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Coprolites in a Middle Triassic cycad pollen cone: evidence for insect pollination in early cycads?
Klavins, Sharon D. Kellogg, Derek W. Krings, Michael Taylor, Edith L. Taylor, Thomas N.
Klavins, Sharon D.
Kellogg, Derek W.
Krings, Michael
Taylor, Edith L.
Taylor, Thomas N.
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Abstract
Question: What evidence is there for cycad–insect interactions in the fossil record?
Organism: The pollen cone Delemaya spinulosa Klavins, Taylor, Krings et Taylor.
Locality: Fremouw Formation (Middle Triassic), Fremouw Peak, Central Transantarctic
Mountains, Antarctica.
Methods: We document the presence of pollen-laden coprolites in pollen sacs of a Middle
Triassic cycad.
Conclusions: These coprolites are comparable with fecal pellets of modern arthropods and we suggest that they were produced by beetles. This provides the oldest unequivocal evidence for a cycad–insect interaction and may represent a precursory stage in the establishment of a more complex cycad–pollinator relationship.
Description
This is the publisher's version, also available electronically from http://www.evolutionary-ecology.com/issues/v07n03/kkar1828.pdf.
Date
2005-01-01
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Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Evolutionary Ecology
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Keywords
coprolites, Cycadales, insects, pollinivory, Triassic
Citation
Klavins, Sharon D. et al. (2005). "Coprolites in a Middle Triassic cycad pollen cone: evidence for insect pollination in early cycads?" Evolutionary Ecology Research, 7(3):479-488. http://www.evolutionary-ecology.com/