) of the Himalayan foothills are made up of rock materials provided by denudation of slopes of the Himalaya. These were deposited on the flood plains of the foreland basin over a long span of time (20 Ma) and are exposed all along the foothills from the Potwar Plateau in the north-west to Brahmaputra in the northeast, covering a distance of 2400 km in length. The Siwalik sediments in the Himalayan foothills of Darjeeling District vary considerably in their slope and do not occur continuously. These are divided into three units, viz. (i) lower, claystone unit, (ii) middle, sandstone unit and (iii) upper, pebbly sandstone and conglomerate unit. Plant megafossils are found abundantly in both lower and middle units whereas the upper unit is usually devoid of them. For the present study a large number of well preserved leaf and fruit impressions were collected from both the Lower and Middle Siwalik units exposed all along the banks of Ghish, Lish, and Ramthi rivers and near the Tista bridge on Siliguri-Gangtok Road. The qualitative and quantitative methods of comparison of the range of variation in the morphological features between the fossils and extant taxa reveal the occurrence of 26 new species belonging to 13 angiospermous families. The assemblage has been analyzed and on the basis of present data as well as already known data from this area. The climate of the area during Siwalik sedimentation has been discussed. The floral assemblage consists of 3 major types of elements, viz. (i) evergreen (64%), (ii) evergreen and moist deciduous (21%) and (iii) mixed deciduous (15%). The evergreen elements dominate the flora of Himalayan foothills of Darjeeling District during Mio-Pliocene, in contrast to present day mixed deciduous elements. From the present day distribution of the comparable extant taxa, it is evident that most of the taxa (about 78%) in the floral assemblage are locally extinct. Thus, the dominance of evergreen taxa during Lower and Middle Siwalik sedimentation and their extinction afterwards from the area suggest that the climatic changes must have taken place after Mio-Pliocene times. The physiognomic characters of the fossil leaves have also been studied in relation to climate. The dominance of entire margined species and other features like, drip trips, leaf size, leaf texture, nature of petiole and venation density collectively suggest a tropical climate with heavy rainfall during the sedimentation.

101 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

EXISTENCE OF SHOREA ROBUSTA (SAL) IN THE HIMALAYAN FOOTHILLS OF INDIA SINCE 5600 YEARS BP

Mahesh Prasad, E. G. Khare & Anil Agarwal Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India Email: [email protected]

The present fossil locality, Purniyagiri, lies in Tanakpur area (Lat. 29°4': Long. 80°07') of Champawat District in the Himalayan foothills of Uttaranchal. Sediments of Himalayan foothills were deposited by various rivers for 20 Ma, which provide an excellent opportunity to study the flora and fauna embedded in these fluvial sediments. In this area, the Holocene sediments were deposited between the hillocks of foothills by the erosion of Siwalik sediments exposed around them. These Holocene sediments are composed of hard, yellowish-grey clay with some conglomerates embedded with small to large wood logs. So far, there is no record of fossils from the Holocene sediments of this area. However, only a leaf impression showing their close resemblance with the genus Persea has been reported from the Siwalik sediments (about 12 Ma). Two in situ fossil wood specimens, collected from the Holocene sediments of Purniyagiri area, have been anatomically studied. The fossil wood was studied under high power microscope after preparing their thin sections at different planes (TS, TLS and RLS) by microtome. The fossil woods have been dated 5.6 ka BP by Wallac 1220 Quantulus Ultra Low Level Liquid Scintillation Counter as per Standard procedure. The anatomical features like medium to large vessel, broad heterogeneous xylem rays, presence of concentric gum canal and vasicentric tracheids undoubtedly indicate its affinity to the modern wood of Shorea robusta (sal) of the family Dipterocarpaceae. Presence of the fossil wood of Shorea robusta (sal) in the Holocene sediments (ca. 5.6 ka BP) of Himalayan foothills is phytogeographically important and suggests that this taxa entered into Indian subcontinent through Himalayan foothills before 5600 year, later on flourished there luxuriantly and then migrated southwards to the Indo-Gangetic plains.

102 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

FOSSIL LEAF-IMPRESSIONS FROM THE LATE TERTIARY SEDIMENTS OF MAHUADANR VALLEY, LATEHAR DISTRICT, JHARKHAND

Mahesh Prasad, Sanjai K. Singh & G. P. Srivastava Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India E-mail: [email protected]

The present fossil locality, Mahuadanr Valley (Lat. 23º23'N: Long. 84º06'E) lies in the Latehar District of Jharkhand. The fossiliferous beds are exposed along the Birha River and its tributary Jhumari and also at Rajdanda Village. Late Tertiary sediments of Mahuadanr Valley consist of conglomerate, succeeded by sandstone, clay and shale. The stratigraphic sequence represents an upward fining sedimentary cycle, which shows the characteristic feature of basinal sedimentation. Recently, a large number of well-preserved leaf impressions were collected from the Late Tertiary sediments of Jhumari Nala section. A detailed study on these leaf impressions has been done. The qualitative and quantitative methods of comparison of morphological features of the fossil and extant taxa reveal the occurrence of some more new taxa which are comparable to 14 species of 14 dicotyledonous families. On the basis of present assemblage, as well as already known data, the palaeoclimate and phytogeography of Mahuadanr area during the Late Tertiary have been deduced. Distribution of all the modern comparable species indicates that most of taxa (about 66%) presently grow in the mixed deciduous forests of the Himalayan foothills, central India, south India and adjoining area of the Mahuadanr Valley, which suggests that mixed deciduous type of forests flourished in and around the fossil locality during the sedimentation. The presence of a good amount of taxa in the vicinity of Mahuadanr Valley indicates that the same flora continued till now, suggesting that there is no marked climatic change in the area since Late Tertiary time.

103 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

METAL ACCUMULATION AND HYPERACCUMULATION IN PLANTS - BIODIVERSITY PROSPECTING FOR RECLAMATION OF ABANDONED MINES: CONVINCING EVIDENCES AND CONSTRAINTS

M. N. V. Prasad Department of Plant Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad 500046, India E-mail: [email protected]

Biogeochemical cycling of essential and non-essential elements in ecosystem is a complex phenomenon. Al, Ca, Fe, Na, P, K, S, Si, Ti, Mg bioelements, viz. C, H, N and O, constitute about 99% of the elemental composition of the environment. Elements such as As, Cd, Co, Cu, Cr, Hg, Mo, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, Zn, etc. constitute about 1% of the total elemental content of the soil, and hence are called trace elements. The term ‘heavy metal’ is used for those weighing more than 5 g cm-3, e.g. Zn (7.1), Cr (7.2), Cd (8.6), Ni (8.7), Co (8.9), Cu (8.9), Mo (10.2), Hg (13.5) and Pb (11.4). Al (2.7) is a light metal, As and Sn are half-metals and Se is non-metal. Some metals can occur in different valence states, so that one element may be more or less toxic in different states. One example is Cr(III) and the more toxic Cr(VI). A few like Cs, Hg and Ga are liquids at room temperature. As, B, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Se, U, V and Zn are present naturally in soils in low concentrations but may be elevated because of human activities, fossil fuel combustion, mining, smelting, sludge amendment to soil, fertilizer application and agrochemical application. At low concentrations, some trace elements, e.g. Cu, Cr, Mo, Ni, Se, Zn, etc. are essential for healthy functioning of biota. However, at high concentrations these essential elements are toxic. Some trace elements are also non-essential, e.g. As, Cd, Hg, Pb, etc. as they are extremely toxic to biota at very low concentrations. Phytoremediation (use of green plants to remove, contain, or render environmental contaminants harmless) is an emerging biogeotechnological application based on the “green liver concept”. This technology operates on the principles of biogeochemical cycling. Phytoremediation projects have been successful for the cleanup of metal polluted/contaminated soil, surface water, groundwater, air and for ecological restoration of degraded mines. Extensive diversity of native and non-native plants has been applied in this strategy. This paper will focus on the recent advancements in phytoremediation technology emphasizing the need for (i) biodiversity prospecting for success of this strategy, (ii) use of transgenics, (iii) rhizosphere biotechnology, (iv) application of natural and synthetic chelators to facilitate phytoremediation technology and (v) investigations on the mechanisms of metal tolerance in plants. The technical terms and rationale of the involved sub-processes are explained. The key processes involved in phytoremediation technology are (i) metal uptake, transport accumulation and (ii) phytostabilization. Other related applications are: erosion control of mine tailings and metals and use of environmental and industrial crops.

104 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

Phytoremediation can be in situ, growing, harvesting plants on a contaminated site an aesthetically pleasing process, solar-energy driven, and passive technique. This technique is being used along with or, in some cases, in place of expensive conventional chemical and mechanical cleanup methods. The advantages and limitations of phytoremediation technology are discussed.

105 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

PALYNOFACIES AND DINOFLAGELLATE CYSTS AS INDICATORS OF OMZ CONDITIONS IN MARINE SEDIMENT CORES ALONG KARAWAR COAST, EASTERN ARABIAN SEA

Vandana Prasad1, Rahul Garg1 & Rajiv Nigam2 1Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India 2National Institute of Oceanography, Goa, India

The Arabian Sea is one of the few regions in the world that are severely depleted in oxygen. A pronounced oxygen minima zone (OMZ) exists between 120-1250 m depth and is characterized by accumulation of organic matter and low bioturbation activity. Hence, sedimentary cores from these regions are excellent archives for palaeoclimatic reconstruction. A vast amount of data has been generated on the geochemical and foraminiferal aspects of OMZ. However, studies related to the distribution pattern of sedimentary organic matter within OMZ have not yet been taken up. Palynofacies studies were carried out on a 25 cm thick sediment core SK-117/ SC-26 (200 m water depth) off the Karawar coast, eastern Arabian Sea for palaeoenvironmental reconstruction. The base of core SC-26 is dated as 10,800 ± 110 yr BP. A significant change has been noted in the palynofacies distribution pattern in the down core sediment profile. Massive blooms of freshwater cyanobacteria along with significant protoperidinioid and Tuberculodinium vancampoae dinocyst associations predominate in the upper ~22 cm of the core indicating increased surface water productivity and lowered salinity at the onset of Holocene. On the other hand, the gonyaulacoid dinocysts, represented by Spiniferites sp., Polysphaeridium zoharyi and Operculodinium centrocarpum, dominate in pre-Holocene (10,800 ± 110 yr BP) sediment sample in the lowermost part of the core. Dominance of fresh water cyanobacteria indicates stable stratified water column in the shelfal region as a result of intensified SW monsoonal activity during Holocene in this region. It is interpreted that enhanced SW monsoonal activity resulted in fresh water discharge. This, along with high summer temperature, formed a stable thermocline with high biological activity in the water column and consequent high oxygen consumption and formation of OMZ conditions off the Karawar Coast, eastern Arabian Sea.

106 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

A PTERIDOPHYTIC SPOROCARP MARSILEAITES DECCANII GEN. ET SP. NOV. FROM DECCAN INTERTRAPPEAN BEDS OF MOHGAONKALAN, MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA

Sumedha D. Puranik1 & P. D. Kolhe2 1Shri Shivaji Science College, Congress Nagar, Nagpur, India 2Institute of Science, Nagpur, India

The present paper deals with the petrified pteridophytic sporocarp from the Deccan Intertrappean beds of Mohgaonkalan, Madhya Pradesh. The sporocarp is stalked, elliptical with tubercles and hairs. Wall is multilayered, parenchymatous, with mucilaginous substances and thick cuticle. The sporocarp shows the presence of indusium and dorsiventral sori. Stalked sporangia are attached to sporocarp wall, microsporangium and megasporangium 2-3 celled thick with rounded microspores and oval to rounded megaspores. The sporocarp shows close resemblance with Marsilea and hence named as Marsileaites deccanii.

107 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

A NEW PETRIFIED PALM FRUIT FROM DECCAN INTERTRAPPEAN BEDS OF MOHGAONKALAN, MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA

Sumedha D. Puranik1, P. D. Kolhe2 & S. D. Narkhede2 1Shri Shivaji Science College, Congress Nagar, Nagpur, India 2Institute of Science, Nagpur, India

The present paper deals with a monocot fruit of Borasseae collected from Deccan Intertrappean beds of Mohgaonkalan, Madhya Pradesh. The fruit is obovate, pyriform, gradually attenuated towards the base, subhemispherical with numerous small inequalities on the surface. The fruit is a two- seeded drupe with pericarp, differentiated into epicarp, mesocarp and endocarp. It shows three projections. Epicarp shows ridges and furrows. Hypodermis is present below the epidermis. Mesocarp shows fibrous and fibrovascular bundles, small and large cavities and canal. Endocarp is not very strong and contains fibrovascular, fibrous bundles and sclereids. Endosperm and embryonal cavity are present. The studied fruit shows close resemblance with tribe Borasseae of Palmae. Hence it is named as Borasseocarpon mohgaoense gen. et sp. nov. The generic name is after the tribe Borasseae and the specific name is after the locality Mohgaonkalan.

108 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

SEDIMENTATION RATE OF EOLIAN SEQUENCES FROM NORTH CHINESE LOESS PLATEAU AND ITS PALAEOCLIMATIC SIGNIFICANCE

Xiaoke Qiang & Zhisheng An State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Science, Xi’an 710075, China E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]

The climate of Asia is significantly affected by the extent and height of the Himalayan Mountains and the Tibetan Plateau (An et al. 2001). Since 50 Ma ago, especially around the boundary of Oligocene/Miocene, the reorganization of the environmental pattern such as the arid zone has been restricted to northwest China, widespread eolian deposits in the Chinese Loess Plateau and ecological succession around the Tibet Plateau, indicating the establishment of East Asian monsoon (Sun & Wang 2005) and aridity in the Central Asia. Integrated studies of palaeoclimatic evidence and modelling imply that expansion of the northeastern Tibetan Plateau enhances the East Asian summer monsoon and leads to drying in Central Asia (An et al. 2001). Widespread eolian red clay underlying the Plio-Pleistocene loess-palaeosol succession from Jiaxian in northern Chinese Plateau has been dated back to 8.35 Ma. An initial sedimentation rate of 11 m/ Ma increased gradually to 17.5 m/Ma by 6 Ma, and then decreased to 6 m/Ma between 5 Ma and 3.6 Ma. A marked increase in sedimentation rate and grain size beginning between 3.6 Ma and 3.1 Ma indicates that the East Asian monsoon strengthened at this time, and intensified further after 2.6 Ma (Qiang et al. 2001). The eolian sediment rate from Jiaxian sequence along with the eolian deposition in the central North Pacific (Rea et al. 1998), has provided the evidence for the late Cenozoic drying of interior Asia, which was presumably uplift-related to the Tibetan Plateau. Eolian dust accumulated on the Loess Plateau about 6-8 Ma whilst the flux maximum occurred in North Pacific indicating the enhancement of interior Asia aridity. The gradual increase of eolian accumulation records from both the Chinese Loess Plateau and the North Pacific occurred during 3.6 to 2.6 Ma ago. This was interpreted from the sudden drying of dust source regions forced by the Tibetan uplifting and thus decreasing of the moisture input to northern and northwestern China. At the onset of the Great Northern Hemisphere Glaciations, the eolian accumulation rate from the Loess Plateau was more sensitive to the aridity of source region than the same from the North Pacific, showing high frequency variability on the orbital timescales since 2.6 Ma. The temporal coincidence of the stronger East Asia monsoon and the Pliocene uplift of northwestern Tibet, just before the onset of the Northern Hemisphere glaciation, indicate that the three events could be causally linked.

109 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

IMPRINTS OF CALLOVIAN TRANSGRESSIVE EVENT IN THE INDIAN SUBCONTINENT: NANNOFOSSIL PERSPECTIVE

Jyotsana Rai Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India E-mail: jyotsana_rai @yahoo.com

Calcareous nannoplanktons are marine golden-brown algae belonging to family Chrysophyceae. They biomineralize calcite and have their ancestry in low latitudinal late Triassic areas. The late Triassic records are limited to some European areas, southwestern Australia and Ladakh Himalaya (Rai et al. 2004). The Triassic-Jurassic transition witnessed a nannofossil extinction event followed by inception of a few new genera adopting rapidly evolving strategies in early Jurassic. The middle Jurassic, represented by the Bathonian-Callovian and Oxfordian stages, shows predominance of genus Watznaueria (W. britannica) in the assemblages, the world over. The Callovian and early Oxfordian are characterized by delicate, tiny spiked hexagonal species of Stephanolithiaceae. The rest of the Jurassic Period displayed progressive reduction in nannofossil species. The middle Jurassic transgressive event is recorded in India and is believed to be a part of western Tethyan mixed province of Proto-Atlantic ocean. In India, the nannofossil assemblages of Bathonian- Callovian age are recorded from Kutch, Rajasthan and Karakoram, which have bearing on palaeobiogeography. Datable nannofossils are recorded from the Patcham, Chari, Katrol and Umia formations of Kutch and from Bara Bagh and Kuldhar members of Jaisalmer Formation of Rajasthan. Of these, the Chari Formation of Jara Dome, Kutch and Kuldhar Member of Rajasthan yielded diversified nannofossil assemblages of Early-Late Callovian age. These are important as low latitude Tethyan records. The assemblages are dominated by several species of Watznaueria with its size variants. Ansulasphaera helvetica and Stephanolithion bigotii are important zonal indices. The FAD of the former is a marker for zonal event in the late Bathonian and is coincident with FAD of Stephanolithion hexum as a secondary event. The FAD of S. bigotii is an early Callovian zonal marker corresponding with late early Callovian Calloviense ammonite zone. It is followed by LADs of S. hexum and A. helvetica of latest Callovian and coincides with the late late Callovian Lamberti ammonite zone. Record of reworked Pliensbachian-Aalenian nannofossils from Jara Dome also provides insight for dating the earliest transgresive event in Kutch basin. The presence of A. helvetica, S. bigotii and S. hexum in the assemblages has helped to assign the sequence an early Callovian age. Early Callovian was also the time of eustatic rise and its imprints are witnessed in the nannofossil assemblages of Kutch and Rajasthan. The Karakoram area has provided datable but less diverse nannofossil assemblage, displaying recrystallization in a tectonically active terrain. Presence of A. helvetica with Cyclagelosphaera manivitae has limited the age of the assemblage as Bathonian-Callovian. The delicate forms of Stephanolithiaceae are lacking, possibly due to recrystallization and therefore boundary between Bathonian and Callovian could not be delineated. These assemblages have wide palaeobiogeographical implications. The nannofossils do not show

110 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

provincialism, which is much pronounced in ammonites and benthic foraminifers. Record of A. helvetica (coccolith with a sturdy architecture due to twisted elements) may serve as a cosmopolitan marker for the Bathonian-Callovian time slice in the Tethyan realm. A. helvetica is equally important in the Boreal realm, indicating a free ocean current connection between the Boreal and Tethyan realms.

111 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

DEDUCTION OF ANCIENT ENVIRONMENTS THROUGH PLANT EVIDENCES - AN ASSAY

A. Rajanikanth Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India E-mail: [email protected]/ [email protected]

Evolutionary changes through time have culminated in creating an environment congenial to rich biodiversity. Plant ecosystems of modern times are product of series of evolutionary innovations. Fossils denote firm evidence for the presence of taxa on ancient landmasses and provide at least a minimum age for the antiquity of particular biological group. There is an urgent need to consider overall biotic and abiotic evidences to deduce ancient climates. Ecological distribution of plant groups provides a clue to past climatic regimes. Relative abundance of taxonomic categories can be utilized to deduce past climates. Plant fossils are a miniscule subset of life that lived in the past. Environmental stresses placed upon terrestrial plants due to resource alterations like temperature variations, water availability, nutrient supply, gas exchange and light capture are reflected in various organ/tissue structures. Both morphology and anatomy of fossil plants give a clue to micro- and mega-environmental constraints. It is important to understand nature of floral components preserved in various sedimentary environments and unravel taphocoenosis of a particular selected geographic province. Acquisition of small adaptive changes over time resulted in variations. These arise from random changes in the genetic composition of the species. A group of species constituting flora of particular region flourished or disappeared or gave rise to a new flora as dictated by both biotic and abiotic factors. Palaeoflora preserved show distinct characters conditioned by taphonomic and palaeoecological processes. The circumstances under which they survived under a particular geographic region and their subsequent burial after death can be deduced through plant fossil study. Depending on the selective processes acting prior to deposition and during diagenesis, a plant assemblage may differ significantly from the plant communities from which it was derived. In the present communication wood and leaf fossils derived from lacustrine and fluvial deposits of Pranhita- Godavari Graben have been explored to derive possible environmental signatures. Plant taxa assignable to Bryophyta, Pteridophyta, Pteridosperms, Cycadales, Bennettitales, Ginkgoales and Coniferales are variously represented in the basinal flora. Within the assemblage intermingling of plants belonging to distinct/distant habitats delimit explicit environmental inferences. The taphoflora distributed in different s edimentary environments exhibits quantitative and qualitative differences. Case study of Ptilophyllum floral constituents recovered from various sub-environments of Pranhita-Godavari Graben establishes compatibility of environment/plant part representation in ancient sediments. Leaf and wood evidences are used to derive ancient environments in the backdrop of selective processes which provide a partial understanding of past climates. An apparently monotonous vegetation of conifers, cycads, cycadeoids, and other gymnosperms with a limited ground cover of ferns and their allies in damper sites distinguish this flora. Variations within the wood characters are attributable to micro-environmental necessities and /or taphonomic constraints. Since every province has an environmental spectrum, preservation of different parts of plants was conditioned. Environmental variations at the regional to global scale are indicated by distribution pattern of various taphonomic modes. Was evolution a function of environmental stimuli or was it a direct result of the pace of biological diversification needs to be ascertained through rigorous studies on past plant communities.

112 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

TRIASSIC FLORA OF TIKI FORMATION, SOUTH REWA GONDWANA BASIN - A PERSPECTIVE

Ram-Awatar & A. Rajanikanth Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India E-mail: [email protected]

The South Rewa Basin embodies Gondwana rock sequences of Early Permian-Early Cretaceous age. The exposures of the Tiki Formation are found in between Beohari Hill, near Tiki (Lat. 23º56'0"N: Long. 81º21'12"E) and Neosi (Lat. 23º35'53"N: Long. 81º11'39"E) villages, Shahdol District, Madhya Pradesh. The Tiki Formation can be divided into two litho-units, the lower unit is characterized by red clays, white, pinkish-white, yellowish sandstones, loose green sandstones, greyish micaceous shale and green sandy shale whereas the upper unit is dominated by hard, ferruginous sandstone with rare shale lenses and supposed to be unfossiliferous. The lower Tiki unit is associated with rich Triassic flora of leaves, spores/pollen and rarely fossil woods. Invertebrate and vertebrate fossils are also well known. The megaflora comprises Lepidopteris madagascariensis, L. stormbergensis, Dicroidium hughesii, D. zuberi, D. giarensis, D. coriaceum, Dicroidium sp. cf. D. odontopteroides, Pachypteris sp., Baiera sp., Xylopteris sp., Sphenobaiera janarensis, Elatocladus denticulatus, E. raoi, Pagiophyllum bosei, Yabiella indica, Desmiophyllum singhii and Podocarpoxylon (wood). The spores and pollen are represented by Samaropollenites speciosus, Aulisporites astigmosus, Camerosporites minor, Duplicisporites granulatus, Rimaesporites potoniaei, Dictyophyllidites mortonii, Carnisporites mesozoicus, Tikisporites balmei, Enzonalasporites leschikii, Camarozonosporites rudis, Convolutisporites rhaeticus, Leschikisporites aduncus, Lycopodiacidites kuepperi (palynomorphs) and Bokarosporites janarensis, Banksisporites dettmannae, B. panchetensis, B. pinguis, B sinuosus, B. tenuis, Biharisporites sparsus, Verrutriletes minuticorpus, V. distinctus, Horstisporites areolatus, Erlansonisporites triassicus, E. singhii, Hughesisporites variabilis and Nathorstisporites hopliticus (megaspores). The overall plant fossils evidences suggest Late Triassic age for the Tiki Formation. The present synthesis discusses floristic and palaeoecological significance of plant evidences. Record of a new wood taxon from Triassic sequence of the Tiki Formation and its importance in deriving climatic inferences is also discussed.

