Forensic palynology

This includes spermatophyte pollen, as well as spores (fungi, bryophytes, and ferns), dinoflagellates, and various other organic microorganisms – both living and fossilized.

In areas such as New Zealand, where the demand for this field is high, forensic palynology has been used as evidence in many different case types that range anywhere from non-violent to extremely violent crimes.

[8] Because pollen has distinct morphology and is relatively indestructible, it is likely to adhere to a variety of surfaces often without notice and has even become a part of ongoing research into forensic bullet coatings.

[1] It is relatively "small, disparate, and fragmented" compared to the other approaches, thus, there is no thorough guide to achieve the best practice in forensic palynology.

[14] Another recent advancement in forensic palynology is the massive expansion of the largest pollen database on the internet, PalDat.

[15] In terms of criminal investigation, forensic palynologist services are requested from cases such as forgery, rape, homicide, genocide, terrorism, drug dealing, assault, and robbery.

Important duties to note is that they ensure that all paperwork is dated, signed, filed and archived in order to maintain good records.

Geography analysis including a survey of the topography, altitude, climate, and geology of the area is also required, as all of these factors influence the assemblage and composition of palynomorphs.

Pollen grains have a variety of shapes, sizes, colors, structures, and numbers identification keys exist as a reference.

[15] A sample of pollen from a crime scene can help to identify a specific plant species that may have had contact with a victim, or point to evidence that does not ecologically belong in the area.

Pollen is made in great numbers, by a large variety of plants, and it is designed to be dispersed (either via wind, insect, or another method) throughout the immediate environment.

[5] As of 2008, there are no academic centers or training facilities for the use of pollen in forensics in the U.S.[19][5] This is crucial because of the expertise required to identify palynomorphs and to apply the data to geolocation information.

[21] Limited access to international databases can also prove to be an issue when it comes time for the analyst to identify pollen evidence to a specific family or genus of plants.

[1] When collection sites have been determined, samples can be retrieved with clean instruments and placed into tightly sealed, sterile containers.

[19] Samples are chemically processed with a mix of acids, sodium hydroxide, acetic anhydride with water washes in between.

[19] The scanning electron microscope (SEM) has been used traditionally since the 1970s for primary identification of palynomorphs, but is very time-consuming, tedious, and not ideal for routine analysis.

There was only one area of the Danube River Valley that hosted those living plants, and had Miocene-aged rock deposits that would contain the fossilized species.

When the suspect was presented with this information, he willingly confessed and lead authorities to the sites of both the murder and the body, both of which were inside the region indicated by Dr.

[6][24] The first cases that involved forensic palynology in the United States was in 1970, where Honeybee pollination studies were issued.

For example, a Michigan beekeeper arose suspect of importing beehives from the southeastern USA that weren't inspected for mites.

Investigators submitted samples taken from the clothes of the victim, a blanket found with the body, as well as a small amount of recovered hair to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection directorate laboratory in Houston, Texas, for pollen analysis.

The individual taxa of plant species observed in the assemblage also indicated that the victim lived in, or spent much of her time in, a developed, urban environment.

The assemblage also captured pollen of the Lebanese cedar tree (Cedrus libani), native to the Eastern Mediterranean region of Europe.

The species of cedar observed in the assemblage was thought by investigators to most likely be from an ornamental piece in a park or other conservation area.

This is when the investigators discovered individuals of the Lebanese cedar tree in the Arnold Arboretum, a public park that is a part of Harvard University.

The mother's involvement in the crime is not reported, though she served 2 years probation for accessory after a plea deal for providing information about her then boyfriend who had committed the act.

Forensic mycology and palynology was then applied to analyse the palynomorphs and fungal species, as soil samples from the location of the corpse were analyzed.