Mougeotia (Zygnemaceae, Streptophyta) in Australia

Skinner, Stephen; Entwisle, Timothy J.

doi:10.7751/telopea9148

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

References 7 publications

(15 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Mougeotia, Spirogyra), pseudobranchs (e.g. Klebsormidium) and conjugation tubes (Zygnematophyceae) [66][67][68]. Given the number of filaments (greater than 1600) investigated from IB deposits and their exceptional preservation, it is most parsimonious that additional morphological characters are absent (rather than not preserved) from the external morphology of the filaments.…”

Section: Biological Affinitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

In situfilamentous communities from the Ediacaran (approx. 563 Ma) of Brazil

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Precambrian filamentous microfossils are common and diverse. Nevertheless, their taxonomic assignment can be difficult owing to their overall simple shapes typically lacking in diagnostic features. Here, we report in situ communities of well-preserved, large filamentous impressions from the Ediacaran Itajaí Basin ( ca 563 Ma) of Brazil. The filaments are uniserial (unbranched) and can reach up to 200 µm in width and up to 44 mm in length. They occur as both densely packed or sparsely populated surfaces, and typically show a consistent orientation. Although simple in shape, their preferred orientation suggests they were tethered to the seafloor, and their overall flexibility (e.g. bent, folded and twisted) supports a biological (rather than sedimentary) affinity. Biometric comparisons with modern filamentous groups further support their biological affinity, suggesting links with either large sulfide-oxidizing bacteria (SOB) or eukaryotes. Other morphological and palaeoecological characteristics further corroborates their similarities with modern large filamentous SOB. Their widespread occurrence and association with complex Ediacaran macrobiota (e.g. frondose organisms, Palaeopascichnus ) suggest that they probably played an important role in the ecological dynamics of these early benthic communities by providing firm substrates for metazoans to inhabit. It is further hypothesized that the dynamic redox condition in the latest Ediacaran, with the non-continuous rise in oxygen concentration and periods of hypoxia, may have created ideal conditions for SOB to thrive.

show abstract

Section: Biological Affinitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%