Dispersal Syndromes of fossil Seeds from the Lower Permian of Paraná Basin, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Abstract

<jats:p>The morphological analysis of seeds has been an important subject in modern ecological studies, once it provides evidence about the biology and adaptations of the parent plant. However, this kind of study has been restricted to the ecology of modern plants and is rarely used in interpretations of Paleozoic data. From the understanding of dispersal syndromes analysis as an important tool to paleoecological reconstruction, this study provides a first approach using this tool with seeds from the Lower Permian strata of southern Paraná Basin in Rio Grande do Sul. Based on previously classified seeds and using their biological and taphonomic data, the syndrome of dispersal was interpreted, and their placement in successional groups (pioneer, early-successional and later-successional) was suggested. Seven morphospecies were analyzed: Samaropsis gigas, representing a later-successional species living in water bodies with hydrochory as its dispersal syndrome; Samaropsis kurtzii, typical of early-successional species showing anemochory as its dispersal syndrome and living in distal areas in relation to water bodies; Samaropsis aff. S. millaniana, Cordaicarpus aff. C. brasilianus, Cordaicarpus cerronegrensis and Cordaicarpus truncata have typical characteristics of pioneer plants, exhibiting barochory as their primary dispersal syndrome with other syndromes associated.</jats:p>

Fossil seeds from the La Cantera Formation, Early Cretaceous, San Luis Province, Argentina

“…The presence of such appendages indicates that anemochory was an important dispersal strategy (McLoughlin and Pott, 2019). Seed wings, especially double wings, provide improved aerodynamic properties, reducing the rates of descent and optimizing seed dispersal (Souza and Iannuzzi, 2012;Stevenson et al, 2015). The presence of this morphological feature in Carpolithus volantus emphasizes anemochory as the main dispersal strategy for these seeds.…”

Plant mobility in the Mesozoic: Disseminule dispersal strategies of Chinese and Australian Middle Jurassic to Early Cretaceous plants

“…Double-wings (narrow marginal wings) provided ancient seeds with enhanced aerodynamic properties, reducing descent rates and improving dispersal (Souza and Iannuzzi, 2012;Stevenson et al, 2015).…”

Steep Decline and Cessation in Seed Dispersal by Myrmica rubra Ants

“…Seed dispersal can be achieved by abiotic vectors such as gravity (barochory), water (hydrochory) or wind (anemochory). Thus, seeds have developed morphological and/or phenological features—called dispersal syndromes—that are adapted to the dispersal agent [ 4 – 6 ] such as light-weight, winged or plumed seeds in the case of anemochory [ 7 ]. Seeds can also be dispersed by biotic vectors–when seeds are accidentally or deliberately ingested and later released by defecations (endozoochory) [ 3 ].…”