Fish, frustules, fungi, flowers and foliage

A talk by Jennifer Bannister. An investigation into the biota of an Early Miocene maar lake and its surrounding forest. About 20 million years ago a volcanic eruption near Middlemarch, formed a crater in the schist that filled with water. This type of lake is known as a maar. Sediment gradually built up on the lake floor, mainly the valves (frustules) of diatoms, where over time a finely varved diatomite formed. A forest grew up around the lake and leaves, flowers and fruits fell or were blown into the lake, sank on to the sediment and were preserved. We are trying to identify the leaves from their cuticles to build up a picture of the type of vegetation that grew there. We already have a pollen list although this is incomplete. At the Zoology Benham Building, 346 Great King Street, behind the Zoology car park by the Captain Cook Hotel. Use the main entrance of the Benham Building to get in and go to the Benham Seminar Room, Rm. 215, 2nd floor. Please be prompt as we have to hold the door open, and seats fill fast.