Pollen identification multimedia software: a microtaxonomic palaeobotanical research tool

Abstract

The utility of the graphically pollen identifiable software as a capacity building, microtaxonomic palaeobotanical research tool is briefly described. The software accompanying a user manual (a booklet) enables many levels of users to learn palynology “at the click of a mouse”. The rationale and operation of the pollen identification system like the parent software IDAO is based on the principle of co-efficient of similarity and character weighting (vide Gower, 1971; Grard, 2000). A total of 145 selected genera belonging to 60 dicot and 2 monocot families have been listed. Out of selected genera, 14 are mangroves and most of the remaining genera come from the evergreen forests of Western Ghats. The vector drawings of weighted 136 pollen character states (in 30 character-interfaces) are also provided. The two major parts of this application, the Graphical Pollen Identification System and the Results are explained. A plate with the pollen digital images of 24 pollen types exemplifies palyno-diversity providing clues for parent-plant determination.