DOCSLIB.ORG

Palynology and Geochemistry of Sediments in the Tidally Influenced Lower Fraser River, British Columbia

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Palynology and Geochemistry of Sediments in the Tidally Influenced Lower Fraser River, British Columbia Palynology and geochemistry of sediments in the tidally influenced lower Fraser River, British Columbia by Joanna Maria Czarnecki B.Sc., University of Calgary, 2009 Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in the Department of Earth Sciences Faculty of Science Joanna Maria Czarnecki 2013 SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY Fall 2013 APPROVAL Name: Joanna Czarnecki Degree: Master of Science (Earth Sciences) Title of Thesis: Palynology and geochemistry of sediments in the tidally influenced lower Fraser River, British Columbia Examining Committee: Chair: Dr. Dan Gibson Associate Professor ___________________________________________ Dr. Shahin Dashtgard Senior Supervisor Associate Professor ___________________________________________ Dr. Rolf Mathewes Co-Supervisor Professor, Biology ___________________________________________ Dr. James MacEachern Supervisor Professor By video teleconference from Victoria _ Dr. Vera Pospelova Supervisor Associate Professor, University of Victoria ___________________________________________ Dr. Jeremy Venditti External Examiner Associate Professor, Department of Geography Date Defended/Approved: August 29, 2013 ii Partial Copyright Licence iii Abstract In the tidally influenced Fraser River and adjacent Strait of Georgia (SoG), Canada, 13 palynological and carbon isotope (δ Corg) signatures of channel-margin sediments are compared to environmental parameters (e.g., substrate grain size, water salinity) in order to establish how these vary across the tidal-fluvial transition. Palynological assemblages in both the Fraser River and SoG (delta front and prodelta) are dominated by tree pollen, which comprises between 85% and 95% of all assemblages. Relative abundances of marine dinocysts are markedly low, and the maximum abundance of dinocysts is 6.8% or 1,023 cysts g-1 of sediment in samples recovered from the prodelta. Dinocyst abundances do not exceed 2% of the total palynological assemblage in the Fraser River, and the number and diversity of dinocysts gradually decreases landward. Organic carbon-13 enrichment values range from -26.55‰ in sediments deposited in the freshwater-tidal reach of the Fraser River, to -21.08‰ in prodeltaic sediments. The 13 δ Corg and palynological signatures of river, delta front, and prodelta sediments indicate a dominance of terrestrially sourced organic matter regardless of brackish-water and tidal influence on sediment deposition. Keywords: Dinoflagellate cysts; pollen; carbon isotopes; Lower Fraser River and delta, marginal-marine; inclined heterolithic stratification iv Dedication I dedicate this thesis to my ever-supportive and loving husband and family. v Acknowledgements I would like to acknowledge the many people that helped make this thesis possible. First, I would like to thank my primary supervisor, Dr. Shahin Dashtgard, for taking me on as a student and providing me with an interesting and unique project as well as endless guidance along the way. I would also like to extend very special thanks to the rest of my committee for their invaluable input into the project and my overall education. This included Dr. James MacEachern, Dr. Vera Pospelova, and Dr. Rolf Mathewes. Special thanks are extended to Dr. Jeremy Venditti for his input into the project and for providing river kilometer data. I would also like to acknowledge the tremendously helpful staff in the Earth Sciences department including Tarja Vaisanen, Matt Plotnikoff, Rodney Arnold, and of course Glenda Pauls, who made me feel so welcome the moment I walked into the department two years ago. The field component of my project benefitted from the assistance of James Dunlop, Stacy Johnson, Adam Montgomery, and Andrew LaCroix (whom as a PhD student in the same study area should also be thanked for tolerating countless questions and being incredibly helpful overall). The laboratory component of the project was made possible with the help of Andrea Price and Emily Helmer. I would also like to acknowledge the rest of the ARISE research group for their support and camaraderie, but specifically extend very special thanks to Korhan Ayranci for his invaluable contribution to this project and the betterment of my technological capabilities. My experience at SFU was enriched by friends in the earth sciences department who helped me stay sane, critiqued my work, and enhanced my education at SFU by exposing me to other geological disciplines. vi Table of Contents Approval .......................................................................................................................... ii Partial Copyright Licence ............................................................................................... iii Abstract .......................................................................................................................... iv Dedication ....................................................................................................................... v Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................ vi Table of Contents .......................................................................................................... vii List of Tables .................................................................................................................. ix List of Figures................................................................................................................. ix 1. Introduction, Study Area, Background Information, and Methodology ............ 1 1.1. Introduction ............................................................................................................ 