Contributions Series Nr. 45 (PDF)

Description

Abstract

The main objective of this book is to synthesize information on the Indian Tertiary palynology published so far. The book can broadly be divided into three parts: Introduction, Synopses of publications and Discussion.

The introductory part provides a brief introduction of the Book, historical background of Tertiary palynology in India, an overview of the Indian Tertiary sediments, systems of classification of palynofossils used in India and their merits/ demerits, and field and laboratory techniques relevant to palynological studies.

This is followed by the synopses of all the publications on Indian Tertiary palynology published during the last seven decades (1941 to 2010). Altogether, there are 499 entries. Each entry is numbered and begins with its author(s) and year of publication, followed by the title, a brief synopsis and key-words. These are arranged alphabetically according to author’s surnames. For ready retrieval of available information, various categories of indices, viz. Author Index, Index of Stratigraphic Units, Index of Geologic ages, Index of Geographical areas/ Sedimentary Basins and Subject Index, are provided. The indices will help the readers to synthesize the available information in more coherent way and in broader perspective.

The Discussion part includes a summarized account of palynofloras and their biostratigraphic application in various regions of India and their palaeogeographical and palaeoclimatic implications. A number of tables are provided to summarize biostratigraphic zones and their characteristic palynofossils. A brief account of some selected fossil pollen genera, which are of regional and global significance, is also given, with suitable illustrations. Some of these forms elucidate diversification in angiosperms and migration of some taxa between Africa, India, South-east Asia and South America during the Tertiary Period. In this respect distribution of pollen having affinity with the families Arecaceae, Bombacaceae, Dipterocarpaceae and Ctenolophonaceae has been commented upon. An effort has been made to identify gaps in our knowledge about Indian Tertiary Palynology and suggestions have been given for future studies.