Palynological Analysis of Surface Sediments in a High Arctic Pond, Revealing Desmids as Indicators of Wetlands and Climate Change

Abstract This is a first attempt to study the palynological remains from the surface sediments of a pond near the Kongsfjorden coast in Ny-Alesund, Svalbard, Norway. The palynomorphs display a high relative abundance of desmids, Cladocera, thecamoebians, chironomids, and fungal remains inherent to t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Transylvanian Review of Systematical and Ecological Research
Main Authors: Singh, Vartika, Barinova, Sophia
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Walter de Gruyter GmbH 2022
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Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/trser-2022-0001
https://www.sciendo.com/pdf/10.2478/trser-2022-0001
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Summary:Abstract This is a first attempt to study the palynological remains from the surface sediments of a pond near the Kongsfjorden coast in Ny-Alesund, Svalbard, Norway. The palynomorphs display a high relative abundance of desmids, Cladocera, thecamoebians, chironomids, and fungal remains inherent to the inland aquatic ecosystem. The Cosmarium indicators characterize water as neutral pH, fresh, mesotrophic, without organic pollution, Class 2 of Water Quality as in wetlands with coastal vegetation. The single procedure of palynological analysis excluding the acetolysis step, and bioindicators allows us to perceive the basic framework of the ecosystem, consisting of in-situ and transported remains. This approach could be effectively used for paleoenvironmental reconstructions in High Arctic Regions.