1 1.2. Study Area ............................................................................................................. 2 1.2.1. Physiography .............................................................................................. 2 1.2.2. Hydrodynamic Conditions ........................................................................... 4 1.2.3. Sedimentology ............................................................................................ 6 General characteristics of point bar deposits: An overview of IHS ............... 6 Fraser River: Main Arm ............................................................................... 8 Fraser River: Middle Arm .......................................................................... 11 Fraser River Delta Front and Prodelta ....................................................... 13 1.2.4. Palynology ................................................................................................ 14 1.3. Methodology ......................................................................................................... 15 1.3.1. Sample Collection ..................................................................................... 15 1.3.2. Sample Preparation and Analysis ............................................................. 24 Palynology ................................................................................................ 24 Grain Size ................................................................................................. 31 Geochemistry ............................................................................................ 31 Other Data ................................................................................................ 33 2. Introduction to and applications of palynology ............................................... 34 2.1. Palynology defined: .............................................................................................. 34 2.2. Palynomorph groups and preservation potential ................................................... 35 2.2.1. Non-marine palynomorphs ........................................................................ 35 2.2.2. Marine palynomorphs ................................................................................ 36 2.3. Palynomorph dispersal and deposition ................................................................. 37 2.3.1. Hydrodynamics affecting palynomorph dispersal and deposition............... 37 2.3.2. Dispersal and deposition of non-marine palynomorphs ............................. 39 2.3.3. Dispersal and deposition of marine palynomorphs .................................... 41 2.4. Application of palynology in rock record studies ................................................... 42 2.4.1. Case study: Viking and Westgate formations, Lower Cretaceous, Alberta, Canada ........................................................................................ 43 2.4.2. Case study: McMurray Formation, Lower Cretaceous, Alberta, Canada ..................................................................................................... 45 2.5. Stable carbon isotope geochemistry ..................................................................... 47 vii 3. Palynology and geochemistry of channel-margin sediments across the tidal-fluvial transition, lower Fraser River, British Columbia, Canada ................................................................................................................ 49 3.1. Introduction .......................................................................................................... 49 3.2. Study Area ........................................................................................................... 53 3.3. Methodology ........................................................................................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Alteration of Rocks by Endolithic Organisms Is One of the Pathways for the Beginning of Soils on Earth Received: 19 September 2017 Nikita Mergelov1, Carsten W
    www.nature.com/scientificreports OPEN Alteration of rocks by endolithic organisms is one of the pathways for the beginning of soils on Earth Received: 19 September 2017 Nikita Mergelov1, Carsten W. Mueller 2, Isabel Prater 2, Ilya Shorkunov1, Andrey Dolgikh1, Accepted: 7 February 2018 Elya Zazovskaya1, Vasily Shishkov1, Victoria Krupskaya3, Konstantin Abrosimov4, Published: xx xx xxxx Alexander Cherkinsky5 & Sergey Goryachkin1 Subaerial endolithic systems of the current extreme environments on Earth provide exclusive insight into emergence and development of soils in the Precambrian when due to various stresses on the surfaces of hard rocks the cryptic niches inside them were much more plausible habitats for organisms than epilithic ones. Using an actualistic approach we demonstrate that transformation of silicate rocks by endolithic organisms is one of the possible pathways for the beginning of soils on Earth. This process led to the formation of soil-like bodies on rocks in situ and contributed to the raise of complexity in subaerial geosystems. Endolithic systems of East Antarctica lack the noise from vascular plants and are among the best available natural models to explore organo-mineral interactions of a very old “phylogenetic age” (cyanobacteria-to-mineral, fungi-to-mineral, lichen-to-mineral). On the basis of our case study from East Antarctica we demonstrate that relatively simple endolithic systems of microbial and/or cryptogamic origin that exist and replicate on Earth over geological time scales employ the principles of organic matter stabilization strikingly similar to those known for modern full-scale soils of various climates. Te pedosphere emergence is attributed to the most ancient forms of terrestrial life in the Early Precambrian which strongly aided the abiotic decay of rocks.
