Forensic Palynology: Spora Deposition in Forensic Investigations

Forensic palynology is a little used forensic science, only employed to any significant extent for criminal investigations in New Zealand. Pollen, the male reproductive tissue of vascular spermatophytes, is a key material in this science. The use of palynological evidence in forensic investigation requires careful collection and interpretation. There are many features that render pollen useful as forensic evidence, including the unique surface patterning for each species, the seasonal production and the circadian release. Thus, unique pollen assemblages can be constructed for specific locations, aiding in the collection of associative forensic evidence, and these assemblages change hourly and seasonally, giving a temporal as well as a spatial marker. The main limit of forensic palynology is set by the common neglect to use it. This review attempts to provide a summary of past and present uses of pollen in forensic science, and to highlight the potential uses of temporal aspects of pollen release as evidence.