Testate amoebae as non-pollen palynomorphs in pollen slides: usefulness and application in palaeoenvironmental reconstruction

Abstract Testate amoebae are a frequently used palaeoecological proxy for reconstructing changes in palaeohydrological conditions, particularly studies of Sphagnum -dominated peatlands. Their use has increased following the development transfer functions, allowing quantitative reconstruction water-table depth through time. Increasingly, they included non-pollen palynomorph (NPP) alongside wide range other proxies, representing valuable tool, multi-proxy studies. have been qualitative assessment palaeohydrology NPP and may aid verification environmental interpretations conditions inferred from curves with unknown ecology taxonomy. usefulness such is limited by destruction tests owing to harsh chemical treatments pollen preparation methods. This makes community distribution data testate derived these methods largely unsuitable depth. Furthermore, many palynological combine as one single curve, losing further ecological detail. Patterns change surviving species, most commonly Assulina , Archerella Arcella Hyalosphenia flavum remain relatively unaffected therefore can still be useful interpreting hydrological time, when coupled proxies.