VAN SLUYTERS, AMY M. Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824. - Trapper Creek Palynoflora.
The Miocene Trapper Creek flora of Idaho has been interpreted as an
upland assemblage primarily dominated by montane conifers. This is
quite unusual for its young age, between 13.9-8.6 Ma. Trapper Creek
also represents a community disturbed by volcanism. Therefore, the
types of species present are important for ecological reconstructions.
Interpretations of the ecological dynamics of Trapper Creek have been
based on both pollen and macrofossils. However, the palynomorphs of
Trapper Creek have never before been properly illustrated. Digital
photographs were taken of numerous Trapper Creek palynomorphs. This
qualitative analysis of the variety of species present is important to
establishing the validity of previous research.
Key words: Miocene, palynology