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Freshwater Acritarchs inPleistocene Peats fromStaffordshire, EnglandVisiting Professor William A. S. Sarjeant a & IslesStrachan ba University of Oklahoma Norman , Okla., U.S.A.b Department of Geology , The University ,Birmingham, EnglandPublished online: 01 Sep 2009.

To cite this article: Visiting Professor William A. S. Sarjeant & Isles Strachan (1968)Freshwater Acritarchs in Pleistocene Peats from Staffordshire, England, GranaPalynologica, 8:1, 204-209, DOI: 10.1080/00173136809427465

To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00173136809427465

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FRESI-I\\T’ATER ACRITARCI-IS IN PLEISTOCENE PEATS FROM STAlTORDSHIRE, ENGLAND

II’ILLIAM A. s. s.Al~*ll~.Ax‘r ant1 ISLES S‘rILACIIAS

.1fS receioed ? . \ * l I l . G ?

I n tlic course of n pnlynologicnl study of sniiiples of I’lcistoccne peals from n Iicttlcholc ricnr I’cnltritlgc, StnfTs., inicrofossils of two types hitherto untlescribctl from frcshwatcr dcposils wcrc eiicoun- tcrctl. ’l’licir c s t r c i~~c ly simple clinrnctcr rcntlcrs tlicir affinity pro- 1)lcmnticnl; on iiiorpliologicnl grounds, t h y arc :ittril)utal)lc to two gciicra of thc ncritnrclis, an iricerlric sedis group contnining micro- fossils \vitli slicll \valls formctl of organic coiiipoiintls. Frcsliivntcr acritnrclis have 1)ccn prcviously tlcscribctl only from post-l’lcistoccnc deposits of southwest Australia, hy Churchill ant1 Snrjcnnt (1902, 19G3).

l‘lic kcttlc-liolc studied is situntcd at I’crikridgc, ahout 9 niilcs iiortli of II’olvcrlinmptori (Xationnl grid rcfcrcricc S.1925112). An invcstigation of this nrcn \vas made hy iiicmbcrs of tlic Lnpivortli Society of the University of I3irininglinin, \vho p i i t do\vn soiiic 50 nugcr liolcs in tlic pcriotl hcforc 1953; the s:implcs studied \yere o1)tained either froiii these prohcs or from btilli snriiplcs collcctctl subscqucntly. (A frill account of the area is givcn 1)y Shotton ant1

‘I’lic scqucncc consists of ahout 250 ciii of org:inic niatcrinl ovcrlyirig 40 cni of grey silt. The ‘pool’ passctl succcssivcly tlirough n scqiicncc. of Iigtlroscrd tlcvclopincnt froiii opcn lvatcr, \vith n1)iin- dant Peditisfrnni, through Jfyriophyllrrrn mid Typliri lafifofiri stages, until a iiinsiiiiiiiii of llferiyniiflies siiggcsts that opcii jvntcr hntl tlisappenretl. I n the uppccniost levels thcre is an incrcnsc of grass and sctlgc pollen, together \\.it11 thc notable feature of u p to 10 7; of Compositnc pollen; this suggests a clcnrniicc of tlie forest in tlic arcn, citlicr natural or artificial, u-liicli may hnvc nllowctl n pool

Strnchnn, 1959.)

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h C I1ITA I1 CI I S I S 1’ I. 1: I SI’OC 1: S 1: I’ 1: h TS 205

to tlcvclop again. The :irc:i certainly 1)ccanic \vet, since Splicr!jiirr/n sporcs arc foiiiid in the upperniost Icvcls saiiiplcs.

Xcritarclis \vcre fount1 to I N prcscnt Imtli in auger liolcs ant1 in a dug section. Siiiooth forms, attril)utctl to thc gcriiis I.cioy)litrcrirlici (‘l’cst-figs. 1; 2, top) :ire estrciiicly coiiiiiioii in tlic silt, \vlicrc, lio\v- cvcr, pollen counts \vcrc difficult owing to the paucity of trace pollcn. Spiny forms, attril)iitccl to the gcnus dlicrliysfritlircni (‘l’cxt-figs. 2, i m l t o i i i ; 3) arc less c o ~ i i ~ i i o ~ i in the lo\vcr Icvcls, amounting to about 10 7; of tlic AI’. l‘lic acritarchs arc prcscnt in iiiucli sniallcr iionibcrs in tlic lo\vcst gytlj:i, hiit attain 1ii:isiiiiiiiii al)iintlancc :it :i Icvcl l)ct\\-rcii 20 and 40 ciii a l~ovc tlic silt, tlic spiny fornis hcing :ibout t\virc :is coiiiiiioii :is all trcc pollen at this Icwl (Zone I11 of I ~ t c - glacial tiiiic, soiiic 1 1,000 years hefore the prcscnt). This level is just l)clo\v tlic Xyriopliyllttiii i i1: is i i i i i i i i i . \\‘it11 the tlisappcar:iiicc of opcii-\v:itcr conditions, tlic :icrit:irclis f:dc out; hiit in one auger- Iiolc, tlic spiny foriiis wcrc foiiiitl to rcappcar in the uppermost

I’ost- gl:irial Zone I‘ll), possibly :is :I result of tlic rcnppc:ir:iiicc of ali

layers san1plctl (I’ct\vccn 2.5 and -50 C l l l i)clo\v LllC sr1rf:lcC.

