Research Training Program

Michael Nowak
University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point
Stevens Point, Wisconsin

Dr. Scott Wing, Ph.D.
Supervising Scientist
Department of Paleobiology

"I have learned more about science this summer than I have in the last three years of college."

Lateral Variation in an Early Paleogene Lignite, Williston Basin, North Dakota, USA

In light of recent evidence validating the reality of anthropogenic warming, there is a concerted effort to understand Global Climate change and its effect on plants and animals. In the early Paleogene, approximately 55 million years ago, there was a rapid Global warming event called the Initial Eocene Thermal Maximum. This project is part of a larger effort to understand floral response to rapid climate change in the past. The most effective way to study floral trends in the past is through dispersed fossil pollen, or palynoflora. Compared to most megafossils (leaves and fruits), pollen preserves very well in fine-grained sedimentary rocks. Stratigraphic sampling density is therefore much greater. However, when there are apparent changes in the palynoflora within a stratigraphic section, it is difficult to know whether they represent large regional changes in the plant community, or whether they merely represent local changes such as a windstorm, or a fire. In an attempt to clarify this problem, this study investigates the lateral palynofloral variation within an early Paleogene lignite. Preliminary analysis of the data indicates significant palynofloral variability between the samples. The Betulaceous and Taxodiaceous taxa seem to be responsible for the majority of variation between the samples. There also seems to be a relatively strong correlation between the thickness of the lignite and the abundant taxa in the sample. Samples within a thick section of the lignite tend to be dominated by Betulaceae, and thin sections tend to be dominated by Taxodiaceae. To understand this relationship much more data will have to be collected.

This research was supported by a grant from the Bill and Jean Lane Endowment in honor of Robert Fri.

Letter of Gratitude