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This paper summarizes the state of knowledge of the Cretaceous stratigraphy of the Mountainous Crimea and selected biostratigraphic groups and magnetostratigraphy. The first part of the paper discusses the Early Cretaceous, its stratigraphy, selected fossil groups and magnetostratigraphy of the Mountainous Crimea. The data on the figured reference sections were updated in terms of biostratigraphic zonation. Selected fossil groups represented in the paper include ammonites, organic-walled dinoflagellate cysts, ostracods, calpionellids and nannoplankton. The description of each group contains an information on the main publications, types of biostratigraphic units and their distribution, fossil assemplages, images of the most important fossils, and brief discussion on the correlation. Some of the ammonite index fossils are figured for the first time. The magnetostratigraphy summarizes latest data published mostly in Russian for the whole Early Cretaceous succession of the Mountainous Crimea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last four decades, organic-walled dinoflagellate cysts have shown high potential as tracers of past sea-surface conditions during the Quaternary. These microfossils relate to the pelagic productivity of both phototrophic and heterotrophic protist organisms and are recovered in high numbers in almost all marine environment settings from the nearshore and estuarine systems to the distal continental margin. In polar environments, where other conventional proxies are rare or absent, dinoflagellate cysts showed a relatively high diversity of species and a close relationship with sea-ice cover duration, winter and summer temperature, and salinity, enabling quantitative reconstructions of several oceanic variables over time. From the temperate to the tropical latitudes of the Atlantic Ocean, their modern distribution highlights a response to primary productivity and seasonal contrasts in surface temperature. They also have proven that they could be used as tracers of eutrophication in stratified systems and can also highlight human impact on their distribution. In this paper, we present an overview of dinoflagellate cysts as ecological tracers in recent and past sediments of the Atlantic Ocean, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. We provide examples of their use as proxies in paleoclimatic-palaeoceanographic studies at glacial to interglacial time scales, with emphasis on the last ice age to recent (last 25 kyr), the northern North Atlantic and western-eastern tropic North Atlantic. We also discuss their potential as tracers of anthropogenic stress in coastal environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Instrumental records from the Norwegian Sea and the Trondheimsfjord show evidence that changes of bottom water temperature and salinity in the fjord are linked to the salinity and temperature variability of the North Atlantic Current (NAC). Changes in primary productivity and salinity in the surface and intermediate water masses in the Trondheimsfjord as well as the fjord sedimentary budget are mainly driven by changes in riverine input. In this study we use 59 surface sediment samples that are evenly distributed in the fjord to examine whether dinocyst assemblages and stable isotope ratios of benthic foraminifera reflect the present-day hydrology and can be used as paleoceanographic proxies. In general, modern benthic δ18O and δ13C values decrease from the fjord entrance towards the fjord head with lowest values close to river inlets. This is essentially explained by gradients in the amounts of freshwater and terrigenous organic matter delivered from the hinterland. The distribution of benthic δ13C ratios across the fjord is controlled by both the origin (terrigenous vs. marine) of organic matter and local topography-induced variability in organic matter flux at the water-sediment interface. The dinocyst assemblages display the variations in hydrography with respect to the prevailing currents, the topography, and the freshwater and nutrient supply from rivers. The strength and depth of the pycnocline in the fjord strongly varies seasonally and thereby affects water mass characteristics as well as nutrient availability, temporally creating local conditions that explain the observed species distribution. Our results prove that dinocyst assemblages and benthic foraminiferal isotopes reliably mirror the complex fjord hydrology and can therefore be used as proxies of Holocene climatic variability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analysed dinoflagellate cyst assemblages in four short sediment cores, two of them dated by radionuclides, taken in the south basin of the Caspian Sea. The interpretation of the four sequences is supported by a collection of 27 lagoonal or marine surface sediment samples. A sharp increase in the biomass of the dinocyst occurs after 1967, especially owing to Lingulodinium machaerophorum. Considering nine other cores covering parts or the whole of Holocene, this species started to develop in the Caspian Sea only during the last three millennia. By analysing instrumental data and collating existing reconstructions of sea level changes over the last few millennia, we show that the main forcing of the increase of L. machaerophorum percentages and of the recent dinocyst abundance is global climate change, especially sea surface temperature increase. Sea level fluctuations likely have a minor impact. We argue that the Caspian Sea has entered the Anthropocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dinoflagellate cyst (dinocyst) assemblages have been widely used over the Arctic Ocean to reconstruct sea-surface parameters on a quantitative basis. Such reconstructions provide insights into the role of anthropogenic vs natural forcings in the actual climatic trend. Here, we present the palynological analysis of a 36 cm-long core collected from the Mackenzie Through in the Canadian Beaufort Sea. Dinocyst assemblages were used to quantitatively reconstruct the evolution of sea surface conditions (temperature, salinity, sea ice) and freshwater palynomorphs influxes were used as local paleo-river discharge indicators over the last ∼ 150yr. Dinocyst assemblages are dominated by autotrophic taxa (68 to 96%). Pentapharsodinium dalei is the dominant specie throughout most of the core, except at the top where the assemblages are dominated by Operculodinium centrocarpum. Quantitative reconstructions of sea surface parameters display a serie of relatively warm, lower sea ice and saline episodes in surface waters, alternately with relatively cool and low salinity episodes. The warm episodes are characterized with high dinocyst productivity. Variations of dinocyst influxes and reconstructed sea surface conditions are closely linked to large scale atmospheric circulation patterns such as the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) and to a lesser degree, the Arctic Oscillation (AO). Positive phases of the PDO correspond to increases of dinocyst influxes, warmer and saltier surface waters, which we associate with upwelling events of warm and relatively saline water from Pacific origin. Freshwater palynomorph influxes increased in three phases from AD 1857 until reaching maximum values in AD 1991, suggesting that the Mackenzie River discharge followed the same trend when its discharge peaked between AD 1989 and AD 1992. The PDO mode seems to dominate the climatic variations at multi-annual to decadal timescales in the Western Canadian Arctic and Beaufort Sea areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is with great pleasure that we introduce palsys.org (https://palsys.org/genus/ , last access: 8 December 2023), a fully open-access taxonomic, stratigraphic and image database of organic-walled dinoflagellate cysts. Palsys.org started as the in-house database of the Laboratory of Palaeobotany and Palynology (LPP) Foundation over 30 years ago. It is now owned by Utrecht University and has been expanded and transformed into a public online platform for use in research and education. Palsys.org includes the taxonomic descriptions of genera and species of organic walled dinoflagellate cysts, from the (often translated) literature, and emendations and synonymy, mainly following Williams et al. (2017) and the stratigraphic calibrations from DINOSTRAT (Bijl, 2022), and has around 25 000 images of species. Here, in this launch paper, we explain the history of the database, present its current