The need for the SEM in palaeopalynology - De la nécessité du MEB en paléopalynologie
- Author(s)
- David-Kay Ferguson, Reinhard Zetter, Khum Narayal Paudayal
- Abstract
One of the commonly quotd weaknesses of pollen analysis is its poor taxonomic resolution, which can be achieved with the Light Microscope (LM). This prevents detailes palaeoecological interpretations from being made. Although the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) has been widely available for almos 40 years, it is rarely used in routine palaeopalynological research. The usual reason given is that single-grain techniques are too time-consuming. However, this need not be the case. By combining LM and SEM, fossil pollen grains can be identified more accurately. Moreover, it is possible to distinguish beteen similar, but botanically distinct, taxa. In this way, palaeopalynology can supply phylogeneticists and palaeoclimatologists with a plethora of useful data.
- Organisation(s)
- Department of Palaeontology
- External organisation(s)
- Tribhuvan University
- Journal
- Academie des Sciences. Comptes Rendus. Palevol
- Volume
- 6
- Pages
- 423-430
- No. of pages
- 8
- ISSN
- 1631-0683
- Publication date
- 2007
- Peer reviewed
- Yes
- Austrian Fields of Science 2012
- 105117 Palaeobotany, 1060 Biology
- Portal url
- https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/a528c554-f637-4179-be0e-61f8143d9be2