 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
Research Highlights 2004-05 |
|
The research activities of the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany (BSIP) are categorized under 14 projects. Research work has been carried out under the umbrella of five Thrust Area Programmes— 1) Precambrianbiotic events, 2) Gondwana floristics, palaeoclimate and palaeoecology: relevance to breakup of Gondwanaland,3) Biopetrology of coals and its relevance to coal bed methane, 4) Palaeobiology of Phanerozoic basins and its bearing on hydrocarbon potential, and 5) Quaternary vegetation, eustatic sea level changes, global climate change and anthropogenic impact, besides certain Special Activities. |
The academic activities of the Institute during 2004-05 include publication of 86 research papers, 56 scientific abstracts, and 32 reports/articles, besides 43 research papers, which are accepted for publication. Two scientists have been deputed abroad under inter-academy exchange programme of INSA. One scientist visited China on invitation, and another six scientists and one technical officer have been deputed for attending various conferences. Several scientists (23) and technical personnel (3) were deputed to attend different national and international conferences/ seminars/ workshops held in the country and 37 research papers were presented at different centers of India.
|
| Important Research Contributions |
• |
Microfossils and carbonaceous mega remains recovered from the Sirbu Shale Formation exposed in Pathana Nala (near Maihar, MP) do not support the existence of Pc-C boundary in the section, established earlier through isotope studies. |
• |
The distribution of microorganisms in Mesoproterozoic Jaradag Fawn Limestone (Semri Group) exposed in the Son Valley suggests that the precipitates were mainly deposited inorganically without active participation of cyanobacteria. |
• |
Palynomorph assemblages from various coal-bearing Gondwana sequences of Birbhum, Rajmahal, Sohagpur, Ib-river, and Wardha-Godavari valley coalfields were analysed for biostratigraphic dating and correlations. |
• |
Plant fossils investigated from various Gondwana successions of South Rewa, Mahanadi, Satpura, Wardha, Pranhita-Godavari, etc. basins have helped in interpreting floristic evolution and palaeoecology of the regions. |
• |
It is inferred that the Early Cretaceous leaves of Ginkgo from Jabalpur Formation are evolutionary advanced than the deeply dissected leaves of Ginkgoites rajmahalensis of other basins. |
• |
The possible presence of calamitalean axis possessing alternating grooves at the nodal region and Cordainthustype of seeds indicate the presence of extra-gondwanic elements in Satpura Gondwana Basin. |
• |
An impression specimen of ?Lichen/Fungi found on coniferous wood interpreted as the evidence of mutualism or saprophytic habit during Cretaceous in the Rajmahal flora. |
• |
Recovery of a new species of Circoporoxylon has further supported floral similarities of Rajmahal and Kota wood assemblages. |
• |
Variety of azonate and gulate megaspores has been identified from Barakar and Raniganj formations of Godavari Valley coalfields. |
• |
Coals from Rajmahal and Wardha basins and lignite from Neyveli field have been evaluated for their maceral characterization in relation to economic suitability and CBM potentiality. |
• |
Plant remains (wood, leaves and fruit) investigated from various Tertiary beds of Kachchh, Manipur, Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Darjeeling, South India, etc. have helped in interpreting floristics, palaeoecology, and phytogeography of the regions. |
• |
Palynoflora from various Tertiary sequences of Rajasthan, Kachchh, north-east India, K-G basin, etc. investigated for stratigraphic zonation and correlation. |
• |
Diversified calcareous algal flora has been studied from the Palaeocene Ninniyur Formation, Ariyalur (TN) in relevance to palaeoenvironmental significance. |
• |
The Apectodinium dinocyst peak is integrated with negative carbon isotope excursion in the Jathang Hill Section, Mawsynram Plateau (Meghalaya) and used to identify the global Palaeocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) Event. Palaeocene/Eocene boundary in the section is demarcated as per the latest concepts. Presence of Sparnacian (latest Palaeocene) sediments is identified for the first time in this region. Occurrence of impersistent coal horizons in Khasi Hills is supposed to be related to the global extreme warming event associated with PETM. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
