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Non-pollen palynomorphs notes: 1. Type HdV-368 (Podospora-type), descriptions of associated species, and the first key to related spore types
... Nomenclature of pollen types follows Beug (2004) and that of spores follows Moore et al. (1991). NPPs were identified using a reference catalogue at Kiel University and available literature (Booth et al. 2010;Carrión and Navarro 2002;Florenzano et al. 2012;Gelorini et al. 2011;Guarro et al. 2012;Jones et al. 2016;Menozzi et al. 2010;Schlütz and Shumilovskikh 2017;van Geel and Aptroot 2006;van Geel et al. 1981van Geel et al. , 1983van Geel et al. , 2003Vánky 2013). Nomenclature of NPP types follows the HdV-no. ...
... In the next sample in the sequence (90 cm), the quantities of some fungal decomposers (Sordaria sp., Coniochaeta ligniaria) rise temporarily, and new types, such as HdV-169 (Apiosordaria verruculosa) and Podospora decipiens-type, occur, whereas others are no longer recorded. The saprobionts Apiosordaria verruculosa and Podospora decipiens-type are coprophilous; Podospora decipiens is an obligate dung inhabitant that is prevalent on cattle and horse droppings (Lundqvist 1972;Schlütz and Shumilovskikh 2017). Other representatives of fungi, such as Scleroderma-type and KIU-224, also increase in this horizon of the pit, along with some water-inhabiting organisms, such as KIU-235 (cf. ...
To highlight the potential of non-pollen palynomorphs as an additional source of information within archaeological contexts, palynological samples from settlement layers of the Hünenburg hillfort-settlement complex were analyzed. In addition, some new non-pollen palynomorph types, mostly fungal spores, are described, illustrated, and discussed. The study provides new on-site data relating to the living conditions during the Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age. Samples taken from the horizons of two superimposed pits show microscopic evidence for stockpiling, plant processing, waste management, and hygienic conditions within the settlement area,
whereas samples taken from the ancient watercourse deposits provide insights into local land use, water quality, and fire management.
... Nomenclature of pollen types follows and that of spores follows Moore et al. (1991). NPPs were identified using a reference catalogue at Kiel University and available literature (Booth et al. 2010;Carrión and Navarro 2002;Florenzano et al. 2012;Gelorini et al. 2011;Guarro et al. 2012;Jones et al. 2016;Menozzi et al. 2010;Schlütz and Shumilovskikh 2017;van Geel and Aptroot 2006;van Geel et al. 1981van Geel et al. , 1983van Geel et al. , 2003Vánky 2013). Nomenclature of NPP types follows the HdV-no. ...
... In the next sample in the sequence (90 cm), the quantities of some fungal decomposers (Sordaria sp., Coniochaeta ligniaria) rise temporarily, and new types, such as HdV-169 (Apiosordaria verruculosa) and Podospora decipiens-type, occur, whereas others are no longer recorded. The saprobionts Apiosordaria verruculosa and Podospora decipiens-type are coprophilous; Podospora decipiens is an obligate dung inhabitant that is prevalent on cattle and horse droppings (Lundqvist 1972;Schlütz and Shumilovskikh 2017). Other representatives of fungi, such as Scleroderma-type and KIU-224, also increase in this horizon of the pit, along with some water-inhabiting organisms, such as KIU-235 (cf. ...
The Bronze Age and Early Iron Age saw many developments in metalworking, social structure, food production, nutrition, and diet. At the same time, networks in Europe intensified and human impact on the environment changed in character. What influence did these transformations have on daily life? Which proxies can researchers use to study these topics?
This volume presents scientific contributions from different fields of expertise within modern archaeology in order to investigate past living conditions through aspects of the archaeological record related to production (e.g. of food and metal), well-being (e.g. diet, health), human relations (e.g. violence), and the local environment (e.g. pollution, waste disposal, and water management). It also critically addresses contemporary graphic representations of Bronze Age living conditions.
This volume compiles papers from a session with the same title organized for an international open workshop of the Graduate School ‘Human Development in Landscapes’, entitled ‘Socio-Environmental Dynamics over the Last 12,000 Years: The Development of Landscapes IV’, which took place in 2017, in Kiel, Germany. Publications detailing overarching core research on subsistence systems, societal transformations, and resilience versus rupture dynamics already exist. With this volume, we aim to provide a closer look at everyday life in past communities.
... Mycological studies have highlighted the importance of local environmental variables and soil disturbance (e.g. drought, animal urine and surface trampling) as factors influencing fungal growth (Schlütz and Shumilovskikh 2017;Wicklow 1992). All these factors may have played a role in determining changes in the coprophilous community. ...
... Although a number of coprophilous taxa do not survive fossilisation (van Asperen, Kirby, and Hunt 2016), most of pigmented thickwalled spores are usually resistant and less affected by changes in the pH (Prager et al. 2006;Traverse 1998), and can therefore identify localised stabling episodes in deposits which are not suitable for spherulite preservation (Canti 1999). Finally, the identification of three microfossil types (Podospora inaequalis, Sordaria fimicola-type, Sphaerodes fimicola-type) has been refined, furthering the quest for a more thorough knowledge of spores from dung fungi (Schlütz and Shumilovskikh 2017). ...
In alkaline cave sediments, the presence of faecal spherulites is regarded as a reliable indicator of animal dung. Spores of coprophilous fungi are nowadays frequently employed as grazing indicators in palaeoecological sequences, but their use in dryland pastoral deposits is not routine in geoarchaeological practice. The paper assesses the relationship between the occurrence of spherulites and dung fungal spores from an abandoned rock shelter used as a stable for several decades. A clear match between these proxies is shown, and their distribution across the sediments is discussed, highlighting the potential of coprophilous spore analysis from archaeological stabling deposits, alongside other established dung indicators. The abundance of other microfossils (parasite eggs, coccolith plates and freshwater indicators) is also quantified and discussed.
... Mycological studies have highlighted the importance of local environmental variables and soil disturbance (e.g. drought, animal urine and surface trampling) as factors influencing fungal growth (Schlütz and Shumilovskikh 2017;Wicklow 1992). All these factors may have played a role in determining changes in the coprophilous community. ...
