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Fossils of parasitic fungi
  • Cihang Luo,
  • Danny Haelewaters,
  • Michael Krings
Cihang Luo
Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
Danny Haelewaters
Ghent University, University of South Bohemia, Universidad Autónoma de Chiriquí

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Michael Krings
SNSB-Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Geologie, University of Kansas, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München

Abstract

Parasitic fungi occur in virtually every ecosystem, where they can significantly affect the functions of other organisms. Fungal parasites were probably also widespread in the geologic past. However, evidence of fossil fungi and their ecological roles is relatively rare. Here we demonstrate a spectrum of (putative) parasitic relationships in ancient continental ecosystems, using fossil examples of Chytridiomycota, zygomycetous fungi, Basidiomycota, and Ascomycota, along with several fungal fossils whose affinities remain unknown, from different periods of the Phanerozoic. Although many of the hosts no longer exist, the fungi involved mostly appear morphologically very similar to extant forms.