FIRST REPORT OF FUNGI AND FUNGUS-LIKE ORGANISMS FROM MESOZOIC HOT SPRINGS

Herein we provide the first report of the diversity of fungi and fungus-like organisms within a Mesozoic hot spring ecosystem. The Jurassic San Agustín hot spring deposit (Patagonia, Argentina), represents only the second known Phanerozoic hot spring ecosystem with an associated microflora and conta...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Palaios 2012-01, Vol.27 (1), p.55-62
Main Authors: GARCÍA MASSINI, JUAN, CHANNING, ALAN, GUIDO, DIEGO M, ZAMUNER, ALBA B
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Argentina
Ascomycetes
Ascomycota
Bahia Laura Group
Coelomycetes
Deseado Massif
Fossils
Fungal spores
Fungi
Hot springs
Hyphae
Jurassic
Massifs
Mesozoic
microfossils
Microorganisms
Microthyriales
morphology
Paleobotany
palynomorphs
Patagonia
Pycnidia
RESEARCH NOTE
San Agustin
Santa Cruz Argentina
South America
spores
springs
Taxa
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Summary:Herein we provide the first report of the diversity of fungi and fungus-like organisms within a Mesozoic hot spring ecosystem. The Jurassic San Agustín hot spring deposit (Patagonia, Argentina), represents only the second known Phanerozoic hot spring ecosystem with an associated microflora and contains diverse, exceptionally preserved microorganisms. Preserved propagules include flask-shaped pycnidia produced by extant coelomycetes, shield-like and nearly round thyriothecia of extant Microthyriales in the ascomycetes, variously shaped spore-like bodies representing chytrid and chytrid-like zoosporangia and other life cycle forms, and additional fungal and fungus-like remains (spores, hyphal fragments, reproductive structures) of uncertain affinity. Many of these microorganisms are associated with variously decayed organic remains, most commonly of horsetails. This expands the fungal fossil record and provides a unique opportunity to learn about the biology of Mesozoic microorganisms.
ISSN:0883-1351
1938-5323
DOI:10.2110/palo.2011.p11-076r