... Although a number of coprophilous taxa do not survive fossilisation (van Asperen, Kirby, and Hunt 2016), most of pigmented thickwalled spores are usually resistant and less affected by changes in the pH (Prager et al. 2006;Traverse 1998), and can therefore identify localised stabling episodes in deposits which are not suitable for spherulite preservation (Canti 1999). Finally, the identification of three microfossil types (Podospora inaequalis, Sordaria fimicola-type, Sphaerodes fimicola-type) has been refined, furthering the quest for a more thorough knowledge of spores from dung fungi (Schlütz and Shumilovskikh 2017). ...
In alkaline cave sediments, the presence of faecal spherulites is regarded as a reliable indicator of animal dung. Spores of coprophilous fungi are nowadays frequently employed as grazing indicators in palaeoecological sequences, but their use in dryland pastoral deposits is not routine in geoarchaeological practice. The paper assesses the relationship between the occurrence of spherulites and dung fungal spores from an abandoned rock shelter used as a stable for several decades. A clear match between these proxies is shown, and their distribution across the sediments is discussed, highlighting the potential of coprophilous spore analysis from archaeological stabling deposits, alongside other established dung indicators. The abundance of other microfossils (parasite eggs, coccolith plates and freshwater indicators) is also quantified and discussed.
... Pollen and spores were identified with reference to literature sources (Moore et al., 1991;Reille, 1992;Hoen, 1995, 2009;Beug, 2004) and the pollen collection of the Laboratory of Palynology and Archaeobotany (DISTAV) of the University of Genoa. For the identification of the non-pollen palynomorphs (NPPs) several papers and books were consulted (among them Geel, 1978;Geel et al., 1981Geel et al., , 1983Geel et al., , 1986Geel et al., , 1989Geel et al., , 2003Ellis, 1988, 1997;Haas, 1996;Carrión and van Geel, 1999;Doveri, 2004;Cugny et al., 2010;Guarro et al., 2012;Schlütz and Shumilovskikh, 2017). Many of the NPPs observed are not yet described in the palynological literature and are assembled in "other V. Pescini et al. ...
Characterising local pastoral activities and multiple management systems that shaped past and present landscapes is critical for better understanding main historical processes of biodiversification, species distributions and biomass. The aim of the present paper is to add new information on previous studies by combining biostratigraphical proxies (pollen, charcoal and non-pollen palynomorphs) with data from written historical records (cartographic and archival) and archaeological excavations for the last centuries from two sites located in the eastern Ligurian Apennines, north-western Italy. Additionally, a statistical approach was used to calculate the relative importance of temperature variations, fire dynamics, changes in arboreal coverage, presence of stagnant water/temporary pools and grazing pressure on selected groups of pollen taxa associated with different management practices for the specific study area. The use of a multiple analytical methodology allowed highlighting several phases of land-use, which could be related to different socio-economic strategies sometime associated to historical conflicts between local communities. Our analyses identified indicator species of the past presence of cultivated fields, meadows, grazing areas and use of controlled fires, as well as heathlands and wetlands managed for pasture and agriculture, and provided evidences of the disappearance of landscapes more ‘complex’ than today, due to the abandonment of past management practices. These results have relevance for improving the ability to manage ecosystems during current and future environmental changes.
... Pollen and spores were identified with reference to literature sources (Moore et al., 1991;Reille, 1992;Hoen, 1995, 2009;Beug, 2004) and the pollen collection of the Laboratory of Palynology and Archaeobotany (DISTAV) of the University of Genoa. For the identification of the non-pollen palynomorphs (NPPs) several papers and books were consulted (among them Geel, 1978;Geel et al., 1981Geel et al., , 1983Geel et al., , 1986Geel et al., , 1989Geel et al., , 2003Ellis, 1988, 1997;Haas, 1996;Carrión and van Geel, 1999;Doveri, 2004;Cugny et al., 2010;Guarro et al., 2012;Schlütz and Shumilovskikh, 2017). Many of the NPPs observed are not yet described in the palynological literature and are assembled in "other V. Pescini et al. ...
Terraces are among the most frequently used structures to stabilize slopes (Spencer and Hale, 1961; Doolittle, 1990; Grove and Rackham, 2001). Often built for agricultural purposes, terraces are distributed worldwide and their study has undergone a marked increase in recent decades (Riera and Palet, 2005, Ballesterios Arias, 2010; Puy and Balbo, 2013; Quiros-Castillo and Nicosia, 2014; Ferro Vasquez, 2014; Balbo and Puy, 2017; Varotto et al., 2019a; Itkin et al., 2022; Brown et al., 2020, 2021, 2023). Nevertheless, their study is still commonly considered challenging, especially due to the difficulty of finding suitable methods for obtaining a precise chronology. Soil mixing due to maintenance practices (i.e. dry-stone wall rebuilding) and agricultural activities (i.e. ploughing, hoeing, fertilization) has occurred repeatedly. From an archaeological perspective, this makes it difficult to clearly characterize the formation and transformation processes involving terracing, especially in terms of creating reliable chronologies (Acabado, 2009; Gibson, 2015; Turner et al., 2021 and the references therein). Yet, the construction of terraced systems, through the creation of stable topographical bases, actively retains soil and sediments, reducing erosion and allowing the conservation of deposits and archaeological artifacts over long time periods. The terraces, therefore, are potential repositories of archaeological material and information, representing crucial archives for the historical characterisation of the rural landscape.
Italy is characterized by a notable presence of terraced landscapes, many of which are in a state of abandonment (Bonardi and Varotto, 2016). Among the Italian regions, Liguria has one of the highest indexes of terraced areas with its approx. 42,636 ha (Varotto et al., 2019b). Terraces of the Cinque Terre, located in eastern Liguria, were the first to be included in the UNESCO World Heritage List (in 1997). Later, in 1999, a National Park was also established with the aim of protecting and enhancing this rural landscape. Recently, the terraces of the Cinque Terre have also been included in the inventory of rural landscapes of historical interest promoted by the National Rural Landscape Observatory of the Italian Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forests (ministerial decree n° 534055, March 29, 2023).