functionalities and explain our set-up of the data quality control. We call upon the community to help us keep palsys.org up to date and complete by, for example, by sending additional information, imagery and feedback in general through the platform. Palsys.org brings dinoflagellate micropaleontology in line with the open-science principles of modern academia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New dinocyst analyses were conducted on core MD99-2339 retrieved from the central Gulf of Cadiz. Dinocyst and foraminiferal assemblages from this core are combined with existing data off SW Portugal and NW Morocco to investigate past hydrological and primary productivity regimes in the subtropical NE Atlantic Ocean over the last 30 ka. Our results have revealed highest upwelling intensity during Heinrich Stadial 1 (HS 1) and the Younger Dryas and weaker upwelling cells during the Last Glacial Maximum and HS 2, off the SW Iberian and NW Moroccan margins. Similar assemblages between Cadiz and Morocco and distinct species off Portugal were observed during the cold climatic extremes that punctuated the last 30 ka. This pattern has been linked to the occurrence of a hydrological structure between SW Iberia and Cadiz during the last glacial period, probably similar to the modern Azores Front. This front was probably responsible locally for heterotrophic dinocysts found in the Gulf of Cadiz during the last glacial period, even if this sector is not conductive to upwelling phenomena by Ekman transport. Regional reconstructions of paleo-sea-surface temperatures using dinocyst and foraminiferal transfer functions, as well as alkenones, are also discussed and depict coherent scenarios over the last 30 ka. However, some mismatches are observed between the different quantitative reconstructions such as during HS 1 in the Gulf of Cadiz and during the LGM at the three core locations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deserts are stressful environments where the living beings must acquire different strategies to survive due to the water stress conditions. From the late Albian to the early Cenomanian, the northern and eastern parts of Iberia were the location of the desert system represented by deposits assigned to the Utrillas Group, which bear abundant amber with numerous bioinclusions, including diverse arthropods and vertebrate remains. In the Maestrazgo Basin (E Spain), the late Albian to early Cenomanian sedimentary succession represents the most distal part of the desert system (fore-erg) that was characterised by an alternation of aeolian and shallow marine sedimentary environments in the proximity of the Western Tethys palaeo-coast, with rare to frequent dinoflagellate cysts. The terrestrial ecosystems from this area were biodiverse, and comprised plant communities whose fossils are associated with sedimentological indicators of aridity. The palynoflora dominated by wind-transported conifer pollen is interpreted to reflect various types of xerophytic woodlands from the hinterlands and the coastal settings. Therefore, fern and angiosperm communities abundantly grew in wet interdunes and coastal wetlands (temporary to semi-permanent freshwater/salt marshes and water bodies). In addition, the occurrence of low-diversity megafloral assemblages reflects the existence of coastal salt-influenced settings. The palaeobotanical study carried out in this paper which is an integrative work on palynology and palaeobotany, does not only allow the reconstruction of the vegetation that developed in the mid-Cretaceous fore-erg from the eastern Iberia, in addition, provides new biostratigraphic and palaeogeographic data considering the context of angiosperm radiation as well as the biota inferred in the amber-bearing outcrops of San Just, Arroyo de la Pascueta and La Hoya (within Cortes de Arenoso succesion). Importantly, the studied assemblages include Afropollis, Dichastopollenites, Cretacaeiporites together with pollen produced by Ephedraceae (known for its tolerance to arid conditions). The presence of these pollen grains, typical for northern Gondwana, associates the Iberian ecosystems with those characterising the mentioned region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DINOSTRAT version 2.1-GTS2020 is now available (10.5281/zenodo.10506652, Bijl et al., 2024b). This version updates DINOSTRAT to the Geologic Time Scale 2020, and new publications are added into the database. The resulting database now contains over 9450 entries from 209 sites. This update has not led to major and profound changes in the conclusions made previously. DINOSTRAT allows full presentation of the first and last stratigraphic occurrences of dinoflagellate cyst subfamilies and families, as well as the evolutionary turnover throughout geologic history, as a reliable representation of dinoflagellate evolution. Although the picture of dinoflagellate evolution from DINOSTRAT is broadly consistent with that in previous publications, with DINOSTRAT the underlying data are openly available, reproducible and up to date. This release of DINOSTRAT allows calibration of stratigraphic records to the Geologic Time Scale 2020 using dinoflagellate cysts as a biostratigraphic tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the diatom and palynomorph data from a sediment trap deployed in the northern part of the East Barents Sea for an annual cycle from August 2017 to August 2018. The average monthly fluxes of diatoms and dinoflagellate cysts in the photic layer of the northeastern part of the Barents Sea varies from 10.4 × 103 to 640.8 × 103 valves m−2 day−1 and from 0.3 × 103 to 90.0 × 103 cysts m−2 day−1, respectively. Their fluxes are related to the low irradiance of the photic layer during the sea-ice cover period, dominance of southward currents, modern climate, and nepheloid layer conditions. Based on redundancy analysis of the relationship between the fluxes of diatoms and dinoflagellate cysts and organic carbon fluxes, sea-ice covers, and the seasonal cycle of light availability we determined the following. First, sea-ice-associated diatoms and dinocysts are exported to the sediment trap from the melting sea ice with a two-week delay. Second, the appearance of freshwater diatoms and green algae in the sinking material accumulating from March 2018 to July 2018 is also related to the melting of sea ice. And third, the presence of Coscinodiscus radiatus, C. perforatus, Shionodiscus oestrupii and Operculodinium centrocarpum in the diatoms and dinocysts species composition throughout the year indicates the advection of Atlantic waters into the Barents Sea up to 80° N. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herbert J. Sullivan, a pioneer in the field of palynology, played a crucial role in the founding of the American Association of Stratigraphic Palynologists (AASP) in 1967. Sullivan, originally from Wales, obtained his BSc and PhD from the University of Sheffield and became an expert in Carboniferous miospores. He worked at the Pan-American Petroleum Corporation in Tulsa, Oklahoma, before moving to Calgary, Alberta, where he held various positions at Amoco Canada. Sullivan retired in 1992 and passed away in 2023. His contributions to palynology and the formation of the AASP have had a lasting impact on the field. [Extracted from the article]

