Ivarsson, Magnus et al. (2012): Fossilized fungi in subseafloor Eocene basalts

Leg/Site/Hole:
ODP 197
ODP 197 1206
Identifier:
2012-018490
georefid

10.1130/G32590.1
doi

Creator:
Ivarsson, Magnus
Swedish Museum of Natural History, Department of Palaeozoology, Stockholm, Sweden
author

Bengtson, Stefan
Paul Scherrer Institute, Switzerland
author

Belivanova, Veneta
author

Stampanoni, Marco
author

Marone, Federica
author

Tehler, Anders
author

Identification:
Fossilized fungi in subseafloor Eocene basalts
2012
Geology (Boulder)
Geological Society of America (GSA), Boulder, CO, United States
40
2
163-166
The deep biosphere of subseafloor basalts is thought to consist of mainly prokaryotes (bacteria and archaea). Here we report fossilized filamentous microorganisms from subseafloor basalts interpreted as fossilized fungal hyphae, probably Dikarya, rather than fossilized prokaryotes. The basalts were collected during the Ocean Drilling Program Leg 197 at the Emperor Seamounts, North Pacific Ocean, and the fossilized fungi are observed in carbonate-filled veins and vesicles in samples that represent a depth of approximately 150 m below the seafloor. Three-dimensional visualizations using synchrotron-radiation X-ray tomographic microscopy show characteristic fungal morphology of the mycelium-like network, such as frequent branching, anastomosis, and septa. Possible presence of chitin in the hypha walls was detected by staining with Wheat Germ Agglutinin conjugated with Fluorescein Isothiocyanate and examination using fluorescence microscopy. The presence of fungi in subseafloor basalts challenges the present understanding of the deep subseafloor biosphere as being exclusively prokaryotic.
English
Serial
Coverage:Geographic coordinates:
North:34.5600
West:172.0900East: 172.0900
South:34.5600

Paleobotany; basalts; biosphere; Cenozoic; computed tomography data; Dikarya; Emperor Seamounts; Eocene; experimental studies; fluorescence; fossilization; fungi; hyphae; igneous rocks; Leg 197; marine environment; microfossils; microorganisms; North Pacific; Northwest Pacific; Ocean Drilling Program; ODP Site 1206; Pacific Ocean; paleoecology; Paleogene; problematic fossils; problematic microfossils; sample preparation; SRTXM data; submarine environment; synchrotron radiation; Tertiary; three-dimensional models; volcanic rocks; West Pacific;

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