| Abstract Detail
Paleobotanical Section Schwendemann, Andrew B. [1], Taylor, Thomas N. [1], Taylor, Edith L. [1], Serbet, Rudolph [2]. Gondwanan Ferns from the Triassic of Antarctica. The second radiation of the ferns marks the return of diversity to a group that experienced declining numbers during the Late Paleozoic. It was during this radiation that several ancestral members of extant families are first seen in the fossil record. Most ferns found in Gondwana during this time, and known from compression/impression fossils, include the Osmundaceae, Marattiaceae, and Gleicheniaceae and several morphogenera. This radiation of ferns is documented in Antarctica from silicified remains. Filicalean fern stems, petioles, and sporangia have been described from the Permian and a dipterid fern with petioles, pinnules, and sporangia from the Jurassic. The greatest diversity of Antarctic ferns has so far been found in the Middle Triassic. Seven different ferns are known from vegetative remains, and three others have been described based on preserved sporangia. This group includes members of the Gleicheniaceae, Marattiaceae, Matoniaceae, Osmundaceae, and a possible member of either the Cyatheaceae or Pteridaceae. Work on the Triassic ferns of Antarctica continues and several new forms are discussed.
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1 - University of Kansas, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Research Center, 1200 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, Kansas, 66045-7534, USA
2 - University of Kansas, Division of Paleobotany, Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Research Center, 1200 Sunnyside Ave., Lawrence, Kansas, 66045-7534, USA
Keywords:
Triassic
Antarctica
Fern.
Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Sections
Session: CP04
Location: Williford A/Hilton
Date: Monday, July 9th, 2007
Time: 9:00 AM
Number: CP04005
Abstract ID:1533 |
