Hagenococcus aggregatus nov gen. et sp., a microscopic, colony-forming alga from the 410-million-yr-old Rhynie chert

Krings, Michael; Kerp, Hans; Taylor, Edith L. and Harper, Carla J. (2017): Hagenococcus aggregatus nov gen. et sp., a microscopic, colony-forming alga from the 410-million-yr-old Rhynie chert. In: Nova Hedwigia, Vol. 105, No. 43132: pp. 205-217

Abstract

Photoautotrophic microorganisms were likely abundant in the Early Devonian Rhynie ecosystem;however, documented evidence of these life forms is rare. Hagenococcus aggregatus nov. gen. et sp. occurs in the Rhynie chert matrix as solitary cells, dyads, triads, linear, decussate, and isobilateral tetrads, sarcinoid packets, short filaments, irregular aggregations, and colonies. Individual cells are 15-40(->55) mu m in diameter. While it cannot be ruled out that H. aggregatus is a large cyanobacterium, affinities to the Chlorophyta or Streptophyta are far more likely. Some of the cells contain a prominent, spheroid inclusion which might represent the pyrenoid. Hagenococcus aggregatus expands our knowledge of the diversity of primary producers in Paleozoic non-marine ecosystems.

• Item Type: Journal article
• Faculties: Geosciences > Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
• Subjects: 500 Science > 550 Earth sciences and geology
• ISSN: 0029-5035
• Language: English