Research in the Cinque Terre terraces has primarily focused on the hydrogeological risk associated with their abandonment (Agnoletti et al., 2019; Brandolini et al., 2008, 2018; Brandolini, 2017; Cevasco et al., 2013, 2014; Tarolli et al., 2014), and on soil analysis for wine production (Rellini et al., 2019). Additionally, projects like STONEWALLSFORLIFE, funded through the LIFE Programme for Climate Change Adaptation, have explored sustainable preservation strategies (https://www.stonewalls4life.eu/). The earliest written records explicitly referencing terracing in the Cinque Terre date back to the mid-17th century (Maggi et al., 2006). However, descriptions by travelers and diplomats from the 15th–16th centuries (Quaini, 1973, 1981) also suggest the presence of terraces, as they describe the vine-cultivated slopes of the region.
Despite their recognized cultural and geomorphological value, archaeological research on the Cinque Terre terraces is scarce (Maggi et al., 2006; De Marchi, 2018) and multi-proxy reconstructions of environmental change and land-use are even fewer (LASA, 2003; Panetta et al., 2016; Terranova et al., 2002).
Beginning in 2014, a series of interdisciplinary projects were developed in the Punta Mesco promontory, at the western boundary of the Cinque Terre National Park, to investigate the environmental and historical dynamics of this landscape (specifically, the “Punta Mesco – Case Lovara” and the “5 Terre Environmental Resource Archaeology (5T.ERA)” projects, see Gabellieri and Pescini 2015; Pescini et al., 2018; Gabellieri et al., 2020).
This paper presents the latest results of the 5T.ERA project. By combining archaeological-stratigraphic evidence, pollen and Non-Pollen Palynomorphs (NPPs) analysis, radiocarbon dating, topographical surveys and historical sources, this research aims to characterize the processes of formation and transformation of the Punta Mesco terraces and the history of this slope, contributing to a broader reconstruction of landscape dynamics in the Cinque Terre.
... This coincides with another indicator of European colonisation of the island, the arrival of Podospora in the landscape. Podospora is a coprophilous fungal spore, associated with large herbivores such as sheep, cattle and horses (Schlütz and Shumilovskikh 2017). ...
The Bass Strait islands are the elevated remnants of a now-submerged continental land bridge that connected the mainland of Australia to Lutruwita/Tasmania during low sea level phases of the Quaternery period. The Furneaux Group is made up of around 100 islands, harbouring a rich diversity of plants derived from glacial refugia and stepping-stone dispersal as millennial-scale climate change altered the land and seascape configuration of the land bridge. Despite the region’s significance, long-term ecological and environmental dynamics of most of these islands remain poorly known. We present the first palaeoecological study of Long Island, a small granite island of the Furneaux group, currently covered by extensive grasslands in the west and patches of forest and woodland in the east and north of the island. We use decadal to centennial-scale resolution palaeoecological evidence for vegetation, animal and fire dynamics, alongside historical accounts of vegetation changes inferred from aerial photo analysis, to develop a comprehensive record of the island’s long-term ecology. Results show that grasslands have been an important feature of the island for at least the last 1000 years, and are reminiscent of Last Glacial Maximum grasslands of the now-submerged Bassian Plain. Both aerial photo analysis and the palaeoecological record show increases in forest cover on the island’s eastern corner over the past four decades. We discuss these ecological dynamics in the context of environmental and climatic shifts. This study emphasises the importance of palaeoecological studies, specifically their value in understanding modern ecosystems in their historic context. This data is critical in understanding the island’s current landscape and how this might change into the future.
... Although the occasional presence of wild herb species (Supplementary Data 2) questions the deposition of hay or weeds in the latrine, spores of Tilletia caries, a common parasite of wheat, rye and other grasses, causing common bunt, suggest deposition of infected grasses and/or inedible cereals. Taxonomically rich assemblage of coprophilous fungal spores (Supplementary Data 4) indicates deposition of dung or decayed plant material, because the aggressive chemical environment of the latrine would not allow fungal growth in situ (Schlütz and Shumilovskikh, 2017). Presence of bark and wood fragments speak for occasional deposition of wooden waste, while ceramic fragments speak for kitchen rubbish. ...
The daily life of non-elite people from the past is usually hard to evaluate, since historical sources largely concentrate on the upper classes. This knowledge can be gained by archaeological excavations and use of geo-and bioarchaeological methods. In 2021, geophysical prospections in Enez (Türkiye) revealed a circular stone structure. The excavators identified a latrine probably used from 17th until the 19th century. Palynological, palaeoparasitological and archaeobotanical methods have been applied for understanding the diet, hygiene and diseases of the people using the latrine. The cesspit was a closed round structure with walls made of stones. It had no contamination from outside and was filled with liquid or semi-liquid content with dissolved salts and organic matter derived from urine, faeces, kitchen waste, dung and other rubbish. Results show a broad diet including wheat, chili peppers, olives, spices, a wide range of fruits, meat, fish and oysters. This sanitation did not protect the inhabitants of the house from intestinal parasites in the forms of helminths whipworm, roundworm and the protozoan Giardia duodenalis that causes diarrhoea. The data highlight the special role played by the harbour of Ainos in the establishment and possible expansion of new food products from the New World.
... The fungi Diporotheca webbiae (HdV 143) and Brachysporium (HdV 360), common in mires dominated by alder [95,102,105,107] had only a scattered appearance at the study site. Coprophilous fungi Podospora-type [22,26,270] associated with grazing [107,154,271,272] appeared in only one sample, and the same was true of the Microthyrium fruitbody, indicative of palustrine plants [90]. The spermatophore of copepods, as an indicator of wetness [90,92,273,274], and the algae Spirogyra, as an indicator of similar moisture conditions [275][276][277] or even stagnant waters [95], were found in only one sample, and that was also the case with other NPPs. ...
The aim of this study was to reconstruct the vegetation changes, fire history and local landscape dynamics of central Croatia (the western part of southeastern Europe) from 9800 cal yr BP to the beginning of the Common Era. Pollen, non-pollen palynomorphs and charcoal were analyzed for the first time in the aforementioned area by modern palynological methods. Three different assemblage (sub)zones were identified: "Pinus-Fagus-Quercetum mixtum" (Preboreal), "Fagus-Corylus" (Boreal) and "Alnus-Fagus" (Atlantic, Subboreal and older Subatlantic). Additionally, the oldest observation (~9800 cal yr BP) of beech pollen for continental Croatia was confirmed by radi-ocarbon dating. Our results indicated a possibly milder climate with less extreme temperatures and higher precipitation during the Preboreal chronozone, alongside intensive flooding, a transition from a mosaic of wetland/wet grassland communities to alder carr during the Boreal, and an unusually long multi-thousand-year period, the annual presence of alder on the mire itself. An increase in the number of secondary anthropogenic indicators can be tracked from the 6th century BC to the beginning of the Common Era. Although regional vegetation changes are insufficiently clear, our results fill a gap in the interpretation of vegetation/palaeoenvironmental changes before the Common Era in in this part of Europe.