113 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

PALAEOCLIMATIC STUDIES BASED ON OXYGEN ISOTOPES IN SEA SEDIMENTS AND SPELEOTHEMS

R. Ramesh, M. G. Yadava & M. Tiwari Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad-380009, India E-mail: [email protected]

We, at the Physical Research Laboratory, have been using stable isotope variations in a number of natural archives such as tree rings, corals, peat deposits, lake and deep sea sediments and cave deposits, to decipher past variations in the Indian monsoon. During the last five years, we have generated stable oxygen isotope data from speleothems from peninsualr India, which give a unique record of the monsoon rainfall variations during the Holocene. This record does not always match with the monsoon wind record obtained from other proxies from the upwelling dominated western Arabian Sea. We compare and contrast the two data sets, in addition to presenting our own stable isotope data sets from the western Arabian Sea, and discuss possible reasons for such contrasting observations. In general, it appears that the Holocene monsoon trend did not follow the insolation, as was inferred from single-proxy records (Globigerina bulloides abundance).

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HOLOCENE CLIMATIC CHANGES BASED ON MULTIPROXY DATA FROM GLACIATED SITES OF BHAGIRATHI VALLEY, WESTERN HIMALAYA

Parminder Singh Ranhotra & Amalava Bhattacharyya Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India

Analysis of Himalayan climate, in both temporal and spatial aspect, is of great significance in understanding the interrelationship of monsoon and other climatic phenomena in regional as well as global perspective. However, to establish the long-term relationship within these climatic systems we need to reconstruct long climatic changes through analyses of proxy records from various sources (geological, glaciological, biological, historical, etc.). In the present study climatic changes in the upper Bhagirathi Valley since 10,690 yr BP to present has been discussed based on analyses of 13 multiproxy data, viz. pollen, d C and magnetic susceptibility (clf) from subsurface sediments collected from two glaciated valleys, viz. Gangotri and Dokriani within Bhagirathi Valley. Juxtaposing the inferences of proxy data made from these two sites together depict a regional post-glacial or Holocene sequence for the valley. At Dokriani, a cool and dry phase existed since 10,690 yr BP (12,400 cal yr BP) till around 10,200 yr BP (11,600 cal yr BP) as indicated by poor pollen productivity, low negative d13C values (-18‰ to

-20‰) and low clf values. This cool and dry phase can be correlated with the Younger Dryas event. Around 10,200 yr BP (11,650 cal yr BP), an increasing trend has been observed in the proxies indicating climatic amelioration, with maximum negative d13C values (-28‰) between 9,227 yr BP (10,633 cal yr BP) and 8,900 yr BP (10,100 cal yr BP) indicating dominance of C3 vegetation. The pollen data also shows that during this time the area was colonized by taxa favourable to moist climate. This can be a transition phase to the Holocene with commencement of warm and moist conditions following the Younger Dryas. Corresponding climatic phase has not been possible to build from the Gangotri region due to non-availability of sediments covering the time span beyond 9,000 yr BP (10,300 cal yr BP). Further, pollen and d13C data indicate some short phases of climatic deterioration around 8,600 to 8,100 yr BP (9,670 to 8,950 cal yr BP) and around 7,600 yr BP (8,100 cal yr BP). A major shift towards drier climatic conditions has been observed between 6,200 yr BP and 5,000 yr BP, as supported 13 by pollen data, some rise in d C values (-23‰) and maximum clf values within the valley. However, since around 5,000 yr BP (5,800 cal yr BP) climate seems to be comparatively less arid as shown by pollen record, which again reverted to drier condition around 2,900 yr BP (3,100 cal yr BP). During late Holocene, there was progression towards moist condition since around 2,000 yr BP, with more warm and moist climate around 1,788 yr BP (365 AD). Further, around 800 yr BP (1200

AD), the sharp increase in steppe elements reflects the trend towards drier climate. Rise in clf values around 600 yr BP (1400 AD), with good values of steppe elements, also supports the dry phase in the valley. This dry episode can be correlated with the Little Ice Age signatures identified from many geographical regions of the world.

115 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

PALYNOLOGY AND PALAEOECOLOGY OF VASTAN LIGNITE MINE (EARLY EOCENE), CAMBAY BASIN, GUJARAT, INDIA

M. R. Rao1, R. S. Rana2 & Poonam Verma1 1Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected] 2Department of Geology, H. N. B Garhwal University, Srinagar-246175, India E-mail: [email protected]

The Vastan Lignite open cast mine (Lat. 21º25'47"N: Long. 73°07'30"E) is being explored by Gujarat Industrial Power Corporation. Palynological study on samples from Vastan Lignite Mine, Cambay Basin has been carried out and a rich palynological assemblage has been recovered. Some of the important palynotaxa are Phragmothyrites, Trichothyrites, Inapertisporites, Dandotiaspora plicata, Lygodiumsporites, Biretisporites, Dictyophyllidites, Intrapunctisporis, Cheilanthoidspora, Retipollenites, Clavainaperturites, Palmidites, Arengapollenites, Liliacidites, Retimonosulcites, Proxapertites, Neocouperipollis, Perinofoveomonocolpites, Acanthotricolpites, Spinizonocolpites, Lakiapollis, Tribrevicolporites, Tricolporopollis, Tricolporopilites, Dermatobrevicolporites, Tricolpites reticulatus, Lanagiopollis, Margocolporites, Barringtoniapollenites, Rhoipites, Retistephanocolpites, Polybrevicolporites, Myricipites, Proteacidites and Clavaperiporites. Quantitative analysis of the spores and pollen recovered shows dominance of angiosperm pollen (Liliacidites, Retimonosulcites, Palmidites, Proxapertites, Neocouperipollis, Arengapollenites, Spinizonocolpites, Dermatobrevicolporites, Lanagiopollis, Polybrevicolporites and Retistephanocolpites), which is a conspicuous feature of the assemblage. Dinoflagellate cysts and reworked Cretaceous elements have also been recorded. The palynomorphs in the assemblage have been compared with the pollen and spores of modern taxa and the distribution of the families represented by the fossil taxa suggests a tropical-subtropical (warm and humid) climate during the sedimentation. The presence of fungal remains and pteridophytic spores also corroborate the above view. Palynomorphs belonging to low-land, fresh water swamp and water edge, mangrove and coastal floras have been identified. The presence of dinoflagellate cysts and mangrove elements in the palynoassemblage indicates influence of brackish water during deposition. On the basis of high frequency of Nypa and also good representation of Barringtonia pollen, it is inferred that the sediments were deposited in an area which was fringed by thick mangrove vegetation, chiefly constituted by Nypa. A comparison of the present palynoflora with other Palaeogene assemblages of India reveals a close resemblance with the palynoflora of Naredi Formation (Early Eocene, Kutch) and Rajpardi Lignite (Gujarat). The studied sequence has been dated as Early Eocene based on the marker palynomorphs.

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STROMATOLITES THROUGH TIME: THE GEOLOGICAL RECORD OF MICROBIAL CARBONATES

Robert Riding School of Earth, Ocean and Planetary Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3YE, U.K. E-mail: [email protected]

Microbial carbonates are sensitive archives of long-term geobiological change. They reflect the influences of microbial metabolism, cell surface properties, and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) on mineral precipitation, plus grain trapping by mat communities. Early lithification is essential for the accretion and preservation of benthic microbial carbonates. It is both biologically mediated and environmentally dependent. Column-Dome Morphology: Microbial carbonate morphotypes reflect original synoptic relief, determined by accretion rate relative to adjacent sediment. Low relative accretion rate results in low relief and complex shape; high relative accretion rate results in high relief and simple shape. Thus, increase in morphotypic diversity, e.g. in Proterozoic branched stromatolites, reflects low synoptic relief due to low relative accretion rate, and is not a proxy for abundance. Microfabrics: Porostromate (calcified filament) and spongiostromate (clotted/peloidal) microfabrics appear to reflect surface (e.g. photosynthetic) and subsurface (e.g. sulphate reduction) mat calcification processes, respectively. Photosynthetic calcification of cyanobacterial sheaths is enhanced by carbon-concentrating mechanisms (CCMs) and elevated ambient saturation state. Dolomite precipitation can also result from sulphate reduction. Coarse grained fabrics reflect trapping enhanced by incorporation of algae into mats. Macrofabrics: The processes of calcification and trapping that determine microfabrics also result in distinctive macrofabrics, reflecting the degree of uniformity of components and their patterns of accretion or disturbance. Typically, stromatolites (laminated macrofabric) have clotted/peloidal microfabrics, whereas thrombolites (clotted macrofabrics) and dendrolites (dendritic macrofabrics) have microfabrics with calcified microbes. In coarse agglutinated stromatolites (e.g. Lee Stocking, Shark Bay) crude layering reflects coarse sediment supply, but also suggests irregular accretion. Microbial carbonates through time: It is likely that processes and rates of mat accretion and calcification have changed through time in response to (i) atmosphere-hydrosphere composition and its effects on microbial metabolism (e.g. sulphate reduction, photosynthetic calcification), and (ii) microbial evolution. Secular variations in microfabrics and macrofabrics reflect these changes. Fluctuations in abundance reflect competition and changes in seawater saturation state with respect to CaCO3 minerals. Archaean-Proterozoic: Widespread crystalline crust fabrics together with regularity of dome- column morphology suggest that Archaean to mid-Proterozoic stromatolites may have been dominated by essentially abiotic precipitation processes, reflecting elevated carbonate saturation state. In addition, scarcity of micrite reported in Archaean stromatolites may reflect limitation of mat sulphate reduction

117 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

2- by low seawater SO4 levels, and inhibition of planktic whiting precipitation by elevated pH buffering. 2- Proterozoic development of clotted and micritic fabrics could therefore reflect rise in SO4 levels and decline in CO2. Further fall in CO2 and rise in O2 is likely to have stimulating whiting production and induced carbon-concentrating mechanisms (CCM) in cyanobacteria. This would account for Mesoproterozoic increase in micrite and Neoproterozoic cyanobacterial sheath-calcification. Global cooling ~700-570 Myr ago would have favoured diffusive entry of CO2 into cells, slowing CCM development, and lower levels of temperature and pCO2 would have reduced seawater saturation state, hindering cyanobacterial calcification. As Earth emerged from ‘snowball’ glaciations in the late

Neoproterozoic, global warming and O2 rise could have reactivated CCM development. At the same time, rising levels of temperature, calcium and pCO2 would have increased seawater saturation state. These changes are likely to have stimulated cyanobacterial sheath calcification. This Early Cambrian biocalcification event transformed benthic microbial carbonate fabrics and promoted widespread cyanobacterial reef development. Phanerozoic: Evolution of algal and metazoan reef builders inhibited microbial dome-column formation in favour of reefal crusts and irregular masses, except during Mass Extinction aftermaths and in ecological refuges such as Shark Bay. Long-term overall decline in microbial carbonate abundance probably largely reflects decline in seawater saturation state that slowed lithification and therefore accretion. Grazing may have been a less significant factor so long as microbial mats were lithified. Fluctuations in seawater saturation state are reflected by changes in microbial carbonate abundance and episodic development of dendrolite and thrombolite fabrics in the Cambrian-Early Ordovician, Late Devonian, and Permian-Triassic. Present-day high metazoan diversity and low saturation state result in microbial carbonates being close to an all-time low. Diatoms transformed Cenozoic mat communities, significantly enhancing trapping ability, reflected in the formation of coarse-grained columns where stress inhibits metazoan overgrowth, as at Shark Bay and Lee Stocking Island. The coarse and crudely layered fabrics prominent in some of these columns are not closely comparable with most ancient microbial carbonates.

118 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

AIRBORNE POLLEN OF ALLAHABAD AND THEIR ALLERGENIC SIGNIFICANCE

Manju Sahney & Swati Chaurasia Department of Botany, University of Allahabad, Allahabad-211002, India

Aeropalynological investigations are an integral part of respiratory allergy because of their importance in the diagnosis and therapeutic treatment of respiratory allergy patients (Hyde 1972, Spieksma 1980). The composition and concentration of airborne pollen generally fluctuates from season to season and from place to place. Aeropalynological survey of a place reflects the local ground vegetation which over years keeps on changing due to climatic variation and due to increased urbanization. Thus to have an accurate information, continuous monitoring of airborne pollen grains is desirable. Earlier information on airborne pollen of Allahabad was based on the surveys conducted during 1973-79 (Nautiyal & Midha 1984) and 1990-92 (Sahney 2000; Sahney & Ahmad 1997). Thus the present work was taken up after a gap of ten years in order to update the airborne pollen calendar of Allahabad. The present aeropalynological survey was conducted for two consecutive years from December 2002 to November 2004 using gravimetric air sampler. Altogether 107 pollen morphotypes were identified. Pollen grains of Holoptelia integrifolia formed the major component of aeropalynoflora (56% in 2002-2003 and 51% in 2003-2004) followed by Poaceae (11% in 2002-2003 and 13% in 2003-2004). Other significant morphotypes were those of Caryota urens (6%, 5%), Pinus roxburghii (4%, 3%), Ricinus communis (3%, 4%), Ailanthus excelsa (2%, 3%), Madhuca longifolia (2%, 1%) and Parthenium hysterophorus (1%, 1%). February to April (Spring-early summer) and September to November (Post monsoon- autumn) were two chief pollen seasons. February to April was dominated by pollen grains of tree taxa while September to November was dominated by those of grasses and herbs. Pollen maxima peak was observed in March in both the years while minima was in January during 2002-2003 and in June during 2003-04. Analysis of two years data reveal significant variation in the airborne pollen concentration in two consecutive years, which may be due to variations in weather conditions. A detailed correlation study of pollen concentration and meteorological parameters have been made in this paper. Clinical investigation was done in collaboration with a local allergist. Results of intradermal skin test reveal significant positivity for pollen grains of Azadirachta indica, Cynodon dactylon, Brassica compestris, Amaranthus sp, Argemone mexicana, Ailanthus excelsa, Chenopodium album, Holoptelia integrifolia, Parthenium hysterophorus, Ricinus communis, etc. The results of the present survey were compared with those of previous surveys conducted at Allahabad during 1973-79 and 1990-92.

119 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

ROLE OF SECONDARY LIPTINITE MACERALS IN CHARACTERIZATION OF LOWER GONDWANA COALS - A CASE STUDY FROM TATAPANI-RAMKOLA COALFIELD, CHHATTISGARH, INDIA

Shinjini Sarana 24 Badshah Bagh, Lucknow University Campus, Lucknow-226007, India E-mail: [email protected]

The present paper deals with various types of secondary liptinite macerals of the Lower Gondwana coals. Under normal mode, the presence of inherent mineral matter often covers the liptinite macerals, resulting into their low countability. Detailed work on secondary liptinite macerals or remobilized liptinite macerals from the Lower Gondwana Permian coals of India has not been carried out so far. However, some workers have observed presence of fusinitic and semifusinitic cell lumen infilled with secondary resin or exsudatinite from the Sohagpur Coalfield, Madhya Pradesh and bituminite, fluorinite, exsudatinite from Singrauli Coalfield, Madhya Pradesh. Diagnosis of primary liptinite macerals has been taken up by many workers. However, diagnosis of the shapeless fluorescing matter from Gondwana coals is still to be tackled. Certain misconceptions related to the occurrence of remobilized macerals of the liptinite group have been clarified. Such lower rank durainous coals can be utilized for tar yielding and for obtaining petroleum like substances. The difference between the secondary liptinite macerals of the Gondwana coals with that of Euro-American coals has also been discussed.

120 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

SAMPLING BIOGENIC CARBONATES FOR PROXIES OF PALAEOTEMPERATURE

Pratul Kumar Saraswati Department of Earth Sciences, IIT Bombay, Powai, Mumbai 400076 E-mail: [email protected])

The principal proxies of palaeotemperature include d18O, Mg/Ca and Sr/Ca of biogenic carbonates. In addition to temperature, the uptake of isotopes and trace elements is also influenced by other physical and chemical conditions of the ambient environment and the biological activities of the organisms. The co-existing foraminifera from Lakshadweep are found to differ by ~0.8‰ in d18O and ~2‰ in d13C. Marginopora vertebralis and Amphisorus hemprichii precipitate their skeletal carbonates in oxygen isotopic equilibrium but Heterostegina depressa, Neorotalia calcar, Amphistegina lessonii and Nummulites venosus secrete their tests out of equilibrium. This implies that the user must correctly identify the species and should preferably choose species-specific palaeotemperature calibrations. High resolution isotopic analyses along the growth direction of some foraminifera suggest that seasonal cycles are faithfully recorded in certain shallow-water foraminiferal species such as Marginopora kudakajimaensis from the coral reefs of Japan. But a relatively deeper-water Cycloclypeus from the same region shows very little cyclic variation in its oxygen isotopic composition. Therefore, a good understanding of the palaeobiology of the analyzed species is also essential for palaeotemperature interpretation. The importance of proper identification and palaeobiological understanding of the species is further supported by the trace element composition of the foraminiferal species. The species of benthic foraminifera inhabiting the same water-depth and having lived under the same temperature, salinity and seawater composition are found to have large differences of Mg-Ca ratios. Most of the species show poor correlation between temperature of seawater and whole-test Mg-Ca and Sr-Ca ratios. A fairly good correlation, however, is observed in Marginopora kudakajimaensis. But electron probe microanalysis of this species shows a large spatial heterogeneity in magnesium content of single tests. It raises question about the accuracy of Mg/Ca as palaeotemperature proxy. The stable isotopic and trace element composition of the foraminiferal carbonates indicate variation at all taxonomic levels and at different ontogenetic stages. A careful sampling of biogenic carbonates is therefore of critical importance in geochemical proxies of palaeotemperature.

121 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

PETROGRAPHIC EVALUATION OF THE COAL SEAMS FROM GUNDALA AREA OF GODAVARI VALLEY COALFIELD, ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA

O. S. Sarate1 & M. Basava Chary2 1Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India 2Exploration Division, Singareni Collieries Company Limited, Kothagudem, India

Gundala area represents the north-western extremity of Lingala-Koyagudem coal-belt of the Godavari Valley Coalfield, Andhra Pradesh. The Singarani Collieries Company Limited, (SCCL), Kothagudem has taken up subsurface exploration in virgin tracts of Gundala area, which has revealed the existence of ten coal seams. Coal samples collected from seams III A, III (Top), III (Bottom), L-1, IV A, V (Top) and V (Bottom), pertaining to Bore-hole Nos. SGK-124 and SGK-128, have been critically analyzed for their maceral constitution and rank (vitrinite reflectance) estimation to understand the quality, rank, economical utility, as well as the depositional environment and coal bed methane potentialities. On the basis of ternary maceral (m.m.f.) plottings, it has been inferred that various coal seams intersected in Gundala area contain mixed type of coal, barring V Top (Bore-hole no. SGK-124) and III Top (Bore-hole no. SGK-128) seams which contain vitric type of coal. However, exinite rich coal has been recorded from III Bottom seam of Bore-hole no. SGK-124. The vitrinite reflectance

(Ro max %) has been recorded between 0.47-0.60%, which suggests that the coal has attained high volatile bituminous C stage of rank. Existence of low (8-20%) amount of mineral matter in the coal indicates the better quality of coal, which may find its usage for various industrial purposes. The maceral constitution of the coal suggests that prolonged spell of cold climatic condition supplemented by continuous input of vegetal matter at the depositional site, having sufficient water table for the submergence of the vegetal resource caused enhancement of the bio- and geo-chemical activities, which ultimately resulted in the transformation of the vegetal matter into the present day coal deposits of the area.

122 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

AN EARLY MIOCENE PALYNOFLORAL ASSEMBLAGE FROM THE CARPATHIAN FOREDEEP IN MORAVIA, CZECH REPUBLIC: PALAEOENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATION

Samir Sarkar1 & Nela Dolacova2 1Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India E-mail: [email protected] 2Department of Geology and Palaeontology, Masaryk University, Kotlarska, 2, 61137, Brno, Czech Republic E-mail: [email protected]

The paper discusses the palynological study of the subsurface Karpatian sediments (Early Miocene) encountered in the borehole Nosislav-3 from the southern part of the Carpathian Foredeep in Moravia, Czech Republic. The recorded palynoflora mainly consists of pteridophytic spores, gymnospermous and angiospermous pollen and dinoflagellate cysts. All the palynospectra are strongly facially influenced. This fact is reflected in the proportional changes between the palaeotropic (e.g. Sapotaceae, Palmae, Engelhardia, Platycarya, Symplocos, Reevesia, Schizeaceae, Cyatheaceae) and arctotertiary members (e.g. Alnus, Ulmaceae, Polypodiaceae, Carya, Pterocarya, Juglans, Celtis, Quercus, Poaceae, rarely Betula, Fagus, Liquidambar, Sciadopitys, sporadically Tsuga). On the basis of the distributional pattern of the palynofossils, three distinct palynological zones have been established within the Nosislav-3 borehole. The palynological data have been interpreted for its dating potential, identification of various depth levels and environment of deposition. Abundance of dinoflagellate cysts viz., Achomosphaera, Spiniferites, Operculodinium, Lejeunacysta, Polysphaeridium and Diphyses in the assemblage clearly indicates that the sediments were deposited in a near-shore, coastal environment, with lagoon or swampy conditions nearby. Occurrence of the palynofossils belonging to the families Schizaeaceae, Cyatheaceae, Pteridaceae, Myricaceae, Fabaceae, etc. in the lower horizon points towards the prevalence of a warm-subtropical to warm-temperate climate during the deposition of Karpatian sediments in the area of investigation.