    [Show full text]
  • Organic Microfossil Geothermal Alteration and Interpretation of Regional Tectonic Provinces
    Journal of the Geological Society, London, Vol. 143, 1986, pp. 219-220. Printed in Northern Ireland Organic microfossil geothermal alteration and interpretation of regional tectonic provinces K. J. DORNING Pallab Research, International palynological consultants, 58 Robertson Road, Shefield S6 SDX, UK Abstract: Optical analyses for colour, transparency and reflectance of all organic fossils may be used €or palaeotemperaturedata. Of theorganic-walled fossils, acritarchs, chitinozoans, dinoflagellate cysts,graptolites, pollen and spores are of particularvalue in geothermometry. At increasing temperatures, fossil organic material shows progressive changes in colouration and increasing reflec- tance. Palaeoternperatures of sedimentary rocks may be derived from the optical characteristics of the main organic fossil groups recorded. Regional palaeotemperature values are associated with variations in overburden thickness and heat flow. Regional tectonic provinces typically record a restricted range of palaeotemperature values that may be related to sediment thickness and phases of igneous and tectonic activity. There is potential for the preservation of the organic 1. Bacteria, blue-green algae, green algae. Coccoid and material from most organisms in the fossil record. Many of filamentous algae are common in shallow water environ- the organic materials are sufficiently stable for the structure ments.Remains of bacteriaprobably form a significant to be preserved in fine detail over thousands of millions of element of the fine organic debrisformed from organic years,though theparts of organismscontaining complex decay in anoxic sediments. The colourless to pale yellow organic materials including polymers such as sporopollenin materials are essentially of cellulosic composition and and chitin are considerably more resistant to decay than soft rapidly change in colour through increasingly dark browns tissues.
    [Show full text]
  • AASP – the Palynological Society Promoting the Scientific Understanding of Palynology Since 1967
    AASP – The Palynological Society Promoting the Scientific Understanding of Palynology since 1967 December 2018 NEWSLETTER Volume 51, Number 4 Published Quarterly AASP – TPS NEWSLETTER Published Quarterly by AASP – The Palynological Society December 2018, Volume 51, Number 4 CONTENTS Page 3 | List of AASP-TPS awardees Page 4 | Board of Directors and upcoming deadlines Page 5 | A Message from our President Page 6 | Managing Editor’s Report Page 8 | Candidates to the Board of Directors 2019 Page 12 | Overview of AASP-TPS Awards and Research Grants Page 15 | In Memoriam... Page 18 | News from... Page 20 | Book Reviews Page 21 | Meetings Report Page 28 | Call to Serve - Newsletter open positions Page 29 | AASP Foundation Century Club Page 30 | Upcoming AASP-TPS Meetings Page 31 | 52nd AASP-TPS Annual Meeting - Second Circular Page 33 | Other Meetings and Workshops of Interest AASP The Palynological Society The American Association of Stratigraphic Palynologists, Inc. - AASP - The Palynological Society - was established in 1967 by a group of 31 founding members to promote the science of palynology. Today AASP has a world-wide membership of about 800 and is run by an executive comprising an elected Board of Directors and subsidiary boards and committees. AASP welcomes new members. The AASP Foundation publishes the journal Palynology (quarterly), the AASP Newsletter (quarterly), and the AASP Contributions Series (mostly monographs, issued irregularly), as well as several books and miscellaneous items. AASP organises an Annual Meeting which usually includes a field trip, a business luncheon, social events, and technical sessions where research results are presented on all aspects of palynology. AASP Scientific Medal recipients AASP Board of Directors Award recipient Professor William R.
