Devonian landscape heterogeneity recorded by a giant fungus

Research Article| May 01, 2007 Devonian landscape heterogeneity recorded by a giant fungus C. Kevin Boyce; C. Kevin Boyce 1Department of the Geophysical Sciences, University of Chicago, 5734 South Ellis Ave., Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Carol L. Hotton; Carol L. Hotton 2Department of Paleobiology, NHB MRC 121, National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C. 20560, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Marilyn L. Fogel; Marilyn L. Fogel 3Geophysical Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington, 5251 Broad Branch Road NW, Washington, D.C. 20015, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar George D. Cody; George D. Cody 3Geophysical Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington, 5251 Broad Branch Road NW, Washington, D.C. 20015, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Robert M. Hazen; Robert M. Hazen 3Geophysical Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington, 5251 Broad Branch Road NW, Washington, D.C. 20015, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Andrew H. Knoll; Andrew H. Knoll 4Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, 26 Oxford Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Francis M. Hueber Francis M. Hueber 5Department of Paleobiology, NHB MRC 121, National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C. 20560, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information C. Kevin Boyce 1Department of the Geophysical Sciences, University of Chicago, 5734 South Ellis Ave., Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA Carol L. Hotton 2Department of Paleobiology, NHB MRC 121, National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C. 20560, USA Marilyn L. Fogel 3Geophysical Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington, 5251 Broad Branch Road NW, Washington, D.C. 20015, USA George D. Cody 3Geophysical Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington, 5251 Broad Branch Road NW, Washington, D.C. 20015, USA Robert M. Hazen 3Geophysical Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington, 5251 Broad Branch Road NW, Washington, D.C. 20015, USA Andrew H. Knoll 4Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, 26 Oxford Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA Francis M. Hueber 5Department of Paleobiology, NHB MRC 121, National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C. 20560, USA Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 21 Sep 2006 Revision Received: 07 Dec 2006 Accepted: 17 Dec 2006 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (2007) 35 (5): 399–402. https://doi.org/10.1130/G23384A.1 Article history Received: 21 Sep 2006 Revision Received: 07 Dec 2006 Accepted: 17 Dec 2006 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 C. Kevin Boyce, Carol L. Hotton, Marilyn L. Fogel, George D. Cody, Robert M. Hazen, Andrew H. Knoll, Francis M. Hueber; Devonian landscape heterogeneity recorded by a giant fungus. Geology 2007;; 35 (5): 399–402. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G23384A.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 enigmatic Paleozoic fossil PrototaxitesDawson 1859 consists of tree-like trunks as long as 8 m constructed of interwoven tubes <50 mm in diameter. Prototaxites specimens from five localities differ from contemporaneous vascular plants by exhibiting a carbon isotopic range, within and between localities, of as much as 13‰ δ13C. Pyrolysis–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry highlights compositional differences between Prototaxites and co-occurring plant fossils and supports interpretation of isotopic distinctions as biological rather than diagenetic in origin. Such a large isotopic range is difficult to reconcile with an autotrophic metabolism, suggesting instead that, consistent with anatomy-based interpretation as a fungus, Prototaxites was a heterotroph that lived on isotopically heterogeneous substrates. Light isotopic values of Prototaxites approximate those of vascular plants from the same localities; in contrast, heavy extremes seen in the Lower Devonian appear to reflect consumption of primary producers with carbon-concentrating mechanisms, such as cryptobiotic soil crusts, or possibly bryophytes. Prototaxites biogeochemistry thus suggests that a biologically heterogeneous mosaic of primary producers characterized land surfaces well into the vascular plant era. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.