Course Outline:

This intensive one week course is designed for palaeoecologists and environmental archaelogists beginning pollen analytical research. It provides a thorough grounding in basic practical pollen identifications, field and laboratory techniques, and the construction, zonation, and interpretation of pollen diagrams. The course consists of ten lectures and practical classes. Topics covered are:

1. field sampling and sediment description

2. laboratory techniques and preparation procedures

3. basic pollen morphology of common trees

4. principals of pollen analysis

5. basic pollen morphology of common shrubs, herbs etc.

6. pollen counting procedures and practical pollen counting)

7. construction and zonation of pollen diagrams

8. use of the computer programs TILIA and TILIA-GRAPH

9. introduction to the interpretation of pollen stratigraphical data

10. use of pollen-identification keys

Proposed Timetable:

Day1

Welcome and introduction
Principles of palaeoecology
Principles and methods of pollen analysis
Basic pollen structure
Use of reference collections and identification keys
Common pollen types (Practical)

Day 2

Coring and sediment description
Critical Pollen types - Populus/Juniperus/Taxus, Rumex, Plantago, cereasl, Humulus/Canabis
Common and critical pollen types (Practical)
Pollen counting theory

Day 3

Pollen diatram construction and zonation
Preparation and laboratory techniques
Demonstrations of sub-sampling and slide-making
Pollen counting (Practical)
Numerical techniques

Day 4

Interpretation of pollen-stratigraphical data I - flora, populations, communities
Pollen counting (Practical)
Use of TILIA, TILIA-GRAPH, (+ TRAN, ZONE) (Practical)

Day 5

Interpretation of pollen-stratigraphical data II - landscapes, environments, multidisciplinary approaches, modelling
Pollen counting (Practical)
Site selection, an ideal study

Conclusion

Assumed background knowledge:

The course assumes little of no prior knowledge of pollen analysis. Some familiarity with plant names would be helpful.

NERC Funding (UK students only)

Funding is available for NERC-supported PhD students to attend this course. Students should, in the first instance, contact the ECRC. Requests for funding from current NERC students must be submitted on form FE2 (from NERC) at least six weeks before the course. Course fees will be paid directly by The Natural Environment Research Council, Postgraduate Training & Fellowships, Polaris House, North Star Avenue, Swindon SN2 1EU. See: http://www.nerc.ac.uk/awards/shrtcrs.htm

Posted to the list QUATERNARY-L on 2 August, 99 by:
Catherine Dalton
Environmental Change Research Centre
University College London
26 Bedford Way
London WC1H 0AP
UK

Email: c.dalton@ucl.ac.uk
http://www.geog.ucl.ac.uk/ecrc/

Tel: + 44 (0) 171 380 7575
Fax: + 44 (0) 171 380 7565