... Mit der Nahrung gelangen die Pilzsporen über die Darmpassage in den Kot und sporulieren auf dem ausgeschiedenen Dung. Die dickwandigen, dunkel pigmentierten Sporen lassen sich relativ gut bestimmen (Aptroot and van Geel 2006;Schlütz and Shumilovskikh 2017;van Asperen et al. 2016). Manche Gattungen koprophiler Pilze wie z. ...
... The rapid decrease in the vitality of Cyperaceae as indicated by the strong decrease in Cyperaceae pollen influx may mark a sharp reduction in precipitation and available moisture after 6500 cal BP. As shown by Polygonum aviculare-type, and Tribulus are potentially indicative of grazing animals (Hilbig, 1995;Schlütz and Lehmkuhl, 2007;), but no spores of coprophile fungi indicative for mega herbivores (Schlütz and Shumilovskikh, 2017;Shumilovskikh and van Geel, 2020) occurred throughout the archive. The decrease in Chenopodiaceae and the contemporary increase in Poaceae and Artemisia indicate more humid conditions at approximately 5500 cal BP. ...
This study investigates the late Quaternary development of the sedimentary system of Orog Nuur Basin in southern Mongolia. Geomorphological archives (lacustrine sediments and beach ridges, alluvial fans, aeolian deposits, peat) recorded palaeoenvironmental change from marine isotope stage (MIS) 7 to the late Holocene. Synthesizing the variety of archives allows a better understanding of geomorphological interactions in arid regions and palaeoenvironmental implications for the area. By performing palaeoshoreline mapping and dating, we identified eight palaeolake levels resulting in a refined lake level history of Orog Nuur. The highest reliably dated shoreline is about 56 m higher than today’s lake level and provides evidence for a late MIS 5 lake level between 100 and 75 thousand years (ka). Reconstructions yield a minimum volume estimate of 24.5 km3, delineating a lake that is 153 times larger than that of today (0.16 km3). Massive lake extensions occurred also during MIS 3 and the Holocene. The geomorphological investigation reveals late MIS 5 and MIS 3 lake expansions were of similar magnitude. The palaeoenvironmental reconstruction from early Holocene archives indicates that lake expansion was caused by an increase in precipitation and meltwater inflow from the surrounding mountain systems. Afterwards, lake levels declined with some intermittent highstands during the mid‐Holocene (7–5 ka), indicating a general trend towards a lower water inflow throughout the Holocene. Palynological reconstructions of the alpine vegetation development reveal that mid‐Holocene highstands (ca. 6.5 ka and 5.5 ka) were fed by higher precipitation in the nearby Gurvan Bogd range. Mountain silts, basin silty sands, and Holocene dune deposits provide further evidence for paleoenvironmental change. As controlling factors of the sedimentary system, we identified changes in effective moisture, higher precipitation values and the contribution of meltwater. Orog Nuur Basin archives are valuable for landscape and palaeoenvironmental reconstructions and for comparisons in supraregional reconstruction approaches.
... Aquatic/wetland pollen and spores and NPPs were counted and percentages calculated based on the pollen sum (at least 300) of terrestrial taxa. Nonpollen palynomorphs were identified through various publications by van Geel (e.g., van Geel 1978van Geel , 2001van Geel et al. 1981van Geel et al. , 1983van Geel et al. , 1989, as well as other literature such as Bakker and van Smeerdijk (1982), Cook et al. (2011), Jarzen and Elsik (1986), Cugny et al. (2010), Botting and Muir (2013), Walker (2007), Ekrem (2004), Komárek and Jankovská (2001), Jankovská and Komárek (2000), Wolowski et al. (2002), Grospietech (1958, Harnisch (1959), Mousinho et al. (2018), Mudie et al. (2010), Montoya et al. (2012) and Schlütz and Shumilovskikh (2017). Other works consulted are included in Table 3 in appendix 2. Type numbers are designated to indeterminate NPPs following the standard system, which involves the use of an acronym for the laboratory where the NPP analysis was conducted (Miola 2012). ...
Understanding long-term ecological development of wetlands is critical to effective management. The islands of Bass Strait, southeast Australia, have several biologically diverse natural wetlands, including Ramsar sites, yet little is known about their ecology. Here, through a multi-proxy palaeoecological approach, we seek to understand how wetland floristic composition and hydrology has changed on truwana/Cape Barren Island (CBI), and how changes in fire regimes have affected wetland integrity and ecological dynamics. We use wetland fossil pollen, non-pollen palynomorphs and sediment geochemistry to reconstruct wetland development and compare it to existing records of terrestrial vegetation and fire regimes from the island. Our results suggest periods of moderately saline–brackish conditions and moderate fire activity supported high floristic richness in wetlands, while floristic richness reduced during periods of extremely high or low salinity or high fire activity. Past changes in precipitation regimes primarily drove water-level changes in wetlands; however, changes in wetland and surrounding terrestrial vegetation cover also contributed to wetland water level dynamics. We recommend long-term monitoring of wetland salinity and water-level changes to track potential changes in wetland floristic richness on truwana/CBI. Controlled fires could also be used to manage wetland biodiversity after careful consideration and experimentation to determine appropriate fire levels that maximize wetland floristic richness and biocultural values.
... (including Sporormia and Preussia) are valuable indicators of dung as well as the grazing presence and density (Burney et al., 2003;van Geel et al., 2003;Davis and Shafer, 2006;Raper and Bush, 2009;Feranec et al., 2011;Kruys, 2015). Most Podospora and Sordaria species are frequently encountered on mega-herbivores dung (Lundqvist, 1972;Richardson, 2001;van Geel et al., 2007;van Geel et al., 2003;Krug et al., 2004;Schlütz and Shumilovskikh, 2017;van Asperen, 2017;Wei et al., 2020a), and are thus considered the most robust indicators of grazing activity (Cugny et al., 2010;Baker et al., 2013;Wei et al., 2020a). Other LGR section fungi identified comprise both coprophilous and non-coprophilous species. ...
