Palynological studies of the late Maastrichtian infratrappean and intertrappean sedimentary beds from various stratigraphic levels in the Deccan continental flood basalt of the Nand-Dongargaon Basin in central India show that infratrappean sediments (Maastrichtian C30n-C29r) are characterized by gymnosperm ( Araucariacites , Classopollis , Cycadopites , Podocarpidites ) and angiosperm ( Cretacaeiporites , Compositoipollenites , Graminidites , Longapertites , Palmaepollenites ) palynomorphs. A distinct floral turnover is observed in intertrappean sediments with the initiation of volcanic activity in the basin. At the lowest stratigraphic level, the earliest floral change is recorded by the appearance of angiosperm-pteridophyte–dominated association ( Aquilapollenites , Azolla , Gabonisporis , Tricolpites , Triporopollenites , and Normapolles group pollen) and the appearance of peridinoid dinoflagellates. At higher stratigraphic levels in C29r, this palynofloral association continues with the appearance of new forms, such as Scabrastephanocolpites spp., Scollardia conferta , and Triporopollenites cracentis . A sharp decline in diversity of titanosauriform-abelisaurid–dominated dinosaurian fauna is also observed with the onset of Deccan volcanic activity. At this time, out of at least eight dinosaur species, only a single taxon of titanosauriform dinosaurs survived the onset of volcanism. This suggests that the floral change and decreased dinosaur diversity are strongly linked with the initiation of Deccan volcanism in C29r in India. The peak eruption of this volcanic phase resulted in the Deccan's largest volume of lava flows, which played a significant role in the global mass extinction at the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary.

During the last two decades, extensive paleontological research in the main Deccan volcanic province has led to a better understanding of biodiversity close to the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary. Several infratrappean localities exposed in Jabalpur, Kheda, Balasinor, Rahioli, Dohad, and Bagh in the Narmada Valley (India) preserve one of the most geographically widespread dinosaur nesting sites known in the world. The well-studied intertrappean beds, such as those of Naskal on the southern margin, Asifabad and Nagpur on the eastern margin, Kisalpuri and Mohgaon Kalan on the northeastern margin, and Anjar on the northwestern margin of the main Deccan volcanic province, have yielded Maastrichtian fish ( Igdabatis ) and dinosaur remains and palynofossils ( Aquilapollenites - Gabonisporites - Ariadnaesporites ), either separately or in association, that suggest a Maastrichtian age for these beds. Only two intertrappean sections, Papro on the northern margin and Jhilmili on the northeastern margin of the main Deccan volcanic province, have produced Paleocene fossils. The fossil record from the infratrappean and intertrappean beds demonstrates that the dinosaurs survived the early phase of volcanism, though there was an apparent decline in their diversity, and that freshwater vertebrate fauna was least affected by the initial volcanic activity. The episodic nature of Deccan volcanism may possibly explain the survival of many freshwater and terrestrial communities during the periods of quiescence. In addition, as in the case of the late Maastrichtian sections in eastern Montana, North America, detritus-feeding freshwater vertebrate communities possibly had greater potential for survival than the terrestrial communities dependent on primary productivity. A close examination of the vertebrate faunal distribution across the two stratigraphic intervals (infratrappean and intertrappean) suggests that sampling bias in the infratrappean beds may have also masked the actual diversity of these beds.

Abstract : Contrasting opinions have been expressed by different workers about the palaeo-environments of the Lameta Formation of Jabalpur. Some workers have ascribed a shallow marine/estuarine environment of depositions for its sediments, while others have favoured a non-marine interpretation. The present authors have recently recorded 26 ostracod species from the basal beds of Lameta Formation from three classic localities (i.e., Chui Hill, Bara Simla Hill and Chhota Simla Hill). These are univocally freshwater fauna. Khosla and Sahni (2000) earlier proposed Late Cretaceous Mongolian and Chinese affinities for the ostracod fauna of the Lameta Formation of Jabalpur. Whatley and Bajpai (2006) considered them strongly endemic to India. Our study revealed an African and/or South American zoogeographic affinity. The genera common to these continents are Altanicypris , Neuquenocypris, Paracypretta, Stenocypris and Wolburgiopsis .