Abstract
The fossil record of lichens is scarce and many putative fossil lichens do
not show an actual physiological relationship between mycobionts and
photobionts or a typical habit, and are therefore disputed. Amber has
preserved a huge variety of organisms in microscopic fidelity, and so the
study of amber fossils is promising for elucidating the fossil history of
lichens. However, so far it has not been tested as to how amber inclusions of
lichens are preserved regarding their internal characters, ultrastructure,
and chemofossils. Here, we apply light microscopy, scanning electron
microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and Raman
spectroscopy to an amber-preserved Eocene lichen in order to gain
information about the preservation of the fossil. The lichen thallus
displays lifelike tissue preservation including the upper and lower cortex,
medulla, photobiont layer, apothecia, and soredia. SEM analysis revealed
globular photobiont cells in contact with the fungal hyphae, as well as impressions
of possible former crystals of lichen compounds. EDX analysis permitted the
differentiation between halite and pyrite crystals inside the lichen which
were likely formed during the later diagenesis of the amber piece. Raman
spectroscopy revealed the preservation of organic compounds and a difference
between the composition of the cortex and the medulla of the fossil.
Citation
ID:
226479
Ref Key:
hartl2015fossillichen