Published in

Elsevier, Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, (348-349), p. 45-58

DOI: 10.1016/j.palaeo.2012.06.006

Links

Tools

Export citation

Search in Google Scholar

Arthropod interactions with bennettitalean roots in a Triassic permineralized peat from Hopen, Svalbard Archipelago (Arctic)

Journal article published in 2012 by C. Strullu Derrien ORCID, S. Mcloughlin, M. Philippe, A. Mørk, D. G. Strullu
This paper is available in a repository.
This paper is available in a repository.

Full text: Download

Green circle
Preprint: archiving allowed
Red circle
Postprint: archiving forbidden
Red circle
Published version: archiving forbidden
Data provided by SHERPA/RoMEO

Abstract

Multiple thin-sections of a Late Triassic (Carnian) siliceous permineralized peat block likely derived from the De Geerdalen Formation on Hopen Island, Svalbard Archipelago, show a dense mass of roots preserving fine anatomical details of various stages of primary and secondary vascular tissue development. The presence of moderately defined rings with few latewood cells in the secondary xylem attests to growth in a seasonal en-vironment. The presence of mucilage bodies and nests of sclerotic cells in the cortical tissues of the roots and pith of subaerial stem fragments, together with scalariform pitting on radial tracheid walls and 2–12 simple pits per cross-field favor bennettitalean affinities for the roots. Evidence of a rich fauna of detritivores inhabiting the peat profile is represented in the form of extensive damage to cortical tissues of dead roots and abundant coprolites preserved both within chambers excavated in the plant tissues and in the peat matrix. Less common gall-like structures within the roots indicate the presence of parasitic organisms in the palaeo-peat ecosystem.