    [Show full text]
  • Palynology and Its Relation to the Exploration for Oil
    The Mountain Geologist v.1, 1964 PALYNOLOGY AND ITS RELATION TO THE EXPLORATION FOR OIL (R. M. A. C. Evening Meeting, February 3, 1964) AUREAL T. CROSS: Michigan State University ABSTRACT: Palynology is one of the branches of paleontology, and more particularly, paleobotany. It deals with the study of pollen, spores, and dissociated degradation detritus of higher plants; spores, fruiting structures and other fragments of algae and fungi; and often includes some entities of similar size belonging to the protozoans or to groups of uncertain affinity. The principal common factor in these. diverse organisms is their small size which requires study under magnifications of from 50 to 1500 diameters. In a restricted sense we consider palynology to be the study of spores, pollen, algae and similar-sized entities and their significance in life, time, space and energy. Pollen and spores were long recognized in sediments and rocks before clear application and significance of their presence was studied. The first major studies in various fields of geological sciences are: a. Pleistocene and Post-pleistocene studies -- analysis of peats, bogs, marshes, etc. for determination of glacial history and history of recent vegetation. Principally introduced by von Post in Northern Europe; later widely developed in U. S. b. Identification and correlation of coal seams and coal-bearing rocks. Firet introduced in Germany 1928-31 and almost immediately in U.S. Widely expanded in U. S. during 1930- 1945. c. Application to various problems in exploration for oil commenced at almost the same tlme in three companies, 1945-47. Fossil plants range from Precambrian (algae) onwards.
    [Show full text]
  • Palynological Interpretation of the Palaeoenvironments of Miocene Strata of the Well Igbomotoru-1, Niger Delta
    Palynological interpretation of the palaeoenvironments of Miocene strata of the well Igbomotoru-1, Niger delta F.E. OBOH M.B. SALAMI ~~ J.L. CHAPMAN De~~nrtrneiifof GecJ/Ogynrrd Geophysics, fipnrtincwt of Geoli& De~mtrtrerrtof Enrtlr Scieirc~s, Uriir1ersity of Missoirri, Obofriiii Azt~olorcwUirim7rsit!y, Uiriz~ersityof Cninbrirfp,, Rollr?, IIe-lfr, Nigrrin. Dozor?ii~gStrcrt, Missoriri 65401, U.S.A. Cnttrbridgr, CB2 3EQ, U.K. ABSTRACT Palynological and lithologicalresults have been employed in interpreting the depositional environment of strata penetrated by the Igbomotoru-1 well at the interval 1123-3583 metres. The environment of deposition is largely transitional with marine influence occurring only at the base of the studied sequence. Zonocostitesramonae is frequent to abundant in most samples: this indicates a high influence of mangrove swamp vegetation in the environmentat the time of deposition.The absence or rarity of this species at some horizons within the studied interval is taken as evidence of deposition in a more continental environment or of a swamp forest area composed of non-Rhizophora type trees. The nature of the organic matter points to a source area near the basin of deposition for the sediments. I. ttiicropalaeoritol., 11 (1): 1-6, June 1992. INTRODUCTION SAMPLE SITE AND PREPARATION Studies on various aspects of the structure, sedimentology, Well Igbomotoru-1 is located at latitude 431'40.3"N and stratigraphy and petroleum geology of the Niger delta have longitude 603'29.6"E within the Niger delta (Fig. 1). It was been published by several workers including Allen (1964,1965), drilled to a total depth of 4325 metres by the Shell Petroleum Frank1 & Cordry (1967), Short&Stauble(1967),Adegoke(1969), Development Company of Nigeria.
