Palaeoenvironment and Palaeobiodiversity in and around Handapa of Talcher Basin during Gondwana Period Inferences from Plant Fossils

Abstract

The present thesis entitled Palaeoenvironment and Palaeobiodiversity in and around newlineHandapa of Talcher Basin during Gondwana Period: Inferences from Plant Fossils newlineincorporates a brief study of geology, biostratigraphy, floral assemblages (both megaflora and newlinepalynoflora) and biomarkers of different Lower Gondwana exposures viz., Handapa, Kumunda newlineand Gopalprasad of Talcher Basin, Odisha, India. newlineDespite the richness of fossil remains reported throughout the Gondwanaland, the rise newlineand fall of Glossopteris flora are poorly understood. Hence, this is one of the imperative newlineobjectives of the present work. In India, representatives of this flora are known for more than newline150 years. The flora is being investigated extensively as its element on entombment gave rise newlineto famous Permian coal deposits of the country. The present investigation has been therefore, newlineundertaken to revise, update and enlarge the database on plant megafossils of the Glossopteris newlineflora in Talcher Basin, Odisha. newline