123 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

PROSPECTS OF CBM POOL IN BOKARO BASIN- A PETROLOGICAL POINT OF VIEW

Rakesh Saxena Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India E-mail: [email protected]

Coal Bed Methane (CBM) investigations in India have attracted attention since last decade and have been proved to be an important energy resource in meeting the future demands. In India, the important coal resources of Permian age occur all along the seven tectonic lineaments viz., Damodar, Son-Mahanadi, Wardha-Godavari, Satpura and Rajmahal. These lineaments are characterized by the occurrence of Lower Gondwana sediments. Most of the coals of differing types and grades, which is the backbone of Indian Energy spectrum, are lying in Karharbari, Barakar and Raniganj formations of Lower Gondwana sequence at varying depths and are being exploited through open cast and underground mining methods. Apart from tectonic aspects, the disposition of these sediments in time and space plays an important role not only in understanding the geological history of the basin but also throws light in characterizing the CBM POOL in the basin at greater depths. Bokaro Basin forms the part of Damodar Valley basins and lies third from east to west after Raniganj and Jharia basins. It is highly tectonically effected basin amongst the Damodar Valley basins and is characterized by the disposition of Lower Gondwana sediments of Permian age, viz. Talcher, Karharbari, Barakar, Barren Measures, Raniganj and Panchet. Economically exploitable coals in Bokaro Basin are mainly occurring in Barakar Formation. The coal seams of varying thickness from seam “0” to seam XXIV having different rank and petrological behaviour were studied for an indepth understanding of CBM POOL in the area. Besides, the petrological characterization of coal, he associated roof and floor characteristics of the seams in time and space, together with rank behaviour provide the clue for CBM POOL at greater depth. Rank studies and their abnormal behaviour were noticed in these coal seams. Sudden enhancement in rank in borecore samples were recorded which is presumed to evolve the catagenic methane at greater depth leading to its accumulation in reservoir which may be coal as well, for CBM POOL. The nature and behaviour of varied maceral group particularly vitrinite and inertinite group of macerals also support the contention for the availability of the source material for the evolution of methane at greater depth depending upon the geothermal gradient for CBM POOL. The occurrences of the associated burn lithologies in the roof and floor sediments of the coal earns in time and space suggest the emplacement of intrusive leading to rank enhancement which is responsible for evolution of coal bed methane at greater depth where coal acts as a source and also as a reservoir.

124 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

PALYNOLOGY OF THE REWAK FORMATION (LATE EOCENE) EXPOSED ALONG SIJU- BAGHMARA ROAD, SOUTH GARO HILLS, MEGHALAYA, INDIA

R. K. Saxena & G. K. Trivedi Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India

A rich palynoassemblage has been recovered from the Rewak Formation exposed along Siju- Baghmara Road, South Garo Hills, Meghalaya. The assemblage is represented by dinoflagellate cysts, fungal remains, pteridophytic spores and angiosperm pollen. Besides, reworked Permian palynofossils are also met with. Predominant palynotaxa of the assemblage are Monolites, Polypodiaceaesporites, Polypodiisporites, Cyathidites, Lygodiumsporites, Striatriletes, Densiverrupollenites, Retitricolpites, etc. The palynoflora indicates prevalence of tropical to subtropical, warm-humid climate with heavy precipitation during the deposition of the Rewak Formation in Garo Hills, Meghalaya. The palynological data further suggest that the Rewak Formation was deposited in a marginal marine zone with sufficient fresh water influx. On the basis of palynofloral comparison with other Late Eocene assemblages recorded from different sedimentary basins of India, a Late Eocene age has been assigned to the Rewak Formation.

125 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

THREE-DIMENSIONAL MORPHOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL IMAGERY OF PERMINERALIZED PLANTS AND PRECAMBRIAN MICROORGANISMS

J. William Schopf Department of Earth & Space Sciences, Institute of Geophysics & Planetary Physics (IGPP-Centre for the Study of Evolution & the Origin of Life), and Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095-1567, USA E-mail: [email protected]

Two deficiencies have long hampered studies of permineralized (petrified) fossil plants and organic- walled microorganisms, (1) an inability to accurately document their three-dimensional cellular morphology at high spatial resolution, and (2) a lack of means to directly analyze the chemistry of the coaly matter (kerogen) that comprises their cell walls. These needs are met by two techniques recently introduced to palaeobotany: three-dimensional confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and two- and three- dimensional Raman imagery. Applicable to specimens in petrographic thin sections, cellulose acetate peels, or acid-resistant macerations, CLSM and Raman imagery, together, can provide data by which to characterize, in three dimensions at micron-scale resolution, a one-to-one match of cellular structure and kerogenous composition in permineralized carbonaceous plant parts and microorganisms. Particularly useful for studies of Precambrian microbes and compara bly minute Phanerozoic organic-walled spores, pollen, fungi, and fossil protists, both techniques are also applicable to the investigation of higher plants where they have provided insight into the structure and composition of fossilized cell walls unavailable by any other means. Unlike standard two-dimensional optical photomicrographs, the digitized three-dimensional images provided by CLSM and by Raman can be rotated and visualized (e.g. in video presentations) from multiple perspectives, such images of chert-embedded microscopic fossils being obtainable in thin sections to depths greater than 100 microns by CLSM, and greater than 60 microns by Raman. Together, CLSM and Raman imagery have demonstrated the organic-walled cellularity of numerous Precambrian fossil microbes, including those among oldest fossils known, cellular fossil filaments of the ~3,465-Ma-old Apex chert of Western Australia. Unlike CLSM, three-dimensional Raman spectroscopy can be used to identify minerals as well as carbonaceous matter and to document the micron-scale spatial relations among multicomponent mineral assemblages. Such imagery has therefore been used to demonstrate the presence — previously questioned — of graphite inclusions within quartz-embedded apatite grains of a ~3,800-Ma-old quartz-pyroxene supracrustal rock from Akilia Island, southwest Greenland, an association of apatite and graphite regarded by some as representing the oldest evidence of life on Earth. Applied in tandem, confocal laser scanning microscopy and Raman imagery can provide new information about the morphology, cellular anatomy, taphonomy, and geochemical maturity of kerogenous permineralized fossils. Because both techniques are non-intrusive and non-destructive, both can be applied to specimens archived in museum collections. These techniques hold promise for fruitful palaeobotanical investigation both of chert- and coal ball-permineralized fossil floras.

126 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

RATE OF SEDIMENTATION AND VARIATION OF ORGANIC MATTER CONTENT IN LACUSTRINE SEDIMENTS FROM THREE DIFFERENT CLIMATIC ZONES OF INDIA AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS IN PAST ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

B. Sekar, Amalava Bhattacharyya & S. K. Bera Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India E-mail: [email protected]

Sediments from three lakes, viz. Tsokar Lake, Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir; Didwana Lake, Rajasthan and Berijam Lake, Palni Hills, Tamil Nadu located in diverse climatic zones of India have been analysed to get information on variation in sedimentation rates and organic matter content during Late Quaternary. Great variation in the sedimentation rates and organic matter content has been recorded in these lakes. An environmental radionuclide 14 C has been used to estimate average sedimentation rate and to establish chronologies for a sediment profile of each lake. Plot of 14C dates vs depth of these three sites shows that the best fit line (1st order regression) is very close to measured ages (within 1s errors) and rate of sedimentation was around 9.5 cm/100 years for Tsokar Lake, 3.9 cm/100 years for Didwana Salt Lake and 2.9 cm/100 years for Berijam Lake. Similarly organic matter contents in these lakes are 1-9 %, 6-18 % and 5.5-41.8 %, respectively. It has been observed that the rates of sedimentation in these three lakes are indirectly proportional to the organic matter content of the sediments. The high rate of sedimentation at Tsokar Lake might be due to dry climate at least since last 30 ka BP interrupted by a brief amelioration when there was more melting of glaciers resulting in large deposition of sediment material into the lake besides aeolian deposition. The comparatively lower sedimentation rate at Rajasthan shows that there were several periods of ameliorations in climate where the landform conditions were primarily stable and during intervening period with unstable landform conditions under dry arid climate during 8.1 to 6.3 ka and 4.6 to 2.0 ka. The lowest sedimentation rate and highest organic matter content have been recorded during the last 17.7 ka around Berijam Lake, indicating that the overall landform conditions were primarily stable. Present study suggest that in addition to non-climatic factors especially physiognomy of the sites of investigation, tectonic activity, vegetation cover which is directly linked with the climatic changes have been recorded to have a key role in controlling the sedimentation rate and organic contents in the sediments. These results provide a means of considering the impact of potential future changes in landform conditions and climate in the study areas.

127 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

DICOTYLEDONOUS FOSSIL WOODS FROM THE NEOGENE OF TRIPURA WITH REMARKS ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND PHYTOGEOGRAPHY

Illora Sen, Dipak Parua & Subir Bera Palaeobotany-Palynology Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Calcutta, 35 Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata-700019, India

Thirty-five species of dicotyledonous fossil woods assigned to twenty-three genera have been recorded from the Champanagar and Manubazar formations (Neogene) of Tripura. The comparable modern equivalents of the fossil woods are Anacardium, Bouea, Gluta, Mangifera and Melanorrhoea (Anacardiaceae); Lophopetalum (Celastraceae); Terminalia (Combretaceae); Calophyllum (Clusiaceae); Anisoptera and Shorea (Dipterocarpaceae); Albizia, Afzelia-Intsia, Bauhinia, Cassia, Cynometra and Pahudia (Fabaceae); Lagerstroemia (Lythraceae); Palaquium-Payena (Sapotaceae); Euphoria and Pometia (Sapindaceae); Duabanga and Sonneratia (Sonneratiaceae); and Gonystylus (Thymeliaceae). Among these, some taxa are unique either for their unusual phytogeographic distribution pattern (Cynometroxylon holdenii Prakash & Bande and Bouea rediense Srivastava & Saxena) or for their first time record from the study area (Lophopetalumoxylon indicum Mehrotra et al., Pometioxylon tomentosum Prakash & Tripathi, Sapotoxylon preapayena Awasthi & Srivastava and Gonystyloxylon tertiarum Awasthi & Panjwani). The detailed study of the forest types of the comparable modern equivalents indicate that most of these members essentially occur in semi-evergreen to evergreen forests and a few in moist deciduous to swampy, littoral forests. This information suggests that rich and diverse vegetation flourished in the area uniformly under a warm climate with high rate of precipitation during the Neogene.

128 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

MESOPROTEROZOIC SILICIFIED MICROBIOTAS OF RUSSIA AND INDIA - CHARACTERISTICS AND CONTRASTS

Vladimir N. Sergeev1 & Mukund Sharma2 1Geological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 109017, Russia 2Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India

The paper analyses 8 silicified Mesoproterozoic microbiotas of peritidal and shallow subtidal setting from Siberia, Ural and India. These microbiotas are subdivided into three main types, viz. Kotuikan, Satka and Kataskin, and are characterized by different taxonomic composition of microfossils. Mat-building entophysalidacean algae Eoentophysalis, ellipsoidal akinetes of nostocalean cyanobacteria genus Archaeoellipsoides and spherical large planktonic microfossils Myxococcoides grandis of uncertain affinities dominate the Kotuikan type microbiotas although the short trichomes are a rare yet a distinctive element of these assemblages. The Satka type microbiotas are dominated by mat-building hormogonian cyanobacteria of genus Siphonophycus and chroococcacean dwellers genera Gloeodiniopsis, Eosynechococcus, Sphaerophycus, but entophysalidacean cyanobacteria are missing and akinetes of genus Archaeoellipsoides occur, but never abundant. Besides, the Satka type microbiotas include morphologically simple remains of phytoplanktonic eukaryotic microorganisms– sphaeromorphic acritarchs genera Satka, Pterospermopsimorpha, Granomarginata? and Leiosphaeridia. The late Mesoproterozoic Kataskin type microbiotas contain mat-forming entophysalidacean, oscillatoriacean and nostocalean as well as mat-dwelling and planktonic chroococcacean cyanobacteria, but the most typical feature of these microfossil assemblages is presence of a stalked cyanobacterium Polybessurus bipartitus. Furthermore, we have included in our analysis almost all-available data on relevant silicified Mesoproterozoic microbiotas from China, Greenland and northern America. We have also compared the different types of Mesoproterozoic silicified microbiotas to the known Palaeo-and Neoproterozoic microbiotas found in cherts as well as to the assemblages of organic-walled microfossils found throughout the world and explained the differences and similarities in their composition. The analyses have revealed that the Mesoproterozoic microbiotas have their own specific taxonomic composition and differ from the Palaeo-and Neoproterozoic assemblages of the same and different palaeoenvironmental setting.

129 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

TEMPORAL VARIATION OF PRECIPITATION DURING RECENT PAST IN THE NORTHEAST HIMALAYA BASED ON TREE-RING PROXY RECORD

Santosh K. Shah1, Amalava Bhattacharyya1 & Vandana Chaudhary2 1Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India 2Department of Science and Technology, New Mehrauli Road, New Delhi, India

The monsoon, which brings precipitation in the major part of Indian subcontinent, affects society in many aspects, especially its agriculture based economy. Thus it is important to understand spatio- temporal variability of monsoon for the proper watershed management of this region. The Northeast Himalaya, one of the high monsoon rainfall regimes of Indian subcontinent has limited data on the instrumental climatic records. For understanding the long term precipitation variability we need to develop long climatic records from this region which could be made through analyses of proxy records. Tree ring is one of the best proxy records to retrieve high resolution climate. In this paper, utility of tree rings in the reconstruction of precipitation in Northeast Himalaya has been discussed. The taxa, selected for the present tree ring/climatic analysis, are Pinus kesiya, P. merkusii and P. wallichiana which grow in the varied ecological regimes and altitude gradients of this region. This study has revealed not only the potentiality of the tree ring data in understanding the temporal growth variability of different pine species in relation to varied ecological conditions which has great relevance to forest management of this region, but also in the understanding of the long term variability of pre- monsoon precipitation in the Northeast Himalayan region that goes back to AD 1703. These reconstructed data show several alternating periods of high and low precipitation episodes in decadal time scales. Pre-monsoon precipitation of this region has been recorded to have inverse relationship with the proceeding monsoon precipitation. Thus, long reconstruction of pre-monsoon precipitation of this region would be potential in understanding the long-term variation of monsoon.

130 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

IS MAGNETIC SUSCEPTIBILITY A PROXY FOR RAINFALL IN THE TROPICAL MILIEU?

R. Shankar1, C. N. Prabhu1, 2, A. K. Warrier1, G. T. Vijaya Kumar1, 3 & B. Sekar4 1Department of Marine Geology, Mangalore University, Mangalagangotri-574199, India 2Present Address: INETI, Centro de Dados Geologico-Mineiro Alfragide, Estrada da Portela, Zambujal-Alfragide, Apartado 7586, 2720-866 Amadora, Portugal 3Present Address: Remote Sensing and GIS Centre, Sultan Qaboos University, P.O. Box 33, Al-Khod PC 123, Sultanate of Oman, Oman 4Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India

Magnetic susceptibility (pedogenic) has been demonstrated to be a proxy for annual rainfall in temperate regions (Maher et al. 2002; Maher & Thompson 1995). From a rock magnetic study of tank-bed sediments from Southern India and with some assumptions, we show that magnetic susceptibility is a proxy for past monsoonal variations. We determined the rock magnetic properties of sediments from Thimmannanayakanakere (Lat. 14°12'N: Long.76°24'E), a small tank near Chitradurga town, Karnataka. The chronology for 14 the 3.7 m sediment profile is provided by two C dates. Magnetic susceptibility (clf) of the sediments exhibits significant variations. Discounting the possibilities of magnetite from biogenic and anthropogenic sources and of dissolution of magnetic minerals, we suggest that magnetic susceptibility is principally related to rainfall in the catchment. We documented positive correlation of clf with instrumental rainfall data (r = 0.65 for Peninsular India; r = 0.45 for Chitradurga Station) and historically recorded rainfall events. With the assumption that clf variations result primarily due to rainfall variations and that there was no significant human impact in the catchment and no slumping or bioturbation of sediments, we have reconstructed the palaeorainfall variations during the past 3700 years for Chitradurga region. Many events of drought and high rainfall and onset of aridity are correlatable with similar events documented in speleothems from different parts of India, a tree-ring from western India and lake sediments from Rajasthan. Thus, we have shown that clf is a proxy for rainfall in tropical regions and that tank-bed sediments from tropical India are an important archive of palaeorainfall/palaeoclimate data.

131 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

BIOSTRATIGRAPHY AND PALAEOENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS OF SUBSURFACE PALAEOGENE SEDIMENTS IN WESTERN PART OF AHMEDABAD BLOCK, NORTH CAMBAY BASIN

M. Shanmukhappa & S. N. Uniyal Palynology Laboratory, Regional Geoscience Laboratories, W O Basins, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited, Baroda, India

The western part of Ahmedabad block is among the thrust areas for hydrocarbon exploration in Cambay Basin. Palynological studies of the Palaeogene sediments of Ahmedabad Block between Detroj and Wasnalawa has been carried out to evaluate the palynostratigraphy and infer depositional environment to help in basin modelling for exploration of hydrocarbons. Based on palynoflora, three assemblage zones, viz. Polybrevicolporites cephalus Zone (Zone-I), Proxapertites cursus-Polycolpites flavatus Zone (Zone-II) and Palmaepollenites kutchensis Zone (Zone-III) have been identified. These zones are dated as Early, Middle and Late Eocene respectively. The sediments corresponding to Olpad Formation (Palaeocene) exhibited poor palynofloral contents. The depositional environmental interpretations are based on the absolute pollen frequency and palynofloral association. The coastal and back mangrove elements are common with sporadic occurrence of marine elements in Cambay and Kadi formations, which is suggestive of near shore environment of deposition. The overlying Kalol Formation has yielded rich back mangrove floral assemblage along with moderate occurrence of coastal elements, which is suggestive of littoral conditions. The dominance of marine phytoplanktons in Tarapur Formation is indicative of shallow marine conditions of deposition.

132 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

WEATHERING OF ROCKS IN TRANS-HIMALAYAN REGION AND ITS EFFECT ON FERTILITY IN LOWER REACHES

Anupam Sharma, Binita Phartiyal & Ram-Awatar Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India

The Trans-Himalayan region is the only place in India that comes under westerlies effect, whereas the rest of India experiences monsoonal climate. Glacier melting is the only source of water and is restricted only to streams and rivers. Several weathering profiles, developed over different rock types and sediments, were studied to understand the geochemical characteristics of surface geological processes and nutrient status in lower reaches, particularly in flood plains. It has been observed that mechanical weathering is the dominant mode of weathering. However, areas close to streams and rivers show significant chemical weathering. Suspended and channel sediment loads and also the water chemistry in first order streams are in equilibrium with the base lithology, whereas in higher order streams and rivers, mixing effect is clearly noticed. Limestone and rocks exposed along water source show relatively large variation in major, trace including rare earth elements (REE) chemistry compared to rocks that are covered by sediment blanket but chemically very similar to their parent rock types. Dominance of bicarbonate, with lesser amount of other nutrients in water and mica and feldspar in sediment load, is probably responsible for maintaining the fertility in lower reaches for centuries.

133 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

CLIMATE CHANGE AROUND ZANSKAR VALLEY BASED ON POLLEN FROM GLACIAL LAKE SEDIMENTS

Jyoti Sharma1, Amalava Bhattacharyya1 & N. Basavaiah2 1Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India 2Indian Institute of Geomagnetism, Mumbai, India

Analyses of Himalayan climate during recent past would be of great potential not only in understanding the climate of this region but also of the Indian subcontinent as a whole. In this context, various proxy records seem to be ideal sources for analyses to retrieve the past climatic data of this region which is a prerequisite for making climate predictive model. Ladakh, a continuation of the Tibetan Plateau, forms a climatic divide between outer southern Himalayan and inner northern Trans-Himalayan regions by influencing the Asian monsoon currents. In the present study, an attempt has been made to understand the climatic change during recent past in Ladakh, Trans-Himalaya based on pollen and geomagnetic proxy records. For this palaeoclimatic analysis, subsurface sediments were collected from a pro-glacial lake, close to snout (4250 m amsl) of Durung Drung Glacier (between Lat. 33o39'N to 33o52'N and Long. 76o15'E to 76o23' E), Ladakh, Trans-Himalayan region. The palynological studies from this glacio-lacustrine lake deposit, suggests predominance of pollen of herbaceous taxa over the tree taxa. Pollen grains, mostly of conifers, were brought out there along with upthermic winds. Their variations tell us not only the climatic changes but also the palaeo-wind direction. The pollen diagram reveals that there were at least two phases of climate ameliorations in the region during recent past interrupted by a phase when the climate was comparatively less arid in relation to the period before and after it. Besides pollen data, the other parameters of environmental geomagnetism (magnetic susceptibility, induced remnant magnetism, ARM, SIRM, S-ratio, etc.) have also been carried out from these sub-surface sediments, which also amply supports these pollen based climatic oscillations. This study is of great significance, as we have recorded pollen productive sites from Ladakh, Trans-Himalayan site. Earlier, many of such palaeolake deposits around Leh, Darbuk and other sites of this region are found devoid of pollen grains. Detailed analysis for the temporal variations of vegetation and corresponding climate changes will be made later with the availability of AMS 14C dates for these pro-glacial sediments of Durung Drung Glacier which are under progress.

134 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

STROMATOLITES OF JAGDALPUR FORMATION, INDRAVATI GROUP, CHHATTISGARH, INDIA

Mukund Sharmal, Deepima Sinha2 & Rajeeva Guhey2 1Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India 2Department of Geology, Government Science College, Raipur-492010, India

The Neoproterozoic, intracratonic Indravati basin is exposed in southern part of Chhattisgarh and rests non-conformably on the Precambrian basement. The sediments of Indravati Group have been divided into four formations in ascending order, namely Tiratgarh Formation consisting of sandstone, Cherakur Formation consisting of shales, Kanger Formation consisting of limestone and Jagdalpur Formation consisting of purple, buff and olive shales with several stromatolitic bioherms. Detailed information regarding the palaeobiological remains of this basin is being presented. The characteristic development of pyrite grains along the bedding plane in Kanger Limestone Formation suggests the extensive biogenic activity in lower part of the basin. The upper most part of the Jagdalpur Formation consists of shales with numerous dolomitic hummocks. These dolomitic hummocks are observed in Junaguda, Kotpadar, Machkot, Tiria, Ganeshbahar creek and Gupteshwar area are stromatolitic. From the field and laboratory observations the stromatolite varieties observed are Colnnella Komar, Gymnosolen Steinmann, Kussiella Krylov and Boxonia Korolyuk. The paper presents a preliminary account of stromatolites from this area, discussing the variety and depositional environments.

