69
© The Author(s) 2021
K. De Baets, J. W. Huntley (eds.), The Evolution and Fossil Record of Parasitism,
Topics in Geobiology 49, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-42484-8_3
Chapter 3
Fungi as Parasites: A Conspectus
of the Fossil Record
Carla J. Harper and Michael Krings
Abstract Fungal parasites are important drivers in ecosystem dynamics today that
can have far-reaching effects on the performance and community structure of other
organisms. Knowledge of the fossil record and evolution of fungal parasitism is
therefore a key component of our understanding of the complexity and functioning
of ancient ecosystems. However, the fossil record of fungi as parasites remains
exceedingly incomplete for several reasons. This chapter provides selected fossil
examples of (putative) fungal parasites in association with land plants, algae, other
fungi, and animals, and elucidates the inherent problems that often render interpretation of even the most exquisite fungal fossils difficult. Of all the potential levels of
fungal interaction, parasitism is perhaps the most difficult to demonstrate in the
fossil record. Different lines of evidence obtained from both the host and fungus are
required to safely discriminate parasitic fungi from saprotrophs and even mutualists
when examined in fossils.
Keywords Chert · Disease symptom · Host response · Interaction ·
Mycoparasitism · Preservation · Rhynie chert
C. J. Harper (*)
Botany Department, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
SNSB-Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Geologie, Munich, Germany
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Institute, University of Kansas,
Lawrence, KS, USA
e-mail: charper@tcd.ie
M. Krings
SNSB-Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Geologie, Munich, Germany
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Institute, University of Kansas, Lawrence,
KS, USA
Department für Geo- und Umweltwissenschaften, Paläontologie und Geobiologie, LudwigMaximilians- Universität, Munich, Germany
e-mail: krings@snsb.de
© The Author(s) 2021
K. De Baets, J. W. Huntley (eds.), The Evolution and Fossil Record of Parasitism,
Topics in Geobiology 49, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-42484-8_3
Chapter 3
Fungi as Parasites: A Conspectus
of the Fossil Record
Carla J. Harper and Michael Krings
Abstract Fungal parasites are important drivers in ecosystem dynamics today that
can have far-reaching effects on the performance and community structure of other
organisms. Knowledge of the fossil record and evolution of fungal parasitism is
therefore a key component of our understanding of the complexity and functioning
of ancient ecosystems. However, the fossil record of fungi as parasites remains
exceedingly incomplete for several reasons. This chapter provides selected fossil
examples of (putative) fungal parasites in association with land plants, algae, other
fungi, and animals, and elucidates the inherent problems that often render interpretation of even the most exquisite fungal fossils difficult. Of all the potential levels of
fungal interaction, parasitism is perhaps the most difficult to demonstrate in the
fossil record. Different lines of evidence obtained from both the host and fungus are
required to safely discriminate parasitic fungi from saprotrophs and even mutualists
when examined in fossils.
Keywords Chert · Disease symptom · Host response · Interaction ·
Mycoparasitism · Preservation · Rhynie chert
C. J. Harper (*)
Botany Department, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
SNSB-Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Geologie, Munich, Germany
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Institute, University of Kansas,
Lawrence, KS, USA
e-mail: charper@tcd.ie
M. Krings
SNSB-Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Geologie, Munich, Germany
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Institute, University of Kansas, Lawrence,
KS, USA
Department für Geo- und Umweltwissenschaften, Paläontologie und Geobiologie, LudwigMaximilians- Universität, Munich, Germany
e-mail: krings@snsb.de