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Characterizing the branching architecture of drepanophycalean lycophytes (Lycopsida): an exceptional specimen from the Early Devonian Hunsrück Slate, southwest Germany, and its paleobiological implications

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Abstract

An exceptionally large and well-preserved drepanophycalean lycophyte specimen from the Early Emsian Hunsrück Slate exhibits branching morphology and architecture that suggest previously unrecognized diversity of drepanophycalean lycophytes in the German Early Devonian. The specimen shows long prostrate axes giving rise to both rooting axes and erect leafy, unbranched axes via K-branching. Rhizomatous growth along the substrate promoted rapid vegetative expansion of the plant forming monoclonal patches, potential adaptations to colonizing an unstable deltaic environment. K-branches including dormant buds may have allowed resurrection of the shoot system following burial by sediment or damage to growing shoot apices. Cutbank erosion may have uprooted parts of the plants, which were then transported into the open marine areas and eventually buried in the Hunsrück Slate depositional environment. We hypothesize that remains of Late Silurian/Early Devonian plants (and possibly Prototaxites) may have drifted for many kilometers and were large enough to raft small organisms over considerable distances. Thus, the Late Silurian/Early Devonian may have witnessed the earliest passive oceanic dispersal by rafting of terrestrial invertebrates and therefore marks a crucial time in Earth’s history with respect to this important paleobiogeographical factor.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Dr. Herbert Lutz and Thomas Engel (both Natural History Museum/State Collection of Natural History of Rhineland-Palatinate, Mainz) for providing the specimens in their care, Peter Hohenstein (Lautertal) for the outstanding fossil preparation, and Hans Vogtel (Rhaunen) for taking great care in assembling all relevant parts when finding this unique specimen. Sabine Treptow (Waldesch) greatly helped in the preparation of figures and Manfred Neumann (Direktion Landesarchäologie/Außenstelle Koblenz) provided photographs of the fossil in overall view. We greatly acknowledge the constructive reviews by Dr. Christopher M. Berry (Cardiff) and Prof. Philippe Gerrienne (Liège), as well as the editorial advice provided by Drs. Evelyn Kustatscher (Bolzano) and Mike Reich (Munich).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Generaldirektion Kulturelles Erbe RLP, Direktion Landesarchäologie/Erdgeschichte, Niederberger Höhe 1, 56077, Koblenz, Germany

    Markus Poschmann

  2. Ossietzkystraße 5, 53123, Bonn, Germany

    Rolf Gossmann

  3. University of Michigan, 500 S State St, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA

    Kelly K. S. Matsunaga

  4. Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA, 95521, USA

    Alexandru M. F. Tomescu

Authors
  1. Markus Poschmann
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  2. Rolf Gossmann
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  3. Kelly K. S. Matsunaga
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  4. Alexandru M. F. Tomescu
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Markus Poschmann.

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Handling Editor: Evelyn Kustatscher.

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Poschmann, M., Gossmann, R., Matsunaga, K.K.S. et al. Characterizing the branching architecture of drepanophycalean lycophytes (Lycopsida): an exceptional specimen from the Early Devonian Hunsrück Slate, southwest Germany, and its paleobiological implications. PalZ 94, 1–16 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12542-018-00443-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12542-018-00443-w

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