Many sediment attributes have been proposed as proxies for determining salinity conditions under which sediment is deposited, and six attributes (Sr/Ba-HAc, Sr/Ba-NH4Ac, δ13Corg, C/N, and the relative abundances and concentrations of dinoflagellate cysts) are compared here. In this paper, sediment attributes from the Fraser River Delta, Canada and surrounding coastal areas are compared by depositional position along the fluvial-to-marine transition, by salinity, and by sedimentological characteristics. Along the fluvial-to-marine transition, most attributes exhibit distinct trends between parts of the river that experience sustained marine water (saltwater) influence over seasonal and tidal timeframes, and parts that experience only freshwater or periodic saltwater influence. No attributes are reliable indicators of depositional position where saltwater incursion is short lived or where water is fresh. Where marine influence is sustained, Sr/Ba-HAc and Sr/Ba-NH4Ac are the most reliable positional indicators along the fluvial-to-marine transition. When compared strictly to salinity, Sr/Ba-HAc, Sr/Ba-NH4Ac, and δ13Corg all correlate predictably except in delta front and prodelta settings. Our data show that all six sediment attributes are heavily impacted by river-derived sedimentation, and it is not appropriate to compare values from strongly river-influenced settings (e.g., deltas) with those from weakly river-influenced settings (e.g., bays and estuaries). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the current state of knowledge of Paleogene stratigraphy of Kaliningrad Oblast, the age of local stratigraphic units and the duration of possible gaps in deposition and proposes trends for future regional Paleogene stratigraphy. The Paleocene Chistoozerskaya and Lubava formations in total probably correspond to the Danian–Selandian on the basis of foraminiferal zonation, but their relationship is not entirely clear. The Zaostrovskaya Formation probably corresponds to the upper Thanetian, but its fossil record is very poor. The Sambian Formation corresponds to the Ypresian according to foraminifera, but its precise stratigraphical interval remains insufficiently substantiated. The Alka Formation is presumably late Lutetian–early Bartonian. The age of the Prussian Formation is emended based on dinocysts as early–late Priabonian, while the Palvé Formation is now dated as the latest Priabonian. The Kurshskaya Formation corresponds to the uppermost Eocene–Oligocene–?lower Miocene. The problem of the recognition and duration of hiatuses between formations remains relevant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cymatiosphaera hymenosynypha Morbey 1975, previously recorded from the Rhaetian Westbury Formation in the United Kingdom, occurs in Triassic–Jurassic boundary strata from Denmark. From the present study it is clear that this small, finely reticulate, ellipsoidal, two-layered palynomorph is not a prasinophyte, but a dinoflagellate cyst with a combination apical/intercalary archaeopyle (type tAtI) which involves three apical plates plus one intercalary plate. This cavate cyst is morphologically similar but not identical to Valvaeodinium hanneae Piasecki 2001 from the uppermost Bathonian to lower Callovian of East Greenland, and it is therefore here transferred to Valvaeodinium, as Valvaeodinium hymenosynypha (Morbey) Lindström comb. nov. The appearance of Valvaeodinium hymenosynypha in Rhaetian strata in the Danish Basin suggests that the lineage of cavate Valvaeodinium cysts originated in the Late Triassic alongside a chorate species of the genus. Valvaeodinium hymenosynypha seems to have survived just barely past the end-Triassic mass extinction as it is also present in the earliest Hettangian. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Late Cretaceous and Paleogene strata of the Norwegian continental shelf are rich and diverse in dinoflagellate cysts. The assemblages are generally well-preserved, which allows high-resolution biostratigraphic studies and sometimes the identification of new species with chronostratigraphic significance. This paper proposes the formal description of eight new species from the Møre Basin, offshore Norway: Adnatosphaeridium tubulosum, Canningia crassimura, Canningia exilimura, Palaeohystrichophora elongata, Palaeoperidinium minusculatum, Senoniasphaera porosa, Trithyrodinium ioannidesii and Trithyrodinium verrucatum. The key diagnostic and morphological features of each species are discussed and compared with those of other forms outside and within the same genera. The new species presented here have been recognised in a stratigraphic interval ranging from the early Campanian to the early Danian; their occurrence can be used in conjunction with previously published markers to enhance the stratigraphic breakdown of wells across the region and wider offshore Northwest Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis paper compiles and correlates for the first time Cretaceous to Eocene palynostratigraphies across the Arctic. It focuses on Greenland and adjacent areas, including the Labrador–Baffin Seaway, onshore Nuussuaq Basin in central West Greenland, onshore southern East Greenland, central East Greenland, North-East Greenland, eastern North Greenland and the Danmarkshavn Basin, but also extends to the Canadian Arctic Archipelago and the Barents Sea region offshore Norway. The paper compiles data from more than three decades of detailed Arctic palynological analyses, based mainly on dinoflagellate cysts. It gives a historical overview of the Cretaceous to Paleogene palaeontological studies of Greenland and presents an overview of 85 palynological intervals and numerous bioevents. The palynological assemblages from the Labrador–Baffin Seaway, Nuussuaq Basin and north-east Baffin Bay reflect the opening of the Labrador–Baffin Seaway, from a brackish to freshwater environment in a large embayment in the Early Cretaceous to an open marine seaway in the Late Cretaceous. Assemblages reveal dinoflagellate cyst provincialism between the opening stages of the Labrador–Baffin Seaway and the already opened Greenland–Norwegian–Barents seaway. The Upper Cretaceous global Oceanic Anoxic Event 2 (OAE2) spanning the Cenomanian/Turonian boundary is recognised from Arctic Canada, north-east Baffin Bay, Nuussuaq Basin in central West Greenland, and North-East Greenland, and is mapped and correlated based on dinoflagellate cyst stratigraphy and carbon isotope (δ13Corg) curves. The dinoflagellate cyst assemblages of the Cretaceous/Paleogene boundary are correlated from the Labrador Sea across to the Nuussuaq Basin in central West Greenland; in both areas the earliest Danian palynological assemblage is represented by incoming warm-water species. The presence of the global Paleocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) in the Paleogene successions in North-East Greenland and in exploration wells in the Labrador–Baffin Seaway is indicated by the incoming of the warm-water dinoflagellate cyst species Axiodinium augustum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate changes over the past two millennia in the central part of the Gulf of St. Lawrence are documented in this paper with the aim of determining and understanding the natural climate variability and the impact of anthropogenic forcing at a regional scale. The palynological content (dinocysts, pollen, and spores) of the composite marine sediment core MSM46-03 collected in the Laurentian Channel was used to reconstruct oceanographic and climatic changes with a multidecadal temporal resolution. Sea-surface conditions, including summer salinity and temperature, sea-ice cover, and primary productivity, were reconstructed from dinocyst assemblages. Results revealed a remarkable cooling trend of about 4°C after 1230 cal yr BP (720 CE) and a culmination with a cold pulse dated to 170-40 cal yr BP (1780-1910 CE), which likely corresponds to the regional signal of the Little Ice Age. This cold interval was followed by a rapid warming of about 3°C. In the pollen assemblages, the decrease of Pinus abundance over the past 1700 yr suggests changes in wind regimes, likely resulting from increased southerly incursions of cold and dry Arctic air masses into southeastern Canada. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mesozoic–Cenozoic organic-walled dinoflagellate cyst (dinocyst) biostratigraphy is a crucial tool for relative and numerical age control in complex ancient sedimentary systems. However, stratigraphic ranges of dinocysts are found to be strongly diachronous geographically. A global compilation of state-of-the-art calibrated regional stratigraphic ranges could assist in quantifying regional differences and evaluating underlying causes. For this reason, DINOSTRAT is here introduced – an open-source, iterative, community-fed database intended to house all regional chronostratigraphic calibrations of dinocyst events (https://github.com/bijlpeter83/DINOSTRAT.git , last access: 1 February 2022​​​​​​​) (DOI – https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5772616 , Bijl, 2021). DINOSTRAT version 1.0 includes >8500 entries of the first and last occurrences (collectively called "events") of >1900 dinocyst taxa and their absolute ties to the chronostratigraphic timescale of Gradstein et al. (2012). Entries are derived from 199 publications and 188 sedimentary sections. DINOSTRAT interpolates paleolatitudes of regional dinocyst events, allowing evaluation of the paleolatitudinal variability in dinocyst event ages. DINOSTRAT allows for open accessibility and searchability, based on region, age and taxon. This paper presents a selection of the data in DINOSTRAT: (1) the (paleo)latitudinal spread and evolutionary history of modern dinocyst