Cryptic terrestrial fungus-like fossils of the early Ediacaran Period

Tian Gan, Taiyi Luo (), Ke Pang (), Chuanming Zhou, Guanghong Zhou, Bin Wan, Gang Li, Qiru Yi, Andrew D. Czaja and Shuhai Xiao ()
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Tian Gan: Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Taiyi Luo: Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Ke Pang: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Chuanming Zhou: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Guanghong Zhou: Guizhou Education University
Bin Wan: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Gang Li: Institute of High Energy Physics, CAS
Qiru Yi: University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
Andrew D. Czaja: University of Cincinnati
Shuhai Xiao: Department of Geosciences, Virginia Tech

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract The colonization of land by fungi had a significant impact on the terrestrial ecosystem and biogeochemical cycles on Earth surface systems. Although fungi may have diverged ~1500–900 million years ago (Ma) or even as early as 2400 Ma, it is uncertain when fungi first colonized the land. Here we report pyritized fungus-like microfossils preserved in the basal Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation (~635 Ma) in South China. These micro-organisms colonized and were preserved in cryptic karstic cavities formed via meteoric water dissolution related to deglacial isostatic rebound after the terminal Cryogenian snowball Earth event. They are interpreted as eukaryotes and probable fungi, thus providing direct fossil evidence for the colonization of land by fungi and offering a key constraint on fungal terrestrialization.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-20975-1

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