Sedimentological evidence for rooting structures in the Early Devonian Anglo-Welsh Basin (UK), with speculation on their producers

Hillier, Robert D.; Edwards, Dianne; Morrissey, Lance B.

doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2008.01.038

Cited by 57 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…Given that neither 13 Cenriched nor 13 C-depleted populations of Prototaxites are consistent with the exclusive consumption of vascular plants, we conclude that bryophytic and algal alternatives to vascular plants were even more important as carbon sources for Prototaxites than previously hypothesized. By linking carbon isotope patterns in both ancient Prototaxites and modern Arrhenia to that of aquatic-derived photosynthesis, our results strengthen the suggestion by Hillier et al (2008) …”

supporting

confidence: 87%

Carbon sources for the Palaeozoic giant fungusPrototaxitesinferred from modern analogues

Hobbie

Boyce

2010

Proc. R. Soc. B.

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A wide range of carbon isotope values in the Devonian fossil Prototaxites has been interpreted to support heterotrophy and the classification of Prototaxites as a giant fungus. This inference remains controversial because of the huge size of Prototaxites relative to co-occurring terrestrial vegetation and the lack of existing fungal analogues that display equally broad isotopic ranges. Here, we show wide isotopic variability in the modern saprotrophic fungus Arrhenia obscurata collected adjacent to shallow meltwater pools of a sparsely vegetated glacial succession in the Washington Cascades, USA. Soils collected specifically around the edges of these pools were up to 5‰ higher in d 13 C than adjacent soils consistent with C 3 origin. Microbial sources of primary production appear to cause these high d13 C values, and the environment may be analogous to that of the Early Devonian landscapes, where Prototaxites individuals with extreme isotopic variance were found. Carbon isotopes are also compared in Prototaxites, Devonian terrestrial vascular plants, and Devonian algal-derived lake sediments. Prototaxites isotopic values show little correspondence with those of contemporaneous tracheophytes, providing further evidence that non-vascular land plants or aquatic microbes were important contributors to its carbon sources. Thus, a saprotrophic fungal identity is supported for Prototaxites, which may have relied on deposits of algal-derived organic matter in floodplain environments that were less dominated by vascular plants than a straight reading of the macrofossil record might suggest.

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supporting

confidence: 87%

Carbon sources for the Palaeozoic giant fungusPrototaxitesinferred from modern analogues

Hobbie

Boyce

2010

Proc. R. Soc. B.

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“…Evidence from the Xujiachong Formation suggests that the traces do not represent downwardly extended roots but rather belowground rhizomes of Drepanophycus and progressive burial of a long-lived plant body. We speculate that a similar explanation may account for the remains in South Britain and Canada, where compression remains of Drepanophycus are also encountered (50,51). Paleosols are abundant in the Upper Silurian and Lower Devonian of Laurussia, for example, in Lower Old Red Sandstone facies of Britain (31,52).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 68%

Belowground rhizomes in paleosols: The hidden half of an Early Devonian vascular plant

Xue

Deng

Huang

et al. 2016

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

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The colonization of terrestrial environments by rooted vascular plants had far-reaching impacts on the Earth system. However, the belowground structures of early vascular plants are rarely documented, and thus the plant−soil interactions in early terrestrial ecosystems are poorly understood. Here we report the earliest rooted paleosols (fossil soils) in Asia from Early Devonian deposits of Yunnan, China. Plant traces are extensive within the soil and occur as complex network-like structures, which are interpreted as representing long-lived, belowground rhizomes of the basal lycopsid Drepanophycus. The rhizomes produced large clones and helped the plant survive frequent sediment burial in well-drained soils within a seasonal wet−dry climate zone. Rhizome networks contributed to the accumulation and pedogenesis of floodplain sediments and increased the soil stabilizing effects of early plants. Predating the appearance of trees with deep roots in the Middle Devonian, plant rhizomes have long functioned in the belowground soil ecosystem. This study presents strong, direct evidence for plant−soil interactions at an early stage of vascular plant radiation. Soil stabilization by complex rhizome systems was apparently widespread, and contributed to landscape modification at an earlier time than had been appreciated.

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“…Its enlarged base was likely connected to root-or rhizomorph-like structures penetrating the substrate. These might have formed casts commonly found in early Devonian strata [26]. The ultrastructure of Prototaxites (Fig.…”

Section: Prototaxites and Other Nematophytesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Prototaxites looked like a tree trunk (Fig. 4b), which had been transported to deltaic 00009-p. 6 ORIGINS sites before fossilization [25,26]. Its enlarged base was likely connected to root-or rhizomorph-like structures penetrating the substrate.…”

Section: Prototaxites and Other Nematophytesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Indeed, the idea that decimation occurred, leading to the extinction of whole taxa or organisation types [31], is familiar to plant and animal palaeontologists, but may be overlooked by palaeomycologists. Although their lichen nature remains speculative, Nematophytes are the most intriguing fossils linked to terrestrialization, and given their abundance and impact on the substrate [24][25][26], they likely played major roles in biogeochemical cycles and ecosystem structure in the SiluroDevonian. Further study of their nature and causes of their extinction may help clarifying these roles.…”

Section: Prototaxites and Other Nematophytesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Origins of the terrestrial flora: A symbiosis with fungi?

Selosse

Strullu‐Derrien

2015

BIO Web of Conferences

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Abstract. Land phototrophs need to exploit both atmosphere (providing gas and light) and substrate (furnishing water and minerals). Yet, their algal ancestors were poorly preadapted to such a life at the interface. We review the paleontological evidence that fungal symbioses which can exploit substrate resources, helped adaptation to land constraints. Diverse structures dating back to the Devonian present convincing evidence for lichens, (symbioses between fungi and microscopic algae) but fossils remain scarce, so that early lichen abundance and ecological relevance remain questionable. Several enigmatic but abundant fossils from the Siluro-Devonian, such as Spongiophyton or the giant Prototaxites (Nematophytes), likely represent fungus-algal symbioses, which shaped early terrestrial ecosystems. Yet, these taxa are fully extinct, and do not have clear affinities with extant groups. Finally, terrestrialization of Embryophyta (land plants), which currently dominate land ecosystems, is linked to a symbiosis with Glomeromycetes. Today, these fungi form arbuscular mycorrhizae, which help most Embryophyta to exploit soil, and molecular data combined with paleontological evidence support the idea that this type of association is ancestral. The role of symbiotic Mucoromycetes during terrestrialization is not fully understood and mycorrhizal association diversified later in the evolution of Embryophyta. Fungal-algal symbioses thus recurrently contributed to terrestrialization of phototrophs.

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Sedimentological evidence for rooting structures in the Early Devonian Anglo-Welsh Basin (UK), with speculation on their producers

Cited by 57 publications

References 56 publications

Carbon sources for the Palaeozoic giant fungusPrototaxitesinferred from modern analogues

Carbon sources for the Palaeozoic giant fungusPrototaxitesinferred from modern analogues

Belowground rhizomes in paleosols: The hidden half of an Early Devonian vascular plant

Origins of the terrestrial flora: A symbiosis with fungi?

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