Palynological characteristics of the bottom sediments of the southern Barents sea

The distribution of spores and pollen grains was studied in nine sections of bottom sediments up to 50 m thick, in the southern Barents Sea. The Early Cretaceous, Pleistocene, and Holocene ages of the enclosing sediments are determined by palynological analysis. Three Holocene provinces were recognized and traced along the beds, which were formed in the Early, Middle, and Late Holocene according to the scheme of Neishtadt (1957).     

Palynological investigations of the sediments of ten lakes in eastern Holstein,North Germany

Pollen analysis was carried out on the sediments of 10 lakes in eastern Holstein. Sediment accumulation rates varied considerably both from lake to lake and also between respective periods. Increases in sediment accumulation rate often coincide with the Neolithic settlement periods. Faunal remains have been examined from two of these lakes (cf. Günther 1983; Hofmann 1983).     

Palynological investigations in sediments of ancient lake Duvensee,Schleswig-Holstein (North Germany)

The Duvensee originated before the Alleroed in the Late Glacial, and had its largest areal coverage during the Preboreal. After the lake retreat, which began in early Boreal times, the marginal shore areas and nearshore islands were repeatedly inhabited by man in the early Mesolithicum. Archaeological excavations of human settlements and pollen analyses of sediment cores show evidence of lake level fluctuations in the ensuing period. The results disclose that shallow water sediments such as lake marls, algal muds and coarse detrital gyttjas predominate in the sequence. In keeping with the shallow water conditions, strong lateral facies changes were observed in the cores. The early Holocene deposits have almost the same thickness irrespective of their position in the shallow or deep parts of the lake basin. The subaerial exposure of the nearshore and island areas sometimes resulted in fern and reed peats. The last remnants of the lake, which was drained in 1850, lay in the marginal areas over shallow water sediments.     

The microbiome of Brazilian mangrove sediments as revealed by metagenomics

Here we embark in a deep metagenomic survey that revealed the taxonomic and potential metabolic pathways aspects of mangrove sediment microbiology. The extraction of DNA from sediment samples and the direct application of pyrosequencing resulted in approximately 215 Mb of data from four distinct mangrove areas (BrMgv01 to 04) in Brazil. The taxonomic approaches applied revealed the dominance of Deltaproteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria in the samples. Paired statistical analysis showed higher proportions of specific taxonomic groups in each dataset. The metabolic reconstruction indicated the possible occurrence of processes modulated by the prevailing conditions found in mangrove sediments. In terms of carbon cycling, the sequences indicated the prevalence of genes involved in the metabolism of methane, formaldehyde, and carbon dioxide. With respect to the nitrogen cycle, evidence for sequences associated with dissimilatory reduction of nitrate, nitrogen immobilization, and denitrification was detected. Sequences related to the production of adenylsulfate, sulfite, and H(2)S were relevant to the sulphur cycle. These data indicate that the microbial core involved in methane, nitrogen, and sulphur metabolism consists mainly of Burkholderiaceae, Planctomycetaceae, Rhodobacteraceae, and Desulfobacteraceae. Comparison of our data to datasets from soil and sea samples resulted in the allotment of the mangrove sediments between those samples. The results of this study add valuable data about the composition of microbial communities in mangroves and also shed light on possible transformations promoted by microbial organisms in mangrove sediments.     

Palynological analysis of Cheilanthes Species (Adiantaceae-Pteridophyta) of Northwestern Argentina

The spores of seven Cheilanthes Sw. species that grow in the Northwest Region of Argentina were studied with LM, SEM and TEM.

They were: Cheilanthes margínala H. B. K., C. micropteris Sw., C. myriophylla Desv., C. notholaenoides (Desv.) Weath., C. pilosa Gold., C. poeppigiana Mett. ex Kuhn, and C. pruinata Kaulf.

C. volcanensis de la Sota, mentioned for the region, was not included because all the collected material was sterile or immature.

The equatorial diameter is not useful in distinguishing species because of the interspecific variability of such species as C. micropteris, C. poeppigiana and C. pruinata. In other cases interspecific variation overlaps.

All the species analysed here have one basic pattern of structure: a homogeneous, smooth exospore and a sculptured perispore.

The perispore has two layers: an innermost one, granular, compact and an outermost one, reticulate with or without an outer lamella. The outermost layer constitutes the greatest part of the perispore.

Five sculpture groups were distinguished: rugulose, ridged, cristate, cristate-reticulate and tridimensionally reticulate.

One new type of sculpture is mentioned in Cheilanthes: ridged.     