135 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

EDIACARAN MICROBIOTA FROM BALIANA AND KROL GROUPS, LESSER HIMALAYA, INDIA

Manoj Shukla 1, Mukund Sharma 1, Rupendra Babu 1, V. K. Mathur2 & D. K. Srivastava2 1Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India 2Geological Survey of India, Northern Region, Sector E, Aliganj, Lucknow-226024, India

The different lithofacies of Infra-Krol Formation of Baliana Group, Chambaghat and Mahi formations of Krol Group exposed in eight synclines of the Krol belt in Lesser Himalaya have yielded rich Ediacaran microfossil assemblage. It is the first comprehensive account of microfossils from these synclines. The assemblage comprises 35 taxa belonging to organic-walled microfossils (OWM), vase-shaped microfossil (VSM) and rhodophytic algae. Studied litho-units include the black carbonaceous shale of Infra-Krol Formation of the Baliana Group; the phosphatic black chert lenticles and shale partings associated with quartz arenite of Chambaghat (Krol Sandstone) and black chert nodules associated with argillaceous limestone and shale of Mahi formations of Krol Group. The microfossils yielding succession conformably overlies the Cap Carbonate-a global marker lithounit- of Blaini Formation as the base of the Ediacaran Period. It underlies the Jarashi and Kauriyala formations of Krol Group which have yielded diversified soft bodied Ediacaran metazoans. The reported OWM are comparable with the extant cyanobacterial remains belonging to Chroococcacales, Entophysidales, Oscillatoriales and Nostocales. These are represented by13 taxa of cyanobacterial remains. The acritarchs belong to sphaeromorphida and sphaerohystrichomorphida subgroups. These are represented by nineteen taxa. The two taxa of multicellular algal thalli (primitive/ juvenile stage) of phylum Rhodophyta represented by Wengania and Thallophyca along with single vase-shaped microfossil taxon Melanocyrillium hexodiadema have been reported. The recovered assemblage has close affinity with those microfossils known from the Ediacaran sediments exposed in other parts of the world, viz. Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Namibia, Svalbard and Russian platform. The Krol belt assemblage is characterized by the dominance of large-sized acritarchs (Filisphaeridium, Echinosphaeridium, Tianzhushania, etc.), small spinose acritarchs (Micrhystridium, Paracymatosphaera) and some characteristic cyanobacterial remains (Salome, Obruchevella, Bavlinella, etc.). With meagre radiometric dates available from Krol belt of Lesser Himalaya, the present assemblage has potentially been used in establishing the biostratigraphic framework of the investigated succession. The present assemblage further corroborates the age of the above succession to Ediacaran period. Analyses of the recovered microbial assemblage fulfils a great need of comprehensive account of biotic record and compliments the recently published exhaustive accounts of the sequence stratigraphy and isotopic data on the Krol belt of Lesser Himalaya. The present microbial assemblage also supports that these formations were laid down in a tidal flat environment.

136 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

PROGENITORS OF HYDROCARBONS IN INDIAN COALS AND LIGNITES AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE

Alpana Singh & B. D. Singh Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India

Coal and lignite, the main solid fossil fuels primarily burnt to generate heat in thermal power plants and in various industries, have potential to produce hydrocarbons– synthetic oil (syncrude) by conversion processes and the naturally trapped methane (CH4) gas (referred to as coal bed methane- CBM). In source rock, petroleum precursors are converted and incorporated into kerogen (Tissot & Welte 1984), whereas in coal they are found as bituminite and as H2-rich aliphatic edge group on humic substances, i.e. perhydrous vitrinite (Stach et al. 1982; Taylor et al. 1998). Petroleum precursors/crude oil or bitumen in the form of droplets and smear films and bitumen impregnated vitrinite or perhydrous vitrinite in bituminous coals, indicate the importance of relationship between bituminization and coal conversion or liquefaction. Coals lying in bituminous range, i.e. high to medium volatile bituminous (Ro max. between 0.5-1.3%) are amenable for conversion, provided they are rich in H2-rich liptinite macerals that have potential to generate hydrocarbons, and poor in mineral matter content. Generation of thermogenic methane during diagenetic and catagenetic alterations (bituminous range of coalification) also indicate potentiality of bituminous coals for methane generation.

Realizing the significance of type and concentration of H2-rich macerals (liptinites + perhydrous vitrinite) in hydrocarbon exploration, authors aim to provide detail fluorescence microscopic observations on these macerals in Indian Permian Gondwana and Tertiary coals and Tertiary lignites from various fields, in order to facilitate the future hydrocarbon related investigations from these solid fossil fuels. Using fluorescence microscopy (under blue light excitation) we observed that, in fact, high inherent clastic minerals intimately associated with liptinite macerals (especially in the Permian coals) tend to mask them, rendering their identification difficult or even impossible under normal mode. The technique aided in easy recognition of many macerals of the liptinite group (certain fractions of sporinite, resinite, cutinite, suberinite, and alginite) due to their fluorescence behaviour, otherwise misidentified as minerals in normal mode. The liptodetrinite and other secondary macerals, viz. fluorinite, bituminite and exsudatinite unidentifiable under normal reflected mode are easily discernible in fluorescence mode. In addition to the liptinites, certain fractions of the vitrinite and inertinite groups are also found to be fluorescing, unrecognizable under normal mode, especially in low rank coals. Thus, fluorescence microscopy changed the mineral-rich concept of Gondwana coals. During the past few decades, it has also been realized that chemical properties, viz. carbonization, swelling, liquefaction, etc. of Indian coals/lignites, especially the Permian coals, do not correspond well with the petrological results obtained under normal reflected light. The explanation for this is only possible with fluorescence microscopy, which showed a manifold increase (both qualitatively and quantitatively) in the amount of liptinite macerals. The findings under fluorescence mode also explain as to why their vitrinites are of low reflecting (mostly fluorescing) nature, and their volatile matter and hydrogen contents are higher than normally expected values deduced from routine petrographic evaluation. Amenability to hydrogenation and prospects of CBM exploration due to high concentration of H2-rich macerals in these coals, which are prime requisite in current scenario, are thus indicated. 137 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

PETROLOGICAL STUDY OF SIMLONG OCP OF RAJMAHAL COALFIELD, JHARKHAND, INDIA

Ashok Kumar Singh Department of Geology, S.N.S.R.K.S. College, Saharsa-852201, India E-mail: [email protected]

Coals from Simlong OCP were studied for petrological observation. Twenty samples were collected from the Simlong area of Rajmahal Coalfield. The samples were labelled and processed according to I.C.C.P. standard. The coal samples were crushed and pellets were prepared for study under the incident light mode. The coals of this area show richness in inertinite, vitrinite and liptinite groups of macerals. Vitrinite maceral consists of tellocollinite, vitroditrinite, collinite, etc. Inertinite maceral consists of fusinite, semifusinite, etc. and liptinite group of mecerals consists of sporinite, resinite, cutinite, liptodetrinite, etc. Mineral matter also forms an important part of these coals. The mineral matter consists of pyrite

(FeS2), siderite (Fe2CO2) and clay mineral, etc. Pyrite mineral is biogenic and abiogenic origin. Biogenic pyrite shows fromboidal nature. The presence of siderite shows that these coals are of fresh water origin. Reflectance of coals varies from 0.65-0.74 in oil. This data show low rank nature of coal. Petrographic composition and low rank indicate that these coals cannot be used in steel plant. They can best be utilized for thermal power generation in the area.

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PRECIPITATION BEHAVIOUR OVER THE WESTERN HIMALAYA, INDIA

Jayendra Singh & Ram R. Yadav Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India E-mail: [email protected]

Study of past climatic conditions could be used to understand the natural climate variability and contribution of anthropogenic activities. But available instrumental data restrict our study due to short span of available weather records limited to a century and for some places little more to around 125 years. Several proxy data like tree-rings, ice-cores, lake deposits, etc., provide valuable tool to extend climate records back in time for several centuries. In the recent decades, tree-rings with a resolution of annual and seasonal level became a valuable proxy for climate change studies. In India, such records are limited though there is good potential of developing several centuries and even millennia long records. Himalayan region, a storehouse of very old trees with distinct annual growth rings, is climatically very important due to its linkage with regional and extra-regional climate system. Tree-ring data network developed from Uttaranchal, western Himalayan region were used to reconstruct precipitation covering the entire Little Ice Age span. Tree-ring data used for reconstruction showed very good cross correlation among all the site chronologies. Reconstructed precipitation record showed that Himalayan region experienced almost equal wet and dry periods during Little Ice Age. This suggests that glaciers advanced in fluctuating climatic conditions rather than a consistent cold during this period. The reconstruction showed increase in precipitation towards the twentieth century.

139 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

PERMIAN-TRIASSIC PLANT DIVERSITY IN TATAPANI-RAMKOLA COALFIELD, CHHATTISGARH, INDIA

Kamal Jeet Singh Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India E-mail: [email protected]

The Tatapani-Ramkola Coalfield in the Sarguja District of Chhattisgarh State in central India is the western extension of the Damodar-Koel Valley Basin. This coalfield is virtually a composite basin with a northern strip of coal bearing rocks called Tatapani Coalfield and a southern one known as Ramkola Coalfield. The entire coalfield is located between latitudes 23°30'N and 23°55'N and between longitudes 83°00'E and 83°40'E (Raja Rao 1983). For a considerable period of time it could not draw attention of the coal miners, as the coal is not economically exploitable. From palaeobotanical point of view, the area is very interesting as it exhibits a complete Permian-Triassic sequence and yields considerable amount of megafossils and microspores. Detailed palynological studies have been carried out in this coalfield (Srivastava et al. 1997; Srivastava & Kar 2001; Kar 2001, 2003; Kar & Srivastava 2003), establishing Karharbari and Barren Measures formations, which were not known from this basin (Raja Rao 1983). The coalfield was, however, never investigated thoroughly for the megafloral studies (the only record by Bose et al. 1977). Recently, extensive investigations were conducted in this coalfield to locate fossiliferous beds in the Gondwana deposits. Consequently, a large cache of plant megafossils was recorded from thirteen different exposures belonging to Barakar, Raniganj and Panchet formations. The flora includes 15 genera and 52 taxa representing 6 orders, viz. Equisetales, Sphenophyllales, Filicales, Cycadales, Corystospermales and Glossopteridales. Plant fossils from nine locations yielded typical Glossopteris Flora of Permian age which is dominated by the genus Glossopteris with 35 species while Early Triassic flora identified at three locations is characterized by the presence of Glossopteris senii and G. gopadensis species along with marker genus Dicroidium with its species. An attempt has been made to see the floristic changes at the Permian-Triassic boundary located in the Iria Rivulet Section, which has been established both palynologically (Srivastava et al. 1997) as well as on the basis of presently recovered megafossils.

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PALYNOLOGY OF THE LATE CRETACEOUS DECCAN INTERTRAPPEAN BEDS OF RANGAPUR, ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA

R. S. Singh & Ratan Kar Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India

A new palynological assemblage recovered from the thin sedimentary (Deccan Intertrappean) beds exposed near the village Rangapur, Andhra Pradesh, India is reported here. The assemblage, although not very diverse, is quantitatively rich and is significant in terms of palaeobiogeographical inferences. The bed is marked by the presence of eutherian mammals (Eurasian affinity) and is located about 7 km southeast of Naskal, another well known mammal bearing locality of the Deccan Intertrappeans. Presence of Mulleripollis bolpurensis Baksi & Deb, Ariadnaesporites intermedius Hall, Triporoletes reticulatus (Pocock) Playford, Gabonisporites vigourouxii Boltenhagen, Azolla cretacea Stanley in the assemblage indicates a Maastrichtian age for these beds. This corroborates with the palaeontological data as the animal fossils also represent a Late Cretaceous age. Like the eutherian mammals, the spore-pollen assemblage contains typical African and Eurasian elements, indicating some sort of connectivity of the Indian Plate with Eurasia, during the Late Cretaceous. This connection was established probably by an early collision of the Indian Plate or by land connections through an island-arc complex. The palynoassemblage is dominated by the pteridophytic spores indicating a warm and humid climate during the time of deposition. The associated aquatic fresh water spores along with abundant algal remains indicate that the deposition took place under lacustrine conditions, formed due to the obstruction of drainage by the lava deposits of the Deccan volcanism.

141 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

FUNGAL REMAINS FROM THE LATE TERTIARY SEDIMENTS OF MAHUADANR VALLEY, LATEHAR DISTRICT, JHARKHAND AND THEIR CLIMATIC SIGNIFICANCE

Sanjai K. Singh & M. S. Chauhan Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]

The paper deals with the record of a good number of fungi/unidentified fungal remains/fruiting bodies from the Late Tertiary fossiliferous beds exposed along the Rampur Nala and Birha River in the vicinity of Mahuadanr locality in Latehar District, Jharkhand and their significance in understanding the depositional environment. The lower part of the exposed section is mainly constituted by pyroclastic rocks, conglomerates, sandstones and organic rich shales. The shales yielded a rich fungal assemblage comprising 21 well established forms such as Tetraploa, Curvularia, Diplodia, Nigrospora, Cookenia, Alternaria, Helminthosporium, Meliola, Multicellaesporites elsikii, Trichothyrites, Microthyrium, Microthyrites sp., Monoporisporites koenigii, Phragmothyrites, Dictyosporium, Didymoporisporonites, Dicellaesporites, Staphlosporonites, Diporisporites, Diporicellaesporites and Spinosporonites and 10 other fungal remains in the form of spores and fruiting bodies of uncertain affinities. Among the encountered fungi/fungal remains, Microthyrium, Tetraploa, Alternaria, Helminthosporium, Curvularia, Diplodia, Nigrospora, Phragmothyrites, etc. are frequent in the sediments. Thus, the rich and diverse fungal assemblage retrieved from the fossiliferous beds envisages that the region might have experienced a humid climate during the course of sediment accumulation. The area might have been under thick vegetal growth, which provided a very suitable substratum for the proper growth and proliferation of fungi, as they prefer such type of conditions. The recovery of a large number of well-preserved leaf impressions belonging to tropical evergreen and deciduous elements from the same fossiliferous beds also substantiates the prevailing humid climate in the region during the Late Tertiary period.

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GEOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS EN ROUTE GONDWANALAND EXPEDITION IN WEST ASIA AND EASTERN AFRICA

Trilochan Singh Northeastern Unit, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Itanagar, India

The Gondwanaland Expedition, organized by a Delhi-based NGO-Bhartiya Yuva Shakti, was a scientific and friendship mission, driving across 17 countries of West Asia and Africa. It started from Simla in India - top of the Himalaya and ended at Cape Agulhas in South Africa - the southernmost tip of Africa. The 10-member team, led by Mr. Akhil Bakshi, included two geologists-Dr. Trilochan Singh and Dr. Rajeev Upadhyay, a zoologist-Dr. Gopinathan Maheswaran, a botanist-Dr. Paramjit Singh, an anthropologist-Dr. A. R. Sankhyan, a medical surgeon-Dr. Rajendra Jain, an automobile engineer-Mr. Sudhir Kashyap, and two film crew-Mr. Rohit Chawla and Mr. Vikramjit Singh Gill. The team drove in three Mahindra & Mahindra’s Scorpios, and covered road distance of 24,800 kilometres in 98 days traversing Iran, Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Israel, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland and South Africa. The objective of the expedition was to conduct exploratory scientific research that will contribute to the knowledge of the continental structure and bring to light evidences of the past history. It also aimed to study the seismic activity in the Indo-African region that causes catastrophic disasters like the recent earthquakes and the tsunamis. Further, it was aimed to study the evolution of flora, fauna and humans in the Gondwanaland region. Another aim was to promote people-to-people contact between India and the countries of West Asia and Africa. Last but not the least, the expedition aimed to promote the UN AIDS campaign of “STOP AIDS. Keep the Promise”. The expedition team visited 30 universities and R&D institutions in different countries en route and interacted with the academia for exchange of knowledge and experiences. Main theme of discussion included regional as well local geology, structure & tectonics, seismicity, disaster management, etc., in their respective countries. Museums and laboratories were also visited. Wherever possible, short field trips were undertaken jointly with the faculty members. The expedition carried with it a Goodwill Message from the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India addressed to the Heads of State of the countries traversed. The expedition was received by various dignitaries, including the Presidents of Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique; the Prime Minister of Syria; Ministers and Governors of various States. To promote people-to-people contact, the expedition interacted with students and faculty in schools and colleges, met with Friendship Societies and NRI associations, visited an orphanage for HIV and AIDS-affected children and mingled freely with hundreds of thousands of common people en route. The expedition was given extensive coverage by television, radio and print media. Various geological and geomorphic features, both in the field and en route the expedition, were observed. The terrain included snow-covered mountains, vast plains and grasslands, deserts, dense and savanna forests, vast lakes, volcanic craters, coastline, etc. The active Zagros Mountains in Iran, Suture Zone of the Arabian and Iranian Plates, famous Dead Sea Basin in Israel, Mid-Oceanic Ridge reflecting the Arabian and African Plate boundary, Western Desert in Egypt with a large variety of fossils, Great Rift Valley (4,830 km long extending from Syria to Mozambique), Ethiopian Highlands

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exhibiting episodic volcanic lava flows, Great Mafic Dyke in Zimbabwe, >500 Ma granites and other rocks related to Pan-African Orogeny, various prehistoric sites that yielded fossil remains of human ancestors and artifacts and various geomorphic features of special interest. The Zagros Mountains, which have been formed due to the collision of the Arabian Plate with that of the Iranian Plate, comprise the folded and faulted sequences ranging in age from Triassic to Miocene. The characteristic feature is the intrusion of Salt Diapers (Infra-Cambrian) in these sequences. The Zagros Mountains are considered to be the youngest mountains which are still rising, as such seismicity is very common in Iran. Various craters were observed in Turkey. Prominent of these are the Mt. Ararat, Tendurek, and Nermut craters, which have mainly been caused by the Red Sea Fault that extends up to NE Turkey. In Israel, it was the Dead Sea which was the centre of attraction. It is l0 x 100 km in dimension with depth of 310 m, and is receding @ 0.36 m/yr. Its water is highly saline, nearly 8 times heavier than the normal sea water. This area is geodynamically active as is evident by several sink holes all along the Dead Sea. There are evidences of transcurrent fault, associated strike slip, subsidiary faults and even it shows well preserved seismically induced soft sediment deformational structures, which are indicative of well documented earthquake activity dating back to 70,000 years. Exposures of melange zone observed near Taba at the Israel-Egypt border, represents the Gondwanic Mid-Oceanic Ridge. In Egypt, Western Desert in Fayoum region is very interesting as it exhibits a complete sequence of oceanic to continental sediments ranging from Middle Eocene to Miocene, which are full of a variety of vertebrate and wood fossils. It also represents the type section for Oligocene Qattrani succession. This region has been declared as World Heritage Site by the UNSECO for its cultural, historical and geological features. In Ethiopia and Kenya, on-going geological process of rifting is visible in the form of deep seated cracks, fractures and minor faults at several places. Ethiopian Highlands, represented by various exposures of different episodic volcanic eruption dating back from Middle Oligocene to Quaternary to recent times, exhibit spectacular landscape. The team observed several craters and elongated lakes all along the rift valley. In addition, there are some interesting prehistoric sites on the way that have yielded fossil remains of human ancestors and artifacts, including foot prints of pre-historic man, the Australopithecus boisei (3.6 Ma), fossils of Homo habilis (2.4 Ma), Homo erectus (1.5 Ma), and Homo sapiens (17,000 y). Such pre-historic sites visited include Kariandusi in Kenya, Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania, and Karonga in Malawi. Other features of interest are related to Pan-African Orogeny and Archaean to Proterozoic cratonic shield rocks, including > 500 Ma granite and granitoids, which are exposed at most of the terrain en route. The intrusion and extrusion of vast volumes of mantle-derived magma, in the form of layered intrusions, sills, dikes and lavas, which broadly overlapped in time with the separation history of Gondwana, were observed at several places. One of such characteristic features is the Great Mafic Dyke in the Precambrian basement crystallines, which was observed in Zimbabwe. Similarly, Karoo basalts of southern Africa and basalts of Ethiopia were also observed. Overall, the entire stretch of the expedition route was a natural geological laboratory. The expedition further gave an opportunity to visit various historical sites and monuments, and observe traditional tribal culture in West Asia and Africa. Indeed, the tough and strenuous journey was an experience of a lifetime. The achievements/highlights of the expedition are summarized below: (i). It has greatly enhanced our knowledge through first hand observation of various geological and geomorphic features indicative of the geodynamically active processes, which had been known only through literature.

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(ii). It also helped to review and synthesize existing knowledge and to gain an insight into the research being undertaken in other universities. (iii). Personal interaction with the geologists of other countries helped in strengthening professional relationships and provided scope for future collaborations. (iv). Gained valuable insight into the global networking of scientific institutions. (v). Identified possible fields of future collaborative projects between India and countries of West Asia and Africa. In geology, main interest of collaboration is in geodynamic processes, seismology, palaeo-seismicity, geoinformatics, GPS, disaster management strategies, palaeolake sediments, neotectonics, Quaternary history, Permian sedimentation and environmental history, etc. (vi). Scientists and the political leaders are concerned about the frequent occurrence of earthquakes in the region and are keen to collaborate with India to minimize its effect on loss of life and property. Development of public awareness programmes and strengthening natural disaster management in their own countries are of great interest to them. It is therefore concluded that science and technology can be our ally in strengthening relations with the countries of West Asia and Africa. Therefore, the following points are suggested for follow- up action of the expedition. (i). To organize an International Symposium on ‘Gondwanaland’ with a multidisciplinary approach, involving geologists, anthropologists, zoologists and botanist. Scientists with whom contacts were established during the expedition, and some of the eminent scientists working on Gondwanaland will be invited to the symposium. (ii). To organize a series of lectures/presentations in different universities and R&D institutions all over the country to share the experience and knowledge gained through the expedition. It will further help to prepare the scientists of the Indian contingent for the above proposed International Symposium on Gondwanaland.

145 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

PALYNOFACIES STUDY, A TOOL FOR PALAEOMONSOONAL VARIABILITY: A CASE STUDY FROM HARSHAD ESTUARY, SAURASHTRA

Vartika Singh & Vandana Prasad Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India

Biological response to climatic changes has been a major theme of study to understand the interplay between climate and biological systems. In Indian subcontinent, SW and NE monsoons are the main factors controlling climate. The climate of the northwestern part of Saurashtra area is mainly influenced by the SW monsoonal activity. Its uneven spatial distribution divides Saurashtra, from south to north, into two climatic zones, arid and semi-arid. The fluvial system in this region is controlled by sea level, tectonics and climate. Rivers in the coastal region of Saurashtra form estuarine complexes before draining into the sea. Since precipitation directly influences river discharge in the coastal regions, palaeomonsoonal fluctuations are easier to investigate in the Quaternary sediments of low energy areas in an estuarine complex. Palynofacies analysis, that involves study of relative distribution of autochthonous and allochthonous organic matter, has emerged as a reliable tool for the reconstruction of coastal and near-shore palaeoenvironment. The palynofacies and dinoflagellate cyst studies were carried out on estuarine surface sediments of Harshad estuary to monitor organic matter variation and dinocyst distribution pattern as a result of runoff related monsoonal fluctuations. A pronounced relationship was assessed between high concentrations of protoperidinoid dinocyst and high amorphous OM in organic rich clay intervals, indicating high SW monsoonal precipitation. However, gonayaulocoid dinocysts, along with greater amount of black and brown degraded organic matter and foraminiferal test linings, indicate low SW monsoonal precipitation. Since the dinoflagellate Bitectatodinium spongium is considered to be an indicator of SW monsoonal activity, its ratio with Multispinula dinocyst has been studied to decipher humid/arid phases in the surface sediments of Harshad estuary.

