Jurassic Osmundaceous Landscapes in Patagonia: Exploring the Concept of Ecological Stasis in the Deseado Massif, Argentina
Herein, we report the presence of a plant paleocommunity, dominated by ferns of the family Osmundaceae, structurally preserved from the only known Mesozoic, fossiliferous geothermal deposits, from the La Matilde Formation (Middle-Upper Jurassic) in the Deseado Massif of Southern Patagonia, Argentina...
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2025-01-01
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| author | Juan L. García Massini Giovanni C. Nunes Agustina Yañez Ignacio H. Escapa Diego Guido |
| author_facet | Juan L. García Massini Giovanni C. Nunes Agustina Yañez Ignacio H. Escapa Diego Guido |
| author_sort | Juan L. García Massini |
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| description | Herein, we report the presence of a plant paleocommunity, dominated by ferns of the family Osmundaceae, structurally preserved from the only known Mesozoic, fossiliferous geothermal deposits, from the La Matilde Formation (Middle-Upper Jurassic) in the Deseado Massif of Southern Patagonia, Argentina. A total of 13 siliceous chert blocks sampled in an area of approximately 250 m<sup>2</sup>, preserving a monotypic assemblage dominated by Osmundaceae embedded within its original swampy substrate, are documented. Additional Osmundaceae and fewer ferns and conifers are present in the stratigraphically continuous, adjacent chert levels. This association is comparable to those dominated by Osmundaceae in modern swampy settings, such as in high-altitude lagoons in the Paraná Forest in Northeastern Argentina. In addition, a diverse community of mutualistic, parasitic, and saprotrophic microorganisms associated with the ferns and conifers in the assemblage is present. These compositional, paleoenvironmental, and trophic characteristics of the Jurassic Osmundaceae suggest a possible case of ecological stasis, where Osmundaceae-dominated plant communities apparently persisted in swamps of comparable structures, functions, and physical characteristics for over 150 million years. This suggests that Osmundaceae formed similar communities in compatible settings in the Jurassic, becoming preserved in analogous configurations. |
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| institution | Kabale University |
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| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-9f7ff27a06cb41bab2106ee84da45b272025-01-24T13:46:34ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472025-01-0114216510.3390/plants14020165Jurassic Osmundaceous Landscapes in Patagonia: Exploring the Concept of Ecological Stasis in the Deseado Massif, ArgentinaJuan L. García Massini0Giovanni C. Nunes1Agustina Yañez2Ignacio H. Escapa3Diego Guido4Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica (CRILAR), Provincia de La Rioja, UNLaR, SEGEMAR, UNCa, Anillaco F5330AGA, La Rioja, ArgentinaConsejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Godoy Cruz 2290, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires C1425FQB, ArgentinaConsejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Godoy Cruz 2290, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires C1425FQB, ArgentinaConsejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Godoy Cruz 2290, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires C1425FQB, ArgentinaConsejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Godoy Cruz 2290, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires C1425FQB, ArgentinaHerein, we report the presence of a plant paleocommunity, dominated by ferns of the family Osmundaceae, structurally preserved from the only known Mesozoic, fossiliferous geothermal deposits, from the La Matilde Formation (Middle-Upper Jurassic) in the Deseado Massif of Southern Patagonia, Argentina. A total of 13 siliceous chert blocks sampled in an area of approximately 250 m<sup>2</sup>, preserving a monotypic assemblage dominated by Osmundaceae embedded within its original swampy substrate, are documented. Additional Osmundaceae and fewer ferns and conifers are present in the stratigraphically continuous, adjacent chert levels. This association is comparable to those dominated by Osmundaceae in modern swampy settings, such as in high-altitude lagoons in the Paraná Forest in Northeastern Argentina. In addition, a diverse community of mutualistic, parasitic, and saprotrophic microorganisms associated with the ferns and conifers in the assemblage is present. These compositional, paleoenvironmental, and trophic characteristics of the Jurassic Osmundaceae suggest a possible case of ecological stasis, where Osmundaceae-dominated plant communities apparently persisted in swamps of comparable structures, functions, and physical characteristics for over 150 million years. This suggests that Osmundaceae formed similar communities in compatible settings in the Jurassic, becoming preserved in analogous configurations.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/2/165<i>Osmunda</i>wetlandsDeseado MassifPatagoniaecological stasis |
| spellingShingle | Juan L. García Massini Giovanni C. Nunes Agustina Yañez Ignacio H. Escapa Diego Guido Jurassic Osmundaceous Landscapes in Patagonia: Exploring the Concept of Ecological Stasis in the Deseado Massif, Argentina Plants <i>Osmunda</i> wetlands Deseado Massif Patagonia ecological stasis |
| title | Jurassic Osmundaceous Landscapes in Patagonia: Exploring the Concept of Ecological Stasis in the Deseado Massif, Argentina |
| title_full | Jurassic Osmundaceous Landscapes in Patagonia: Exploring the Concept of Ecological Stasis in the Deseado Massif, Argentina |
| title_fullStr | Jurassic Osmundaceous Landscapes in Patagonia: Exploring the Concept of Ecological Stasis in the Deseado Massif, Argentina |
| title_full_unstemmed | Jurassic Osmundaceous Landscapes in Patagonia: Exploring the Concept of Ecological Stasis in the Deseado Massif, Argentina |
| title_short | Jurassic Osmundaceous Landscapes in Patagonia: Exploring the Concept of Ecological Stasis in the Deseado Massif, Argentina |
| title_sort | jurassic osmundaceous landscapes in patagonia exploring the concept of ecological stasis in the deseado massif argentina |
| topic | <i>Osmunda</i> wetlands Deseado Massif Patagonia ecological stasis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/2/165 |
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