The use of micro infrared spectroscopy in reconstructing past ecological and environmental change

Microscope enabled Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (μFTIR) provides absorbance and reflectance information on the chemical composition (bonds and functional groups) of microscopic particles. The μFTIR spectra extracted from individual particles, such as pollen grains or charcoal fragments, can provide both taxonomic and environmental insights. For example, the spectra obtained from grass pollen grains have been shown to be relatable to different subfamilies, while spectra obtained from charcoal fragments reflect the temperature under which the charcoal was formed. Thus μFTIR analysis of material extracted from Quaternary sediments can reveal novel insights into past vegetation composition and environmental processes.