The science of reconstructing the past flora and past climate from pollen data obtained from lake and bog sediments The fossil pollen record is a function of the regional flora and vegetation at a given time and location (Source: Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center, 1990)
Generally the study of all acid-insoluble organic material extracted from sedimentary rocks by acid solution techniques (see also palynomorphs), though more specifically concerned with the study of spores and pollen
Palynology is the scientific study of spores and pollen Plants produce microscopic grains of pollen that are dispersed by insects, birds, and the wind Pollen often accumulates in lakes, ponds, and peat bogs Palynologists collect samples of sediment from the bottom of water bodies and bogs in a sampling tube, and they take the sample to the laboratory where they wash away the dirt in search of pollen Using a microscope, palynologists inspect remains Pollen grains come in a wide variety of sizes and shapes Palynologists compare prehistoric pollen with modern examples to determine what plants, especially trees, were once present in a region Changes in the type and abundance of pollen in an area over time provide evidence of changes in a climate or the efforts of humans to change a landscape For example, a decrease in tree pollen and an increase in the pollen of corn, weeds, and other light-loving species may mark the beginning of forest clearing and cultivation