species, (2) the evolutionary patterns and paleolatitudinal spread of dinocyst (sub)families, and (3) a selection of key dinocyst events which are particularly synchronous. Although several dinocysts show – at the resolution of their calibration – quasi-synchronous event ages, in fact many species have remarkable diachroneity. DINOSTRAT provides the data storage approach by which the community can now start to relate diachroneity to (1) inadequate ties to chronostratigraphic timescales, (2) complications in taxonomic concepts, and (3) ocean connectivity and/or the affinities of taxa to environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The section of Maikop deposits on the Belaya River upstream of the town of Maikop is characteristic of Western and Central Ciscaucasia; it is well exposed and well-studied and can be considered as the type section of the Maikop Group. The section shows a continuous transition from the underlying white marl of the Belaya Glina Formation to dark clay lying at the base of the Maikop Group. The lower Oligocene part of the section exposes an almost uninterrupted outcrop of the Pshekha Formation and shows unconformities at the base and top of the Polbian Bed. These are overlain by the lower non-carbonate and upper carbonate subformations of the Morozkina Balka Formation and the Batalpashinsk and undivided Upper Oligocene Septarian + Zelenchuk formations. This paper contains a detailed lithological description of the section with a summary of its fossils. The composition of the studied microphytoplankton and animal remains, including nannoplankton, planktonic and benthic foraminifers, mollusks, and ichthyofauna is described and paleomagnetic study results are presented. The study of palynology and dinocysts from the same series of samples was previously completed. The history of the study of the Maikop Group and its subdivision into formations are discussed. This paper discusses the possibility of using the data for correlation and reconstruction of the depositional environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Occasionally (and fortunately), circumstances and timing combine to allow an individual, almost singlehandedly, to generate a paradigm shift in his or her chosen field of inquiry. William R. ('Bill') Evitt (1923-2009) was such a person. During his career as a palaeontologist, Bill Evitt made lasting and profound contributions to the study of both dinoflagellates and trilobites. He had a distinguished, long and varied career, researching first trilobites and techniques in palaeontology before moving on to marine palynomorphs. Bill is undoubtedly best known for his work on dinoflagellates, especially their resting cysts. He worked at three major US universities and spent a highly significant period in the oil industry. Bill's early profound interest in the natural sciences was actively encouraged both by his parents and at school. His alma mater was Johns Hopkins University where, commencing in 1940, he studied chemistry and geology as an undergraduate. He quickly developed a strong vocation in the earth sciences, and became fascinated by the fossiliferous Lower Palaeozoic strata of the northwestern United States. Bill commenced a PhD project on silicified Middle Ordovician trilobites from Virginia in 1943. His doctoral research was interrupted by military service during World War II; Bill served as an aerial photograph interpreter in China in 1944 and 1945, and received the Bronze Star for his excellent work. Upon demobilisation from the US Army Air Force, he resumed work on his PhD and was given significant teaching duties at Johns Hopkins, which he thoroughly enjoyed. He accepted his first professional position, as an instructor in sedimentary geology, at the University of Rochester in late 1948. Here Bill supervised his first two graduate students, and shared a great cameraderie with a highly motivated student body which largely comprised World War II veterans. At Rochester, Bill continued his trilobite research, and was the editor of the Journal of Paleontology between 1953 and 1956. Seeking a new challenge, he joined the Carter Oil Company in Tulsa, Oklahoma, during 1956. This brought about an irrevocable realignment of his research interests from trilobites to marine palynology. He undertook basic research on aquatic palynomorphs in a very well-resourced laboratory under the direction of one of his most influential mentors, William S. 'Bill' Hoffmeister. Bill Evitt visited the influential European palynologists Georges Deflandre and Alfred Eisenack during late 1959 and, while in Tulsa, first developed several groundbreaking hypotheses. He soon realised that the distinctive morphology of certain fossil dinoflagellates, notably the archaeopyle, meant that they represent the resting cyst stage of the life cycle. The archaeopyle clearly allows the excystment of the cell contents, and comprises one or more plate areas. Bill also concluded that spine-bearing palynomorphs, then called hystrichospheres, could be divided into two groups. The largely Palaeozoic spine-bearing palynomorphs are of uncertain biological affinity, and these were termed acritarchs. Moreover, he determined that unequivocal dinoflagellate cysts are all Mesozoic or younger, and that the fossil record of dinoflagellates is highly selective. Bill was always an academic at heart and he joined Stanford University in 1962, where he remained until retiring in 1988. Bill enjoyed getting back into teaching after his six years in industry. During his 26-year tenure at Stanford, Bill continued to revolutionise our understanding of dinoflagellate cysts. He produced many highly influential papers and two major textbooks. The highlights include defining the acritarchs and comprehensively documenting the archaeopyle, together with highly detailed work on the morphology of Nannoceratopsis and Palaeoperidinium pyrophorum using the scanning electron microscope. Bill supervised 11 graduate students while at Stanford University. He organised the Penrose Conference on Modern and Fossil Dinoflagellates in 1978, which was so successful that similar meetings have been held about every four years since that inaugural symposium. Bill also taught many short courses on dinoflagellate cysts aimed at the professional community. Unlike many eminent geologists, Bill actually retired from actively working in the earth sciences. His full retirement was in 1988; after this he worked on only a small number of dinoflagellate cyst projects, including an extensive paper on the genus Palaeoperidinium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Western Scheldt Estuary near the Belgian-Dutch border, middle to late Eocene strata crop out at the current seafloor. Most vertebrae of large Eocene basilosaurid taxa from this area were previously described in several papers. They represent three morphotypes: elongated vertebrae of a large species of Pachycetus (Morphotype 1b), a not-elongated vertebra of a large ‘dorudontid’ basilosaurid (Morphotype 2) and ‘shortened’ vertebrae of a new, unnamed taxon (Morphotype 3). This article deals with a still undescribed, smaller vertebra, NMR-16642, from this site. Our first aim was to date it by dinoflagellate cysts in adhering sediments. Yielding an age of about 38 Ma, it is one of the very few remains of basilosaurids from Europe, of which the age could be assessed with reasonable certainty. The vertebra, Morphotype 1a, is assigned to a small species of Pachycetus. High-quality CT scans are used to differentiate between NMR-16642, Morphotype 1a, and the large species of Pachycetus, Morphotype 1b. Another aim of this paper is to investigate the inner structure and vascularity of the study vertebra and that of the other morphotypes (1b, 2, 3) from this area by using high-quality CT scans. Notwithstanding differences in size, shape and compactness, the vertebral inner structure with a multi-layered cortex of periosteal bone, surrounding two cones of endosteal bone appears to be basically similar in all morphotypes. Apparently, this inner structure reflects the ontogenetic vertebral growth. An attempt to reconstruct the vascularity of the vertebrae reveals a remarkable pattern of interconnected vascular systems. From the dorsal and, if present, ventral foramina, vascular canals are running to a central vascular node. From this node a system of vascular canals goes to the epiphyseal ends, giving rise to separate systems for cortex and cones. It is the first time that the vascularity of vertebrae of archaeocetes is investigated.