    [Show full text]
  • Sedimentology, Mineralogy, Palynology
    Sedimentology, Mineralogy, Palynology, and Depositional History of Some Uppermost Cretaceous and Lowermost Tertiary Rocks along the Utah Book and Roan Cliffs East of the Green ·River U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 1787-N Chapter N Sedimentology, Mineralogy, Palynology, and Depositional History of Some Uppermost Cretaceous and Lowermost Tertiary Rocks along the Utah Book and Roan Cliffs East of the Green River By KAREN J. FRANCZYK, JANET K. PITMAN, and DOUGlAS J. NICHOLS A multidisciplinary approach to research studies of sedimentary rocks and their constituents and the evolution of sedimentary basins, both ancient and modern l . U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 1787 ~ EVOLUTION OF SEDIMENTARY BASINS-UINTA AND PICEANCE BASINS ) DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR MANUEL LUJAN, JR., Secretary • U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Dallas L. Peck, Director Any use of trade, product, or firm names in this publication is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1990 For sale by the Books and Open-File Reports Section U.S. Geological Survey Federal Center Box 25425 Denver, CO 80225 Library of Congress Cataloging-In-Publication Data Franczyk, Karen J. Sedimentology, mineralogy, palynology, and depositional history of some uppermost Cretaceous and lowermost Tertiary rocks along the Utah Book and Roan Cliffs east of the Green River I by Karen J. Franczyk, Janet K. Pitman, and Douglas J. Nichols. p. em. - (Evolution of sedimentary basins-Uinta and Piceance Basins : ch. N) (U.S. Geological Survey bulletin; 1787) "A multidisciplinary approach to research studies of sedimentary rocks and their constituents and the evolution of sedimentary basins, both ancient and modem." Includes bibliographical references.
    [Show full text]
  • The Terminal Paleozoic Fungal Event: Evidence of Terrestrial Ecosystem Destabilization and Collapse HENK VISSCHER*, HENK BRINKHUIS*, DAVID L
    Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA Vol. 93, pp. 2155-2158, March 1996 Ecology The terminal Paleozoic fungal event: Evidence of terrestrial ecosystem destabilization and collapse HENK VISSCHER*, HENK BRINKHUIS*, DAVID L. DILCHERt, WILLIAM C. ELSIKt, YORAM ESHET§, CINDY V. LOOY*, MICHAEL R. RAMPINO1, AND ALFRED TRAVERSEII *Laboratory of Palaeobotany and Palynology, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 2, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands; tPaleobotany Laboratory, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611; tThe MycoStrat Connection, P.O. Box 549, Snook, TX 77878; §Geological Survey of Israel, 30 Malkhe Israel Street, Jerusalem 95 501, Israel; IDepartment of Earth System Science, New York University, 34 Stuyvesant Street, New York, NY 10003; and IlDepartment of Geosciences, Pennsylvania State University, 435 Deike Building, University Park, PA 16802 Contributed by David L. Dilcher, November 20, 1995 ABSTRACT Because of its prominent role in global bio- in the wood of land plants rather than in aquatic organisms. mass storage, land vegetation is the most obvious biota to be Sustained stability of this single largest biotic carbon reservoir investigated for records of dramatic ecologic crisis in Earth is basically determined by a functional equilibrium between history. There is accumulating evidence that, throughout the primary productivity and decomposition in arboreous ecosys- world, sedimentary organic matter preserved in latest Per- tems. Apart from bacteria, saprophytic fungi represent a mian deposits is characterized by unparalleled abundances of prominent category of decomposers; they are particularly fungal remains, irrespective of depositional environment (ma- efficient in the rapid degradation of woody tissue under rine, lacustrine, fluviatile), floral provinciality, and climatic aerobic conditions.