Investigation of bacterial diversity in Brazilian tropical estuarine sediments reveals high actinobacterial diversity

Phylogenetic and statistical analyses of 16S rRNA gene libraries were used for the investigation of actinobacterial communities present in two tropical estuarine sediments (Santos-São Vicente estuary, Brazil). The libraries were constructed from samples collected at the brackish end of the estuary, highly hydrocarbon-contaminated, and at the marine end, uncontaminated. Clones from the marine end of the estuary were all related to sequences from non-cultured Actinobacteria and unidentified bacteria recovered from a wide range of environmental samples, whereas clones from the brackish end were mainly related to sequences from cultured Actinobacteria. Statistical analyses showed that the community recovered from the hydrocarbon-contaminated sediment sample, at the brackish end, was less diverse than the uncontaminated one, at the marine end, and that the communities from the two libraries were differently structured, suggesting that these may have not originated from the same community. The recognition of the spatial pattern of actinobacterial distribution in a natural environment is a first step towards understanding the way these communities are organized, providing valuable data for further investigations of their taxonomic and functional diversity.     

Application of Palynological Techniques to Palaeobotany

A technique for obtaining cuticular preparations from fossilplants using sodium hypochlorite is described. The use of acetoneto remove oxidized humates is also mentioned.     

Principal-components analysis of Brazilian Indian anthropometric data

Analysis of nine characteristics on 1,205 males and 932 females from 12 tribes or groups of tribes indicated a poor relationship between morphology and language, as well as moderate agreement with the variability expected considering geography only. Two samples in the Xingu area studied during an interval of half a century (1897-1947) showed remarkable similarity. The conformity of the Caingang morphology with those of other tribes and the distinctiveness of the Xavante and Tenetehara has been amply confirmed.     

A Palynological Method for Stratigraphical Correlations

A method for the stratigraphical correlation and dating of Lower Cretaceous deposits from south-eastern France and north-eastern Spain is proposed, on the basis of a morphological analysis of pollen grains belonging to the form-genus Classopollis (Pflug) Pocock & Jansonius. This method has made possible correlations between microfloristic assemblages from various regions and it solves the problem of the age of the Wealden and Utrillas facies in the region studied. The correlation between these facies and the levels associated with bauxite suggests that a biostratigraphical interpretation would be possible by further application of the method described.     

Sulphur‐oxidizing and sulphate‐reducing communities in Brazilian mangrove sediments

Mangrove soils are anaerobic environments rich in sulphate and organic matter. Although the sulphur cycle is one of the major actors in this ecosystem, little is known regarding the sulphur bacteria communities in mangrove soils. We investigated the abundance, composition and diversity of sulphur‐oxidizing (SOB) and sulphate‐reducing (SRB) bacteria in sediments from three Brazilian mangrove communities: two contaminated, one with oil (OilMgv) and one with urban waste and sludge (AntMgv), and one pristine (PrsMgv). The community structures were assessed using quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), polymerase chain reaction‐denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR‐DGGE) and clone libraries, using genes for the enzymes adenosine‐5′‐phosphosulphate reductase (aprA) and sulphite reductase (Dsr) (dsrB). The abundance for qPCR showed the ratio dsrB/aprA to be variable among mangroves and higher according to the gradient observed for oil contamination in the OilMgv. The PCR‐DGGE patterns analysed by Nonmetric Multidimensional Scaling revealed differences among the structures of the three mangrove communities. The clone libraries showed that Betaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria and Deltaproteobacteria were the most abundant groups associated with sulphur cycling in mangrove sediments. We conclude that the microbial SOB and SRB communities in mangrove soils are different in each mangrove forest and that such microbial communities could possibly be used as a proxy for contamination in mangrove forests.     

Palynological evaluation of selected honeys from Romania

Fifty-four honey samples collected over two consecutive harvest seasons (2009–2010) from different floristic areas of Romania were analysed. A melissopalynological analysis including qualitative and quantitative analyses was carried out in order to identify the principal pollen types in Romanian honeys and therefore, the important plants exploited by Apis mellifera in this country. Seventy-seven pollen types from 35 botanical families were identified. The main pollen forms were: Brassica napus-type, Tilia, Helianthus annuus, Robinia pseudoacacia, Prunus, Castanea sativa, Fragaria-type and Plantago-type. Honey samples were classified as: acacia honey (Robinia pseudoacacia), lime honey (Tilia), rape honey (Brassica napus-type), sunflower honey (Helianthus annuus), cherry honey (Prunus). Three of them were honeydew honeys whereas the others were all polyfloral. The results from this study can be used as a palynological baseline data of Romanian artisanal honeys.     

Palynological characteristics of different unifloral honeys from Greece

Three hundred and twenty-nine Greek honey samples of different botanical and geographical origin were collected and examined by organoleptic evaluation, melissopalynological analysis, measurement of electrical conductivity and colour. The results showed that 208 samples were unifloral with 178 of them representing the main types of unifloral honey produced in Greece; that is fir, pine, chestnut, cotton, orange and thyme honey. All honeys had the sensory characteristics typical of their origin and complied with the electrical conductivity standards set by Council Directive 2001/110/EC.