Bohai Bay is a typical area of global change research in East Asia, due to its unique geographical location and shallow water environment. In this paper, we present the results of a study of grain-size, geochemistry, pollen and algae of a middle to late Holocene sediment core from Haixing wetland, which located on the west coast of Bohai Bay. The results show that: 1) Prior to 6700 cal a B.P., the content of Cl, Sr/Ca ratio were the highest, end-member analysis of grain size suggested EM2 were dominant, which is characteristic of marine sediment and the concentrations of Pediastrum and Typha (indicating a freshwater environment) pollen were lowest, overall indicating the maximum of relative sea level; 2) During 6700–5000 cal a B.P., and the Ti and K contents, EM1 (lacustrine sedimentary component) increased substantially, EM2 decreased, and EM3 (fluvial sedimentary component) began to appear. The concentrations of Pediastrum , Dinophyceae and Typha pollen began to increase. All these indicating that the relative sea level began to fall and the study area became a lagoon environment; 3) During 5000–3500 cal a B.P. the Ti and K content increased further; EM1 was dominant, EM2 was rare, indicating that the relative sea level decreased further and the lagoon gradually became enclosed; 4) After 3500 cal a B.P., the Ti content reached its maximum and the Cl content and Sr/Ca ratio decreased to their lowest levels. EM1 was dominant and EM2 was virtually absent; dinoflagellate cysts almost disappeared and there was large increase of Typha pollen, indicating the complete exclusion of a marine influence during most of this period. However, during 2500–2000 cal a B.P. the Cl and the Sr/Ca ratio increased slightly once again, indicating a transient transgression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, pre-Quaternary palynology expanded at a phenomenal rate due largely to the exponential increase in the use of palynomorphs as marker fossils by the oil and gas industry worldwide (Woods [34]; Wilson [32]). Alternatively, there may be early-career researchers, or research students, who have a pressing need to know the state of the art on, for example, Devonian spores or Paleogene/Neogene dinoflagellate cysts. Early Palaeozoic spores, Mississippian and Pennsylvanian pollen/spores, Paleogene dinoflagellate cysts and Neogene pollen are examples of these. [Extracted from the article]

Mesozoic-Cenozoic organic-walled dinoflagellate cyst (dinocyst) biostratigraphy is a crucial tool for relative and numerical age control in complex ancient sedimentary systems. However, stratigraphic ranges of dinocysts are found to be strongly diachronous geographically. A global compilation of state-of-the-art calibrated regional stratigraphic ranges could assist in quantifying regional differences and evaluate underlying causes. DINOSTRAT (Bijl, 2023a; Bijl, 2023b) is an open source, iterative, community-fed database intended to house all regional chronostratigraphic calibrations of dinocyst events DINOSTRAT version 2.0-GTS2020 includes >9,450 entries of first and last occurrences (collectively called "events") of >2,040 dinocyst taxa, and their absolute ties are now updated to the chronostratigraphic timescale of Gradstein et al., 2020. Entries are derived from 211 publications and 209 sedimentary sections. DINOSTRAT interpolates paleolatitudes of regional dinocyst events, allowing evaluation of the paleolatitudinal variability of dinocyst event ages. DINOSTRAT allows for open accessibility and searchability, on region, age, and taxon. This paper presents a selection of the data in DINOSTRAT: (1) the (paleo)latitudinal spread and evolutionary history of modern dinocyst species; (2) the evolutionary patterns and paleolatitudinal spread of dinocyst (sub)families; (3) a selection of key dinocyst events which are particularly synchronous. Although several dinocysts show - at the resolution of their calibration - quasi-synchronous event ages, indeed many species have remarkable diachroneity. DINOSTRAT provides the data storage approach by which the community can now start to relate diachroneity to (1) inadequate tie to chronostratigraphic timescales; (2) complications in taxonomic concepts and (3) ocean connectivity and/or the affinities of taxa to environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of the remaining living links with two early Scandinavian researchers, the author examines their contribution to Bill Evitt's breakthrough that launched the development of fossil dinoflagellate cysts into palynology. Evitt, in the early 1960s, revealed that many fossil hystrichospheres were in fact dinoflagellate cysts. Trygve Braarud, a Norwegian phytoplankton biologist, and Gunnar Erdtman, a Swedish palynologist, collaborated in 1954 to identify the first examples of living hystrichospheres as dinoflagellate cysts. This and a related study by the Norwegian Erling Nordli provided important evidence for Evitt's breakthrough in 1961, but the wider palynological literature does not yet reflect the full significance of the Scandinavian work. Copies of correspondence between Braarud and Erdtman reproduced here together with the author's personal observations help to clarify the extent to which this earlier work influenced the breakthrough. The Scandinavians were not aware at the time of the wider significance of their work for palynology, realized only later through Evitt's perception. Reexamining this Scandinavian connection now therefore in no way detracts from Evitt's pivotal role in launching 'dinos' into palynology. This example from palynology shows details of how exciting breakthroughs in science often happen, as work in separate but related fields is coalesced into a larger, more significant concept. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper by Williams et al. (2015) concerning a proposed taxonomic revision of the subfamily Wetzelielloideae has led to a comment by Bijl et al. (2016) that questions the validity of our assumptions regarding recognition of the equiepeliform, latiepeliform, hyperepeliform and soleiform archaeopyle types and their significance at the generic level. In this response we address the points that they raise, which are: the introduction of taxonomic criteria allegedly not followed in other fossil subfamilies; the erection of too many taxa; the unworkable nature of the proposed classification; and the reduction of stratigraphic applicability of many significant marker species. We have organised our response under the following topics: pragmatism versus theory; generic criteria: intergroup consistency; the genusApectodiniumand operculum attachment; stratigraphic utility; the number of taxa; and recognition problems. We also discuss specimens illustrated in the two plates included with the comment. The variations in archaeopyle shapes and types of attachment of the operculum (the latter concept has been modified following more recent research) that we have used in part to separate the genera within the Wetzelielloideae have been previously applied to other peridiniacean subfamilies, most notably the Deflandreoideae. As with that subfamily, we consider that our focus on archaeopyle shape and operculum attachment for differentiating wetzelielloidean genera introduces an approach that may help refine the stratigraphic ranges of individual species. While it is a fundamental truth that there are no ‘correct’ taxonomic ideas, we consider that new approaches should be tested with usage over time, not rejected out of hand prior to careful study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Barents Sea region of Arctic Norway preserves a thick succession of marine and deltaic Triassic strata that yield an abundant and diverse association of terrestrial and marine palynomorphs. Despite being the principal means for dating and correlation across this vast region, the Upper Triassic palynozonal resolution has remained relatively low. This is problematic due to the thickness of the Upper Triassic Series and since this corresponds to the longest of the three Triassic epochs. This paper presents a refined Middle–Upper Triassic palynozonation for the region, based on a detailed investigation of multiple localities ranging from the Svalbard Archipelago to the southern Barents Sea. The zonation comprises eleven spore-pollen zones: the Carnisporites spiniger, Triadispora obscura and Protodiploxypinus decus zones (Anisian), the Echinitosporites iliacoides Zone (Ladinian), the Semiretisporis hochulii, Podosporites vigraniae, Leschikisporis aduncus, and Protodiploxypinus spp. zones (Carnian), the Classopollis torosus, and Quadraeculina anellaeformis zones (Norian), and the Ricciisporites spp. Zone (Rhaetian). Additionally, two new dinoflagellate cyst zones are defined: the Rhaetogonyaulax arctica (upper Carnian – lower Norian) and Rhaetogonyaulax rhaetica (lower Norian) zones. Three new age-significant palynomorph taxa are described: Kyrtomisporis moerki sp. nov., Podosporites vigraniae sp. nov. and Semiretisporis hochulii sp. nov. The revised palynozonation is compared with previous palynozonal schemes for the Greater Barents Sea region, and its relationship to Triassic palaeoclimate, palaeoenvironments and sequence stratigraphy is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the formal description of Impagidinium obscurum sp. nov. from the Thanetian strata of northwest Europe. The palaeogeographic distribution of this species covers a wide area, ranging from the North Sea to the Barents Sea. Palynologists working in the region have long referred to Impagidinium obscurum sp. nov. as Leptodinium? 