Scribd
Upload
89 views14 pages

Palynomorphs: Casenas, Matthew Ray T. de Leon, Faye Ann

This document discusses palynomorphs, microscopic plant and animal structures that are important in paleontology. It focuses on dinoflagellates, unicellular protists that are second only to diatoms as primary producers in marine environments. Dinoflagellates have a cell covering called dinosporin and two flagella that allow movement. Their fossilized resting cysts are important index fossils for determining the age of sediments. Dinoflagellates first appeared in the Silurian period and reached their peak diversity in the Cretaceous, and they remain an important base of the marine food chain today.

Uploaded by

Belle Estal Palajos
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
89 views14 pages

Palynomorphs: Casenas, Matthew Ray T. de Leon, Faye Ann

This document discusses palynomorphs, microscopic plant and animal structures that are important in paleontology. It focuses on dinoflagellates, unicellular protists that are second only to diatoms as primary producers in marine environments. Dinoflagellates have a cell covering called dinosporin and two flagella that allow movement. Their fossilized resting cysts are important index fossils for determining the age of sediments. Dinoflagellates first appeared in the Silurian period and reached their peak diversity in the Cretaceous, and they remain an important base of the marine food chain today.

Uploaded by

Belle Estal Palajos
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 14

PALYNOMORPHS

Casenas, Matthew Ray T.


De Leon, Faye Ann

Outline of Discussion
I. Palynology
II.Palynomorphs
III.Dinoflagellates
IV.Pollen and Spores

Palynology
Greek, Palynein

to sprinkle.

Hyde and Williams (1944)


study of plant pollen, spores and
certain microscopic plankton
organisms
Collectively termed PALYNOMORPHS.

Palynomorphs
plant and animal structures that are
microscopic in size (from about 5 m to
about 500 m).
highly resistant to most forms of decay
(exc. oxidation)
abundant in most sediments and sedimentary
rocks.
Sporopollenin (unifying character)

The Palynomorphs (9 Groups)

Cryptarchs
Acritarchs
Chitinozoa
Scolecodonts
Green and blue-green algae

Pollen and Spores


Dinoflagellates
Fungal bodies
Foraminiferal test linings

Dinoflagellates

Protists - unicellular microplankton ( 5m 2mm)

commonly autotrophs, heterotrophic forms also


occur
composed of dinosporin (Greek "dinos" meaning
whirling)
Baker in 1753 (first modern dinoflagellates)
Muller in 1773 (first species)
Ehrenberg in the 1830's (first fossil flint)
second only to diatoms as marine primary
producers.

Anatomy
Consist of two flagella:
1. Transverse Flagellum
- contained in a cingulum
- provides forward motion
and spin

2. Longitudinal Flagellum
- trailing behind
- provides little
propulsive force.

Life Cycle of Dinoflagellates

Cyst = Dino. Fossil

Resting Cyst = Dinoflagellate


Fossil
IF:
1. Direct reflection of the tabulation
pattern on the cyst wall.
2. Archeopyle Arrangement

Environment of Deposition
- Marine environment

Host Rocks
- Marine Sedimentary Rocks

Quality Of Preservation
- Well Preserved

Red Tide: A Natural Phenomenon

Blooms or high concentration of


dinoflagellates ( organisms/liter)

Water rich in nutrients = dinoflagellates


rapidly multiply.
Red hue to water
Saxitoxin - Paralytic Shellfish Poison

Bioluminescence
- Sparkling of water a night.
- Production and emission of light by
a living organism.
- blue-green light
- brief blue flash when stimulated

Period of First Appearance


- Silurian(Arpylorus antiquus in Tunisia)

Period of Last Appearance


- Not yet determined. Still existing.

Period of Diversity
- Mid Cretaceous

Significance
1.Ideal index fossils Petroleum industry
2.Base of Marine Food Chain

References:

https://www.utexas.edu/courses/denbow/labs/palynology
.htm
http://www.mnh.si.edu/highlight/sem/dinoflagellates.h
tml

Dinoflagellate Evolution and Diversity Through


Time(R.A. Fensome, R.A. MacRae and G.L. Williams)

http://www.ucl.ac.uk/GeolSci/micropal/palynology.html

http://tolweb.org/Dinoflagellates/2445

http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/pollen/whatispalynology.htm

You might also like