How to Analyze Pollen in a Soil Sample
- 1). Separate or extract the pollen grains from the soil sample using whatever protocol is standardized and approved at the institution for which you are analyzing the pollen. One common method, published by Horrocks, 2004, involves using strong acids and alkalis to remove mineral and organic matter, filtering the sample through a porous membrane or sieve to isolate the particular size fraction of pollen, staining the pollen for better visualization and mounting the pollen residue on microscope slides for analysis. Pollen is highly resilient and withstands the extraction process well.
- 2). Identify the pollen sample by microscopic visualization to determine the variety or species of pollen. Use the highest magnification necessary, and if required, obtain the use of an electron microscope to enlarge the specimen further. There are a wide variety of sizes, shapes and surface characteristics of pollen that help with the identification process.
- 3). Analyze the pollen further by matching the identified pollen in a forensic sample to pollen in a known geographic location. It is also necessary to determine the pollen production and dispersal pattern to be able to create a "pollen fingerprint" for that region. That way, pollen can be used as forensic evidence to connect suspects to crime scenes with a high level of confidence.
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