FOSSIL FUNGAS OF THE ZHANGPU BIOTA OF SOUTHEASTERN CHINA

It is critical to understand how fungal assemblages (fungas) will react to climate change as they form one of the bases for nutrient and carbon cycling through ecosystems. One analog for the project repercussions of current warming is the Miocene Climate Optimum (~18-13 Ma). By studying fossil fungas with the nearest living relative method, the Fungi in a Warmer World team has generated a global data set of fungal climate reconstructions at and around the MCO, in addition to supporting the value and validity of fungas as a paleoclimate and paleoecological proxy. Here we present a record of the fungas of the Zhangpu Biota preserved in the Fotan formation of Southeastern China (Middle Miocene, ~14.7 Ma) and discuss paleoclimatological and paleoecological interpretations. While tropical to subtropical forest saprophytes are predominant, all ecological niches excepting keratinophilous (fur-dwelling) have been identified. Many fungi recovered are obligate saprophytes on specific plants that have not been previously identified in the biota. Together, these results suggest a more diverse ecosystem than previously known.