Fir and pine honeydew honey had a low honeydew element/pollen (HDE/P) ratio and belonged to Maurizio's Classes II or III. The pollen types identified in these honeys ranged from 11 to 45%. Chestnut nectar honey contained >90% chestnut pollen, had a total number of plant elements of >245,000/10?g, and low pollen diversity. Cotton honey contained 1.2 to 16.5% cotton pollen, belonged to Maurizio's Class II, and had 22 pollen types, with Castanea sativa L. present in all samples. Orange honey contained 2.9 to 26.5% Citrus spp. pollen, belonged to Maurizio's Class II, and was characterized by the presence of Brassicaceae, Fabaceae, Olea europea L., Quercus coccifera L. and Rosaceae. In thyme honeys Thymus capitatus Hoffm. &; Link. pollen was secondary or predominant ranging from 18.3 to 69.3%. These honeys belonged to Maurizio's Classes I or II and contained greater than 30 pollen types. Other Lamiaceae, Hypericum spp., Brassicaceae, Fabaceae, Rosaceae, and Cistus spp. pollen types appeared in the greatest number of thyme samples.     

(木奈)李的孢粉学初步研究

为了解李的起源,应用扫描电镜对7份李(Prunus salicina L.var.cordata Y.He)、2份中国李(P.salicina Lindl.var.salicina)、1份樱桃李(P.cerasifera Ehrhart.)及3份杂种李的花粉形态进行观察和聚类分析,开展李的孢粉学研究。结果表明,这13份李属植物的花粉具条纹-穴状或脑纹-穴状纹饰,花粉形状均为长球形或超长球形,极面观为三裂圆形,具3条萌发沟,萌发沟以等间距环状分布,属N3P4C5类型。李的P/E(1.82~2.02)、花粉大小(823.70~970.42μm2)介于供试的其他6份李属植物之间,但其穿孔密度(0.520~1.141μm–2)除早圆油和早熟油外均远大于其他6份李材料;李花粉外壁具条脊,表面均形成大小、疏密不等的穿孔,且在条脊隆起、脊沟深窄等方面表现出了丰富的多样性,其中油早熟品系和晚熟品系的花粉纹饰、穿孔密度等还表现出了2种特征,因此,李的孢粉学特征可作为分类鉴定的一个重要依据。在遗传距离6.19水平上,13份李属植物可以分为3个类群,每个类群中均有李分布,李与李属间具有较近的亲缘关系。综合李花粉形态特征和聚类分析结果,推测李具起源于李属杂交后代的可能。     

Marine sediments from southeastern Brazilian continental shelf: A 1200 year record of upwelling productivity

A sediment core from the Cabo Frio coastal shelf (?23.19 S, ?41.8 W; 117 m depth), was analyzed for TOC, C/N ratio, organic petrography and planktonic foraminiferal content to evaluate variations in local productivity caused by changes in upwelling intensity and its relation to regional and global climatic variations during the last millennium. The Cabo Frio core recorded the last 1200 years of sedimentation, with rates varying from 0.11 to 0.32 mm yr^?1. Foraminiferal and organic geochemical analyses indicate the occurrence of three distinct periods of productivity. From 850 AD until 1070 AD, foraminifera fluxes consisting primarily of Turborotalita quinqueloba indicate stronger South Atlantic Central Water (SACW) transport onto the shelf, which induced high biological productivity that was also recorded by high TOC and marine palynomorphs content and a low C/N atomic ratio. This period coincided with a northward displacement of the atmospheric Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) and South Atlantic High (SAH) systems driven by positive temperature anomalies in the North Atlantic Ocean during the Medieval Climate Anomaly (MCA). From 1070 until 1500 AD, low TOC flux and planktonic foraminifera fluxes and high C/N atomic ratios suggest a reduction in marine productivity, probably driven by reduced transport of SACW associated with the southward displacement of the SAH and weakening of northeasterly winds. The period between 1500 and 1830 AD, which corresponds to the Little Ice Age, is marked by increased fluxes of planktonic foraminifera, principally of Globigerina bulloides and Globigerinita glutinata. These species mark an increase in productivity linked to SACW upwelling, supported by the enhancement of northeasterly winds and southward displacement of the ITCZ and SAH.     

Palynological and geographical characterization of avocado honeys in Spain

The present work refers to the pollen analysis of 12 avocado honey samples from Spain. The samples were directly provided by the beekeepers, all professionals. The quantitative analysis showed that nectar is the main honey source in the samples studied, and that most honeys have a medium presence of botanical elements (BE); one sample belong to Class I of Maurizio, seven to Class II and four belong to Class III. The qualitative analysis of the samples showed the presence of 56 taxa belonging to 36 families. The Spanish avocado honeys are characterised by their medium content in pollen grains (NPG; x¯=117000) and their low honeydew indicator elements content (HDE; x¯=6340). Echium plantagineum gr. and Genista f. (present in 90% of the samples), and Eucalyptus f., Olea europaea L., Mentha aquatica gr. and Reseda luteola gr. (present in 80% of the samples), could be mentioned among the characteristic accompanying species of this honey type. The avocado honeys from the Iberian Peninsula and from the Canary Islands can be differentiated by the presence of Asphalthium bituminosum Medic., Cardiospermum grandiflorum Sw., Phoenix canariensis Hort. ex Chabaud and Tropaeolum majus L. in the latter.