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Early fungi from the Proterozoic era in Arctic Canada

Author

Listed:
  • Corentin C. Loron

    (University of Liège)

  • Camille François

    (University of Liège)

  • Robert H. Rainbird

    (Geological Survey of Canada)

  • Elizabeth C. Turner

    (Laurentian University)

  • Stephan Borensztajn

    (UMR 7154 CNRS, Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris)

  • Emmanuelle J. Javaux

    (University of Liège)

Abstract

Fungi are crucial components of modern ecosystems. They may have had an important role in the colonization of land by eukaryotes, and in the appearance and success of land plants and metazoans1–3. Nevertheless, fossils that can unambiguously be identified as fungi are absent from the fossil record until the middle of the Palaeozoic era4,5. Here we show, using morphological, ultrastructural and spectroscopic analyses, that multicellular organic-walled microfossils preserved in shale of the Grassy Bay Formation (Shaler Supergroup, Arctic Canada), which dates to approximately 1,010–890 million years ago, have a fungal affinity. These microfossils are more than half a billion years older than previously reported unambiguous occurrences of fungi, a date which is consistent with data from molecular clocks for the emergence of this clade6,7. In extending the fossil record of the fungi, this finding also pushes back the minimum date for the appearance of eukaryotic crown group Opisthokonta, which comprises metazoans, fungi and their protist relatives8,9.

Suggested Citation

  • Corentin C. Loron & Camille François & Robert H. Rainbird & Elizabeth C. Turner & Stephan Borensztajn & Emmanuelle J. Javaux, 2019. "Early fungi from the Proterozoic era in Arctic Canada," Nature, Nature, vol. 570(7760), pages 232-235, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:570:y:2019:i:7760:d:10.1038_s41586-019-1217-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41586-019-1217-0
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    Cited by:

    1. C. C. Loron & E. Rodriguez Dzul & P. J. Orr & A. V. Gromov & N. C. Fraser & S. McMahon, 2023. "Molecular fingerprints resolve affinities of Rhynie chert organic fossils," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-7, December.

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