Geologic history of epiphyllous fungi with affinities to the Loculoascomycetes

GARCÍA MASSINI, J.L.

Vienna, Austria

Congreso; XVII International Botanical Congress; 2005

Abstract Symbiotic interactions in nature are important driving forces that promote diversification and influence the biogeographic patterns of the entities involved. Accordingly, parasitism and saprotrophism would not be single isolated biological interactions, but exchangeable dynamic relationships that, as influenced by the environment and the intrinsic biology of each individual involved, include all other forms of symbiosis. Although fungi have a long history, their frequent occurrence in the fossil record as dispersed individuals and the recurrent lack of preservation of their diagnostic features encumbers establishment of affinities with extant members. Notwithstanding, fungi are obligate heterotrophic organisms that are dependent on the presence of other biological individuals for existence. As a result, the occurrence of fungi in past ecosystems may have been determined by the presence of certain taxa of other organisms. In this contribution, the geographic distribution of epiphyllous fungi throughout the Tertiary and part of the Mesozoic is evaluated and correlated with the occurrence of host plant taxa and particular climatic conditions.