Fossilized fungi in subseafloor Eocene basalts

Abstract

Research Article| February 01, 2012 Fossilized fungi in subseafloor Eocene basalts Magnus Ivarsson; Magnus Ivarsson * 1Department of Palaeozoology and Nordic Center for Earth Evolution, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Box 50007, SE-104 05 Stockholm, Sweden *E-mail: magnus.ivarsson@nrm.se. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Stefan Bengtson; Stefan Bengtson 1Department of Palaeozoology and Nordic Center for Earth Evolution, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Box 50007, SE-104 05 Stockholm, Sweden Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Veneta Belivanova; Veneta Belivanova 2Department of Palaeozoology, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Box 50007, SE-104 05 Stockholm, Sweden Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Marco Stampanoni; Marco Stampanoni 3Swiss Light Source, Paul Scherrer Institute, CH-5232 Villigen, Switzerland4Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University and ETH Zürich, CH-8092 Zürich, Switzerland Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Federica Marone; Federica Marone 3Swiss Light Source, Paul Scherrer Institute, CH-5232 Villigen, Switzerland Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Anders Tehler Anders Tehler 5Department of Cryptogamic Botany, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Box 50007, SE-104 05 Stockholm, Sweden Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (2012) 40 (2): 163–166. https://doi.org/10.1130/G32590.1 Article history received: 28 Jun 2011 rev-recd: 09 Sep 2011 accepted: 19 Sep 2011 first online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Magnus Ivarsson, Stefan Bengtson, Veneta Belivanova, Marco Stampanoni, Federica Marone, Anders Tehler; Fossilized fungi in subseafloor Eocene basalts. Geology 2012;; 40 (2): 163–166. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G32590.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract 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 ∼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. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.