Algae from the Rhynie Chert

Edwards, David S.; Lyon, A. G.

doi:10.1111/j.1095-8339.1983.tb00716.x

Cited by 63 publications

(50 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…The cherts represent the surface expression of hot springs associated with a complex hydrothermal system. The flooding of small pools by silica-rich waters preserved an aquatic biota of cyanobacteria (Croft & George 1959), algae (Edwards & Lyon 1983) and arthropods. The terrestrial biota surrounding these pools was preserved by siliceous fluids, which migrated downwards from surface flooding and permeated upwards from the underlying hydrothermal vents.…”

Section: Geological Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Palaeoecology and palaeophytogeography of the Rhynie chert plants: evidence from integrated analysis of in situ and dispersed spores

Wellman

2004

Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B

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The Rhynie cherts yield exceptionally preserved early land plants, and provide a unique insight into the nature of Lower Devonian vegetation. Hitherto they have been poorly age constrained, and the palaeoecology and palaeophytogeography of the flora are poorly understood. Well-preserved dispersed-spore assemblages have been recovered from a number of borehole cores through the stratigraphical sequence of the Rhynie outlier. They are all similar and belong with the polygonalis-emsiensis (PE) spore zone, indicating an Early Devonian age (Early (but not earliest) Pragian to earliest Emsian). Comparisons with PE sporezone assemblages from elsewhere suggest that the flora of the Rhynie drainage basin was slightly impoverished, with certain plant taxa that occurred at other locations not represented. This probably reflects differences between the flora of an inland intermontaine basin (Rhynie) and that of the lowland floodplains. In situ spores have been characterized for all seven Rhynie chert plants. Analysis of the distribution of these spore types in the Rhynie sequence, in addition to those of coeval deposits from elsewhere, enables interpretation of the palaeoecology and palaeophytogeography of the Rhynie chert plants. It is concluded that at least some of the plants were not highly specialized or adapted to the peculiar hot-springs environment in which they are preserved. Rather, they were components of a diverse and widespread flora, but were the only elements able to tolerate the inhospitable hot-springs environment (i.e. they were preadapted).

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Section: Geological Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Palaeoecology and palaeophytogeography of the Rhynie chert plants: evidence from integrated analysis of in situ and dispersed spores

Wellman

2004

Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B

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“…Since the initial report of terrestrial land plants, microbes, and fungal spores in the Rhynie chert (1)(2)(3)(4)(5), numerous studies have described the biodiversity within the chert lenses, e.g., macroplants (1-3), fungi (6)(7)(8), animals (9, 10), algae (11), a lichen (12), and cyanobacteria (12,13). Preservation is so exquisite that delicate structures such as sperm (14) and flagella (15) can be observed.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Life history biology of early land plants: Deciphering the gametophyte phase

Taylor

Kerp

Hass

2005

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

165

104

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The ca. 400-million-year-old Rhynie chert biota represents a benchmark for studies of early terrestrial ecosystems. The exquisite preservation of the organisms documents an ancient biodiversity that also includes various levels of biological interaction. Absent from the picture until recently has been detailed information about the development of the gametophyte phase and the alternation of generations of the macroplants in this ecosystem. Here, we trace the development of the gametophyte phase of Aglaophyton, an early land plant with an unusual complement of structural and morphological characters. Mature gametophytes consist of a fleshy protocorm attached to the substrate by basal rhizoids; arising from the upper surface are one to several upright gametangiophores bearing multiple gametangia. Stomata are present on the upper surface of the protocorm and gametangiophore, and endomycorrhizal fungi extend throughout the gametophyte. Gametophytes are unisexual, producing either antheridiophores or archegoniophores. There is no evidence that gametophytes later become hermaphroditic. The sexual dimorphism of the Rhynie chert gametophytes is inconsistent with theoretical ideas about the haploid phase of early land plants. The gametophyte phase of early land plants can now be considered within an ecological and evolutionary framework that, in turn, can be used to develop hypotheses about some aspects of the population dynamics and growth of these early land plants.Early Devonian ͉ fossil gametophytes ͉ Rhynie chert ͉ spore development ͉ alteration of generations

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“…In this environment it is reported in associated with well-preserved and in situ carpets of vertically aligned Aglaophyton (D.S. Edwards and Lyon 1983) and its gametophyte Lyonophyton plus large numbers of fertile Horneophyton ). Although Palaeonitella is commonly reported as representing a freshwater environment, extant charophytes also occur in brackish waters (Kelman et al 2004) and are often early colonisers of disturbance-prone environments.…”

Section: Algal and Bacterial Associations With Growing Rhynie Plants mentioning

confidence: 81%

“…Kerp et al (2004); and see Taylor et al 2005b, illustrated the almost complete life-cycle of Aglaophyton and its gametophyte Lyonophyton from the 'white chert' an algae-rich chert, clearly of wetland origin, discovered in trenches at the Rhynie locality and first described by D.S. Edwards and Lyon (1983). A single block contained dozens of well-preserved axes, some bearing archegonia, occurring in situ and with the plants standing more or less in vertical position.…”

Section: Whole Plant Reconstructions and Autecologymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, Kerp et al (2004) reported sporophytes and gametophytes in life position with Horneophyton and the alga Palaeonitella in the 'white chert' (D.S. Edwards and Lyon 1983) an algae-rich chert created in an aquatic environment where little clastic influence of the environment is evident. Aglaophyton is associated with all four common taxa in the cherts.…”

Section: Plant Communities Based On Associations Of Plants With Hot Smentioning

confidence: 99%

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Yellowstone hot spring environments and the palaeo-ecophysiology of Rhynie chert plants: towards a synthesis

Channing

Edwards

2009

Plant Ecology & Diversity

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Background:The Rhynie chert, Aberdeenshire, encapsulates the ecophysiological and anatomical information on all components, including plants, animals and micro-organisms, of an early terrestrial ecosystem as it existed some 400 million years ago (Early Devonian), as preserved by siliceous waters emanating from a hot spring system. Aims: This paper concentrates on the higher plants (tracheophytes) and brings together information on the habitats of the plants and the environmental pressures that they endured to answer issues relating to their endemism and their ecophysiology. Methods & Results:The synthesis includes detailed information on the palaeo-environments recorded in the chert, plus anatomical and autecological data from the plants themselves, and makes comparisons with the abiotic and biotic data obtained from an extant analogue, the alkali-chloride geothermal systems at Yellowstone National Park. Particular attention is paid to the physiological basis and evolution of osmotic and chemical tolerance of halophytes, the dominant colonisers of Yellowstone's wetlands and, to a lesser extent, metallophytes. Conclusions: The Rhynie plants colonised wetlands at the low temperature fringes of a hot spring system and were versatile, but physiologically highly specialised, capable of withstanding osmotic and chemical stresses in a dynamic environment, but were probably out-competed by mesophytic vegetation elsewhere.

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Algae from the Rhynie Chert

Cited by 63 publications

References 18 publications

Palaeoecology and palaeophytogeography of the Rhynie chert plants: evidence from integrated analysis of in situ and dispersed spores

Palaeoecology and palaeophytogeography of the Rhynie chert plants: evidence from integrated analysis of in situ and dispersed spores

Life history biology of early land plants: Deciphering the gametophyte phase

Yellowstone hot spring environments and the palaeo-ecophysiology of Rhynie chert plants: towards a synthesis

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