Since a few decades, palynologists not only consider pollen grains and bryophytes and pteridophytes spores in palynological samples, but also any other kind of micro-fossil preserved. Such rests \u2013 called non-pollen palynomorphs \u2013 come from various origin. Most of them are fungal remains or algae, but there are also plant and animal remains, dinoflagellates, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
I’m often asked how to identify them. There is unfortunately no universal method. Bas van Geel, who initiated their systematic identification in the University of Amsterdam, compiled thousands of photographs<\/strong> in a lab book, that you can download here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A nice document to keep together with this lab book is the paper of Antonella Miola<\/a>, published in 2012 in Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology. It provides an updated list for most of NPPs described in van Geel’s lab book, as well as a few more, and names assigned to more NPPs than previously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n