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NEW EVIDENCES OF CARBONACEOUS METAPHYTE FOSSILS FROM BHANDER GROUP, VINDHYAN SUPERGROUP OF MAIHAR-NAGOD AREA, MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA

Veeru Kant Singh1, Manoj Shukla1 & Vibhuti Rai2 1Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India 2Department of Geology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow-226007, India E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]

Microorganisms, the sole forms of life on the early earth, left their traces as microfossils for billions of years in the sedimentary sequences. They are comprised of microscopic remains (both unicellular and multicellular), macroscopic remains (carbonaceous compressions and impressions), algal bioherms (stromatolites) and surface markings (MISS- Microbially Induced Sedimentary Structures). The record of above mentioned palaeobiotic entities has played a significant role in deciphering the evolutionary history of early life. The Vindhyan basin is the largest and one of the most fascinating basins of Indian subcontinent drawing global attention amongst the Precambrian palaeobiologists. In the last five decades, considerable palaeobiological data have been accumulated as a testimony to establish the evolutionary history from late Palaeoproterozoic to late Neoproterozoic time interval (about 1100 million years). The black circular discs and sausage-shaped carbonaceous compressions, viz. Chuaria-Tawuia and multicellular metaphytes in association with microfossils, have been reported worldwide from the Precambrian sequences. These play a significant role in biostratigraphical correlation of earth’s earliest life. The present paper deals with a newly discovered, well preserved and diversified, carbonaceous, macroscopic, multicellular, metaphytic fossil assemblage that has been found along the bedding plane from the dark grey and black shale of Nagod Limestone and Sirbu Shale formations of the Bhander Group (Vindhyan Supergroup). Fossil bearing horizons are exposed around Maihar and Nagod- Amanganj areas in Madhya Pradesh. These forms comprise fan-shaped, lanceolate carbonaceous films with holdfast at base, dichotomously branched filaments, pitcher shaped forms and mesh of thin filaments, including multicellular reproductive structures. The fossil assemblage comprises Flabellophyton minutum n. sp.; Protoarenicola baiguanensis; Huangshanophyton sitauliensis n. sp.; Protoconites minor; Sitaulia gen. et sp. nov., S. minor n. sp.; Doushantuophyton lineare; Eopalmaria pristine; Konglingiphyton erecta; and Enteromophites sp. alongwith some unusual multicellular algal remains. This fossil assemblage is morphologically distinguished and is compared with modern rhodophytes, phaeophytes and chlorophycaean algae. The present finding of new macroscopic fossil assemblage enhances our knowledge about the diversity of life forms with the cladistic approaches in understanding the evolutionary history of the early life, age, stratigraphical position and palaeoenvironment for the sediments of upper part of the Vindhyan Supergroup. The recovered fossil assemblage is compared

147 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

with the known assemblage of Upper Sinian Doushantuo Formation, Miaohe area (Yangtze Gorges) and Hubei Province, Xiuning and Lantian Formation of southern Anhui Province of China. The quantitative and qualitative analyses of the newly discovered assemblage from the Nagod Limestone and Sirbu Shale formations and previously recorded data on micro- and macro-fossils from the Bhander Group indicate an evolutionary trend from Cryogenian to Ediacaran age for the Nagod Limestone and Sirbu Shale formations in ascending order. The data also indicate moderately deeper to shallow marine depositional environment for the fossil bearing horizons of the Bhander Group. The occurrence of complex and diverse metaphytes suggests an evolutionary leap in the evolving biosphere during the deposition of the Bhander Group of sediments. The present discovery owes significance, in the light of previously found fossils, which were delimited in diversity and taxonomic uniqueness.

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CALCRETES IN GANGA PLAINS: A PROXY FOR PALAEOPRECIPITATION AND PALAEOVEGETATION (MIS 3-5)

R. Sinha1, S. K. Tandon2, P. Sanyal3 & M. R. Gibling4 1Engineering Geosciences Group, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur-208016, India 2Department of Geology, University of Delhi, Delhi 110007, India 3Department of Geology and Geophysics, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur-721302, India 4Department of Earth Sciences, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 3J5, Canada

Many types of carbonate occur in the channel and floodplain successions of modern and ancient river deposits. They include pedogenic, groundwater, mixed pedogenic-groundwater, palustrine and pond carbonates, valley calcretes, and reworked materials. Such carbonates are common in areas that have a dry climate, as well as in sub-humid areas with a marked dry season, and have been used as palaeoenvironmental indicators in alluvial successions, especially for understanding fluctuations in the vadose and phreatic zones. A comprehensive model for alluvial carbonate has yet to emerge which requires a large amount of information about Quaternary and older alluvial carbonates that represent large and small river systems, as well as for successions from different climatic regimes. Calcretes are abundant in Late Quaternary channel and floodplain strata of the southern Ganga plains. Despite continuing interest globally in exploiting the potential of alluvial carbonate, surprisingly little is known about the alluvial carbonates of the Ganga Plain in the Himalayan Foreland Basin. The present study documents an unusually wide range of carbonate types associated with a Late Quaternary floodplain (interfluve) succession at Kalpi in the southern Ganga Plain based on field and microscopic analysis. The river cliffs at Kalpi are high and extend for several kilometres, constituting one of the best exposures in the plains, and the carbonates can be placed in a reliable stratigraphic and depositional context. At Kalpi, pedogenic carbonates (nodules, rhizoconcretions, and powdery carbonate) are present within aggradational floodplain deposits, where they correspond to relatively high monsoonal precipitation and river discharge. In contrast, groundwater carbonate has cemented degradational surfaces (discontinuities), which correspond with periods of relatively low precipitation. Mixed groundwater and pedogenic calcretes are present in the deposits of small interfluve channels, and reworked nodules line degradational surfaces and locally fill channels. Most carbonates show alpha fabrics that include floating textures, shrinkage crack fills, and grain coatings. The predominance of alpha fabrics is unexpected, but is characteristic of calcretes across dryland and seasonal parts of northern India, where soil formation led to only weakly developed or poorly preserved beta fabrics. Because the strength of the monsoon is known from regional climatic modelling to have varied greatly during this period, the carbonates have been used to test the response of the isotopic system and vegetation to precipitation changes for a period spanning much of MIS 3 to 5. Interpretation of d13C and d18O values of bulk and microdrilled calcrete samples suggests relatively little variation in precipitation and vegetation types through the sampled interval at Kalpi. Floodplain deposits were vegetated with a mixture of C4 and C3 plants (predominantly C4), with a higher proportion of C3 plants

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associated with channel deposits. This apparent lack of variation is surprising because the sampled interval represents at least 60,000 years of Marine Isotope Stages 3-5, during which climate models suggest that Asia experienced radical fluctuations in monsoon intensity and precipitation. Some of the apparent lack of variation may be explained by preferential preservation of aggradational strata that represent relatively active monsoonal periods, as well as by the mixing of drier floodplain (C4) and riparian (C3) vegetation. However, local departures from the regionally based climate model cannot be ruled out. A modest upsection increase in C4 plants may represent increased aridity and lower atmospheric CO2. Isotopic analysis of organic matter from floodplain pedogenic nodules suggests a higher C3 plant contribution than carbonate-based data would suggest. The preserved organic matter may reflect the annual average biomass in the soil, whereas carbonate formation may have taken place mainly during the drier season when respiration of C4 plants was more important. In interfluve settings such as Kalpi, seasonality may strongly affect the C3-C4 system, with preferential preservation of only part of the biomass.

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PALAEOBOTANY AND ITS ROLE IN PREDICTING FUTURE CLIMATE CHANGE

Robert A. Spicer Earth Sciences Department, Centre for Earth, Planetary, Space and Astronomical Research, The Open University, Milton Keynes, MK 7 6AA, UK

Palaeobotany has never before had such high relevance for the future of our planet and global society. The present global atmospheric CO2 concentration is fast approaching levels exceeding any seen in the last 1 million years and is rising rapidly towards concentrations that prevailed during the greenhouse climates of the Mesozoic. Continued development of reliable quantitative proxies for key environmental variables applicable to “deep time” are crucially important for characterizing past greenhouse climates and understanding the Earth System processes that operated at those times. Several of the most sensitive and powerful proxies are derived from plant fossils: those based on conserved aspects of whole plant biology (nearest living relative approaches), and those based on time stable mechanistic adaptations (tree rings, stomatal features and foliar physiognomy). Each proxy has its strengths and weaknesses, but when used in combination, offer cross calibration, the weaknesses can be diminished, and mutual synergy used to improve accuracy and precision. Aspects of these proxies are reviewed and the prospects for their future development discussed. Current data using these proxies are in conflict with modelling exercises in two key areas: the high latitudes and continental interiors. The nature of the disparities shows that the models used for predicting the future are likely to under estimate the degree of change because they are inherently conservative and derived from models designed to reproduce the Present. Given the uncertainties in defining boundary conditions (e.g. ocean geometry and bathymetry, palaeotopography, atmospheric composition, vegetation structure, composition and productivity) and parameterizations within equations describing atmospheric and ocean dynamics, progress in deep time climate modelling cannot be usefully made by running selected scenarios on expensive supercomputers. Instead a probabilistic approach is required realized by distributed computing where large numbers of members of the public participate. An example of how this might be done is outlined using the current climateprediction.net project.

151 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

PTERIDOSPERMIC FROND FROM THE LOWER GONDWANA OF INDIA

Ashwini K. Srivastava Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India

A new frond, represented by more than 25 specimens, has been recovered from the New Sethia open cast mine situated in Pench Valley Coalfield, Satpura Gondwana Basin, Chhindwara District, Madhya Pradesh. The fossils have yielded well preserved cuticles showing adaxial and abaxial surfaces. The specimens demonstrate the possible presence of northern hemispheric pteridosperm-like foliage in the Lower Gondwana flora of India. The frond morphology is very characteristic. The frond is simple, pinnate, and possesses strap- like, linear-lanceolate pinnules attached at irregular distances at irregular angles, midvein thick, lateral veins sparse forking one to three times, curved and straight. The pinnules quite often give an impression of being dissected. The structural features of the cuticle of adaxial surface are comparable to those of abaxial surface. However, adaxial surface is thick in comparison to abaxial surface. Both the surfaces show clear differentiation into costal and intercostal fields and stomata are distributed in both the layers. Individual cells of costal regions are regularly arranged in longitudinal rows and narrow-elongate in shape. The cells of intercostal area are irregularly arranged, more or less isodiametric or slightly elongate in shape. Normally, the cells of adaxial surface bear single papillae, flat in nature. Stomatal complexes are linearly arranged in costal region whereas inter costal region shows irregular distribution of stomata. Stomata are variable in morphology, monocyclic or dicyclic, guard cells sunken, bear 4-8 over arching papillae, stomatal pores show dorsal and circum-poral thickenings, surrounded by 6-12 subsidiary cells, subsidiary cells are smaller than the normal epidermal cells. The external morphological as well as cuticular features of present specimens are not comparable with the available records from Lower Gondwana, however, the features are analogous with the characters present in the pteridospermic foliage of Europe and America. The occurrence of such forms in Gondwana signifies the presence of mixed flora in Late Palaeozoic flora of Southern Hemisphere.

152 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

MORPHOLOGICAL DIVERSITY IN GLOSSOPTERID LEAVES

Ashwini K. Srivastava Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India

Permian Gondwana sequences of Southern Hemisphere show abundant distribution of Glossopterid-leaves. These leaves have mostly been attributed to net veined forms of Glossopteris (with midrib) and Gangamopteris (without midrib). Most of the derivation regarding morphology, taxonomy, systematics, phylogeny, evolution and relationship of Glossopteris flora are normally discussed on the basis of occurrence of these two types of leaf. The long history of Glossopteris flora, since the discovery of Glossopteris leaves in India and Australia by Brongniart 1822-28, has unveiled number of leaf forms possessing related morphological features apart from Glossopteris and Gangamopteris. The cuticular features (wherever available) are also similar to each other and as such their distinguishing characters are based on external features. Following genera are identified on the basis of morphological features and they have been assigned to Glossopterid: Rubidgea Tate (1867), Euryphyllum Feistmantel (1876), Gangamopteris McCoy (1847), Glossopteris Brongniart (1828), Palaeovittaria Feistmantel (1876), Belemnopteris Feistmantel (1876), Rhabdotaenia Pant (1958), Pteronilssonia Pant & Mehra (1963), Surangephyllum Chandra & Singh (1985), Maheshwariphyllum Srivastava (1992), Gondwanophyllites Srivastava (1986), Sagittophyllum Pant et al. (1984), Laceyphyllum Chauhan (2004) and Gondwanolepis Banerjee (1984). Some of the leaves have been found to contain characteristic fruiting structures and interestingly while describing number of fertile structures in association with glossopterid leaves Anderson & Anderson 1985 have placed leaves without fructification under the fertile genera, viz. Ottokaria Zeiller (1902), Scutum Plumstead (1952), Hirsutum Plumstead (1958), Lanceolatus Plumstead (1952), Plumsteadia Rigby (1968), Estcourtia Anderson & Anderson (1985), Arberia White (1908), Lidgettonia Thomas (1958) and Rigbya Lacey et al. (1975). The morphological features and character affiliation of different leaf types and nomenclatural status are discussed in order to ascertain the systematic phylogeny of Glossopterid leaves in Gondwana flora.

153 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

FLORAL DIVERSITY IN UPPER GONDWANA SUCCESSION (EARLY CRETACEOUS) NEAR ACHALPUR FAULT, AMRAVATI DISTRICT, MAHARASHTRA

A. K. Srivastava1 & S. R. Manik2 1Department of Geology, S. G. B. Amravati University, Amravati-444602, India 2Department of Botany, S. G. B. Amravati University, Amravati-444602, India

Upper Gondwana rocks, of Early Cretaceous age, are tectonically exposed as isolated patches around east-west trending Achalpur fault at Bairam-Belkher (Lat. 21º22'N: Long. 77º37'E to Lat. 21º22': Long. 77º32') and Salburdi (Lat. 21º25': Long. 78º00') areas, of which the earlier shows diversified megafloral remains. The palaeofloristic assemblage represents vascular plants belonging to pteridophytes (Marattiaceae and Gleicheniaceae) and gymnosperms (Cycadaceae, Bennettitaceae, Araucariaceae, Podocarpaceae and Cupressaceae). An attempt has been made to highlight the significance of plant fossils in stratigraphic correlation and reconstruction of palaeoclimate, palaeoecology and vegetation scenario during Early Cretaceous.

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MILLETS IN ANCIENT AGRICULTURAL ECONOMY IN THE INDIAN SUBCONTINENT AND THEIR BIO-GEOGRAPHICAL IMPLICATIONS

Chanchala Srivastava Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India E-mail: [email protected]

The beginning of agriculture in the Indian subcontinent is seen inspired by the diffusion of cereal grains from southwest Asia. With the passage of time, there are significant observations on the cultivation of small-grained indigenous millets at the same time. These grains were neither restricted to the monsoonal regions nor were dependent on intensive human management. An attempt has been made here to reconstruct the role of these millets in early farming communities and their significance in understanding the diversion towards food production in north-west region of South Asia. Monsoon (summer) crop plants like Panicum, Setaria and Paspalum seem to have been existing in association with their weedy components during the late 3rd and 2nd millennium B.C. in western India, along with winter crops of west Asian origin like wheat, barley, lentil and pea. Various types of millet of African origin, viz. finger millet-Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn., sorghum millet-Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench. and pearl millet-Pennisetum typhoides Stapf. & Hubbard, have been recovered from protohistoric and historical sites in India between ca. 2500 B.C. and AD 1800. These arrived at about the same time, were cultivated as Kharif/summer crops whereas wheat and barley were the older rabi/winter crop staples. In the 3rd millennium B.C., ragi-millet is regarded to have reached the sea-board of the Indian region, where it has been found from the Harappan settlements at Surkotada, Shikarpur, Rojdi, etc. in Gujarat. It has also been recovered from Chalcolithic and Megalithic settlements in Maharashtra. It seems that the millets of African origin got introduced into India intermittently from middle of 3rd to 2nd millennium B.C. and got easily incorporated into the summer rain-fed agricultural system in drier parts of western India from where they got dispersed into northern, central and south-central parts of India in a short span of time. Recent work from western parts of India at Rojdi, Surkotada and at Harappan Kuntasi shows that perhaps various species of Setaria were also being exploited more or less contemporaneously with ragi (Eleuisine coracana). As there are no consistent dates of Eleusine in Africa, Arabia and Pakistan, its introduction from Africa is not fully supported. India can be regarded as a secondary centre of its domestication according to the work carried out in the recent past. The discovery of E. africana in India, which is a progenitor of E. coracana, is indeed important in this regard. The region of domestication of ragi-millet may have been somewhere in south India, where tetraploid forms of E. africana have been reported and on this ground the Indian ragi-millet seems to be a different race from that of domesticated in Africa. It is the need of the time now to reveal the essential facts about the possible roots of the past Indo- African contacts through investigation of the plant remains from the potentially early settlements. Broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum), a very ancient crop is thought to have reached India and

155 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

Pakistan along with foxtail millet (Setaria italica); from their presumed origins in north China in the 3rd millennium B.C., in the sites of Harappan culture. However, while the introduction of the African millets into India has received considerable interest and discussion, the cultivation of the East Asian millets has passed largely unremarked. Recent contributions made at the University of Cambridge, U.K. have helped in understanding the domestication of broom-corn millet and opened debate on prehistoric farming contacts between South and East Asia. In future, phylogenetic study of Asian Panicum species will establish relationship between wild and cultivated species, which incorporates not only Panicum miliaceum but also little millet or kutakii (Panicum sumatrense) which is extensively cultivated in India. The genetic results will provide supporting evidence to archaeobotanical research, in illuminating the origin of this ancient cereal. One needs to be extremely careful while distinguishing these two species (Eleusine coracana and Panicum miliare syn. Panicum sumatrense) in archaeological assemblages as the former is of African origin and the latter is of East Asian origin. Similarly, there exists tremendous variation in cultivated forms of sorghum millet, both wild and domestic species in different parts of India. This picture is likely to change in near future with intensive application of dry and wet separation procedures (floatation technique) region-wise and layer by layer to the prehistoric excavated sites in order to obtain systematic and undisturbed recovery of tiny grains of grasses and weeds.

156 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

EVOLUTION OF ISOETES L. THROUGH THE AGES

G. K. Srivastava Department of Botany, University of Allahabad, Allahabad-211002, India

Isoetes L. is the prime genus of the isoetalean clade. In recent years the discovery of a number of heterosporous lycopsids from the Devonian Period has enhanced its evolutionary significance. The lineage of the isoetalean clade goes up to the Devonian. During this period, the plants of its ancestors underwent dramatic changes and developed a number of survival strategies to cope with the changing environment. While it maintained a number of archaic characters, e.g. bipolar growth, root anatomy and others, it also developed a number of new characters like ligule with glossopodium, sunken sporangia, symmetry of spores, shortening of axis, etc. by the beginning of the Triassic Period. The genus was well equipped to survive in dry and unfavourable conditions. It was the pioneer plant to appear in the inundated land after the mass extinction. All the members of isoetalean clade became extinct except Isoetes, keeping the lineage alive. Retallack (1997) reported the first species of Isoetes (I. beestonii) from the Triassic of Queensland, Australia. Seventeen species and a number of forms comparable to Isoetes are reported from the Triassic to the present day. However, their full descriptions, identification and evaluation of different characters are needed to have the complete picture of the genus. The process of evolution of the isoetalean clade started in the Devonian Period with the plants like Longostachys and culminated in the genus Isoetes. In between, a number of forms appeared. Important amongst them are Longostachys Cai & Chen, Clevelandodendron Chitaley & Pigg, Protostigmaria Jennings et al., Oxroadia Alvin and Paurodendron Alvin. The Triassic Period marked the beginning of new group of plants. During this period, new taxa of the isoetalean clade emerged. The new members of the clade were Chaloneria Pigg & Rothwell (Pennsylvanian), Isoetes L., Pleuromeia Corda and Annalepis Fliche, which form a close-knit group of plants. Besides their morphological similarities, the recent studies of their microspores have further strengthened their relationship. The paper presents the evolution of the isoetalean clade with special reference to the genus Isoetes. It analyses its role in the evolution of lycopsids, in the light of recent discoveries.

157 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

PALAEOPHYTOGEOGRAPHICAL IMPLICATIONS OF EARLY CARBONIFEROUS FLORAS OF KASHMIR HIMALAYA

P. C. Srivastava Department of Botany, Ewing Christian College, Allahabad-211003, India E-mail: [email protected]

Early Carboniferous macrofloristic elements have been recorded from Po Series of Spiti, Himachal Pradesh (Gothan & Sahni 1937; HØeg et al. 1955), Gund Formation, Pirpanjal Range (Pal 1978; Pal & Chaloner 1979) and Liddar Valley, Kashmir (Sharma & Sehgal 1976; Kumar et al. 1980, 1987; Singh et al. 1982; Tripathi & Singh 1985; Pant & Srivastava 1995). Similar elements have also been described from the contemporary strata in different parts of Gondwanaland like South America (Ambo Formation, Paracas Peninsula and Carhuamayo of Peru; Siripaca Formation, Copacabana Peninsula and Kaka Formation, northern Subandean area of Bolivia; Poti Formation, Parnaíba Basin of Brazil), Africa (Guézouman Formation of Aïr Mountains of Niger) and Australia (Mount Johnstone, Italia Road and McInnes Formations of Sydney basin). The precise age assignment of these fossiliferous strata is based on macrofloral and palynological data from Peru, Bolivia, Brazil and Niger while in case of Indian strata in Liddar Valley it is based on sandwiching marine fauna and that of Australian beds on SHRIMP method (on single zircon crystals) from sandwiching volcanic tuff layers (Iannuzzi & Pfefferkorn 2002). On the basis of critical analysis of Wallarama flora of Kashmir Himalaya, Pant and Srivastava (1995) and Pant (1996) proposed the prevalence of regionalism in vast world-wide Lepidodendropsis flora existing in Early Carboniferous as evidenced from the appearance of some characteristic infrafoliar bladder (in Pseudobumbudendron Pant & Srivastava) matching with those contemporary lepidophytes known from Angara area. They also suggested a rather dry or physiologically dry climate with seasonal fluctuations on the basis of interstitial fibres in leaves of Nothorhacopteris Archangelsky and Triphyllopteris Schimper along with alternating zones of large and small leaf cushions on the lepidophytic axes assigned to Sondylodendron wallaramensis Pant & Srivastava, Lepidosigillaria quadrata Kräusel & Weland and Archaeosigillaria subcostata Danzé-Corsin. They further pointed out the existence of Wallarama flora in coastal clastic swamp. Guerra-Sommer et al. (2001) inferred that arborescent cormophytic lycophyte communities were not only important landscape elements but also palaeoecological and palaeoclimatic markers of wet lowlands associated with coastal plains in Western Gondwana during Visean-Serpukhovian and Artinskian-Kungurian intervals on the basis of Pseudobumbudendron and Bumbudendron-Brasilodendron, respectively. A critical analysis of these floras instigates us to reorient our palaeophytogeographical views about traditional concept of worldwide uniform Lepidodendropsis flora of Early Carboniferous time. However, Iannuzzi & Pfefferkorn (2002) took lead in proposing the existence of a pre-glacial, warm-temperate floral belt in Gondwana (Late Visean, Early Carboniferous) called Paracal floral realm. The present paper deals with critical analysis of floras of Early Carboniferous age found in Kashmir Himalaya in relation to their peculiar ecomorphological features, quantitative floristic constitution and significance in context with the new concept of Paracal floral realm. In addition, it also describes some new elements from Wallarama and Gund plant beds.

