The most biostratigraphic important miospore species from the Late Devonian, Euramerica (part I)

Palynological research project in collaboration with CENPES/BPA palynologists (Petrobras). Second project (2010-2012)

Presented next are details of the consulting research project on "Upper Devonian – Lower Pennsylvanian miospore collection and database" devised exclusively for CENPES/BPA palynologists.
Project description
The mounting of a palynological reference collection and database of biostratigraphically important miospores from the Upper Devonian through the Lower Pennsylvanian (Namurian). This includes a minimum of 150 selected species from Western Europe, and a minimum of 150 selected species from Gondwana. It should be noted that several stratigraphically relevant species are common to both regions, but the collection will emphasize regional differences in their size and morphography.
Two main parts will compose the final product: the reference slide collection proper, and the database.
a) Sufficiently well preserved specimens (identifiable at species level) will be located on conventional palynological slides by means of an England Finder graticule. The slides will be numbered and stored in special boxes. The slides will be mounted at Université de Liège, Belgium, with the whole assemblage of palynomorphs recovered from the organic residues after the processing of selected samples at the University. Provenance data for each reference slide will be provided whenever possible, including: country, basin, rock unit (fm.), biostratigraphic unit, and age. An appropriate number of specimens (so as to cover an array of size and morphological variability) will be referenced for each species - although not necessarily on the same slide. Every selected specimen will be photographed. All these data will be stored in the database.
b) The database will be organized by using the software FileMaker Pro (we do not provide the software - for more information see http://www.filemaker.co.uk/). The database will be saved on CDRom or DVD media. The database will consist of:
- The original description of each species and a high-resolution scanned (PDF) copy of publications illustrating the type specimens. A synthetic additional description of the specimens will be added, and the main differences from morphologically similar species will be stressed.
- Synonymy lists.
- Stratigraphic ranges (age and zonal span).
- Geographic distribution.
- A complete list of bibliographic references from which the above data are compiled.
- Reference slide data (slide numbers and England Finder coordinates).
- High-resolution pictures of all selected specimens in the slide collection, including detail pictures when deemed necessary for the species characterization.
- A keyword research tool (e.g,: search for morphology, stratigraphy, taxa names, slides).