Cancellidium intergraniferum (R. Potonié & S.C.D. Sah) G. Worobiec & E. Worobiec, comb. nov. from the Miocene of Poland, with remarks on the fossil history and palaeoecological potential of Cancellidium

Abstract

ABSTRACT Fungal palynomorph corresponding to the fossil-species Lirasporis intergranifer R. Potonié & S.C.D. Sah, from the Middle Miocene lignite mine from Tomisławice (central Poland), was considered as a new combination Cancellidium intergraniferum (R. Potonié & S.C.D. Sah) G. Worobiec & E. Worobiec, comb. nov. Fossil-genus Lirasporis is treated as synonym of modern Cancellidium genus. C. intergraniferum from the Miocene of Poland documents the first fossil record of the Cancellidium Tubaki genus outside Asia, the first record of this genus from Europe, and the northernmost known fossil occurrence of Cancellidium. Living representatives of Cancellidium seem to prefer warm and humid climates and being aero-aquatic hyphomycetes are usually associated with decaying woody remains in aquatic environment. Similar ecology is suggested for the fossil C. intergraniferum, which could be a reliable fungal non-pollen palynomorph proxy for palaeoclimatic and palaeoenvironmental reconstructions.