158 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

EVOLUTIONARY TRENDS IN THE CRETACEOUS-TERTIARY DICOTYLEDONOUS WOODS OF INDIA AND THEIR ECOLOGICAL/FUNCTIONAL ASPECTS

Rashmi Srivastava Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India E-mail: [email protected]

The origin of dicotyledonous woods and their anatomical features are of great interest to xylotomists for studying evolution and phylogeny of dicotyledons. The features of wood anatomy ought to obey the same Darwinian hypothesis operable in the evolution of organisms and their morphological and physiological features. The angiospermous remains were discovered from the Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous of China, Russia, Japan, North America, India, etc. but no definite angiospermous wood has been reported from the Early Cretaceous of India and elsewhere. The earliest remain of angiosperm-like wood, with vessels, was reported by Kräusel (1928) from the Middle Jurassic of Germany, which he later (1956) considered as gnetalean. Some vessel-less angiospermous woods, reported earlier from the Early Cretaceous of India, Japan and other places, were lately found to be of some extinct gymnosperms. Wheeler and Bass (1991, 1993) examined evolutionary and ecological trends in the xylotomical features in dicotyledonous fossil woods of both Laurasian and Gondwanan regions. Bande and Prakash (1984) and Srivastava (1996) have sorted out evolutionary trends in the woods of Indian region. Since then, a lot of data have been accumulated from different Cretaceous-Tertiary exposures of India to evaluate and further strengthen the previous findings from older to successively younger horizons. According to Bailey and Tupper, the features related to major trends of xylem evolution are as follows: 1. Porosity: Diffuse porous usually precedes ring porous, however it may be modified climatologically. 2. Growth rings: Absence of growth rings is considered as primitive whereas presence is a derived feature. (i) Vessels/Pores: (a) Solitary pores precede multiple and clusters; (b) Pores with angular cross section are primitive as compared to the rounded ones; (c) Scalariform intervessel pits are primitive whereas opposite and alternate are advanced; (d) Longer vessel elements precede shorter ones; and (e) Scalariform perforation plates with many bars are most primitive and few bars and simple plates are most advanced. (ii) Axial parenchyma: Apotracheal parenchyma precedes paratracheal parenchyma. (a) Apotracheal (diffuse to diffuse-in-aggregate is more primitive than thin apotracheal lines and apotracheal bands); and (b) Paratracheal: Scanty precedes vasicentric, aliform, aliform confluent to paratracheal banded are successively most advanced.

159 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

3. Rays: Heterogeneous rays precede homogeneous ones. (a) Heterogeneous (Kribs type I is most primitive than type II, type III, type V, respectively); and (b) Homogeneous (Kribs type IV is more primitive than type VI). 4. Fibres: Fibres are not related to major trends of evolution. However, septate fibres are more frequent in older horizons. 5. Storeying of various elements, such as vessel elements, parenchyma strands and rays, is considered to be a highly specialized feature. Cretaceous-Palaeogene Woods: The oldest, Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) woods from India have recently been reported from Infratrappean beds of Lameta Formation (Kar et al. 2004). Until now, woods reported from the Deccan Intertrappean sediments (Maastrichtian-Danian) were believed to be the oldest known angiospermous woods from India. A number of fossil dicot woods have been recorded from Deccan Intertrappean beds and few from other Palaeogene sediments. The study shows that all the woods are diffuse porous. Scalariform perforation plates are present only in two genera, Gomphandra and Hydnocarpus, and scalariform to opposite intervessel pits are present only in one genus, Leea. Storeying tendency in parenchyma cells and vessel elements is found in Sterculia only. Rest of the woods have simple perforation plates and alternate (few opposite) intervessel pits. However, high percentage of apotracheal parenchyma and heterogeneous rays indicate primitiveness. Neogene Woods: Rich dicotyledonous fossil wood assemblages from both peninsular and extra- peninsular regions suggest that during Neogene India had luxuriant forest cover of evergreen and deciduous elements. The floras show similar composition throughout the country. Predominance of dipterocarpaceous and fabaceous genera together with Combretaceae, Ebenaceae, Rosaceae, Sapotaceae, etc. distinguishes the Neogene flora from the Palaeogene. 1. Warkalli and Neyveli lignite flora (Early-Middle Miocene): These assemblages have similar trends in parenchyma and ray pattern. Scalariform perforation plates are present in Altingia and Hydnocarpus and scalariform intervessel pits are present in Leea. Assemblages are in no way anatomically more advance than Deccan Intertrappean flora. 2. Lower Siwalik flora (Middle Miocene): In this assemblage, scalariform perforation plates and intervessel pits are absent and storeyed elements and banded parenchyma are found in many legumes, viz. Bauhinia, Dialium, Milletia, etc. These features suggest steps towards advancement. 3. Tipam Sandstone and Siwalik flora of northeast India (Late Miocene-Pliocene): Two species of Lagerstroemia show semi-ring porosity and rest of the woods are diffuse porous like preceding flora. Scalariform perforation plates are found in a Lauracean wood. Paratracheal aliform, confluent or banded parenchyma is present in more than 50% woods. Storeyed elements are present in five genera. However, heterogeneous rays are present in abundance indicating evolution of axial parenchyma at a faster rate than rays. 4. Middle Siwalik flora of Bengal (Late Miocene-Pliocene): All the woods are diffuse porous with simple perforation plates and alternate, bordered intervessel pitting. Parenchyma pattern and homogeneous xylem rays are more advance with higher percentage of storeyed elements. 5. Cuddalore flora (Miocene-Pliocene): Scalariform perforation plates are present only in Alangium and Putranjiva (simple also), and alternate bordered pits are present in all the genera. Storeyed tendency in 8 genera is clearly discernible. Well developed paratracheal parenchyma in almost 50%

160 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

genera, with a high percentage of homogeneous rays, shows further advancement in xylem rays along with parenchyma. 6. Gujarat and Rajasthan floras (Early Miocene and Pliocene-Pleistocene): The Khari Series of Gujarat is of Early Miocene age and Kankawati Formation and Rajasthan flora are of Pliocene- Pleistocene age. Lagerstroemia and Ziziphus show semi-ring porosity and rest of the woods are diffuse porous. Parenchyma is highly evolved with well developed apotracheal banded and paratracheal aliform and banded in almost all woods. Homogeneous rays are also present in higher percentage. Ecological/functional aspect: The primary function of wood is water conduction. Therefore, climatic changes affecting water availability may be reflected in wood structure. Some of the anatomical features are more sensitive to ecological conditions and do not always depict evolutionary trends. Since Indian Cretaceous-Tertiary flora is distinctly tropical, growth rings and ring porosity are absent because of non-seasonality. Simple perforated elements are adapted for efficient water supply and scalariform perforation plates are eliminated due to high rate of transpiration as evidenced in the modern woods of tropical region (Baas 1982). Likewise, alternate intervessel pits provide stronger wall support than opposite or scalariform pitting because most of the genera are dicotyledonous trees of tropical evergreen to semi-evergreen forests (Carlquist 1988). However, in the temperate regimes, these characters, such as growth rings, ring porosity, scalariform perforation plates and pittings, are more frequent. Conclusions: 1. The anatomical analysis of dicotyledonous woods from different Cretaceous- Tertiary exposures of India supports the Baileyian model of xylem evolution as incidence of primitive features in older horizons is higher while advanced characters are more common in gradually younger horizons of Tertiary; 2. Incidence of primitive features, such as scalariform perforation plates and pitting, is in low percentage in Cretaceous-Early Tertiary woods of India as compared to those in northern hemisphere due to tropical climate; and 3. Anatomical features show general agreement with the climatic conditions and functional aspects of the past.

161 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

A NEW MICROSIEVING TECHNIQUE IN POLLEN ANALYSIS

A. Stephen, G. Orukaimani, S. Prasad & K. Anupama French Institute of Pondicherry, 11 St. Louis Street, Pondicherry-605001, India E-mail: [email protected]

Pollen analysis of sediments and surface samples involves rigorous microscopic studies of the chemically treated samples, and inevitably, the final residue mounted on the slide contains a certain proportion of microdebris. Present day studies on palaeovegetation reconstruction rely on quantitative methods of pollen analysis unlike the earlier procedures that involve percentage studies of pollen. To be able to use the pollen counts generated in quantitative and statistical applications and, finally, in order to validate models, the state-of-the-art requires “clean datasets”. Achieving this implies precision and refinement in every step of pollen analyses starting from the field to the laboratory and finally to the microscope because, among the events influencing a pollen analytical registration, the effects of sampling procedures and analysis technique is important as it influences the relation between the pollen flora of the deposit and the registration of it by the analysis (Faegri & Iverson 1989) It is essential therefore, to ensure that the final residue is relatively free from extraneous materials, especially microdebris, which influences both the quantitative and microscopic analyses. In this paper, we focus our attention on a refinement of the laboratory procedure in order to get rid of or at least minimize microdebris that often hinder lucid observation of the pollen grains for identification and counting under the microscope. It is important that the final residue mounted on the slide is at least a faithful subset of the initial samples. To achieve this, a sieving method is described for concentrating pollen from sediments and surface samples using a membrane filter. The effectiveness of this method was also tested in comparison with standard ultrasonic sieving process where two steps – filtration and ultrasonic treatment - are coupled together (Caratini 1980). In our new method, these steps are decoupled and we mainly use filtration, by a membrane filter using vacuum suction – the ultrasound treatment is preliminary and mainly to break down aggregates and disperse the suspension prior to filtration. In the paper we discuss the adverse effects of coupling these two steps and the advantages and disadvantages of the different methods. In this method, currently being tested in our laboratory, we aim to ensure that there is minimal pollen escape or loss. We recommend this laboratory processing method for a wider use in most pollen laboratories, as the process is inexpensive, can be easily added on to the existing method and requires only simple, easily available equipment.

162 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

ADVANCES IN THE STUDY OF EARLY ANGIOSPERMS IN CHINA

Ge Sun Research Centre of Paleontology, Jilin University, Changchun 130026, China

The discovery of early angiosperm Archaefructus from western Liaoning, China has been given more attention by palaeobotanists and botanists in the world. Archaefructus, including A. liaoningensis and A. sinensis, has simple and terminate axes bearing helical conduplicate carpels enclosing several ovules in each. The elongated adaxial stigmas, mostly paired stamens with monosulcate pollen, helical on longer flower axes, all characterize Archaefructus as very primitive in its floristic characters. On the other hand, their simple root system, delicate stems bearing highly dissected leaves, and absence of perianth, imply that Archaefructus was aquatic and herbaceous in nature. Current phylogenetic studies with combined multiple gene and morphologic analyses support Archaefructus as the basal angiosperm and a sister taxon to the extant flowering plants. Another new discovery of early angiosperm is the recovery of genus Hyrcantha from the western Liaoning. Hyrcantha is also an aquatic and herbaceous angiosperm, and is important for the study of origin and early evolution of angiosperms. The study of the angiosperm pollen from contemporaneous strata in the western Liaoning is also in progress. The series of new finds of early angiosperms in China imply that the early diversity of the angiosperms took place in East Asia at least in pre-Cretaceous time. The fossil insects and other animals provide more evidence for the age determination of the early angiosperms and their co- evolution.

163 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

PERMIAN MEGAFLORISTICS OF WARDHA- GODAVARI BASIN, INDIA - A SYNOPSIS

Rajni Tewari Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India E-mail: [email protected]

The Godavari Graben and its northerly extension - the Wardha Basin represent a NNW-SSE trending graben and cater to the coal requirements of Maharashtra and southern India. There is a geologic continuity between the two and both the basins share a similar stratigraphy with a complete sequence preserved from Early Permian to Late Cretaceous. Plant megafossil records from Permian of Wardha Basin are mainly confined to the studies of gymnospermous woods (Lakhanpal et al. 1976; Agashe & Prasad 1989; Chandra & Tewari 1991; Agashe & Shashi Kumar 1996, 2001; Varadpande 1977a). However, megafossils, other than woods, have also been reported (Feistmantel 1881; Chandra & Prasad 1981; Raja Rao 1982; Tewari & Rajanikanth 2001; Varadpande 1977b; Singh et al. 2005) from the Karharbari/Lower Barakar and Kamthi formations. On the other hand, megafossil records of Godavari Graben are largely confined to the Mesozoic. Lower Gondwana plant fossils reported so far, are rare (Lakhanpal et al. 1976; Chandra & Tewari 1991; Prasad & Pundir 1999; Tewari & Jha 2006) and mainly belong to Barakar, Raniganj and Chintalapudi formations. Recent investigations on plant megafossils from Kamthi Formation, Kamptee and Wardha Valley coalfields, Wardha Basin yielded a rich and diversified assemblage comprising leaves, stems, seeds, fructifications and scale leaves, represented by Neomariopteris hughesii, N. polymorpha, Trizygia speciosa, Schizoneura gondwanensis, equisetalean axes, Glossopteris angustifolia, G. arberi, G. barakarensis, G. browniana. Glossopteris sp. cf. G. browniana G. brongniartii, G. communis, G. conspicua, G. danae, G. decipiens, G. emarginata, G. feistmantelii, G. gigas, G. indica, G. intermittens, G. intermedia, G. hinjridaensis, G. kamthiensis, G. leptoneura, G. longicaulis, G. maheshwarii, G. musaefolia, G. rhabdotaenioides, G. retifera, G. spathulata, G. stenoneura, G. subtilis, G. syaldiensis, G. taeniensis, G. tenuifolia, G. vulgaris, Glossopteris sp., Noeggerathipsis sp., scale leaves and Samaropsis ganjrensis. The flora is comparable with the Raniganj flora of Damodar Basin and Kamthi flora of Mahanadi Basin indicating an Upper Permian age. An analysis of palaeobotanical work carried out in the Wardha Basin reveals that though the Permian assemblage is dominated by Glossopteridales, other groups, viz. Filicales, Equisetales, Ginkgoales, Cordaitales and Coniferales, are also well represented. On the other hand, the Permian megaflora of Godavari Graben, represented by Glossopteridales, Equisetales and Cordaitales, is not so rich and is less diversified than that of Wardha Basin.

164 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

MESO-NEOPROTEROZOIC STROMATOLITES AND MICROBIOTA FROM THE BUXA DOLOMITE, SIKKIM LESSER HIMALAYA, INDIA

V. C. Tewari Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, 33 General Mahadeo Singh Road, Dehradun-248001, India E-mail: [email protected]

The Buxa Group in the northeastern Lesser Himalaya is well represented by dolomites, limestones, cherty stromatolitic-oolitic-intraclastic dolomite, calcareous quartzite and black carbonaceous shales in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim. The stromatolitic dolomite sequence is 800 m thick in the Ranjit Window section of the Sikkim Lesser Himalaya. The Mesoproterozoic (Riphean) stromatolite taxa are recorded from the Buxa Dolomite of the Ranjit Window, Lesser Himalaya. The characteristic Riphean taxa are Colonnella columnaris, Kussiella kussiensis, Conophyton garganicum, Baicalia nova, Tungussia, Jurusania, Inzeria, Gymnosolen, Minjaria, Stratifera and Gongylina. The Neoproterozoic Terminal Proterozoic (Vendian) stromatolite assemblage Paniscollenia, Aldania, Tungussia, Linella, Colleniella, Linocollenia, Boxonia, linked Conophyton, Conistratifera, microstromatolites, Stratifera, Irregularia, Nucleella, digitate stromatolites and oncolites are well developed in the Buxa Dolomite, Ranjit Window. The Mesoproterozoic to Terminal Proterozoic stromatolite diversification has been recorded for the first time from the Buxa Dolomite of the Sikkim Lesser Himalaya. Palaeobiological remains discovered from the petrographic thin sections of the black cherts associated with the stromatolitic dolomites of the Buxa Group in Ranjit Window, Sikkim are organic-walled microfossils. (Leiosphaeridia, Obruchevella, Myxococcoides, Siphonophycus, Eomycetopsis. The sedimentological studies of the stromatolites and sedimentary structures suggest that Buxa Dolomite was deposited in intertidal to subtidal and lagoonal environment. The carbon and oxygen isotope analysis of the Buxa Dolomite from the Ranjit Window shows that carbon isotope ratios vary from -1.4 to +1.0 (PDB) and oxygen isotope values range from 18.9 to 23.9 (SMOW). The isotopic data also support a shallow marine depositional environment. Laser Raman Spectra have shown the shift in wave number at 1100 cm and confirms the presence of amino acids (biomolecules). The distribution of stromatolite assemblages, morphological variations and the palaeoenvironment of deposition of the Buxa Dolomite have been established. The detailed study of the stromatolite morphology, microstructure, microfabrics and associated microbiota in the stromatolitic and bedded cherts suggests a Lower Riphean to Terminal Proterozoic age for the Buxa Dolomite in the Sikkim Lesser Himalaya. Tewari (2003, 2004, 2005) has done integrated sedimentological, palaeobiological, carbon and oxygen isotopic and Laser Raman Spectroscopic studies of the Buxa Dolomite from Arunachal Lesser Himalaya and has suggested a Neoproteroozoic to Precambrian-Cambrian boundary transition in the eastern Lesser Himalaya.

165 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

MASS EXTINCTION AND BOLIDE IMPACT AT CRETACEOUS-TERTIARY BOUNDARY

V. C. Tewari Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, 33 General Mahadeo Singh Road, Dehradun-248001, India E-mail: [email protected]

The extraterrestrial bolide impact at the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary is the most widely accepted reason for the catastrophic mass extinction on Earth about 65 million years ago. The bolide impact theory is strongly supported by the impact derived spherules and the rich concentration of the rare earth element iridium and other platinum group elements in the boundary clay layer from Yucatan Peninsula (Mexico), Sugarite section in New Mexico (USA), Padriciano and Gubio sections of Italy, Dolenja Vas section of Slovenia and Um Sohryngkew section of NE Himalaya, India. The mass extinction of planktonic foraminifera at the K/T boundary is related to this impact. The benthic foraminifera show reorganization and resulted from the drop in biotic productivity after the asteroid impact in the end Cretaceous. The sedimentological and geochemical studies of the carbonate rocks from the K/T boundary to Lower Eocene rocks in the Karst area of Italy (Padriciano) and the Dolenja Vas and Sopada sections of the Slovenia in the NW Adriatic platform also support the impact related extinction. The mass extinction in the oceans was world wide and about 90% of the planktonic foraminifera perished. This extinction event was also linked with the major change in the global carbon cycle. Stable carbon isotope studies of planktonic foraminifera show a negative excursion following the K/T boundary mass extinction. Highly negative values (d13C = -10‰‰‰) have been reported from the stromatolitic limestone with microcodium in the Padriciano section following the K/T boundary. The extreme depletion of d13C indicates a drop in marine primary productivity following mass extinction. The decrease in d13C (carbonate carbon) and organic matter at K/T boundary is also interpreted to be due to the global climatic cooling and mass extinction.

166 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

DIATOMS FROM MARINE SEDIMENTS AS INDICATORS OF MONSOON RELATED RUN OFF IN EASTERN ARABIAN SEA

Biswajeet Thakur, Vandana Prasad & Rahul Garg Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India

The Arabian Sea is considered globally significant for its high biological productivity. The high rate of monsoon precipitation along the northeastern margin of the Arabian Sea leads to influx of nutrient rich run off and enhanced surface water productivity and particle transport. Diatoms are siliceous phytoplanktons that act as primary producers in the photic zone. Their abundance is related to upwelling or areas of nutrient richness. Study of a 24 cm thick shallow sediment core SK-117/ SC-06 off the Karawar Coast, Arabian Sea from ~50 m water depth (Lat. 15º30'N: Long. 73º35'E) shows a remarkable association of fresh water and marine diatoms. The abundance of diatoms in the core is indicative of nutrient richness and surface water productivity. The assemblage shows predominance of centric fresh water diatoms Cyclotella spp. and Stephanodiscus sp. over marine planktic forms mainly comprising of Coscinodiscus spp., Thalassiosira spp. and Actinocyclus spp. The fresh water pennate diatoms are represented by Cymbella spp., Navicula spp., Nitzchia spp., etc., whereas the marine pennate forms include Diploneis spp., etc. Samples at 14-16 cm and 20-22 cm intervals show a ratio of 60 : 40 between fresh water and marine diatom populations. The sudden flux of fresh water diatoms in the marine core from the continental shelf is attributed to increased run off due to enhanced southwest monsoon activity. It is presumed that fresh water and marine diatom ratio may be considered to monitor periodic run off linked productivity changes on spatial and temporal scales.

167 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

CHARACTERISTIC PALYNOFLORAL ASSEMBLAGES FROM WESTERN RAJASTHAN

S. K. M. Tripathi & Divya Srivastava Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India

Diversified palynofloral assemblages, representing terrestrial as well as marine elements, have been recorded from the Late Palaeocene to Early Eocene sequences of western Rajasthan. These assemblages have been described from open-cast mines and subsurface sequences in Barmer, Bikaner and Nagaur districts. Some of the palynofossils bear special significance with respect to their morphological features and can easily be delineated as distinct forms with very uncommon exine characters. Palynological assemblage from Barmer Basin is distinctly dominated by monosulcate pollen appearing to be related to Arecaceae (Palmae). Many of these forms have been assigned to different species of Spinizonocolpites and appear to be related with modern brackish water palm Nypa. These pollen possess an extended sulcus parallel to the polar axis (meridionosulcate) and exhibit spinulate exine. Other common forms in the Barmer assemblage, assigned to different species of Acanthotricolpites, are triporate, spinulate and, in all probability, are related to the family Arecaceae. The Barmer assemblage also abounds in forms that are similar to Spinizonocolpites in aperture characters (meridionosulcate aperture) but distinctly differ in exinal characters. These forms are designated as Kapurdipollenites gemmatus and Kapurdipollenites baculatus. Two pollen taxa, Piladiporocolpites caratinii and Piladiporocolpites pachyexinous, described from subsurface Early Eocene of Bikaner, Rajasthan are equatorially diporate but surprisingly also possess a colpus. Of these, Piladiporocolpites caratinii resembles Kapurdipollanites in exine ornamentation characters. Pollen grains with two pores and one sulcus have not been reported in fossil state. However, similar condition is witnessed in extant pollen of Daemonorops sparsiflorus of Arecaceae in which the two pores are connected by a colpoid streak. Retiverrumonosulcites from late Palaeocene of Barmer is also monosulcate. In these forms, processes vary in shape and size and the sulcus, which is not extended, is characteristically surrounded by clavae. Clavadiporopollenites, reported from subsurface Palaeocene of Bikaner, Rajasthan is diporate with a whorl of clavae at each pore. In this communication an attempt has been made to trace evolution of morphographic features noticeable in a group of pollen that appear to be closely related.

