Permian and Triassic Palynostratigraphy of the Central Transantarctic Mountains

该奖项支持为横贯北极山脉中部的二叠纪至三叠纪沉积岩建立孢粉地层格架的项目。这将有助于为南极研究提供年代地层学参考。孢粉形态数据还可以增加二叠纪和三叠纪植物群的组成知识，并具有重要的生物地理和古气候意义。这项研究将给出南部高纬度生物和气候变化的时间和性质的更清晰的图景，这对于理解二叠纪末全球生物危机和大灭绝的原因和影响至关重要。这项工作将集中在沙克尔顿冰川地区，包括一个采集样本的野外季节和两年的实验室工作。现有的岩石收集以及在沙克尔顿冰川地区工作的其他地质学家收集的样本也将被用来获得尽可能完整的地层剖面。将与冈瓦那其他部分进行对比，并将孢粉数据与其他化石和岩性数据相结合，以建立健全的、与过程有关的地层格架。野外工作将重点放在维多利亚群(Beacon Supergroup)的冰后沉积单元：Mackella组、费尔柴尔德组、Fremuw组和Falla组及其对应的地层。除了略微微咸水的内海Mackella层外，该序列由河流和湖泊沉积组成。这些岩石中的孢粉几乎完全是来自陆地植物的孢子和花粉，偶尔会有无孢原。该分区将建立在先前为维多利亚南部土地设立的初步分区的基础上，并使之正规化。化石孢子和花粉组合可以指示它们的母植物，从而至少反映了土著植被的一部分。这些信息可以添加到其他植物化石(树叶、木材等)和古土壤数据中，用于古气候解释。某些孢粉分类群(和组合)具有特定的生物地理或环境含义。此外，孢粉形态的地层和地理分布模式提供了有关进化趋势和速率、植物区系的地域性和扩散途径的信息。

This award supports a project to establish a palynostratigraphic framework for the Permian to Triassic sedimentary rocks of the central Transantarctic Mountains. This will help provide a chronostratigraphic reference for Antarctic studies. Palynomorph data can also add to knowledge of the composition of the Permian and Triassic floras and has important biogeographic and paleoclimatic implications. This research will give a clearer picture of the timing and nature of southern high latitude biotic and climatic changes which are vital for understanding causes and effects of the end- Permian global biotic crisis and mass extinctions. This work will concentrate on the Shackleton Glacier area and includes one field season to collect samples and two years of laboratory work. Existing rock collections as well as samples collected by other geologists working in the Shackleton Glacier region will also be utilized to obtain as complete a stratigraphic section as possible. Correlations will be made with other parts of Gondwana and palynological data will be integrated with other fossil and lithologic data to establish a sound, process related stratigraphic framework. Field work will focus on the post-glacial sedimentary units of the Victoria Group (Beacon Supergroup): the Mackellar, Fairchild, Fremouw, and Falla Formations, and their equivalents. Except for marginally brackish, inland-sea Mackellar beds, the succession consists of fluvial and lacustrine deposits. Palynomorphs in these rocks are almost entirely spores and pollen from land plants, with occasional acritarchs. The zonation will build upon and formalize the preliminary zonation established previously for southern Victoria Land. Fossil spore and pollen assemblages can indicate their parent plants and thus reflect at least part of the indigenous vegetation. This information can be added to other plant fossil (leaves, wood, et cetera) and paleosol data for paleoclimatic interpretations. Certain p alynomorph taxa (and assemblages) have specific biogeographical or environmental implications. Furthermore, stratigraphic and geographic distribution patterns of the palynomorphs yield information on evolutionary trends and rates, provincialism of the floras, and dispersal pathways.