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Filamentous cyanobacteria preserved in masses of fungal hyphae from the Triassic of Antarctica.

ABSTRACT: Permineralized peat from the central Transantarctic Mountains of Antarctica has provided a wealth of information on plant and fungal diversity in Middle Triassic high-latitude forest paleoecosystems; however, there are no reports as yet of algae or cyanobacteria. The first record of a fossil filamentous cyanobacterium in this peat consists of wide, uniseriate trichomes composed of discoid cells up to 25 µm wide, and enveloped in a distinct sheath. Filament morphology, structurally preserved by permineralization and mineral replacement, corresponds to the fossil genus Palaeo-lyngbya, a predominantly Precambrian equivalent of the extant Lyngbya sensu lato (Oscillatoriaceae, Oscillatoriales). Specimens occur exclusively in masses of interwoven hyphae produced by the fungus Endochaetophora antarctica, suggesting that a special micro-environmental setting was required to preserve the filaments. Whether some form of symbiotic relationship existed between the fungus and cyanobacterium remains unknown.

SUBMITTER: Harper CJ

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7058104 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Filamentous cyanobacteria preserved in masses of fungal hyphae from the Triassic of Antarctica.

Harper Carla J CJ Taylor Edith L EL Krings Michael M

PeerJ 20200302

Permineralized peat from the central Transantarctic Mountains of Antarctica has provided a wealth of information on plant and fungal diversity in Middle Triassic high-latitude forest paleoecosystems; however, there are no reports as yet of algae or cyanobacteria. The first record of a fossil filamentous cyanobacterium in this peat consists of wide, uniseriate trichomes composed of discoid cells up to 25 µm wide, and enveloped in a distinct sheath. Filament morphology, structurally preserved by p ...[more]

PMID: 32175190

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Dataset Information

Filamentous cyanobacteria preserved in masses of fungal hyphae from the Triassic of Antarctica.

Publications

Filamentous cyanobacteria preserved in masses of fungal hyphae from the Triassic of Antarctica.

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