Ol’ClI 1’001.

Systeinatic Descriptiou of Species

GROUP ACRITARCIIA

Suiiciiour~ S i ~ i i , \ i ~ i 1 O ~ i O i 1 i ~ I i i . ~ , \ i ~ I)o\\-nic, Ifvitt arid S:irjc:iiit, 19ti3. Gcnus Leiosl~licierirlici Eiscn:icli, 195s emend. Dolvnic arid Snrjcant,

1963. Lciosphcteritlici felnictficct sp. nov. Figs. 1 , 2 (top). 1) i :i g n os is .-A s 1) cci cs o f I . eiospliti eritlln of s ma1 1 size (long clia 111 c t cr

lcss than 2.5 p ) :iiitl splicroitlal to broadly ovoidal outline. \Irall of motlcratc thickncss, consisting of oiic layer only: surface smooth, lacking any granulation or puiict:ition. A

Fig. 1. Leiosphneridin felmnfica sp. nov. The Iiolotypc, showing the pylonic arid its rolletl-back “cover”. x c. 1500.

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Fig. 2. Top: Leiosphneridin lelmalicn sp. iiov. I x f t : Iiolotype. Ilight: paratypc: Bottoin: J\licrhyslridium perikrirlgensis sp. 1101’. Left: Iiolotypc. Iliglit: paratype. x c. 1000.

is frc(I11entlg developed; this is formed bg [lie opcning of n ‘lid’, \vliicli iisunlly rcmnins attnclictl to tlic shcll and iiiny he crrimplccl or rollctl.

I~olotgpc.-Spccimcn 1‘.53391/1. I’nrntgpc.-Spcciincn 1‘.53301/2; botli lodgctl in tlic collcctioiis of

I)iiiiciisions.-Holotg~~c: tliamctcr 19 p. Itangc of dimensions: t i in-

Kumlxr of spccimcns esaiiiinctl.--Xppros. 500. 1,oc n 1 i ty and

tlic Ijritisli lluscum (Nntornl History), London.

llletcrs 13..?-22 “.

H or i zo n .- I,a t e 1’1 ci stoc en e f r cs 11 \\.a t cr si 11s n n ( I peak, I’cnkridgc, StaITortlsliirc. l3irmingliani Uriivcrsitg I’rolx no. I1 nl 0-1 iiiclics depth.

1)crivntion of nniiic.-In rcfcrcncc to the environincntal contlilioiis \vitli \vhicli this form is associated.

Disciission.--l‘licsc forms are cstrcnicly constant in clinrnctcr: n pyloiiic ivns olmrved to I)c prcscnt in almost all instances. usiially \vith n cover rollctl hack. I n ovoidal forms, the opcning x i s consi- stcntly sitiintetl at one pole of tlie long nsis. ?‘lie consistency in forni, position ant1 cliaractcr of this opening cliniinntcs any possihilil?. that i t iiiiglit he due to random damage.

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,\ C II IT,\ I I C I 1 S I S 1’ LEI STO C I: S 1: 1’13 ATS 207

Lciosphrrcritlin felii~cificri is tlic first spccies o f this genus lo he rccortlctl from freshwater conditions. ?‘licsc forms are so simple in niorpliology as to rcntlcr difficult tlic cstal~lishnicnt of firm criteria for distinguishing spccics: lio\vever, L. fclnirrficcr dilrcrs, in its coni1)ination of small size, smooth surface and type of opening, frbm all otlicr spccies previously (1cscrit)ctl.

SUI$GI\OUP A L C . \ S ? . I I O . \ I O I I I ~ I I I ~ . ~ ~ Downic, Evitt antl Sarjeant, 10G3. Genus ~lf icrJ~ysfr id i i rn~ I)cllantlre, 1 0 3 i , emend Sarjcant 10G7. JficrJfysfridirzm pcnkridgeilsis sp. nov. Pigs. 2 (bottom), 3. I)iagnosis.--A species of llficrJ~gstritlirzr~~ of sphcroidal to hroatlly

ovoidal shape. Urall two-layered: outcr layer thinner, giving rise to sliort spines (lcngth never in excess of one-scvcntli of tlic longest shell diameter). Spincs simple, capitate or vcry hief ly hifurcate, the t\vo branches being of equal or uncqiial lcnglh. Nunil)cr of spines in tlic rangc 70-100: distrihution liaphazard.

Ho1otype.-Spcciincn \’.53:300/2. I’aratypc.-Speciiiieii V.53300/1: I)oth lodged in the collcctions of

Dimcnsions.-I~oloty~~c: tliamctcr 16 p, spincs r i p to 2 cc long.

