Biogeochemistry of marine palynomorphs
Final Report Abstract
The goal of the project was to improve our understanding of marine kerogen, its formation, composition and degradation. In order to achieve this we tried to be able to link the kerogen to its sources. Therefore, we focussed on the formation, composition and degradation of a subset of kerogen: the marine palynomorphs. We tried to achieve this main goal by combining two routes of investigation: (1) via the inifial (biomacromolecular) palynomorphs produced by cultured algae and (2) via the (geomacromolecular) palynomorphs preserved in the sediments. To fulfil the goals mentioned above, the acquisition of pure monospecific palynomorph samples was essential. Culturing of dinoflagellates and getting them to produce sufficient cysts was an essential part of the project. However, obtaining sufficient dinoflagellate cysts for chemical analyses proved to be difficult, even more difficult and fime consuming than initially envisaged. The species obtained from cooperation partners and species from sediments were analysed by means of transmission electron microscopy, FT-IR, pyrolysis and chemical degradation. Obtained data gave rise to 4 publications. In summary, as a result of the combination between palynology and organic geochemistry carried out in the project we conclude that the project has added some more information to our very sparse knowledge on the composition of marine algal remains, both with respect to fresh biomacromolecules and with respect to the geomolecules preserved in the sediments.
Publications
- (2006) Chemical fingerprinting of algaenans using RuO4 degradation. Organic Geochemistry 37, 871-881
Blokker, P., van den Ende, H., de Leeuw, J. W., Versteegh, G. J. M., and Sinninghe Damsté, J. S.
- (2007) Macromolecular composition of the dinoflagellate cyst Thalassiphora pelagica (Oligocene, SW Germany). Organic Geochemistry 68, 1643-1656
Versteegh, G. J. M., Blokker, P., Marchall, C. R., and Pross, J.
- (2008) Preservation and wall chemistry of late Cainozoic organic walled dinoflagellate cysts; a review. Marine Micropaleontology (1-2): 179-197
Zonneveld, C.A.F., Versteegh, G.J.M., and Kodrans Nsiah, M.
