Natalia Walasek Portrait

Miss Natalia Walasek

Research interests

‘Biostratigraphy and palaeoenvironmental analysis of the lower Silurian of the Siljan Ring area, central Sweden’

Supervisors: Dr David Loydell, Dr Anthony Butcher

This research project focuses on the Aeronian and lower Telychian stages of the Llandovery Series. This interval is of great interest because of the advances and retreats of Gondwanan ice-sheets that occurred during this time. This project will examine how these environmental changes influenced the diversity of macro- and microplankton of the Siljan area, in central Sweden.

The initial objective of the research is to establish the graptolite biostratigraphy for the Kallholn section which will enable dating of the carbon isotope excursions which occurred throughout this interval.

The characteristics of palynological assemblages extracted from both shale and nodule samples, will be used for quantitative studies of the palaeoenvironmental changes i.e. determining the distance to the shoreline based upon the absolute and relative abundances of palynomorphs as well as variations in the number and lengths of acritarch processes.