Pastoralism is considered a crucial factor in the eventual year-round occupation of high-altitude regions (>3000 m asl) of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, and the northeastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (NE-QTP) was an important corridor for early human occupation. We analyzed fossil fungal spore records for the last 8500 years from a high resolution aeolian section at Langgeri (LGR) on the NE-QTP Thirty-two fungal spore types were identified in the LGR section, including seven coprophilous types. We combined analysis of coprophilous fungal spores, Cyperaceae, Artemisia, and Hippophae pollen, and the charcoal >50 µm fraction to explore the timing and controls of pastoralism on the NE-QTP since the middle Holocene. Pastoralism commenced at LGR shortly before ca. 5.5 ka and gradually increased between ca. 5.5–3.5 ka, but markedly intensified after ca. 2.2 ka, with three periods of growth at ca. 2.1–1.9,1.4–1.2, and 0.6–0 ka, and a decline at ca. 1.1–0.6 ka. The timing of changes in pastoral activity on the NE-QTP based on the coprophilous fungal spore record is supported by regional archeology and historical documents. Technological and political developments, rather than climate change, played key roles in the long-term fluctuations of regional pastoralism on the NE-QTP in the late Holocene.
... It comprises different species, the most common probably being Sordaria fimicola, as observed in Italy (Doveri 2007). A recent revision of Podospora has been made based on a survey of the mycological literature and incubation of related dung fungi (Schlütz and Shumilovskikh 2017). This study demonstrated that HdV-368 consists of different Podospora species, all of them growing on dung. ...
Human impact inferred from palynological analysis is an important field of investigation among palaeoecological studies. Reconstructing and quantifying human impact (e.g. farming activities, clearing, fire, erosion process) is an important step to understand how, when and to what extent humans have changed ecosystems and landscape during the Holocene. The study of Non-Pollen Palynomorphs (NPPs) has opened a new field of investigation and improved our knowledge of past human impact. However, NPPs analysis further is a “young science” and questions about their specific use to highlight human activities have been arising. In addition to taxa used as anthropogenic indicators in palynology, NPPs provide reliable information about human impact, in terms of grazing pressure, soil erosion, fire in relation with land management and lakes eutrophication. We propose here a review of current knowledge on the use of NPPs as proxies for human impact, with emphasis on the contribution of modern studies. The purpose of this chapter is to explore some specific questions that both beginners and more experienced scientists may have about methodology in data acquisition and result interpretation. Each section addresses a specific question and a choice of examples illustrates the potential of NPPs as anthropogenic indicators. As Shumilovskikh and van Geel (2020) have recently published a paper about NPPs in archaeological context, we have focused on the use of NPPs as anthropogenic indicators in studies investigating natural archives such as lakes and wetlands.
... The initial water content of dung can be influenced by the season, for example new growth of grass in spring leads to a higher moisture content than later in the season (Greenham 1972), whilst high precipitation in previous weeks also leads to wetter dung (Edwards 1991). Finally, salt from urine may also inhibit growth (Schlütz and Shumilovskikh 2017). ...
Spores from coprophilous fungi are some of the most widely used non-pollen palynomorphs. Over the last decades, these spores have become increasingly important as a proxy to study the Pleistocene and Holocene megafauna. Although the number of types used in palaeoecology is relatively small, there is a wide range of coprophilous fungal taxa whose utility in palaeoenvironmental reconstruction remains under-researched. However, environmental and taphonomic factors influencing preservation and recovery of these spores are still poorly understood. Furthermore, our understanding of whether and how spores are transported across the landscape is limited.
Dung fungal spore presence appears to correlate well with megaherbivore presence. However, depending on the site, some limitations can remain to quantitative reconstructions of megaherbivore abundance from dung fungal spore records. The presence of dung fungal spores is often more significant than their absence and variation in in abundance with time should be interpreted with caution. Correlation with other proxies may provide a promising way forward.
The majority of studies using dung fungal spores as an indicator for large herbivore abundance are of records of Late Pleistocene and Holocene age, with a focus on Late Quaternary megafaunal extinction. However, more research could potentially extend records further back in time.
Supplementary material at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.5240664
... In this paper we focus on coprophilous fungi from the dung of the wild yak, including differences in taxonomic diversity and relative abundance in samples from the seasonal extremes, summer and winter, in the region. We focus on identification at the generic level, since it is difficult to identify fungal spores to species level in the absence of other fungal structures (Van Asperen et al., 2016;Schlütz and Shumilovskikh, 2017;Perrotti and Van Asperen, 2019). However, our methodological approach was chosen to closely approximate the methods generally used for the preparation and analysis of paleoecological samples. ...
... These genera have highly recognisable pigmented spores which survive well in soil and pollen preparations (modified method of Faegri and Iversen, 1989;Moore et al., 1991, see Van Asperen et al., 2016Figure 4). Species in the genus Podospora are mostly coprophilous (Bell, 2005: 14;Doveri, 2007: 905;Guarro et al., 2012: 340;Schlütz and Shumilovskikh, 2017). Podospora species are not commonly isolated from other substrates, whereas some species of the closely similar genus Cercophora are (Bell, 2005: 40;Doveri, 2007: 847;Guarro et al., 2012: 111). ...
The management of the remainder of Europe’s once extensive forests is hampered by a poor understanding of the character of the vegetation and drivers of change before the onset of clearance for farming. Pollen data indicate a closed-canopy, mixed-deciduous forest, contrasting with the assertion that large herbivores would have maintained a mosaic of open grassland, regenerating scrub and forested groves. Coprophilous fungal spores from sedimentary sequences are increasingly used as a proxy for past herbivore impact on vegetation, but the method faces methodological and taphonomical issues. Using pollen trap data from a long-running experiment in Chillingham Wild Cattle Park, UK, we investigate the first steps in the mechanisms connecting herbivore density to the incorporation of fungal spores in sediments and assess the effects of environmental variables on this relationship. Herbivore utilisation levels correlate with dung fungal spore abundance. Chillingham is densely populated by large herbivores, but dung fungal spore influx is low. Herbivores may thus be present on the landscape but go undetected. The absence of dung fungal spores is therefore less informative than their presence. Dung fungal spores likely enter the sediment record through a different pathway from wind-borne pollen and thus dung fungal abundance is better expressed as influx rates than as percentage of total pollen. Landscape openness, vegetation type and site wetness do not distort the impact of utilisation levels on dung fungal spore representation. However, dung fungal spore influx varies markedly between seasons and years. Spores travel, leading to a background level of spore deposition across the landscape, and at times a depletion of spores, especially under wet weather conditions. Animal behaviour, as well as husbandry practices, can lead to the accumulation of dung, and thus fungal spores, in specific locations on the landscape that do not directly reflect grazing pressure.
