This chapter includes sections on all of the highlevel divisions of organisms identified in Chapter 2 that are important in the fields of palaeobiology and biostratigraphy, namely bacteria, plant-like protists or algae, animal-like protists or protozoans, plants, fungi, invertebrate animals and vertebrate animals. It also covers trace fossils.

As far as practicable, a standard format has been adopted. Areas covered include: biology, morphology and classification; palaeobiology; and biostratigraphy.

Emphasis has been placed on the palaeobiological and biostratigraphic significance of the various groups, and their proven and potential applications in the interpretation of earth and life history and processes. Other areas are covered only if they are relevant to these applications, and only in a level of detail commensurate with applicability. Fossil groups with minimal applicability have not been included.

More or less familiar names have been used wherever practicable, and an attempt has been made to keep the amount of scientific jargon to a necessary minimum.

Micropalaeontology and palynology

The groupings used in this book are essentially natural, reflecting evolutionary relationships, and the arrangement is in at least approximate order of evolutionary advancement. It is worth noting here, though, that an alternative, entirely artificial grouping of microfossils also exists, which is useful for practical purposes, as it is based on size range, composition, and required methods of collection, preparation and study. This treats together the calcareous microfossils, that is, the calcareous algae, the calcispheres or oligosteginids, Bolboforma, foraminiferans, calpionellids, ostracods and otoliths; the siliceous microfossils, that is, the silicoflagellates, diatoms and radiolarians; the phosphatic microfossils, that is, the conodonts and ichthyoliths; the organic-walled microfossils or palynomorphs, that is, the dinoflagellates, acritarchs, plant spores and pollen, and chitinozoans; and the calcareous nannofossils (Jones, 1996). The study of microfossils is termed micropalaeontology; that of organic-walled microfossils or palynomorphs, palynology.

Innovative applications of palynology

Palynology has a number of applications in the fields of petroleum geology, mineral exploration and exploitation, coal mining, and archaeology (see appropriate sections below). It also has applications in a number of other fields.