Abstract Detail

Paleobotany

Harper, Carla J [1], Krings, Michael [1], Taylor, Thomas N [2], Taylor, Edith L [3].

Does size matter? A minute chytrid-like organism from the Rhynie chert.

The Lower Devonian Rhynie chert is famous for preserving a diversity of chytrid-like microorganisms. Among these is a minute life-form that was initially described based on a few specimens occurring within land plant tissue, and interpreted as a holocarpic, Olpidium-like chytrid characterized by a spherical zoosporangium with a single discharge tube. Surrounding the zoosporangium is an envelope that was initially interpreted as an endophytic alga colonized by the chytrid. New material provides additional information on the structure and biology of this organism. Specimens may occur singly or in clusters of up to several hundred individuals. All specimens indicate that this organism was attached to some substrate, favorably plant cell walls. We hypothesize that cluster morphology depends on the shape of the substrate. For example, linear arrangements occur in narrow, elongate host cells. Moreover, this organism was obviously small enough to enter and colonize intact and partially degraded plant cells. The new specimens also show that what was originally interpreted as an algal cell in fact is a structural element of the organism itself, and thus that the organism cannot be directly compared to Olipidum, but likely represents a new type of holocarpic organism for the Rhynie chert.

1 - Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Department für Geo- und Umweltwissenschaften, Paläontologie und Geobiologie, Richard-Wagner-Straße 10, Munich, 80333, Germany
2 - University Of Kansas, Department Of Ecology And Evolutionary Biology, 1200 Sunnyside Avenue, Haworth Hall, Lawrence, KS, 66045-2106, USA
3 - University Of Kansas, Department Of Ecology And Evolutionary Biology, 1200 Sunnyside Avenue, Haworth Hall, Lawrence, KS, 66045-7600, USA

Keywords:
fossil fungi
Chytridiomycota
Devonian
interactions
saprotroph.

Presentation Type: Poster
Session: P, Paleobotany posters
Location: Exhibit Hall/Omni Hotel
Date: Monday, June 26th, 2017
Time: 5:30 PM This poster will be presented at 5:30 pm. The Poster Session runs from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm. Posters with odd poster numbers are presented at 5:30 pm, and posters with even poster numbers are presented at 6:15 pm.
Number: PPB003
Abstract ID:140
Candidate for Awards:None