    [Show full text]
  • Palynology.Pdf
    762 Palynology Physical properties of palladium 0.03 to 0.11 in. (0.7 to 3 mm) in length, that live under stones, in caves, and in other moist, dark Property Value places. The elongate body terminates in a slender multisegmented flagellum set with setae. In a curi- Atomic weight 106.4 Naturally occurring isotopes 102 (0.96) ous reversal of function, the pedipalps, the second (percent abundance) pair of head appendages, serve as walking legs. The 104 (10.97) first pair of true legs, longer than the others and set 105 (22.23) 106 (27.33) with sensory setae, has been converted to tactile ap- 108 (26.71) pendages which are vibrated constantly to test the 110 (11.81) substratum. See ARACHNIDA. Willis J. Gertsch Crystal structure Face-centered cubic Thermal neutron capture cross 8.0 section, barns Density at 25 C (77 F), g/cm3 12.01 Melting point, C ( F) 1554 (2829) Palynology Boiling point, C ( F) 2900 (5300) Specific heat at 0 C (32 F), cal/g 0.0584 The study of pollen grains and spores, both extant Thermal conductivity, 0.18 and extinct, as well as other organic microfossils. (cal cm)(cm2 s C) Although the origin of the discipline dates back to Linear coefficient of thermal 11.6 expansion, (µin./in./)/ C the seventeenth century, when modern pollen was Electrical resistivity at 0 C (32 F), 9.93 first examined microscopically, the term palynology µΩ-cm was not coined until 1944. Young’s modulus, lb/in.2, static, at 16.7 106 20 C (68 F) The term palynology is used by both geologists Atomic radius in metal, nm 0.1375 and biologists.
    [Show full text]
  • Identification of Sporopollenin As the Outer Layer of Cell Wall in Microalga Chlorella Protothecoides
    ORIGINAL RESEARCH published: 30 June 2016 doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.01047 Identification of Sporopollenin as the Outer Layer of Cell Wall in Microalga Chlorella protothecoides Xi He, Junbiao Dai * and Qingyu Wu * MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China Chlorella protothecoides has been put forth as a promising candidate for commercial biodiesel production. However, the cost of biodiesel remains much higher than diesel from fossil fuel sources, partially due to the high costs of oil extraction from algae. Here, we identified the presence of a sporopollenin layer outside the polysaccharide cell wall; this was evaluated using transmission electron microscopy, 2-aminoethanol treatment, acetolysis, and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. We also performed bioinformatics analysis of the genes of the C. protothecoides genome that are likely Edited by: Youn-Il Park, involved in sporopollenin synthesis, secretion, and translocation, and evaluated the Chungnam National University, expression of these genes via real-time PCR. We also found that that removal of this South Korea sporopollenin layer greatly improved the efficiency of oil extraction. Reviewed by: Arumugam Muthu, Keywords: biodiesel, cell wall, Chlorophyta, oil-extraction, sporopollenin Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, India Won-Joong Jeong, INTRODUCTION Korea Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, South Korea Global fossil fuel consumption has been increasing due to both population and economic growth *Correspondence: (Lewis and Nocera, 2006), resulting in an energy shortage and a series of environmental problems Junbiao Dai such as global warming and effluent gas emissions (Chirinos et al., 2006). In response to [email protected]; Qingyu Wu these challenges, vigorous research programs are underway that to develop alternative biofuels, [email protected] which are considered necessary for environmental and economic sustainability (Turner, 1999).