168 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

PALYNOLOGICAL STUDY ON THE EARLY EOCENE SEQUENCE OF VASTAN LIGNITE MINE, GUJARAT, INDIA

S. K. M. Tripathi & Divya Srivastava Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India

Inferences based on diverse palynological assemblages recorded from the lignite and associated sediments of open-cast Vastan lignite mine, Surat District, Gujarat have been presented. The site of collection is situated at about 60 km NE of Surat (Lat. 21°25'47"N: Long. 73°07'30"E) and is a part of Cambay Shale (Early Eocene). The Cambay Shale is 20-145 m thick in this area but sample collection for the present study was limited to a 26 m thick sequence, chiefly made up of claystone (with or without shell layers), lignite, shale and calcareous clay. Terrestrial as well as marine palynofossils have been recorded from several fossiliferous layers of the section. The assemblage is marked with overall dominance of angiosperm pollen whereas pteridophytic spores are characteristically low in frequency. Presence of dinoflagellate cysts was noticed in the middle part of the sequence. Palynofloral composition suggests that deposition of the studied sequence took place in fluctuating conditions ranging from lacustrine, swampy, marshy to deltaic environment. The palynological study allows division of the Vastan sequence into three zones. The lower zone, represented by 5.5 m thick sediments, is rich in coastal and tropical rain forest elements. Most of the forms recorded from this part are related with the families Arecaceae (Palmae), Bombacaceae and Alangiaceae. The middle zone, represented by 10 m thick sediments, shows characteristically impoverished palynological assemblages and has distinctly low concentration of organic matter indicating prevalence of drier conditions in the vicinity of the depocentre. The middle part of this zone is marked with the presence of dinocysts indicating marine incursion. Continuance of shallow marine deposits is noticed almost up to top of the studied sequence. The upper zone, represented by about 10.5 m thick sequence, shows a mixture of marine and terrestrial palynofossils. Within this zone, a 2 m thick horizon of claystone shows very high frequency of algal filaments, non-structured organic matter and monotypic assemblage of Operculodinium spp. The top part of this zone contains good amount of bombacaceous pollen and structured organic matter but is devoid of dinocysts.

169 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

A PETRIFIED FEMALE STROBILUS FROM MOHGAONKALAN, MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA

E. V. Upadhye1, J. A. Tidke2 & G. V. Patil2 1Department of Botany, Shri Shivaji College, Shivaji Park, Akola, India 2Department of Botany, S. G. B. Amravati University, Amravati-444602, India E-mail: [email protected]

A petrified female strobilus of Coniferales is described from the Deccan Intertrappean beds of Mohgaonkalan, Madhya Pradesh. The description is based on two specimens exposed tangentially in silicified cherts. The female strobilus shows many bract scales with group of megasporophylls (ovuliferous scales), arranged in a compact helix, around central axis. In the axil of each bract scale there is a dwarf shoot bearing a group of six megasporophylls with two inverted ovules on each, arranged spirally on condensed axis. It is compared with many other fossil female strobili from Coniferales. The present specimens resemble Mohogaostrobus Prakash (1961) and Harrisostrobus Chitaley & Sheikh (1973), except for minor variations in size and shape. All these therefore represent growth phases of the same species and may be merged together. Mohgaostrobus sahani Prakash (1961) has been retained here because of its nomenclature priority. Diagnoses of genus and species have also been emended.

170 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

BIODETERIORATION OF BHIMBETKA ROCK SHELTERS – A WORLD HERITAGE ZONE BY CALCIUM ACCUMULATING LICHENS

D. K. Upreti, Rajesh Bajpai & Aahuti Bajpai Lichenology Laboratory, National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow-226001, India

The Bhimbetka Rock shelters in Raisen District, Madhya Pradesh, have a number of natural sandstone rocks which exhibit luxuriant growth of lichens. The knowledge of the type of lichen growth forms, their frequency, density, abundance and type of secondary metabolites, together with the extent of mycobiont penetration into the rock, can provide the information about the kind of damage caused by the lichens. The production of calcium oxalates by lichen thalli is also a measure of lichen’s capacity to biodeteriorate its substratum. The accumulation of calcium in five most abundantly growing lichen taxa of the area has been estimated to measure the lichens capacity to biodetriorate its substratum. The Bhimbetka Rock shelters have been declared as the third World heritage zone in the state of Madhya Pradesh after Khajuraho and Sanchi. The rock shelters are comprised of natural sandstone and bears luxuriant growth of crustose lichen genera Buellia, Caloplaca, Diploschistes together with squamulose (Endocarpon, Peltula) and foliose lichens (Collema, Dirinaria, Physcia and Phaeophyscia). The climate of the area is of tropical type and the exposed rocks experienced mostly dry environmental conditions throughout the year except the rainy season during July to September. Lichen taxa, viz. Diploschistes gypsaceus (Ach.) Nyl., Dirinaria aegialita (Afz. in Ach.) Moore, Parmotrema praesorediosum (Nyl.) Hale and Endocarpon subrosettum A. Singh & Upreti are with chlorophycean photobiont, showing dominance of 1.75, 19.60, 3.0 and 12.0 respectively and Peltula euploca (Ach.) Poelt in Pisut, a cyanophycean lichen, showing maximum dominance of 52.46, were selected for the analysis of their calcium contents. The concentration of Ca was determined by Perkin Elmer Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Peltula euploca, with maximum dominance on the rock shelters of the Bhimbetka world heritage zone, appears to be the most effective biodetriorant as it accumulates maximum calcium content compared to their chelating substance bearing brethrens.

171 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

FOSSIL FLORA OF UPPUGUNDURU AND ITS DIVERSITY

B. A. Vagyani Plot No. 88, Vinayak, Vasant Vihar, Sangli-416416, India

The present paper deals with morphotaxonomic studies of the fossil flora collected from Uppugunduru, Prakasam District, Andhra Pradesh. The flora includes cycadophytes, conifers, pteridosperms, pteridophytes and ginkgoales. The assemblage shows dominance of cycadophytes and conifers. Pteridophytes and pteridosperms represent minor part, while ginkgoales are rare. The flora suggests diversified nature and represents distinct palaeoclimatic conditions.

172 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

POLLEN IDENTIFICATION MULTIMEDIA SOFTWARE: A MICROTAXONOMIC PALAEOBOTANICAL RESEARCH TOOL

G. Vasanthy1 & P. Grard2 1Institut Français de Pondichèry-605001, India E-mail: [email protected] 2CIRAD-CA, Avenue Agropolis-TA 70/09-34398 Montpellier Cedex 5, France E-mail: [email protected]

To assist “users” in taxa determination of sub-fossilized pollen (palaeopalynology) or air-borne pollen (aeropalynology), a Software (CD-ROM) has been developed; framing software-aided graphical keys by non-sequential choice of characters is easier than using the traditional terminology dependent keys. Tree pollen taxa of 153 species belonging to 147 genera (Mangroves: 11, Western Ghats: 129 and others: 7) and 63 families (61 dicotyledons) have been included. IDAO by CIRAD, a self-training tool in plant taxonomy has been adapted to identify pollen. Vectorized drawings of a composite picture and of 135 character states belonging to 25 pollen characters of selected tree taxa serve to frame graphical identification keys. A combination of character-states serves as a key giving the identity of the parent plant species. The opening graphical interface starts with 15/25 frames (10 of them “indirectly” linked), the Title bar, the Main Menu bar, the Toolbar and the Status bar. The frame at the lower right of the screen displays 150 species at 0%. Two buttons labelled as Search and Results are at the top right of the screen. Some Identification Steps: (i). Start the integration of characters with the Pollen grouping. (ii). Select character states by clicking the units in chosen character interfaces and validate by clicking Search button. (iii). Click Results button to get the descriptive page of the identified species. (iv). To unselect the chosen character state within the blue-lined frame click anywhere on it to make it disappear. Descriptive phrases appear as tool-tip texts along with “a hand” shaped screen pointer with its movements within the small rectangular character frames as well as over and around the drawings of character states. The chosen type of character state appears within the character frame upon validation. The number of species having the specified character state is displayed within the lower right frame of the screen. At every step of identification the user should note the values displayed within the frame. For example 1 (or x) species at 100 indicate: (i) the number of species covered by the graphically assembled identikit with chosen characters and (ii) the percentage of similarity between one or some of the listed species and the assembled identikit. (iii). If the combination of your identification criteria is unmatchable with any of the listed species of the pollen flora, then the percentage of similarity cannot reach 100%. Despite the varying percentage of similarity displayed Results button can be clicked to get the descriptive pages. The descriptive part includes: (i). the binomial nomenclature of the identified species; (ii). a good number of legend-linked pollen digital

173 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

images and SEM (for 47 species); (iii). a detailed pollen morphological description using terms linked to illustrated definitions; (iv). Remark; (v). Tentative Pollen Typification; (vi). References (Generic Palynology); (vii). Origin of the specimen studied & Taxonomical, Ecological and Distributional notes. This software can be of help to users not only in south India but also in tropics, subtropics and subtemperate regions in India, Asia and other continents.

174 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

NEW KEY SPECIES FROM MIDDLE TO LATE TRIASSIC SUCCESSION OF INDIA

Vijaya & Archana Tripathi Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]

Two monosaccate pollen genera, Kamthisaccites Srivastava & Jha (1986) and Goubinispora Tiwari & Rana (1981), were instituted from the end-Permian and Middle Triassic strata respectively of Indian Peninsula. While working on the Triassic palynoflora, two new species, viz. Kamthisaccites ringus and Goubinispora triassica, were recorded, which are described here. These species are significant in Triassic palynostratigraphy. Kamthisaccites has a short interval of its occurrence (latest Permian). However, record of Kamthisaccites ringus sp. nov. in Middle to Late Triassic strata is notable and points towards it being a Lazarus taxon. Goubinispora marks its FAD in the earliest Triassic and continues to occur up to Late Triassic, with varied relative occurrence. The first appearance of Goubinispora triassica sp. nov. in the Middle Triassic makes this taxon a stratigraphic marker.

175 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

FOSSIL GLEICHENIACEOUS FERNS IN CHINA: BIODIVERSITY, RADIATION AND MACROEVOLUTION

Yongdong Wang1, Xiaoju Yang1, Shenghui Deng2 & Volker Mosbrugger3 1Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China E-mail: [email protected] 2Central Laboratory of Geological Sciences, Institute of Petroleum Exploration and Development, PetroChina, Beijing 100083, China 3Senckenberg Research Institute Frankfurt, Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt, Germany

Gleicheniaceae is a primitive filicalean family with extensive fossil record dating back to the Palaeozoic. The fossil genera described from China, such as Chansitheca and Oligocarpia from the Permo-Carboniferous and Szea from the Permian are supposed to be the oldest representatives of the family. To date, about 25 species of fossil Gleicheniaceae ascribed to 5 genera have been recorded from China, ranging from Palaeozoic to Mesozoic. They are diverse, particularly in Early Permian and Early Cretaceous intervals, undergoing several significant evolutionary radiation events during the Palaeozoic and Mesozoic. About 7 species of 3 genera have been reported from the Palaeozoic of China, including Oligocarpia, Szea and Chansitheca. Some taxa have well preserved fertile structures (e.g. Oligocapia kepingensis and Chansitheca wudaensis), including sporangia, in situ spores and the spore ultrastructure (Wang & Wu 1999; Wang et al. 1999; Deng et al. 2000). The Mesozoic is a crucial period for the diversity evolution and radiation of the Gleicheniaceae. Gleichenites is the dominant genus, extensively recorded from Triassic to Cretaceous in China, and over 17 species have been documented. Most of them are based on impression material, only a few specimens are known for the morphology of sporangia. However, no data were reported concerning detailed structures and in situ spores for the genus Gleichenites. Though Hicriopteris triassica was described from the Late Triassic in Sichuan, S.W. China, debates still exist regarding its taxonomic status due to the lack of fertile evidences. Fossil records and diversity of taxa show that China is one of the potentially early origin areas for the family Gleicheniaceae. After the early origin in the early Permian, this family might have undergone a great decrease in its diversity probably due to global end-Permian mass extinction. From the Triassic, it began its recovery process and afterwards a transitional radiation happened in the Jurassic. During the Early Cretaceous, this family reached its maximum development in the diversity and macroevolution. From the Late Cretaceous, it began to decline in its diversity and development. The macro-evolutionary process of the fossil Gleicheniaceae may be closely related to the variation of palaeogeography, palaeoclimate as well as palaeoecology.

176 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

SEARCH FOR PRE-EDIACARAN METAZOAN FOSSILS IN CHINA AND INDIA

Sun Weiguo Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, P.R. China E-mail: [email protected]

Worm-like body fossils of Protoarenicola and Pararenicola in the Huainan biota from the early Neoproterozoic Jiuliqiao Formation in the Huainan region, Anhui Province, East China are probably the oldest known metazoans. The fossils are black, organic-walled and are preserved as carbonized compressions in shale and argillaceous limestone. They look very much like simple worms, 1-2 mm wide and more than 16 mm long, showing a flexible, elongate, cylindrical body with numerous very fine annulations and a differentiated anterior end. Despite the lack of preserved interior structures, their metazoan origin may be attested by the preservation of these worm-like organisms (Pararenicola) together with their moving traces. The Jiuliqiao Formation is well below the base of the Cambrian and has been dated at about 740 Ma BP, predating the Marinoan (= Nantuo) ice age. A megafossil assemblage similar to the Huainan biota, consisting dominantly of algal remains of Chuaria and Tawuia and also containing worm-like body fossils of Protoarenicola, was found recently from the late Precambrian Halkal Formation, Bhima Group, in the Bhima Basin, south India. The Halkal Formation of the Bhima Group is older than the Ediacaran, and probably the Marinoan ice age as well, as it is overlain by the latest Precambrian Hotpet Formation, wherefrom a new Ediacara- type biota was discovered recently. These findings from China and India, to be verified by further investigation, would extend the fossil record of the origin and early evolution of metazoan life backward to the remote pre-Ediacaran time. The Neoproterozoic “snow-ball event” (Marinoan ice age) may have played a significant role in the early evolution of metazoans, but the metazoan life might have originated considerably earlier than that event.

177 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

PRELIMINARY STUDY OF LIGNIFIED AND CHARCOAL WOOD FLORA FROM THE PLIOCENE SEDIMENTS OF YUNNAN PROVINCE, CHINA

Tiemei Yi Research Centre of Systematics & Evolutionary Botany, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing-100093

Late Tertiary sediments of Yunnan Province bear several hundred brown coal mines and yield a rich assemblage of well-preserved fossil woods. The lignified and charcoal wood flora under consideration is from the Xundian County of eastern Yunnan and Longling County of southwestern Yunnan, and is derived from coal layers of Jinsuo and Daba coal mine deposited during Pliocene. These deposits accumulated in a lacustrine environment. The preliminary study indicates that the wood flora of Jinsuo consists of two conifers and five angiosperm genera. Pinus sp. and Picea sp. (Pinaceae) represent the conifers. The angiosperm component includes 5 genera, representing Michelia sp. (Magnoliaceae), Magnolia sp. (Magnoliaceae), Symplocos sp. (Symplocaceae), Castanea sp. (Fagaceae), and Bambooxylon sp. (Poaceae). The wood flora of Daba consists of one conifer genus represented by Pinus sp. (Pinaceae) and three angiosperm genera represented by Lyonia sp., Rhododendron sp. and Vaccinium sp. (Ericaceae). Further identification is in progress. These fossil wood floras show the difference in sedimentary process of two basins and vegetation composition of two forests, forming coal.

178 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

LATE ABSTRACT GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION OF ANNULARIA SPECIES, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE RECORDS OF THREE CALAMITALEAN SPECIES IN THE GLOSSOPTERIS FLORA OF PENINSULAR INDIA

Sutapa Dutta & Manju Banerjee Palaeobotany-Palynology Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Calcutta, 35 Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata-700019, India

Annularia Sternberg, the calamitalean leaf genus, flourished during Carboniferous-Permian, primarily in the equatorial belt of Euramerian phytoprovince. A number of species also occur in the Cathaysian and Angara floras. A new phytoprovince, “Nothoafroamerica”, was proposed by Archangelsky (1986) considering the occurrences of Annularia spp. in the Early Permian sediments of South America and South Africa. The new records of three species of Annularia, viz. A. gondwanensis sp. nov., A. indica sp. nov. and A. kurtzii Archangelsky, in the Glossopteris flora of peninsular India are additional data to reconsider palaeoenvironment and palaeogeography of Indian subcontinent. The new additions are from late Early Permian (Barakar Formation) of Saharjuri basin, an easterly basin of Indian peninsula. Annularia spp. are also known from Lower Gondwana (Early Permian) deposits of western extra- peninsular India. Occurrences of the species of Annularia in restricted stratigraphic succession and geographical areas in the Lower Gondwana continents have generated new concepts in re-evaluating palaeoenvironment and palaeogeography of the continents (Fig. 1).

179 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

LATE ABSTRACT DINOFLAGELLATE CYST EVIDENCE FOR THE LOWER AGE LIMIT OF THE NAREDI FORMATION, SOUTHWESTERN, KUTCH, INDIA

Rahul Garg & Khowaja-Ateequzzaman Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, 53 University Road, Lucknow-226007, India

The Tertiary succession of Kutch, overlying the Deccan Traps, covers a large area. The age of the post-Trappean, pre-Nummulitic Shale sequence at the base of the Tertiary succession has long been shrouded in controversy. The “Sub-Nummulitic and Gypseous Shale sequence” of Wynne (1872) was initially considered to be Early Eocene or Palaeocene-Early Eocene in age. Later workers however, considered Palaeocene and major part of Early Eocene to be absent in Kutch assigning late Early Eocene - Middle Eocene or even late Middle Eocene (Bartonian) age to the entire pre-Nummulitic shaly succession. Absence of datable planktonic microfossils and rather long stratigraphic ranges of the larger foraminifera (Assilina species) and the bivalves (Venericardia beaumonti ) have primarily been cited to support a younger Middle Eocene age to the initial part of the Tertiary succession. Recovery of well preserved and datable dinoflagellate cyst assemblages, including age diagnostic species, from the basal part of the shale sequence of Naredi Formation, just overlying the Deccan Traps in the Kakdi River type section near Naredi, sets at rest the prevailing controversy regarding age of the Naredi Formation. In the present paper, dinoflagellate cyst assemblages of late Palaeocene- Early Eocene age are being described. The basal shaly part, immediately overlying the traps, has yielded rich but low diversity dinoflagellate cyst assemblages dominated by Thallasiphora pelagica. Based on the well-preserved and datable dinoflagellate cyst assemblages, recovered from the lower part of Naredi Formation (Gypseous Shale Member) in the Kakdi River Section, the Naredi Formation has been dated as Late Palaeocene – Early Eocene. Marker dinoflagellate cyst species include Kenleyia nuda, Muratodinium fimbriatum, Phelodinium magnificum, Glaphyrocysta exuberans, and Adnatosphaeridium multispinosum. Dominance of Muratodinium fimbriatum and Thallasiphora pelagica, along with abundance of well- preserved terrestrial plant debris at several levels in the lower part of the Kakdi River Section (between “Venericardia-beaumonti” bearing calcareous nodule bed and Assilina-rich marl), suggests low salinity and near shore environment with intermittent anoxic bottom conditions. Reduction in the Muratodinium/ Thalassiphora population and increase in chorate/skolochorate cysts (Operculodinium/Polysphaeridium/ Spiniferites) in the middle and upper parts, along with amorphous organic matter, suggest onset of normal marine conditions. This is supported by the presence of Assilina-rich marls and limestone at the top of the section.

180 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

LATE ABSTRACT POSSIBLE EDIACARAN FOSSILS FROM THE BUNDI HILL SANDSTONE, UPPER VINDHYANS, RAJASTHAN

Purnima Srivastava Department of Geology, Lucknow University, Lucknow-226007, India

Ediacaran fossils (575-542 Ma) mark the first appearance of large, morphologically complex, megascopic organisms with questionable affinity. Emergence of these organisms suggests that this profound evolutionary event was precipitated by equally profound physical and chemical global changes during Neoproterozoic times. Fossil records of these organisms document a critical interval in earth history, the transition between the predominantly microbial ecosystems of the Precambrian and the animal ecosystem of the Phanerozoic. The present paper records megafossils, possibly of Ediacaran affinity, from the Bundi Hill Sandstone, Bhander Group (Upper Vindhyan), Rajasthan. The Bundi Hill Sandstone conformably overlies the Samria Shale and is overlain by the Sirbu Shale. Like other Ediacaran assemblages of the world, here also algal mat textures are associated with these fossils. The present assemblage comprises a form exhibiting rounded, discoidal impression with and without concentric markings. It shows resemblance, to some extent, with Aspidella terranovica, a form interpreted as basal impression of an organism of cnidarean affinity (present day jelly fish-like organisms). A discoidal form with convex hyporelief, consisting of roughly circular concentric rings deformed into a quasi-polygonal shape with centrally located raised boss like structure, is comparable to Tirasiana sp. or a Cyclomedusa-like morphology. Another form exhibits an oval shape, median notch or a spindle shaped ridge with little bulging at one end. Marginally grooved structure of this form resembles, to some extent, with mould of Parvanocorina sp. (a primitive arthropod). A specimen, with oval to circular margins, giving an appearance of a flattened key like body with a rod or stem like projection, resembles with Charniodiscus(?) sp. (of cnidarean affinity). There are a few morphologies, which are very difficult to compare with known Ediacaran forms. Sedimantary structures, like ripple marks, mud cracks and associated algal mat textures, collectively indicate tidal flat environment of deposition for the Bundi Hill Sandstone. Presence of Ediacaran fossils in the Vindhyan Supergroup will certainly open a new area in the Proterozoic evolutionary palaeobiology.

