Non-poll

In the world, as well as in Croatia, there is a great interest in paleoenvironmental and paleoclimate reconstruction through the study of past vegetation. If enough sporomorphs (spores, pollen) are present in the sediments, we can easily reconstruct climate and environments. However, in the absence of sporomorphs, the analysis of the remaining organic-walled microscopic remains i.e. palynofacies and non-pollen palynomorphs (NPP) can give also important clues for paleoenvironmental reconstruction. Palynofacies represents the total organic residue of sediments, while non-pollen palynomorphs (NPP) are microfossils of diverse origin (plants/animals/algae/fungi) found in palynological slides in the size of pollen grains (10–250 µm). Their association can indicate environmental conditions at the time of deposition and can be used as an indicator of anthropogenic influence. They are found in all types of sediments, from marine to terrestrial including cave sediments and archeological artefacts. The project will focus on the identification and interpretation of NPPs and palynofacies patterns from sedimentary successions and archeological material where the abundance of vascular plant remains was insufficient.