    [Show full text]
  • Non-Pollen Palynomorphs Notes: 2
    Non-pollen palynomorphs notes: 2. Holocene record of Megalohypha aqua - dulces , its relation to the fossil form genus Fusiformisporites and association with lignicolous freshwater fungi Lyudmila Shumilovskikh, Astrid Ferrer, Frank Schlütz To cite this version: Lyudmila Shumilovskikh, Astrid Ferrer, Frank Schlütz. Non-pollen palynomorphs notes: 2. Holocene record of Megalohypha aqua - dulces , its relation to the fossil form genus Fusiformisporites and association with lignicolous freshwater fungi. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, Elsevier, 2017, 246, pp.167-176. 10.1016/j.revpalbo.2017.07.002. hal-01790616 HAL Id: hal-01790616 https://hal-amu.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01790616 Submitted on 14 May 2018 HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est archive for the deposit and dissemination of sci- destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents entific research documents, whether they are pub- scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, lished or not. The documents may come from émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de teaching and research institutions in France or recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires abroad, or from public or private research centers. publics ou privés. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 246 (2017) 167–176 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/revpalbo Review papers Non-pollen palynomorphs notes: 2. Holocene record of Megalohypha aqua-dulces, its relation to the
    [Show full text]
  • Sporopollenin, the Least Known Yet Toughest Natural Biopolymer
    MINI REVIEW published: 19 October 2015 doi: 10.3389/fmats.2015.00066 Sporopollenin, the least known yet toughest natural biopolymer Grahame Mackenzie 1,2*, Andrew N. Boa 1, Alberto Diego-Taboada 1,2, Stephen L. Atkin 3 and Thozhukat Sathyapalan 4 1 Department of Chemistry, University of Hull, Hull, UK, 2 Sporomex Ltd., Driffield, UK, 3 Weill Cornell Medical College Qatar, Doha, Qatar, 4 Hull York Medical School, University of Hull, Hull, UK Sporopollenin is highly cross-linked polymer composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen that is extraordinarily stable and has been found chemically intact in sedimentary rocks some 500 million years old. It makes up the outer shell (exine) of plant spores and pollen and when extracted it is in the form of an empty exine or microcapsule. The exines resemble the spores and pollen from which they are extracted, in size and morphology. Also, from any one plant such characteristics are incredible uniform. The exines can be used as microcapsules or simply as micron-sized particles due to the variety of functional groups on their surfaces. The loading of a material into the chamber of the exine microcapsule is via multi-directional nano-diameter sized channels. The exines can be filled with a variety of polar and non-polar materials. Enzymes can be encapsulated within the shells and still remain active. In vivo studies in humans have shown that an encapsulated active substance can have a substantially increased bioavailability than if Edited by: José Alejandro Heredia-Guerrero, it is taken alone. The sporopollenin exine surface possesses phenolic, alkane, alkene, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Italy ketone, lactone, and carboxylic acid groups.
    [Show full text]
  • Forensic Palynology
    fact sheet Forensic palynology Pollen grains and investigative science The remarkable properties of the outer wall (exine) of pollen grains make pollen a useful tool for scientists, across a range of disciplines. The exine’s resistance to environmental damage means pollen grains that are thousands of years old can still retain their original wall texture and pattern, whilst the uniqueness of each pollen type allows for scientific identification. Pollen grains are well represented in fossil records, particularly those from plants that produce large amounts of pollen and rely on wind for pollination. What is forensic Over time, large quantities of pollen build up in layers of sediment. Palynologists sample these palynology? sediment layers and identify pollen grains, creating Forensic palynologists use pollen a pollen profile. Analysis of pollen profiles has wide grains to assist in solving crimes. ranging applications. By examining pollen collected from a crime scene, or suspect, Taxonomists use pollen profiles to investigate it is possible to be specific about botanical evolutionary pathways, and archaeologists where a person or object has use them to understand the diet and agricultural been. Palynologists have extensive conditions of past civilisations. The most widespread knowledge about pollen dispersal uses are in geography and mining. Geologists and plant productivity patterns, use pollen analysis to date rocks for petroleum which helps to establish the exploration, and geographers use it to model climate origins of a particular pollen type, patterns. Forensic science is a more recent application and make inferences about where of pollen analysis. a suspect, victim or object has been. References Denbow, J.
    [Show full text]