'obscurum' and used it as an important intra-Paleocene marker species. The informal specific name was with reference to the incompletely defined tabulation of the cyst. However, although the tabulation is often obscured by the dense folding of the walls, the cyst tabulation formula has been partly deciphered in this work, based on the organisation of sutural crests in exceptionally well-preserved specimens, which allows confident attribution to the genus Impagidinium. This species is restricted to the 'early' Thanetian and is associated with diverse dinoflagellate cyst assemblages which include Alisocysta margarita and Areoligera gippingensis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The organic-walled dinoflagellate cyst Molassedinium bicornutum gen. et sp. nov. described in this paper is recorded in the Oligocene (Rupelian) organic-rich sediments of the Eggerding Formation from the North Alpine Foreland Basin (Molasse Basin), Austria. It was discovered within a diverse and well-preserved dinoflagellate cyst assemblage. It is a gonyaulacacean (leptodinioidean) holocavate cyst with distinctive apical and antapical ectophragmal horns and an apical archaeopyle. The current stratigraphic range of the taxon is restricted to the Rupelian. It may constitute a potentially important regional stratigraphic marker for high-resolution age control. It is associated with a dinoflagellate cyst assemblage indicating inner–outer neritic and nutrient-rich environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geoffrey Norris, a respected researcher in the field of palynology, made significant contributions to various areas of study throughout his career. He conducted important research on freshwater dinoflagellate cysts in Minnesota and Neogene dinoflagellates of the Atlantic coastal plain. Norris also collaborated with researchers in Germany and Venezuela, where he conducted fieldwork and contributed to the Venezuelan oil industry. Later in his career, Norris worked as a consultant for the petroleum industry and became involved in environmental issues, particularly concerning rising sea levels and harmful algal blooms. He mentored numerous students and associates, many of whom went on to successful careers. Norris is remembered for his warmth, kindness, and infectious laugh. [Extracted from the article]

The results of a palynological study of the middle Eocene-lowermost Oligocene strata of the Shagap and Landzhar outcrop sections (southern Armenia) are presented. A series of stratigraphically important dinoflagellate cyst events were recognized in the uppermost Lutetian-lowermost Rupelian parts of the sections, including the lowermost occurrences of the key-species Rhombodinium draco, Schematophora speciosa, Hemiplacophora semilunifera, Hapsocysta kysingensis, Thalassiphora? cf. rota, Rhombodinium porosum, Glaphyrocysta semitecta, Reticulatosphaera actinocoronata, Stoveracysta ornata-group and Wetzeliella gochtii. Based on the first-order calibrations with calcareous nannoplankton and foraminifers, R. draco first occurs at the Lutetian-Bartonian transition, while the lowermost occurrence of R. actinocoronata is very close to the Bartonian-Priabonian boundary. The analysis of the ratios of palynogroups and dinoflagellate eco-groups permits to interpret the environmental conditions during the accumulation of regional formations: (1) a major marine transgression started at the beginning of the Lutetian and the gradual deepening of the marine basin occurred during the middle-late Lutetian (Arpa Formation); (2) the marine transgression, accompanied by deepening, continued during the early Bartonian, but towards the end of the Bartonian slightly shallower depositional conditions were established (Azatek Formation); (3) the sea continued to gradually become shallower during the Priabonian (Urtsadzor Formation) and, finally, the maximum of regression was observed at the Eocene-Oligocene transition, ending with the establishment of brackish environments at the beginning of Rupelian (Shagap Formation). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protoperidinium claudicans is a planktonic, heterotrophic, bioluminescent dinoflagellate species commonly found in neritic waters. It has long been considered to display phenotypic variation in its second anterior intercalary plate, which could vary between quadra, penta and hexa. The equivalent spinose, cordate cyst goes under the name of Votadinium spinosum. Here we perform incubation experiments with cysts from France, Canada, China and Japan, which demonstrate that P. claudicans forms a species complex, with at least two ribotypes with a penta configuration (P. claudicans) and one with a quadra configuration (P. carriae sp. nov.). A fossil-based cyst, V. multispinosum sp. nov., is described as the equivalent of P. carriae. Molecular phylogenetics using large subunit ribosomal DNA supports these observations. The cyst–theca relationships for Votadinium psilodora and another, undescribed, cordate, spineless Votadinium species are also reported from China. Macromolecular analyses of the cyst wall of V. multispinosum reveal it is comprised of a protein-rich carbohydrate compound. We show that this compound is not uncommon in dinoflagellate and ciliate cysts and that it is unlikely to preserve very well upon sedimentation and burial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The almost complete, mainly deltaic, upper Paleogene and Neogene succession in Jylland, Denmark, was previously investigated for 87Sr/86Sr ratios in 143 samples from 18 localities. In the present paper, strontium-isotope data from the Upper Oligocene-Lower Miocene parts and foraminiferal and pyritised diatoms data from 94 of these samples were used to correlate with previously published data from Norwegian wells and boreholes and one borehole in the British sector of the North Sea. For the Middle-Upper Miocene parts of the succession the correlation is based mainly on Bolboforma data. The ages of the geological formations in the Danish succession correlate readily with lithological units in the Norwegian North Sea, the Norwegian Sea shelf and the East Shetland Platform, which have all been investigated applying similar methods. The Bolboforma assemblages have their origin in the North Atlantic and the Norwegian Sea and confirm the presence of an open strait in the northern North Sea. This strait was the only seaway passage into the North Sea Basin during the Miocene. The glauconitic Utsira Formation sand (approximately 5.7-4.2 Ma), in the threshold area close to the outlet to the Norwegian Sea, overlies erosional unconformities comprising hiati of 21 my in some areas and 13 my in other areas. We believe that the unconformity below the Utsira Formation was mainly related to a fall in sea level in the Late Miocene, contemporaneous with that partly responsible for the Messinian salinity crisis. Bolboforma and dinoflagellate cysts stratigraphy indicate that the base of the Molo Formation in its southern distribution area (Draugen Field, Trøndelag Platform) is of Late Miocene age (close to 9 Ma). This part of the Molo Formation was contemporaneous with the middle/upper part of the Kai Formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the framework of cooperation between the Austrian Geological Survey which has financially supported field works, Czech Geological Survey and the Institute of Geology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, v. v. i., a multidisciplinary research of Mesozoic deposits has been carried out by authors of this paper over the last thirty years in the Northern Calcareous Alps including the Gosau Group. Although