... Based on the sum of coprophilous (dung) spore accumulation rates, we reconstructed large herbivore biomass dynamics following Baker et al. (2016). Non-pollen palynomorphs (including fungal spores) were (2012), as well as from the descriptions of van Geel (2001), Sweeney (2004) and Schlütz and Shumilovskikh (2017). Incorporating all dung fungal counts better indicates herbivore presence and abundance. ...
This study seeks to explain how the large herbivore (large vertebrate, megafauna – terrestrial taxa with adults >45 kg) population density changed during abrupt postglacial climate and environmental change. The Lateglacial and Early Holocene (14600–8300 years ago) were represented by various environmental and climate changes and a transition from a cold to a warm climate, with subsequent changes in flora and fauna. Using Lake Āraiši as a case study (Latvia, northeastern Europe), local to regional vegetation was reconstructed by analysing plant macroremains and pollen from the lake sediment profile. Here, we present the first dung fungus spore-based qualitative reconstruction of large herbivore population density from northeastern Europe. Although there was no distinct pattern of large herbivore population variability during the Lateglacial and Early Holocene, higher densities were suggested during warm and relatively stable climatic and environmental conditions. Our findings imply that herbivores did not constantly live at high densities around one lake but rather were dynamic and moved/migrated according to their needs. Because large herbivores reintroduced today live in reserves (commonly fixed areas surrounded by physical borders), they might be more vulnerable to rapid climatic and environmental change compared to those mammals that lived during the Lateglacial and Early Holocene. Hence, they would have only two possible options – adapt or go extinct.
... The synchronous increase of spores of coprophilous fungi and spores of the Glomus-type during U2 and U3 suggest higher water inflows into the Orog Nuur since such fungi spores are mostly transported into lakes by water (Shumilovskikh et al., 2016;Schlütz and Shumilovskikh, 2017). In contrast, the A/C ratios indicate dry conditions around Orog Nuur during most of U2 and U3. ...
Considerable efforts have been devoted to decipher the late Quaternary moisture and thermal evolution of arid central Asia. However, disparate interpretations still exist concerning different proxies. The spatial and temporal heterogeneities have inhibited a holistic understanding of general patterns and underlying mechanisms. To address these issues, two parallel cores (ONW I, 6.00 m; ONW II, 13.35 m) were retrieved in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia from lake Orog Nuur. Multidisciplinary investigations including geomorphological mapping, radiocarbon dating, sedimentological, palynological and ostracod analyses enabled us to gain a comprehensive dataset for vegetation development and hydrological variability over the last ~45 kyr. Higher lake levels during the Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 3 and early MIS 2 (~35–~24 kyr) were probably caused by increased precipitation. The sharp transition of Termination I (~11 kyr) is indicated by sedimentological, palynological, and ostracod data. During the late Pleistocene, the lower area of the Orog Nuur catchment was dominated by Artemisia steppe and gradually altered to Chenopodiaceae desert steppe in the Holocene. The early Holocene is also characterized by a relatively humid environment. The humid pulses during the MIS 3 and the early Holocene were also recorded in other archives and are possibly the trait of a larger scale phenomenon in arid central Asia. Four major harsh climatic periods were documented in the core at ~43 kyr, ~36 kyr, during the global Last Glacial Maximum, and the Younger Dryas as playa phases. Reduced westerlies’ moisture transport and a retreated East Asian Summer Monsoon influence probably caused those dry phases in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia.
... The data from GPV-8, showing a new increase in Spirogyra spores, suggest a shallow and eutrophic water body, about 0.5 m deep or less (Van Geel, 2001). This environment is likely to have attracted herbivores as a watering place, as shown by a sharp increase in Sordaria t., coupled with Sporormiella t. and Podospora decipiens t. (Schlütz and Shumilovskikh, 2017). In this regard, it is worth mentioning that although Spirogyra can also inhabit brackish pools (Aleem, 1961), drinking salty water has no significant negative effects on cattle health (Visscher et al., 2013). ...
The article presents the results of a multi-proxy study investigating an alluvial deposit located in the coastal plain of Genoa (Liguria, Northwest Italy). A very deep core was sampled from 15 to 25 m below ground level to analyse sedimentological properties, pollen assemblages, non-pollen palynomorphs, plant macrofossils and micro-charcoal. The deposit, spanning from the second half of the 5th Millennium to the end of the 7th Millennium cal. BC, was characterized by an alternation of silty and peaty layers, and proved to be rich in plant remains. Pollen data allowed the confirmation of a gradual increase in Fagus sylvatica to the detriment of Abies alba during the mid-Holocene of the region, and showed the presence of brackish lagoons, as well as the progressively stronger incidence of anthropogenic taxa, indicating the use of the plain for agricultural purposes. The study of non-pollen palynomorphs led to the taxonomic identification of some previously unidentified types, and pointed to the occurrence of marshy environments, which were probably grazed on by domestic herbivores. Macrofossil analysis provided the first record of Triticum new glume wheat type in Liguria. Moreover, the finding of a grain of Triticum dicoccum dated to the second half of the 6th Millennium cal. BC allowed us to pre-date by seven centuries the agriculture in the region. To date, this represents the oldest evidence of human activity in the urban area of Genoa.