N 11 nib cr of s p cc i iii e ns csa mi n etl .-A 1) pros. x i 0. Locality and Horizon.-Late I’leistoccnc frcsliwatcr silts and pcats,

I’cnkridge, StafTordsliirc. Uirrningham Univcrsity l’robe no. 2 at 0-1 inches depth.

tlie Uritisli ~l i i scuni (Natural IIistory), Loticlon.

Range of dirncnsions: diaiiictcrs 1 G-25 p.

Dcrisntion of naiiic.-In rcfcrence to the type locality. Disci1ssion.-’l’hc shells frequently show a horse-slioe-sha~)ctl

opening pro1)al)ly formed in thc release of shell contents (Test-fig. 3, hottom). Less frcqucntly, tlic shell is split across (‘rest-fig. 3, top); this also may be an original opening, but it is pcrliaps niorc prol)nl)ly produccd by an estcrision of the original Iiorscshoe-shapctl split under compression.

The \vall tliicl;ncss is n r i a l ) l c antl tcnds to 1)c proportionately thinner in thc Iargcr spccinicns.

The spines arise from the outer slicll layer. In sonic cascs tlicy appeared to be liollow, 1)ut this could not 1)c confirrncd. ‘rlicir distribution is irregular; they are closely spaced on sonic parts of thc shcll surface, whilst 0 t h - parts lack spincs. Thcir length ranges I)et\vecn ahout onc-t\velflli to onc-scvcntli of the longest shell dia- meter.

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Fig. 3. .\licrhUslritliiini penkritlgerzsis sp. nov. Top: tlic pnratypc. showing 1iiedi311 scliisni. Upper nntl lower siirfnccs and (inset) chnractcr 01 processes. I3ottom: the 11010- type, showing its horseshoe-shapctl opening. Upper ant1 lowcr surrnccs ant1 .(inset) a single process, showing its origin Iron1 the outcr \w11 layer. XC. 1500. I’roccssrs x c. 3000.

I n tlic com1)iiiation of spinc cliaractcr, nuiii lw and distrihution, ilficrltystritliiir~~ pcnkritlgcnsis tlilTcrs from a l l prcvioosly tlcscrilml spccics of this gciiiis.

Affinity of the Perikridge acritarchs

Tlic problcm in estahlisliing tlic rclationsliips of tlic tivo forms hcrc tlcscribcd lies in tlic simplicity of tlicir morphology, which alTortls no criteria hy \vhicli coiiiparisons can confidently he mntlc. Tli c presence of roughly ci rcul ar o 1) cni ngs in Le iosph ti eritlici f e lm ri f iccl and of liorscslioc-slinpcd cracks or of median schism in Jficrltgslri- d i i tn i penkritlgensis suggcsts that lmth forms may hc n1)nndoncd cysts or egg-cases. Ilr. It. G. i i ’cst (in corrcspondcnce) ccliocs tlic authors’ vie\vs that tlicsc arc not pollcn grains. A n algal affinity has

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l,ccn siiggested for othcr. morphologicnlly siiriilnr ncrilarchs (cf. for cs:iiiiplc \Yall, 1962) hut this carinol bc firmly tlciiio~istrntctl; for tlic niomcnt, tlicsc forms iiiust rciriaiii iriccrlric scdis.

Acknowledgen~ent s

‘I’lie aulhors \vould like to thank Dr. .I. \\‘. G. Luntl (I~resli\v:ilcr Iiiologicnl Association, AmI)lcsitlc, \\’csl~riorlnntl) ant1 1)r. R. G. \\‘cst (SaI)-l)cpt. of Qiratcrriary I~escnrch, School of I3otnng, C:iiii-

bridge) for tlicir helpful coiii~nents in correspontlcncc.

\Yilliaiii A. S . Snrjc:int, Isles Strnlinn, \’kiting I’rofessor, 1)cp:irtiiient of Geology, University of Oklahonin ‘I’lic University, Xornian. Oliln. Ilirmi ngli:ini, u. s. A . I:nglantl.

REFERENCES

CIIUIICIIILL, I>. N., and SAliJE.\XT, \\‘. A. S., 1962. Fossil di~ioflngcllatcs and hgstricliosplicrcs in Australian Ircsliwntcr dcposits. -- Nature, London, 194: 1094.

- 1963. Fresliwntcr microplnnkton froni Flaiidrian (Holoccne) pcnts of south west Australia. - Grnnn pnlynol., 3: 29-53.

SIIOTTOS, F. \Y., and STIIAIIAS, I., 1959. Tlic inwstigation of a pcnt iiioor at Rodbaston, Pcnkritlgc, Staffordsliirc. - (2. .Jl gcol. SOC. I,oiid., 115:

\VALL, D., 1963. Evidence from rcccnt plniiktoii rcgardiiig the biological affinities of Tnsniciriiles Newton 1 S i 5 aiid Lciosplrneridici I3sciiack

1-15.

1958. - Geol. AIag., 99: 353-62.

14 - G i O S l . I Grnnn Pal. vol. 8: 1

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