Lichen metabolism identified in Early Devonian terrestrial organisms

Research Article| February 01, 2003 Lichen metabolism identified in Early Devonian terrestrial organisms A. Hope Jahren; A. Hope Jahren 1Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Steven Porter; Steven Porter 1Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Jeffrey J. Kuglitsch Jeffrey J. Kuglitsch 2Milwaukee Public Museum, 800 West Wells Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (2003) 31 (2): 99–102. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2003)031<0099:LMIIED>2.0.CO;2 Article history received: 23 Jun 2002 rev-recd: 06 Oct 2002 accepted: 10 Oct 2002 first online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation A. Hope Jahren, Steven Porter, Jeffrey J. Kuglitsch; Lichen metabolism identified in Early Devonian terrestrial organisms. Geology 2003;; 31 (2): 99–102. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2003)031<0099:LMIIED>2.0.CO;2 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 We used δ13C values to identify lichen metabolism in the globally distributed Early Devonian (409–386 Ma) macrofossil Spongiophyton minutissimum, which had been alternatively interpreted as a green plant of bryophyte grade or as a lichen, based on its morphology. Extant mosses and hornworts exhibited a range of δ13Ctissue values that was discrete from that of extant lichens. The δ13Ctissue values of 96 S. minutissimum specimens coincided with δ13Ctissue values of extant lichens. In contrast, S. minutissimum δ13Ctissue values showed no similarity to bryophyte carbon isotope values. The identification of large global populations of lichens during the Early Devonian may indicate that lichen-accelerated soil formation fostered the development of Paleozoic terrestrial ecosystems. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.