Thallophytic algal flora from a new Silurian Lagerstätte

Abstract

Algae have always been the most diverse and numerous eukaryotic autotrophs in marine ecosystems. Both fossil and molecular data point to an early Proterozoic origin for algae. Although known for their long evolutionary history, the fossil record of algae is sparse and mainly remains of taxa with heavily calcified thalli are preserved. However, fossils of noncalcareous algae, known as extremely sporadic and occasional finds from different parts of the world, provide important insights into the palaeobiology of algal flora in the Earth's past. Here we describe highly diverse flora of noncalcareous thallophytic algae from a Silurian age deposit.