Organisational Structure - Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany

Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany
Component 3: Neogene microfossils from Andaman and Nicobar Islands and their stratigraphical
significance
Recorded diatom and silicoflagellate assemblage
from the mudstone and chalk beds of the Archipelago
Group (Neogene) exposed along North-South Road
in Great Nicobar Island. Morphotaxonomic study of
this assemblage has been done and its biostratigraphic
potential is being assessed. Completed compilation
of field data from the Great Nicobar Island. An
annotated synopsis of the geological studies so far
carried out in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is
being prepared. It will include bibliographical details
and abstracts of papers published on all aspects of
geology of the Islands.
A. Chandra & R.K. Saxena
Component 4: Late Mesozoic-Tertiary nannofossils from Andaman and Nicobar Islands and their
biostratigraphical implications
Scanning Electron Microscopic documentation
from Neill Island (East Coast and Nipple Hill section)
is carried out. The assemblage contains reworked
Cretaceous and Palaeogene nannofossils. The
assemblage belongs to Discoaster bergrenii Zone
(CN 9A) of Okada and Bukry and the lower part of
the Discoaster quinqueramus Zone (NN-11) of
Martini of Late Miocene age. A manuscript entitled
“Late Miocene endoskeletal dinoflagellates from
Sawai Bay Formation, Neill Island, Andaman sea,
India” is revised as per referee’s suggestions.
J. Rai
Thrust Area: Quaternary Vegetation, Climate and Monsoon
Project 10: Quaternary vegetation and palaeoenvironment
Component 1: Palaeovegetation and Palaeoclimate studies of Quaternary sediments from Himalayas
Prepared data sets of all the investigated profiles
from Himalaya for construction of global maps of
biomes 6,000 and 18,000 yr. BP in consultation with
Dr. Sutra and Professor Sandy Harrison of Germany.
C. Sharma
Completed pollen analysis of profile SRT-I (2
m thick) from Saria Tal, Kumaun Himalaya and
constructed pollen diagram. Study has unrevealed
palaeovegetation and corresponding climate of the
temperate zone of the region since Middle Holocene.
Around 4,950 yr. BP area had predominance of
nonarboreals with pine forest. Quercus encountered
rarely but showed gradual increase onwards,
indicating ameliorating trend of climate. At the onset
of Late Holocene Quercus acquired marked
enhancement with corresponding fall in nonarboreals,
resulted establishment of mixed oak forest with
change in climate towards more warm and humid
conditions but the frequency of mixed oak forest did
not remain constant and faced phases of depression
and expansion, indicating fluctuating climatic
conditions during Late Holocene. Also carried out
palaeontological investigation of lacustrine
sediments from Saria Tal and prepared 2 figures
which show specific distribution of Molluscs,
supporting the results of pollen analytical
investigations. Undertaken geochemical analysis of
sedimentary profile ST (3.5 m deep) from Sukha Tal
and prepared a figure which shows inverse relation
in total organic matter (TOM) with total carbonate
contents (TCC) throughout the sequence. About
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