Fossil Fungi (Endogonaceae) From the Triassic of Antarctica

Taylor, Thomas N.; White, James F.

doi:10.1002/j.1537-2197.1989.tb11326.x

Cited by 21 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…Two Mississippian representatives of Traquairia have been reported from the vicinity of Burntisland, Scotland (Scott 1911). An interesting ‘sporocarp’ similar to forms known from the Carboniferous is described as Mycocarpon asterineum from the Triassic of Antarctica (Taylor & White 1989). This fossil is characterised by an investment constructed of an outer mycelial and inner noncellular component.…”

Section: Fossils Interpreted As or Compared To Zygomycetous Fungimentioning

confidence: 97%

“…An alternative interpretation views the large sphere as a zygospore, and the entire structure is interpreted as a reproductive structure (i.e. a mantled zygosporangium) of a member of the zygomycetous fungi (Pirozynski 1976, Taylor & White 1989, Krings et al 2010). If this latter interpretation is accurate, then the smaller spheres found within the large sphere in some specimens (e.g., Fig.…”

Section: Fossils Interpreted As or Compared To Zygomycetous Fungimentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This suggests that these structures were produced in groups of two to several, possibly within sporo-carps. Finally, Taylor & White (1989) suggest that the inner, noncellular wall component of the Triassic ‘sporocarp’ Mycocarpon asterineum was produced by a layer of special hyphae along the inner surface of the outer wall layer through continuous secretion of wall material. As the structure expands, the outer wall layer becomes successively compacted.…”

Section: Fossils Interpreted As or Compared To Zygomycetous Fungimentioning

confidence: 99%

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Fossil evidence of the zygomycetous fungi

Krings¹,

Taylor²,

Dotzler³

2013

Pers - Int Mycol J

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Molecular clock data indicate that the first zygomycetous fungi occurred on Earth during the Precambrian, however, fossil evidence of these organisms has been slow to accumulate. In this paper, the fossil record of the zygomycetous fungi is compiled, with a focus on structurally preserved Carboniferous and Triassic fossils interpreted as zygosporangium-gametangia complexes and resembling those of modern Endogonales. Enigmatic microfossils from the Precambrian to Cenozoic that have variously been interpreted as, or compared to, zygomycetous fungi are also discussed. Among these, the spherical structures collectively termed ‘sporocarps’ are especially interesting because of their complex investments and abundance in certain Carboniferous and Triassic rocks. Circumstantial evidence suggests that at least some ‘sporocarp’ types represent mantled zygosporangia. Zygomycetous fungi probably were an important element in terrestrial paleoecosystems at least by the Carboniferous.

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Section: Fossils Interpreted As or Compared To Zygomycetous Fungimentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Fossils Interpreted As or Compared To Zygomycetous Fungimentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Fossils Interpreted As or Compared To Zygomycetous Fungimentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Fossil evidence of the zygomycetous fungi

Krings¹,

Taylor²,

Dotzler³

2013

Pers - Int Mycol J

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“…Taylor et J.F. White (Taylor & White 1989), have also been described from the Triassic of Antarctica. Both structures consist of a central cavity enveloped in a hyphal investment, but differ in the organization of the investment.…”

Section: Mutualistic Fungal Interactions (Mycorrhizas)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Structurally preserved fungi from Antarctica: diversity and interactions in late Palaeozoic and Mesozoic polar forest ecosystems

et al. 2016

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Chert and silicified wood from the Permian through Cretaceous of Antarctica contain abundant information on fungal diversity and plant-fungal interactions. The chert deposits represent a particularly interesting setting for the study of plant-fungal interactions because they preserve remains of distinctive high latitude forest ecosystems with polar light regimes that underwent a profound climate change from icehouse to greenhouse conditions. Moreover, some of the cherts and wood show the predominance of extinct groups of seed plants (e.g. Glossopteridales, Corystospermales). Over the past 30 years, documentation of fossil fungi from Antarctica has shifted from a by-product of plant descriptive studies to a focused research effort. This paper critically reviews the published record of fungi and fungal associations and interactions in the late Palaeozoic and Mesozoic cherts and silicified wood from Antarctica; certain fungal palynomorphs and fungal remains associated with adpression fossils and cuticles are also considered. Evidence of mutualistic (mycorrhizal), parasitic and saprotrophic fungi associated with plant roots, stems, leaves and reproductive organs is presented, together with fungi occurring within the peat matrix and animal-fungus interactions. Special attention is paid to the morphology of the fungi, their systematic position and features that can be used to infer fungal nutritional modes.

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“…Fossilized fungal structures have been reported from a variety of mineral substrates including Devonian Rhynie Chert, as fossil lichen mycobionts in stromatolites, in Djebel-Onk phosporites, Triassic silici ed rock, Bitter eld amber and Tertiary Dominican Amber (Klappa 1979a,b;Dahanayake et al, 1985;Dahanayake and Krumbein, 1985;Taylor and White, 1989;McMenamin and McMenamin 1994;Taylor et al, 1999;Poinar, 2000, 2001). Although there is geochemical evidence for prokaryotic life in terrestrial ecosystems as early as 2600 million years before present (MYBP) and microfossil evidence 1200 to 800 MYBP, the earliest undisputed fossil record of eukaryotes including fungi and primitive plants in terrestrial ecosystems occurs during the Ordivician period (480 to 460 MYGP) (Heckman et al, 2001) (Fig.…”

Section: Fungal Communities In Sub-aerial and Sub-soil Environmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fungal involvement in bioweathering and biotransformation of rocks and minerals

Burford¹,

Fomina²,

Gadd³

2003

Mineral. mag.

334

243

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In the Earth’s lithosphere, fungi are of fundamental importance as decomposer organisms, animal and plant pathogens and symbionts (e.g. lichens and mycorrhizas), being ubiquitous in sub-aerial and subsoil environments. The ability of fungi to interact with minerals, metals, metalloids and organic compounds through biomechanical and biochemical processes, makes them ideally suited as biological weathering agents of rock and building stone. They also play a fundamental role in biogeochemical cycling of nutrients, (e.g. C, N, P and S) and metals (e.g. Na, Mg, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Co and Ni) essential for the growth of living organisms in the biosphere. In addition they play an integral role in the mobilization and immobilization of non-essential metals (e.g. Cs, Al, Cd, Hg and Pb). Most studies on mineral-microbe interactions and microbial involvement in geological processes have concentrated on bacteria and archaea (Prokaryota): fungi (Eukaryota) have, to a certain extent, been neglected. This article addresses the role of fungi in geomicrobiological processes, emphasizing their deteriorative potential on rock, building stone and mineral surfaces and involvement in the formation of secondary mycogenic minerals. Such roles of fungi are also of importance for the global carbon reservoir and have potential biotechnological applications, e.g. in the bioremediation of xenobiotic-, metal- and/or radionuclide-contaminated soils and wastes, and metal/radionuclide recovery.

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Fossil Fungi (Endogonaceae) From the Triassic of Antarctica

Cited by 21 publications

References 25 publications

Fossil evidence of the zygomycetous fungi

Fossil evidence of the zygomycetous fungi

Structurally preserved fungi from Antarctica: diversity and interactions in late Palaeozoic and Mesozoic polar forest ecosystems

Fungal involvement in bioweathering and biotransformation of rocks and minerals

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