the biostratigraphy is here based on macrofauna, the microfossils helped to clarify both relative age of deposits and their paleoenvironment. The "Gosau of Wörschach-Liezen" is situated in the mountain ranges north of the Enns valley (Fig. 1) between the village of Wörschach and the district town Liezen in Styria (Steiermark). This area of the Northern Calcareous Alps is tectonically strongly disturbed and only isolated outcrops of Gosau Group sediments of the Coniacian to Paleogene age overlay the Triassic carbonate rocks (Fig. 2). The lower part of the Gosau Group sequence is represented by several hundreds of meters thick conglomerates of the Kreuzgraben Formation with isolated intercalations of bedded sandstones and grey sandy marls, which Pober (1984) called the "Schneckengraben Formation". Sediments locally show a rich but poorly preserved brackish and/or marine macrofauna, that provides only insufficient stratigraphic data. Janoschek (1968) and Pober (1984) report finds of the ammonite Protexanites bourgeoisi (De Grossouvre), which confirm the Upper Coniacian age. Wille- Janoschek in Janoschek (1968) mentioned in the washed material indeterminable Robuli, miliolids, ostracods, small gastropods, bivalves, echinoderms, fish teeth and coal particles. However, Pober (l.c.) did not investigate any microfossils. Detailed studies of microfauna, palynomorphs and calcareous nannofossils provided further stratigraphic and paleoenvironmental data. Samples WW1-WW5 taken at the classic locality "Schneckengraben" and its surrounding outcrops are represented mostly by green-grey sandy claystones and grey marlstones. Samples WW2, WW3 and WW5 provided tests of foraminifers. Relatively rich benthic foraminifers with Gaudryina pyramidata, G. rugosa, Tritaxia tricarinata, Lenticulina sp., Stensioeina exsculpta, Quadrimorphina allomorphinoides, and Dorothia conula were observed only in sample WW5. Sample WW3 contains scarce foraminifers of genera Quinqueloculina and Spirillina that tolerate possible changes in water salinity. Minor and poorly preserved calcareous nannofossils of an amount of 1-3 fragments per 10 fields of view of the microscope were found in samples WW1, WW2 and WW5. Species Micula staurophora, zone UC10 indicates the Middle Coniacian age. Presence of nannofossils confirms the marine environment. The majority of collected sediments (samples WW1-WW4) included numerous well-preserved phytoclasts of yellow, brown and black color shades, palynomorphs with the predominance of angiosperm pollen of the Normapolles group, small reticulate tricolpates, fern spores, conifer pollen, fragments of dinoflagellate cysts, and acritarchs. Some palynomorphs were filled with pyrite crystals that resulted in their corrosion. Genus Oculopollis (Fig. 3-1) proves the Coniacian-Maastrichtian age. Palynomorphs were not found in sample WW5. If present, both foraminifers and calcareous nannofossils prove the Coniacian. Palynomorphs from WW1 and WW2 samples correspond to the Coniacian age, while those from WW3 and WW4 samples point to a wider stratigraphic range - the Senonian. The occurrence of Micula staurophora (Fig. 4-1, 2) indicates the nannoplankton zone UC10, the base of which is corellated with the Middle Coniacian (Burnett 1998). The presence of microfossils implies a shallow sea of common salinity near the land. Benthic foraminifers and nannofossils, and the absence of palynomorphs in WW5 sample show a deeper marine environment. An exception represents sample WW4 where only sporomorphs were found. Green algae Chomotriletes minor (Fig. 3-3) emphasize here fresh waters and swamps. Based on these data, the paleoenvironment can be interpreted as a shallow water near the land with fluctuating salinity and/or a gradual sea water level rising (Fig. 5). The presence of freshwater algae Chomotriletes together with dinocysts of genus Chatangiella occurring in shallow marine environment, and pollen grains Classopollis classoides characterizing the marshes deposits support the coastal waters. The above interpretations point to a marine transgression. Stratigraphic age: Middle Coniacian with possible extension to the Santonian. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the stratigraphic distribution and taxonomy of 62 dinoflagellate cyst species found in 85 samples from early Turonian strata exposed at Votorantim Quarry in northeastern Brazil. The early Turonian age assignment is based on calcareous nannofossils together with the organic-walled dinoflagellate cysts Cribroperidinium muderongense, Canningia reticulata, Florentinia resex, Impletosphaeridium williamsii, Kallosphaeridium? ringnesiorum, Trichodinium boltenhagenii and Xenascus plotei, which are commonly found in early Turonian strata. The genera Subtilisphaera and Palaeohystrichophora are emended, Palaeohystrichophora cheit is reassigned to Subtilisphaera cheit, and is considered a senior synonym of Palaeohystrichophora palaeoinfusa. Canningia reticulata is regarded as a senior synonym of Canningia senonica, and Subtilisphaera pirnaensis is regarded as a separate species from Subtilisphaera perlucida, because morphological characteristics can be used to distinguish them. In this study many cosmopolitan species were found, but we could also observe species with tethyan affinities, such as S. cheit and X. plotei. These species have restricted geographic distribution around the equator and are common in the Cenomanian to Turonian in both hemispheres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Palyno-biostratigraphical studies of upper Albian-Lower Cenomanian successions from East Greenland, the south-western Barents Sea and south-eastern England have revealed new dinoflagellate cyst taxa of clear or questioned ovoidinioid affinities. This paper describes the new genus Sindridinium, four new species - Ovoidinium epelidosphaeroides sp. nov., Epelidosphaeridia manifesta sp. nov., Sindridinium borealis gen. et sp. nov. and Sindridinium anaanae gen. et sp. nov. - and proposes a new combination, Sindridinium? torulosa comb. nov. (formerly Canningia torulosa). The genus Epelidosphaeridia is emended based on features seen in E. manifesta sp. nov., which demonstrate peridiniacean affinities and support inclusion in the Ovoidinioideae. Morphological gradations between Epelidosphaeridia spinosa, E. manifesta sp. nov. and Ovoidinium epelidosphaeroides sp. nov., suggest close phylogenetic relationships, also postulated between Sindridinium? torulosa comb. nov., S. borealis gen. et sp. nov. and S. anaanae gen. et sp. nov. The stratigraphic ranges of the taxa described are calibrated to known dinoflagellate markers and mid-Cretaceous ammonites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A high-resolution palynological study of a recently acquired core from the southern part of the Ormen Lange field (Norway) over the Danian-aged reservoir interval revealed rich, diverse and well-preserved palynomorph assemblages. Review of these assemblages has allowed the opportunity to formally describe some dinoflagellate cysts previously left in open nomenclature and others recognised for the first time in this well. We propose in this paper the formal description of 10 new species: Achomosphaera eggadania sp. nov., Achomosphaera progranulata sp. nov., Areoligera constricta sp. nov., Areoligera pauciornata sp. nov., Deflandrea variabilis sp. nov., Eurydinium ovatum sp. nov., Glaphyrocysta pseudoreticulata sp. nov., Hystrichosphaeridium pachydermum sp. nov., Operculodinium runtata sp. nov. and Phthanoperidinium ormenlangei sp. nov. All the key diagnostic and morphological features of each species are discussed and compared with those of other forms outside and within the same genera. The new species presented all range throughout the Danian (Early Paleocene) and can be used in conjunction with other previously published markers to support and enhance the stratigraphic breakdown and subdivision of the reservoir interval across the Ormen Lange field, and potentially other areas in the North Sea basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a summary of two round-table discussions held during two subsequent workshops in Montreal (Canada) on 16 April 2014 and Ostend (Belgium) on 8 July 2015. Five species of the genus Achomosphaera Evitt 1963 and 33 of the genus Spiniferites Mantell 1850 emend. Sarjeant 1970 occuring in Pliocene to modern sediments are listed and briefly described along with remarks made by workshop participants. In addition, several holotypes and topotypes are reillustrated. Three species previously assigned to Spiniferites are here considered/accepted as belonging to other genera: