Diversity of fungi and fungus-like organisms within the only known Mesozoic hot spring ecosystem (Patagonia, Argentina)

JUAN GARCÍA MASSINI1, ALAN CHANNING2, DIEGO GUIDO3, ALBA ZAMUNER4

Tokyo

Congreso; 13th International Palynological Congress & 9th International Organisation of Palaeobotany Conference; 2012

Here, we report for the first time the presence of fungi and fungus-like microorganisms from a Mesozoic hot-spring ecosystem. This Jurassic 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 remains include variously-shaped bodies, spores and hyphae that show affinities with ascomycetes, chytridiomycetes, oomycetes and others of uncertain affinity. Many of these microorganisms occur dispersed in chert matrix, but others are associated with variously decayed organic remains including animals and plants, mainly horsetails. This report expands the fungal fossil record and provides a unique opportunity to learn about the biology of Mesozoic microorganisms.