DATA SET OF POLLEN AND NON-POLLEN PALYNOMORPHS PRESERVED IN BALTIC AMBER FROM MAIG COLLECTION

1. With contribution of Laboratory of Evolutionary Entomology
and Museum of Amber Inclusions, Department of Invertebrate
Zoology and Parasitology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk.
Funded by UGrants – start, as part of a research project Palinoflora i palinomorfy
niepyłkowe bursztyny bałtyckiego jako wskaźnik zmian paleośrodowiska eoceńskich
„lasów bursztynowych” oraz model analizy tafocenoz żywic kopalnych.

2. Data set of pollen and non-
pollen palynomorphs
preserved in Baltic amber
from MAIG Collection
B. Bojarski*, J. Szwedo
Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Parasitology, Faculty of Biology,
University of Gdańsk, Poland
*blazej.bojarski@ug.edu.pl

3. Material and methods
• Selected 43 samples of Baltic amber from the
Collection of the Museum of Amber Inclusions
University of Gdańsk (MAIG) was used as research
material.
• The amber was cut, grind and polished to form tiles
with a width of about 1 mm. The next step was
searching and documentation. Each step was
performed by using the presented equipment (Fig 1.).
Fig. 1. Equipment used for material processing
and documentation.
A) Water-cooled, table saw with diamond blade.
B) Water-cooled, horizontal grinder (highest
gradation of diamond grinding discs).
C) Two water-cooled grinding machines
(different gradation of diamond discs).
D) Polishing machine.
E) Leica M.205A microscope with equipment.

4. Results
• Palynomorphs were found in 29 samples,
28 of them was cut into microscopic slides
(Fig. 2).
• False palynomorphs in form of air bubbles
were found in 14 samples (Fig. 3).
• Amber with flower inclusion wasn’t cut
into tiles.
Fig. 2. Selected material in
form of plates. Each box
represents one amber lump.
Fig. 3. Air bubble crushed by
the pressure of setting resin.

5. Pollen palynomorphs

6. Fagaceae

7. Cupressaceae

8. Pinaceae

9. Undefinied palynomorphs

10. Ilex sp.

11. Non-pollen
palynomorphs

12. Fungal spores

13. Germinating
fungal spores
• Fungal spores, as well as hyphae, was able to develop and grow
inside the matrix of fossil resin they were caught in.

14. Fungi in between
Three samples contain fungal hyphae localized between two layers of resin.
On the left: margin of the resin flow with singular hyphae growing through resin matrix.
On the right: conidiophore, in the middle of the photo and marcasite (a form of FeS2; similar to
pyrite) in form of dark spots.

15. Conclusions - taphoceonosis
of palynomorphs
• Recognised palynomorphs representing groups already recorded in Baltic amber before.
• Two different necrocenosis was recognised – active resin trap (palynomorphs preserved as inclusions
in the resin matrix) and non-active resin trap (fungal hypha and spores that were growing through or
between layers of already formed resin lump).
• The occurrence of the marcasite in the same space as fungal hyphae, with no sign of damage to its
structure, indicates that fungi were developed later than marcasite.
• Marcasite was more likely formed when the resin was deposited in water, which leads to the conclusion
that non-active trap palynomorphs are representing not only a different necrocenosis, but the whole
different taphoceonosis – the one where this amber lump was washed in to.

16. Thank you for your
attention!