181 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

Internal Advisory Committees

PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE Dr. N. C. Mehrotra, Director — Chairman Dr. (Ms) Jayasri Banerji, Scientist ‘F’ — Convener Dr. Rahul Garg, Scientist ‘F’ — Member Dr. J. S. Guleria, Scientist ‘E’ — Member Dr. R. C. Mehrotra, Scientist ‘D’ — Member Dr. A. Bhattacharyya, Scientist ‘D’ — Member Dr. B. D. Singh, Scientist ‘D’ — Member ABSTRACT PUBLICATION COMMITTEE Dr. Ramesh K. Saxena, Scientist ‘F’ — Convener Dr. A. Rajanikanth, Scientist ‘D’ — Member Dr. (Mrs.) Rajni Tewari, Scientist ‘D’ — Member Dr. M. S. Chauhan, Scientist ‘D’ — Member Mr. Rattan Lal Mehra, TO ‘A’ — Member Mr. Syed Rashid Ali, TA ‘D’ — Member ACCOMMODATION COMMITTEE Dr. S. K. M. Tripathi, Scientist ‘E’ — Convener Dr. Mahesh Prasad, Scientist ‘D’ — Member Dr. Anupam Sharma, Scientist ‘C’ — Member Mr. Veeru Kant Singh, Scientist ‘B’ — Member Mr. Ajay Kumar Arya, Scientist ‘B’ — Member Mrs. Kavita Kumar, TO ‘B’ — Member Mr. Chandra Pal, TO ‘B’ — Member Mr. K. P. Singh, Assistant (Offtg.) — Member Mr. N. U. Kannan, UDC — Member TRANSPORT COMMITTEE Dr. R. R. Yadav, Scientist ‘E’ — Convener Dr. R. S. Singh, Scientist ‘E’ — Member Dr. Ram Awatar, Scientist ‘D’ — Member Dr. Madhav Kumar, Scientist ‘D’ — Member Dr. B. D. Mandaokar, Scientist ‘D’ — Member Dr. Hukum Singh, Scientist ‘B’ — Member Mr. Subodh Kumar, TO ‘A’ — Member Dr. Sanjai K. Singh, TA ‘D’ — Member Mr. Suresh K. Pillai, TA ‘D’ — Member Mr. Gopal Singh, UDC — Member RECEPTION COMMITTEE Dr. (Mrs.) Asha Khandelwal, Scientist ‘E’ — Convener Dr. (Mrs.) Anjum Farooqui, Scientist ‘C’ — Member Dr. (Mrs.) Binita Phartiyal, Scientist ‘A’ — Member Mrs. Kavita Kumar, TO ‘B’ — Member Mrs. Swapna Mazumdar, Assistant (Offtg. ) — Member

182 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

Dr. Shantanu Chatterjee, PI — Member Ms. Jyoti Sharma, JRF — Member REGISTRATION COMMITTEE Dr. Vijaya, Scientist ‘E’ — Convener Dr. J. P. Mandal, Scientist ‘E’ — Member Dr. Srikanta Murthy, Scientist ‘B’ — Member Dr. (Mrs.) Madhabi Chakraborty, TO ‘C’ — Member Dr. E. G. Khare, TO ‘C’ — Member Mr. V. K. Nigam, TO ‘A’ — Member Mr. Keshav Ram, TO ‘A’ — Member Mrs. V. Nirmala, SO (SA & E) — Member AUDITORIUM & AUDIO-VISUAL COMMITTEE Dr. C. M. Nautiyal, Scientist ‘D’ — Convener Dr. S. K. Bera, Scientist ‘D’ — Member Mr. Biswajeet Thakur, Scientist ‘B’ — Member Mr. Pawan Singh Katiyar, TO ‘C’ — Member Mr. V. K. Singh, TO ‘C’ — Member Mr. V. P. Singh, TO ‘B’ — Member Mr. Madhukar Arvind, TO ‘A’ — Member Mr. M. S. Rana, TA ‘B’ — Member MEDIA COVERAGE COMMITTEE Dr. M. R. Rao, Scientist ‘E’ — Convener Dr. C. M. Nautiyal, Scientist ‘D’ — Member Dr. A. Rajanikanth, Scientist ‘D’ — Member Dr. (Mrs.) Alpana Singh, Scientist ‘D’ — Member Mrs. Sunita Khanna, TO ‘B’ — Member Mr. Madhavendra Singh, TA ‘D’ — Member Mr. S. M. Vethanayagam, TA ‘D’ — Member Ms. Manisha Tharu, LDC — Member PHOTOGRAPHY COMMITTEE Dr. Samir Sarkar, Scientist ‘E’ — Convener Dr. O. S. Sarate, Scientist ‘D’ — Member Dr. Rupendra Babu, Scientist ‘D’ — Member Dr. (Mrs.) Jyotsana Rai, Scientist ‘D’ — Member Dr. (Mrs.) Neeru Prakash, Scientist ‘D’ — Member Mr. Pradeep Mohan, TO ‘A’ — Member Mr. D. S. Bisht, TA ‘D’ — Member GARDEN UP-KEEP COMMITTEE Dr. M. R. Rao, Scientist ‘E’ — Convener Dr. D. C. Saini, Scientist ‘D’ — Member Dr. (Mrs.) Neeru Prakash, Scientist ‘C’ — Member Dr. A. K. Ghosh, Scientist ‘C’ — Member Dr. (Mrs.) Anjum Farooqui, Scientist ‘C’ — Member Mr. T. K. Mandal, TO ‘B’ — Member Mrs. P. Thomas, Assistant — Member 183 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

DECORATION COMMITTEE Dr. (Mrs.) Neerja Jha, Scientist ‘E’ — Convener Dr. S. K. Bera, Scientist ‘D’ — Member Mr. Pramod K Bajpai, TO ‘C’ — Member Mrs. Asha Guleria, TO ‘C’ — Member Mr. Pawan Kumar, TA ‘A’ — Member Ms. Vartika Singh, JRF — Member CATERING COMMITTEE Dr. (Mrs.) Archana Tripathi, Scientist ‘F’ — Convener Dr. K. J. Singh, Scientist ‘D’ — Member Dr. K. Ateequzzaman, Scientist ‘D’ — Member Dr. A. K. Pokharia, Scientist ‘A’ — Member Mr. Pramod K Bajpai, TO ‘C’ — Member Mrs. Indra Goel, TO ‘C’ — Member Mrs. Reeta Banerjee, TO ‘B’ — Member Mr. Avinesh K. Srivastava, TO ‘B’ — Member Mr. I. J. S. Bedi, SO (W & B) — Member Mr. D. K. Pal, TA ‘D’ — Member CULTURAL PROGRAMME COMMITTEE Dr. (Mrs.) Rajni Tewari, Scientist ‘D’ — Convener Dr. (Mrs.) Rashmi Srivastava, Scientist ‘D’ — Member Dr. Amit K. Ghosh, Scientist ‘C’ — Member Ms. Divya Srivastava, JRF — Member SECURITY COMMITTEE Mr. S. C. Bajpai, Registrar — Convener Dr. S. Chakraborty, Scientist ‘C’ — Member Mr. Ashok Kumar, Hindi Translator — Member SOUVENIR COMMITTEE Dr. (Ms) Jayasri Banerji, Scientist ‘F’ — Convener Dr. A. Rajanikanth, Scientist ‘D’ — Member Dr. (Mrs.) Rashmi Srivastava, Scientist ‘D’ — Member Mr. Pramod K Bajpai, TO ‘C’ — Member JUBILEE MEMENTO COMMITTEE Dr. J. S. Guleria, Scientist ‘E’ — Convener Mr. S. C. Bajpai, Registrar — Member Dr. (Mrs.) Rajni Tewari, Scientist ‘D’ — Member Mr. Pramod K Bajpai, TO ‘C’ — Member MUSEUM COMMITTEE Dr. S. K. M. Tripathi, Scientist ‘E’ — Convener Dr. Mukund Sharma, Scientist ‘D’ — Member Dr. (Mrs.) Rajni Tewari, Scientist ‘D’ — Member Dr. A. K. Ghosh, Scientist ‘C’ — Member Mr. Pramod K Bajpai, TO ‘C’ — Member Mr. Prem Prakash, TO ‘B’ — Member 184 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

ARCHIVE SUB-COMMITTEE Dr. Mukund Sharma, Scientist ‘D’ — Convener Mr. Pramod K Bajpai, TO ‘C’ — Member Mr. Pradeep Mohan, TO ‘B’ — Member DISPOSAL OF OLD AND UNSERVICEABLE MATERIAL COMMITTEE Dr. Mahesh Prasad, Scientist ‘D’ — Convener Dr. B. Sekar, TO ‘D’ — Member Mr. R. K. Kapoor, SO (S & P) — Member Mr. K. P. Singh, Assistant (Offtg.) — Member Mr. Rameshwar Prasad, UDC (Offtg.) — Member COMPERE Dr. C. M. Nautiyal, Scientist ‘D’ Dr. (Mrs.) Rajni Tewari, Scientist ‘D’

185 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow Author Index

Abha ...... 1 Chitaley, Shya ...... 36 Agarwal, Anil ...... 2, 3, 102 Chougule, Padmaja M...... 37 Ambwani, K...... 2 Cook, Edward R...... 38 An, Zhisheng ...... 109 Dahegaokar, R. R...... 63 Anupama, K...... 162 Das, M...... 49 Arefin, M. B...... 92 De, Bimalendu ...... 67 Arya, A. K...... 4 De, S...... 49 Aswal, H. S...... 5 Deng, Shenghui ...... 176 Babu, Rupendra ...... 6, 136 Dilcher, David ...... 39 Bajpai, Aahuti ...... 171 Dodson, John ...... 74 Bajpai, Rajesh ...... 171 Dolacova, Nela ...... 123 Bajpai, Usha ...... 8 Dubey, Bhasha ...... 40 Bandhokar, R...... 62 Farooqui, Anjum ...... 41 Banerjee, Manju ...... 9, 21, 43, 52 Gamre, P. G...... 29 Banerji, Jayasri ...... 10 Garg, Rahul ...... 106, 167 Bansode, M. S...... 11 Ghosh, Amit K...... 10, 42 Barui, Nimai Chandra ...... 12 Ghosh, Ruby ...... 43, 44 Basava Chary, M...... 122 Gibling, M.R...... 149 Basavaraju, M. H...... 13 Gogoi, R...... 16 Basavaiah, N...... 134 Gopikrishna, K...... 45 Basu, M...... 93 Grard, P...... 173 Basumatary, S. K...... 16 Grover, Raju ...... 48 Behling, Hermann ...... 53 Guha, Asit K...... 45 Bek, Jiri ...... 14 Guhey, Rajeeva ...... 135 Bera, S. K...... 16, 18, 20, 127 Guleria, J. S...... 46 Bera, Subir ...... 21, 43, 44, 52, 67, 128 Gunn, Bee F...... 47 Bernardes-de-Oliveira, Mary E. C...... 22 Gupta, Anand ...... 48 Bhattacharyya, Amalava ... 1, 115, 127, 130, 134 Gupta, Anil K...... 49 Bhowal, Mousumi ...... 24 Gupta, Asha ...... 50 Bhowmik, Nupur ...... 25, 26 Gupta, Sudha ...... 44, 52 Bhushan, R...... 31 Hait, Arghya K...... 53 Bhute, S. D...... 27 Hemanta Singh, R. K...... 54 Bonde, S. D...... 28, 29 Hilton, Jason ...... 55 Borgaonkar, H. P...... 30 Jana, B. N...... 55 Chakarpani, G. J...... 80 Jaramillo, C...... 56 Chakraborty, Supriyo ...... 4, 31, 41, 43, 97 Jauhri, A.K...... 85 Chamyal, L. S...... 32 Jeyasingh, D.E.P...... 57 Chate, S. V...... 29 Jha, Neerja...... 58 Chatterjee, Shantanu ...... 98 Jiang, Dexin ...... 59 Chaudhary, Vandana ...... 130 Jiang, Hong-en ...... 44 Chauhan, D. K...... 34 Jianhua, Jin ...... 60 Chauhan, M. S...... 35, 142 Joshi, Moulishree ...... 61 Chauley, M...... 62 Kajale, M. D...... 62 Chaurasia, Swati ...... 119 Kalkar, S. A...... 27

186 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects

Kapgate, D. K...... 63, 64 Parveen, Shabnam ...... 26 Kapgate, V. D...... 64 Patil, G. V...... 170 Kapoor, P. N...... 88 Patil, R. S...... 95 Kar, Ratan...... 65, 141 Patnaik, Rajeev ...... 96 Karmakar, P...... 94 Phartiyal, Binita ...... 97, 133 Keqin, Sun ...... 66 Pokharia, Anil K...... 98 Khan, Mahasin Ali ...... 67 Prabhu, C. N...... 131 Khandelwal, Asha ...... 68 Prakash, Neeru ...... 69 Khare, E. G...... 102 Prasad, Bijai ...... 99 Kishor, R. K...... 54 Prasad, Mahesh ...... 101, 102, 103 Kishore, S...... 85 Prasad, M. N. V...... 104 Kolhe, P. D...... 107, 108 Prasad, S...... 162 Kou, Xiang-Yu ...... 73 Prasad, Vandana...... 106, 146, 167 Kumar, Madhav ...... 69, 70 Pujari, D...... 62 Kumari, Aloka ...... 71 Pundeer, B. S...... 13 Kvacek, Zlatko ...... 72 Puranik, Sumedha D...... 107, 108 Li, Cheng-Sen ...... 44, 73 Qiang, Xiaoke ...... 109 Li, Xiao ...... 44 Qurashi, Sayeda Parveen ...... 89 Li, Xiaoqiang ...... 74 Rai, Jyotsana ...... 110 Libertín, Milan ...... 14 Rai, Vibhuti ...... 147 Lokho, Kapesa ...... 75 Rajanikanth, A...... 3, 18, 85, 112, 113 Mandal, J...... 76 Rajashekhar Reddy, D...... 41 Mandaokar, B. D...... 77 Raju, D. S. N...... 75 Manik, S. R...... 154 Rama, Somaru ...... 30 Manoharachari, C...... 78 Ram-Awatar ...... 70, 97, 113, 133 Masutomoto, Ryo ...... 74 Ramesh, R...... 114 Mathur, V. K...... 136 Rana, R. S...... 116 Meena, Narendra K...... 80 Ranhotra, Parminder Singh ...... 115 Mehrotra, Arushi ...... 81 Rao, L. S...... 62 Mehrotra, M. D...... 81 Rao, M. R...... 116 Mehrotra, R. C...... 73, 82 Ricardi-Branco, Fresia...... 22 Misra, Krishna G...... 84 Riding, Robert ...... 117 Misra, P. K...... 85 Rohn, Rosemarie ...... 22 Misra, Pragya ...... 91 Sahney, Manju ...... 119 Mohabey, D. M...... 86 Saini, D. C...... 20 Mosbrugger, Volker ...... 176 Sangode, Satish J...... 80 Mune, Sandra E...... 22 Sanyal, P...... 149 Nanjundaswamy, S...... 88 Sarana, Shinjini ...... 120 Narkhede, S. D...... 89, 108 Saraswati, Pratul Kumar ...... 121 Nautiyal, C. M...... 4, 90 Sarate, O. S...... 27, 122 Neelam ...... 25 Sarkar, Samir ...... 76, 123 Nigam, Rajiv ...... 106 Sarma, Ajanta ...... 42 Orukaimani, G...... 162 Saxena, Rakesh ...... 124 Pal, J. N...... 91 Saxena, R. K...... 125 Pal, Pankaj K...... 92, 93, 94 Schopf, J. William ...... 126 Parua, Dipak ...... 128 Sekar, B...... 127, 131

187 Abstract Volume—Diamond Jubilee International Conference, 15-17 November 2006, BSIP, Lucknow

Sen, Illora ...... 128 Srivastava, R ...... 159 Sergeev, Vladimir N...... 129 Stephen, A...... 162 Shah, Santosh K...... 1, 130 Sun, Ge ...... 163 Shankar, R...... 131 Tandon, S. K...... 149 Shanmukhappa, M...... 132 Tewari, Rajni ...... 22, 164 Sharma, Anupam ...... 97, 133 Tewari, V. C...... 165, 166 Sharma, Jyoti ...... 134 Thakur, Biswajeet ...... 167 Sharma, Mukund ...... 129, 135, 136 Tidke, J. A...... 170 Sheikh, M. T...... 24, 63, 64 Tiwari, M...... 114 Shobha, V...... 62 Tiwari, S. P...... 34 Shukla, Manoj ...... 6, 136, 147 Tripathi, Archana ...... 175 Sikder, A. B...... 30 Tripathi, S. K. M...... 168, 169 Singh, Alpana ...... 137 Tripathy, V...... 62 Singh, A. K ...... 138 Trivedi, G. K...... 125 Singh, B. D...... 137 Uniyal, S.N...... 5, 132 Singh, Jayendra ...... 139 Upadhye, E. V...... 170 Singh, Kamal Jeet ...... 140 Upreti, D. K...... 171 Singh, Kamla ...... 5 Vagyani, B. A...... 172 Singh, R. S...... 65, 141 Vasanthy, G...... 173 Singh, S. K...... 85 Venkateswara Rao, M...... 41 Singh, Sanjai K...... 103, 142 Verma, Poonam ...... 116 Singh, Trilochan ...... 143 Vijaya ...... 175 Singh, Vartika ...... 146 Vijaya Kumar, G. T...... 131 Singh, Veeru Kant ...... 147 Wang, Yongdong ...... 59, 176 Sinha, Deepima ...... 135 Warrier, A. K...... 131 Sinha, R...... 149 Wei, Jiang ...... 59 Spicer, Robert A...... 151 Weiguo, Sun ...... 177 Srivastava, Ashwini K...... 152, 153 Wenbo, Liao ...... 60 Srivastava, A. K...... 154 Yadav, Ram R...... 40, 84, 139 Srivastava, Chancahala ...... 155 Yadava, M. G...... 114 Srivastava, Divya ...... 168, 169 Yang, Xiaoju ...... 176 Srivastava, D. K...... 136 Yi, Tiemei ...... 178 Srivastava, G.K...... 157 Zhang, Hongbin ...... 74 Srivastava, G. P...... 103 Zhou, Xinying ...... 74 Srivastava, P. C...... 158

188 Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects 1946

© BIRBAL SAHNI INSTITUTE OF PALAEOBOTANY, LUCKNOW 226 007, (U.P.), INDIA

Published by The Director Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany Lucknow 226 007 INDIA

Phone : +91-522-2740008 / 2740011 / 2740399 / 2740413 Fax : +91-522-2740098 / 2740485 E-mail : [email protected] [email protected] Website : http://www.bsip.res.in ISBN No : 81-86382-08-9

Joint Editor : Mukund Sharma Proof Reader : R.L. Mehra Typeset : Madhavendra Singh Produced by : Publication Unit

Printed at : Dream Sketch, 29 Brahma Nagar, Sitapur Road, Lucknow, India November 2006 Welcome Delegates of the Diamond Jubilee International Conference at the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, Lucknow

On behalf of the BSIP, we welcome you all at the Diamond Jubilee International Conference entitled, “Changing Scenario in Palaeobotany and Allied Subjects” being held during Nov. 15-17, 2006. The Conference concludes the celebrations of our Diamond Jubilee Year. The Institute is a premier scientific Institution of India committed to the study of fossil plants and their application in palaeoclimate as well as in the correlation of oil and coal bearing strata of the country, thus fulfilling the societal obligations. The Institute was established by the world renowned Palaeobotanist, late Prof. Birbal Sahni FRS, in 1946. Foundation stone of this Institute was laid on April 3, 1949 by our first Prime Minister, late Sri Jawaharlal Nehru. Unfortunately, Prof. Sahni did not survive to see his dream come true as he passed away merely a week after the foundation stone ceremony of the Institute. Padmashri (Mrs.) Savitri Sahni, the legendary wife of Prof. Sahni then took it as her mission of life to bring up the Institute. During those difficult days she raised the institute by her utmost devotion and dedication from its infancy and thus realized the cherished dream of the founder. From an individual’s humble effort, it is now functioning as an Autonomous Institution under the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India. The Institute is completing sixty years of its fruitful existence in the service of the nation and for the cause of Palaeobotany. The celebrations started with the organization of a National Conference on Challenges in Indian Palaeobiology and would culminate with three- day International Conference. The Conference emphasizes the latest developments in the field of Palaeobotany and allied subjects in global perspectives. It includes all diversified aspects of basic and applied research in Palaeobotany and comprises of various technical sessions, general lectures, plenary lectures and some special lectures which are to be delivered by subject experts from various parts of the world. Special arrangements have also been made for the Poster sessions and exhibitions etc. The Palaeobotanical Society which has initially nurtured the BSIP and helped a lot in its fruitful development, is also completing 60 years of its existence and therefore, a session has been reserved to celebrate its activities on the last day.

( i ) About 250 delegates are expected to participate in the Conference. The platform given by the Institute would not only help in exchanging ideas on the latest development in the various aspects of Palaeobotanical research, but also in strengthening professional and personal contacts with colleagues working at different parts of the globe. We are overwhelmed by the response to the conference and abstracts received for the oral presentations and in order to accommodate them we have to run three concurrent sessions. In such a situation, some of the presentations of related themes are bound to clash though we have tried to avoid such conflicts. The speakers are requested to upload their presentations in computer either before the start of their technical session or soon after getting their registration. Posters are to be mounted in the Herbarium Hall (soon after the registration in the morning) and must be taken out before the end of the day. The delegates are encouraged to view the posters especially during the lunch/ tea break. In order to entertain our guests, after the hectic technical sessions, we have planned cultural programmes in the evening to provide a glimpse of Indian dance and music to our delegates, especially those coming from abroad. Lucknow being a historical city would provide the Conference delegates a chance to see the famous historical monuments. At last we wish you all a nice and comfortable stay in Lucknow and once again we thank you all for your active participation in the conference.

N C Mehrotra J S Guleria R C Mehrotra Mukund Sharma Amalava Bhattacharyya

( ii ) Patrons

Dr. T. Ramasami Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi

Chairman, Governing Body, Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, Lucknow

Advisory Committee

Chairman, G.B., BSIP - Chairman Dr. B. R. Arora, Director, WIHG, Dehradun - Member Prof. D. L. Dilcher, University of Florida, USA - Member Dr. B. Hari Gopal, Scientist G, DST, New Delhi - Member Prof. Cheng-Sen Li, Inst. of Botany, P.R. China - Member Dr. N. C. Mehrotra, Director, BSIP - Secretary Shri K. P. Pandian, Jt. Sect. and F.A., DST, New Delhi - Member Shri Jokhan Ram, ED-Chief, ONGC, Dehradun - Member Shri Rasik Ravindra, Director, NCAOR, Goa - Member Prof. Ashok Sahni, INSA Senior Scientist, Chandigarh - Member Prof. J. W. Schopf, University of California, USA - Member Dr. S. R. Shetye, Director, NIO, Goa - Member Shri V. K. Sibal, DG, DGH, New Delhi - Member Prof. M. P. Singh, Head, Geol. Dept., L.U., Lucknow - Member Prof. S. K. Tandon, Pro-V.C., Delhi University, Delhi - Member Dr. Rakesh Tuli, Director, NBRI, Lucknow - Member Dr. B. S. Venkatachala, Dehradun - Member

Organizing Committee

Dr. N. C. Mehrotra, Director, BSIP - Chairman Dr. J. S. Guleria - Secretary Dr. R. C. Mehrotra - Joint-Secretary Dr. Mukund Sharma - Member Dr. A. Bhattacharyya - Member

Sponsored By

Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, New Delhi Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited, Dehradun