Identifying and naming non-pollen palynomorphs
Abstract
Palynological slides usually contain numerous remains of fungi, algae, plants, and animals, collectively referred to non-pollen palynomorphs (NPP). Even experienced palynologists often struggle to identify all of these palynomorphs or decide how they should be labelled in a way that ensures clarity and comparability across studies. We synthesise existing approaches to studying NPPs with particular emphasis on their definition, identification, and nomenclature. We demonstrate a conceptual broadening of the term “non-pollen palynomorphs”, which has direct consequences for both identification and naming practices. NPPs in pollen slides are considered as morphological entities (morphs), defined here as the specific morphological characteristics of a microfossil that has undergone fossilisation and/or laboratory treatment. Combining existing morph-based frameworks (dinocysts, pollen, chironomids, fungi and the NPP type-number approach), we propose a hybrid system for treating NPPs. It relies on the morphology of NPPs and can be taxon- and/or life stage-independent, but incorporates relationships between NPPs and biological taxa whenever possible. The proposed conceptual framework and practical recommendations should reduce ambiguity in taxonomy and nomenclature and facilitate the harmonisation of NPP data across studies and palaeoecological databases. Overall, it is intended as a starting point for broader discussion within the community and should encourage palynologists to pay attention to these common but largely ignored constituents.
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BibTeX
@article{сергеевна2026identifying,
title = {{Identifying and naming non-pollen palynomorphs}},
author = {Шумиловских Людмила Сергеевна and Julia Gravendyck and Frank Schlütz and Marcelina Zimny and Vlada Batalova and Monika Karpińska‐Kołaczek and Suzanne A.G. Leroy and Bruna Ilde Menozzi and Lionello F. Morandi and Laura Gedminienė and Jordi Revelles and David Hawksworth and Patricia E.J. Wiltshire and Fabienne Marret and Francine M.G. McCarthy and Steffen Wolters and Jan Hinkelman and Stefan Engels and Jennifer M.K. O’Keefe and Gražyna Kluczynska and Nataliia Iakovenko and Ayaka Nguyen and Koraljka Bakrač and Donya Danesh and Morteza Djamali A and James B. Innés and Pim de Klerk and Encarni Montoya A and Md. Firoze Quamar and Thomas Giesecke},
journal = {Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology},
year = {2026},
month = jun,
doi = {10.1016/j.revpalbo.2026.105645},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.revpalbo.2026.105645},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Identifying and naming non-pollen palynomorphs
AU - Шумиловских Людмила Сергеевна
AU - Julia Gravendyck
AU - Frank Schlütz
AU - Marcelina Zimny
AU - Vlada Batalova
AU - Monika Karpińska‐Kołaczek
AU - Suzanne A.G. Leroy
AU - Bruna Ilde Menozzi
AU - Lionello F. Morandi
AU - Laura Gedminienė
AU - Jordi Revelles
AU - David Hawksworth
AU - Patricia E.J. Wiltshire
AU - Fabienne Marret
AU - Francine M.G. McCarthy
AU - Steffen Wolters
AU - Jan Hinkelman
AU - Stefan Engels
AU - Jennifer M.K. O’Keefe
AU - Gražyna Kluczynska
AU - Nataliia Iakovenko
AU - Ayaka Nguyen
AU - Koraljka Bakrač
AU - Donya Danesh
AU - Morteza Djamali A
AU - James B. Innés
AU - Pim de Klerk
AU - Encarni Montoya A
AU - Md. Firoze Quamar
AU - Thomas Giesecke
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/06/12
JO - Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology
DO - 10.1016/j.revpalbo.2026.105645
UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.revpalbo.2026.105645
AB - Palynological slides usually contain numerous remains of fungi, algae, plants, and animals, collectively referred to non-pollen palynomorphs (NPP). Even experienced palynologists often struggle to identify all of these palynomorphs or decide how they should be labelled in a way that ensures clarity and comparability across studies. We synthesise existing approaches to studying NPPs with particular emphasis on their definition, identification, and nomenclature. We demonstrate a conceptual broadening of the term “non-pollen palynomorphs”, which has direct consequences for both identification and naming practices. NPPs in pollen slides are considered as morphological entities (morphs), defined here as the specific morphological characteristics of a microfossil that has undergone fossilisation and/or laboratory treatment. Combining existing morph-based frameworks (dinocysts, pollen, chironomids, fungi and the NPP type-number approach), we propose a hybrid system for treating NPPs. It relies on the morphology of NPPs and can be taxon- and/or life stage-independent, but incorporates relationships between NPPs and biological taxa whenever possible. The proposed conceptual framework and practical recommendations should reduce ambiguity in taxonomy and nomenclature and facilitate the harmonisation of NPP data across studies and palaeoecological databases. Overall, it is intended as a starting point for broader discussion within the community and should encourage palynologists to pay attention to these common but largely ignored constituents.
SN - 0034-6667
SN - 1879-0615
ER -