... A minimum of 300 NPPs were counted in each sample; some were identified while distinct unknown types were assigned a Moesgaard Museum type number only. Identification to lowest NPP taxon or to a previously given NPP typenumber was achieved using published literature (van Geel 1978(van Geel , 1983(van Geel , 1986Kuhry 1985;van Geel and Aptroot 2006;Prager et al. 2006Prager et al. , 2012Cugny et al. 2010;van Geel et al. 1980van Geel et al. /1981van Geel et al. , 1989van Geel et al. , 2011Chambers et al. 2012;Shumilovskikh et al. 2016;Schlütz and Shumilovskikh 2017) as well as expert assistance in fungal spore and algal identification. ...
The addition of non-pollen palynomorphs (NPPs) to pollen analytical studies has improved the interpretational frame, especially concerning the local regime in anthropogenically disturbed environments. Using advanced ordination techniques this paper explores the variation of NPP-assemblages and the indicative value of individual NPP-types by comparison to independent classical proxies. Sediment samples from a forest hollow at Tårup Lund, Denmark, covering the last 5,500 years, were prepared for NPP-analysis using a non-aggressive procedure. Correlations between non-pollen palynomorphs and sediment, pollen and macrofossil inferred environmental explanatory variables were studied based on a constant counting sum of NPPs. This approach identified main drivers influencing NPP assemblage composition and indicated that a change in these drivers occurred at the onset of the Pre-Roman Iron Age. Twelve known and 12 specific, but so far unknown, NPPs correlating with the environmental variables were identified and their possible indicator value presented. The mild preparation procedure resulted in a very large dataset allowing for sub-assemblages to be explored separately. This approach indicated the potential for identifying further environmental indicators among these groups.
... Larger dung pats are less susceptible to desiccation, while clusters of pellets create a wider range of microhabitats but are more prone to desiccation (Beynon 2012). Salt from urine may also inhibit sporulation (Schlütz and Shumilovskikh 2017). Furthermore, dietary diversity and the quality of the vegetation consumed also leads to dung with different characteristics. ...
The use of spores of coprophilous fungi from sedimentary sequences as proxy evidence for large herbivore abundance has garnered pronounced attention and scrutiny over the past three decades. In response to the rapid rate at which new information is being discovered on this topic, this paper presents a brief review of the archaeological applications so far, and outlines opportunities and limitations of using Sporormiella as a proxy for herbivore abundance. Specific archaeological uses of this proxy include understanding megaherbivore extinctions and human land use patterns such as pastoralism and agriculture. We analyse how dung fungal records are formed and review the mycological literature to outline factors affecting spore reproduction and preservation. These include how strongly each commonly used dung fungal taxon relies on dung as a substrate and environmental factors affecting dung fungal reproduction and coprophilous fungi deposition. Certain laboratory preparation techniques adversely affect spore representation on pollen slides. The methods of analysis and quantification of spore records also impact our understanding. We describe good practice to increase precision of analytical methods. Due to limitations imposed by some of these factors, it is possible that an absence of dung fungi from a palaeoecological record does not imply an absence of herbivores. However, consideration of these factors and inclusion of as wide a range of coprophilous spore records as possible increases the reliability of such inferences.
... Ten types of fungal spores were systematically counted, including five coprophilous fungi Sporormiella (HdV-113), Cercophora (HdV-112), Apiosodaria (HdV-169) Sordaria (HdV-1012), Podospora (HdV-368) and Coniochaeta (HdV-172) as a signal of the presence of cattle and other herbivores (Schlütz and Shumilovskikh, 2017;van Geel et al., 2003;Gelorini et al., 2011). Other documented non-pollen palynomorphs (NPPs) are indicative of erosion (Glomus sp., HdV-1103), humidity levels and the presence of decaying organic matter (Potamomyces and Savoriella) (van Geel, 2002;Montoya et al., 2010). ...
... A minimum of 300 NPPs were counted in each sample; some were identified while distinct unknown types were assigned a Moesgaard Museum type number only. Identification to lowest NPP taxon or to a previously given NPP typenumber was achieved using published literature (van Geel 1978(van Geel , 1983(van Geel , 1986Kuhry 1985;van Geel and Aptroot 2006;Prager et al. 2006Prager et al. , 2012Cugny et al. 2010;van Geel et al. 1980van Geel et al. /1981van Geel et al. , 1989van Geel et al. , 2011Chambers et al. 2012;Shumilovskikh et al. 2016;Schlütz and Shumilovskikh 2017) as well as expert assistance in fungal spore and algal identification. ...
The addition of non-pollen palynomorphs (NPPs) to pollen analytical studies has improved the interpretational frame, especially concerning the local regime in anthropogenically disturbed environments. Using advanced ordination techniques this paper explores the variation of NPP-assemblages and the indicative value of individual NPP-types by comparison to independent classical proxies. Sediment samples from a forest hollow at Tårup Lund, Denmark, covering the last 5,500 years, were prepared for NPP-analysis using a non-aggressive procedure. Correlations between non-pollen palynomorphs and sediment, pollen and macrofossil inferred environmental explanatory variables were studied based on a constant counting sum of NPPs. This approach identified main drivers influencing NPP assemblage composition and indicated that a change in these drivers occurred at the onset of the Pre-Roman Iron Age. Twelve known and 12 specific, but so far unknown, NPPs correlating with the environmental variables were identified and their possible indicator value presented. The mild preparation procedure resulted in a very large dataset allowing for sub-assemblages to be explored separately. This approach indicated the potential for identifying further environmental indicators among these groups.
... These spores share similar characteristics to additional fossilised spores from geological records described as Fusiformisporites Rouse, 1962. Continuing our series of "non-pollen palynomorphs notes" (Schlütz and Shumilovskikh, 2017), in this paper we provide the first Holocene record of the extant species Megalohypha aqua-dulces and discuss its relation to the fossil form genus Fusiformisporites. ...
The first Holocene record of the freshwater ascomycete Megalohypha aqua-dulces from the sediment core Kongor (NE Iran) is presented here. Based on the similarity of the spore morphology with the fossil form genus Fusiformisporites, we establish a link between extant and fossil taxa. Comparative analysis of morphological characteristics of fossil spores of Fusiformisporites indicate that several different fungal groups might be included in this form genus. At least five species of Fusiformisporites share similar morphology with spores of Megalohypha aqua-dulces: F. annafrancescae, F. crabbii, F. keralensis, F. paucistriatus, and F. pseudocrabbii. Based on Fusiformisporites, the evolution of Megalohypha aqua-dulces can be traced to the late Cretaceous, corresponding with diversification of the flowering plants and pointing to a co-evolution of both groups. Megalohypha aqua-dulces has a tropical to subtropical distribution but also occurs in the semi-arid steppe environments of Kongor together with other freshwater fungal genera such as Xylomyces, Dictyosporium, and Sporoschisma, which spores we describe here. The ecological requirements of Megalohypha indicate that its spores can be used for the palaeoecological sign of dead submerged wood as well as of tropical to subtropical conditions.