Impagidinium inaequalis (Wall and Dale in Wall et al. 1973) Londeix et al. 2009, Spiniferites? rubinus (Rossignol 1962 ex Rossignol 1964) Sarjeant 1970, and Thalassiphora balcanica Balteş 1971. This summary forms the basis for a set of papers that follows, where points raised during the workshops are explored in greater detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integration of late Quaternary continental and marine proxies allows improved reconstruction of palaeoenvironment and palaeoclimates models for the south-eastern coast of Brazil. In this paper, we analyse pollen, fern spores, and dinoflagellate cysts in a marine sediment core (GL74) over the last ∼109 kyr. Results showed that, between 109 and 89.5 kyr, low sea levels promoted the expansion of herbaceous taxa across open areas while climatic conditions were relatively warm and humid, as indicated by the high frequency of Atlantic rainforest Ombrophilous forest pollen types and abundant of fern spores. Between ∼79–49 kyr, higher concentrations of palynomorphs were recorded, which were likely related to the low relative sea level during the last glacial period. During this interval, there was a decrease in tree pollen grains and an increase in shrub and herbaceous pollen grains, indicating cold and relatively dry weather conditions. In the Holocene period, the low deposition of palynomorphs may have been influenced by the gradual submergence of the central part of the Brazilian coast. This process was associated with warm and humid climatic conditions, as suggested by the expansion of rainforests and the presence of hygrophyte/aquatic taxa and fern spores, as well as the retraction of grassland pollen types. Dinocyst assemblages suggest that nutrient-rich waters and/or the presence of upwelling cells were dominant between ∼109–88 kyr, but gradually reduced between 88 and 65 kyr (and/or ∼ 88–20 kyr) under the influence of subtropical fronts. The study culminated in the dominance of unproductive warm water in the upper column between 65 and 0.5 kyr. • Correlation of continental and marine proxies in south-eastern Brazil during the late Quaternary Late • Quaternary dynamics of the South Atlantic Ocean based on dinocysts • Reconstruction of palaeovegetation and palaeoclimate for the last ∼109 kyr along the southeast coast of Brazil [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coastal area of Qinhuangdao, particularly the Changli Gold Coast Nature Reserve, is experiencing ecological degradation and frequent Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs). This study focuses on the changing phytoplankton communities in these coastal waters, examining them from both a macroscopic and microscopic perspective. Utilizing microscopy, molecular techniques, and pigment analysis, seasonal shifts were observed, with diatoms predominating in June and July, and dinoflagellates in August. Our morphological examination enabled the classification of 89 species into four distinct groups. The species Paralia sulcata and Pseudo-nitzschia pungens were most abundant in early summer, while Tripos furca, a dinoflagellate, dominated in August. This indicates a shift in phytoplankton communities due to environmental factors such as phosphate deficiency and high nitrogen/phosphorus ratios. Additionally, the study notes the impact of reduced river runoff and reintroduction of scallop farming contributing to nitrogen-rich eutrophication in August. Molecular analysis revealed a disparity between microscopic observations and the prevalence of Teleaulax blooms during early summer. Elevated concentrations of TN and DOC, coupled with limited water exchange, emerged as primary factors contributing to their occurrence. Sediment analysis revealed a high diversity but low abundance of dinoflagellates in August, with a significant presence of harmful species. The study highlights the shift from diatoms to harmful dinoflagellate populations, exacerbated by eutrophication and pollution, leading to HABs. These findings provide a theoretical basis for understanding toxic algal blooms and are crucial for environmental agencies in developing strategies to protect and sustainably develop offshore environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This contribution marks the achievements made in the past decades by a group of mainly Egyptian palynologists. The data generated covers a long-time span from the Precambrian to the Holocene of Egypt. Previously published results are devoted primarily to the study of many exploration wells and outcrop sections. Comprehensive studies were carried out on a range of palynomorph groups including spores and pollen, algae and prasinophytes, dinoflagellate cysts, acritarchs, scolecodonts, chitinozoans, and other miscellaneous forms as well as palynofacies. Particular attention is given to the history of palaeopalynology. This study has identified three main phases. The results of the first phase were limited, as the knowledge of palynology in Egypt was poorly known from 1959 until 1979. Between 1980 and 2000, which represents the second or shaping phase, an intensive study of surface and subsurface material was carried out. The third phase (2000 until now) provides the academic and commercial expansion of palynological research in Egypt, where palynology can have immediate application in petroleum exploration studies. In the first phase, the application of palynology was seriously hampered by the limited extent of the published data. Only 27 works emerged by the end of 1979. A considerable acceleration was noted in the second phase when palynological research was established in many national institutions and started to play a considerable role in petroleum exploration. Beyond academia, some of the operating oil companies started to set up palynological laboratories and staff as part of biostratigraphy teams. These included, for example, GPC, Khalda Petroleum Company with a focus on the north Western Desert, and GUPCO with a focus on the Gulf of Suez, and most of the results obtained were incorporated with the internal data on the well files. During the period 2000–2009, especially when palynofacies studies were incorporated, the progress and the direction of palynological research changed. This allowed for a more accurate reconstruction of the depositional process and eventually a palaeobiogeographical history mainly for the Cretaceous, which is an important target for hydrocarbon exploration in Egypt. From 2010 onwards, the number of publications has clearly grown and reached 23 publications in 2020. Such a high pace of development seems to have been at the expense of basic research comprising taxonomy and biostratigraphy, something that might negatively impact the quality of research and also researchers, especially early career researchers. The change brought about through this phase by integrating organic geochemistry, sedimentology, and other disciplines may, however, have left a positive impact, principally in terms of international collaborations and expansion of palynological applications beyond the standard academic cluster. Important highlights and outputs, and prospective forthcoming developments and recommendations pertaining to Egyptian palynology generally (and in each phase) are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cyst-defined extant Spiniferites elongatus Reid 1974 and Spiniferites membranaceus (Rossignol 1964) Sarjeant 1970 are environmentally significant fossil-species of the Quaternary, the former often dominating polar and subpolar assemblages. Following cyst incubation experiments and the establishment of cultures, these species were emended to incorporate information on their motile stages, and transferred to the non-fossil genus Gonyaulax Diesing 1866, as Gonyaulax elongata (Reid 1974) Ellegaard et al. 2003 and Gonyaulax membranacea (Rossignol 1964) Ellegaard et al. 2003. This unified approach to dinoflagellate nomenclature severs an important link with the fossil-genus Spiniferites Mantell 1850. We have applied dual nomenclature, as sanctioned by the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi and plants, in returning these species to their previous assignments as Spiniferites elongatus and Spiniferites membranaceus, and we propose Gonyaulax ovum (Gaarder 1954) comb. nov., emend. and Gonyaulax lewisiae sp. nov., respectively, as their equivalent non-fossil species. A distinctive morphotype initially described as Rottnestia amphicavata var. amphicavata Dobell & Norris in Harland et al. 1980 is proposed as Spiniferites elongatus forma amphicavata stat. nov. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]