Comparison of palynomorph assemblages from the Cretaceous/Tertiary boundary interval in Western Europe, northwest Africa and southeast China

The composition of palynomorph assemblages from selected sections through the Cretaceous/Tertiary (K/T) boundary interval in Western Europe, northwest Africa and China is discussed. Similarities are emphasised and widespread trends noted, including the evolutionary development of the porate group of pollen grains, palynomorph extinctions within the boundary interval, and links with a climatic cooling trend. The comparative analysis revealed numerous taxonomic and; nomenclatural problems, as a list of 71 forms recorded from five papers on European and North African topics demonstrates. These taxa are considered to be similar or identical to palynomorphs documented in four Chinese papers, despite the fact that almost all of the identifications differ at either generic or specific level, or both. (C) 1997 Academic Press Limited.