Palynological investigation of the Arabian sea: Pollen/spores from the recent sediments of the continental shelf off Bombay, India

Abstract

The palynological analysis of 22 bottom sediments from the continental shelf off Bombay shows mixed pollen spectra which is the reflection of the adjoining mangroves, tropical evergreens and the mixed deciduous type of vegetation. Herbaceous pollen and pteridophytic spores dominate over the trees in all the samples. It has been observed that the palynomorphs in the sediments from station numbers 22 to 28 are derived from the vegetation of the Saurashtra coast, while in other samples from station numbers 1 to 4, 5 to 15 and 20, the pollen appear to have been derived from the Bombay coast vegetation. The quantitative analysis of the assemblage shows comparatively higher frequency of pollen/spores in the samples collected from near the coast. Corroded grains have been found in all the samples and their percentage is higher in the samples collected from near the coast between Bombay and Marmugao.