Hydrologic reconstructions from North America are largely unknown for the Middle Miocene. Examination of fungal palynomorph assemblages coupled with traditional plant-based palynology permits delineation of local, as opposed to regional, climate signals and provides a baseline for study of ancient fungas. Here, the Fungi in a Warmer World project presents paleoecology and paleoclimatology of 351 fungal morphotypes from 3 sites in the United States: the Clarkia Konservat-Lagerstätte site (Idaho), the Alum Bluff site (Florida), and the Bouie River site (Mississippi). Of these, 83 fungi are identified as extant taxa and 41 are newly reported from the Miocene. Combining new plant-based paleoclimatic reconstructions with funga-based paleoclimate reconstructions, we demonstrate cooling and hydrologic changes from the Miocene climate optimum to the Serravallian. In the southeastern United States, this is comparable to that reconstructed with pollen and paleobotany alone. In the northwestern United States, cooling is greater than indicated by other reconstructions and hydrology shifts seasonally, from no dry season to a dry summer season. Our results demonstrate the utility of fossil fungi as paleoecologic and paleoclimatic proxies and that warmer than modern geological time intervals do not match the “wet gets wetter, dry gets drier” paradigm. Instead, both plants and fungi show an invigorated hydrological cycle across mid-latitude North America.
Megaherbivores are keystone species whose removal from landscapes can cause cascading ecosystem changes, yet the consequences of Late Quaternary megaherbivore extinctions remain uncertain. This paper tests the Megaherbivory Release Hypothesis (MRH), which posits that the decline and extinction of megaherbivores (body size >1000 kg) during the last deglaciation in eastern North America contributed to the expansion of more palatable hardwood tree taxa, the development of vegetation assemblages with no modern analogue, and increased fuel load and fire activity. Coprophilous fungal spores in lake sediment records are used as proxies for megaherbivore abundance and are essential to testing the MRH through analyses of lead/lag relationships among vegetation composition, megaherbivore abundance, fire, and climate. Although some prior analyses of coprophilous fungal spores from individual sites have supported the MRH, these interpretations have been complicated by 1) discrepancies in the timing of coprophilous spore declines versus megaherbivore extinction timing based on dated vertebrate remains, 2) reliance on a single fungal taxon (Sporormiella) rather than a full suite of coprophilous fungi taxa, and 3) uncertainties in the taphonomic processes that influence fungal spore abundances. To examine the spatiotemporal relationships among megaherbivory, vegetation, and fire, we developed five new multi-taxon coprophilous fungal spore records for comparison with existing pollen, spore, and charcoal records from 14 sites across eastern North America. The MRH was well supported in the northeast and central US, with most sites showing a coprophilous spore decline by ∼14.6 ka followed by a rise of hardwood taxa (∼14.4 ka). However, changes in fire regime varied widely among northeast and central US sites and may have preceded spore declines. The MRH was not well supported in the southeastern US, where a smaller rise in hardwood taxa (∼16.1–13.1 ka) generally preceded the decline in coprophilous spores at individual sites (∼15.8–12.7 ka). These site-level and regional differences suggest spatial variations in the strength of couplings among late-Quaternary megaherbivore extinctions, vegetation composition and structure, and fire regime. Possible explanations for the differences between the northern and southeastern US include (1) differences in landscape heterogeneity of canopy openness and palatability, (2) net primary productivity and sensitivity to top-down trophic effects, (3) megaherbivore density, and (4) climate trends and seasonality at orbital to millennial timescales.
Non-pollen palynomorphs (NPPs) are ‘extra’ microfossils often found in palynology slides. These include remains of organisms within the size range of pollen grains (∼10-250 microns), resistant to laboratory treatments used for the preparation of palynological samples. NPPs are a large and taxonomically heterogeneous group of remains of organisms living in diverse environments. Taxonomically, they belong to a wide variety of groups such as cyanobacteria, algae, vascular plants, invertebrates, and fungi. The aim of this chapter is to provide a general overview of NPP groups observed in palynology slides. It includes more than 40 of the most common groups starting with acritarcha, cyanobacteria and algae, moving through transitional groups to animals and fungi and finishing with human-made objects such as textile fibres. Although far from complete, it provides an updated overview of taxonomical diversity of NPPs and their indicator values. Further works on NPP identifications are of great importance to improve of our current knowledge. Since NPPs occur in all kinds of sediments, their analysis is a powerful tool for reconstructing environmental changes over time. Further detailed studies of specific NPP groups and their indicator values will open the way for new fields of study.
The spatial heterogeneity at archaeological sites associated with human arrangements has mostly been evidenced by the analyses of artefact assemblages and constructions. Here we test the potentials of - pollen, non-pollen palynomorphs and lipid biomarkers in indicating intra-site spatial patterns and uses of space at the waterlogged archaeological site of Tianluoshan, Lower Yangtze Region, China. Freshwater humid area and terrestrial residential space are identified from the western and eastern areas of the site, evidenced by the accumulations of algal and fern spores, and fungal spores, separately. The interior and exterior spaces of the pile dwellings are tentatively differentiated based on the assemblages of lignin- and cellulose-decomposing fungi. The presence of coprophilous fungal spores and pollen species from diverse origins further points to the organisation of different activity areas for food processing and disposal of waste. In lipid biomarkers, major spatial patterns of alcohol and fatty acid distributions are related to long chain homologues from terrestrial plant remains transported through water in the western area, and homologues with shorter chain lengths in the pile dwellings. It can be concluded that non-pollen palynomorphs best indicate the local environments and spatial patterns in the present study.
Livestock have been an important food resource for people for thousands of years. Extensive grazing and fodder collection has led to the development of a range of semi‐natural habitats now in danger of disappearing. Management practices for four examples of such habitats—mountain pastures and grasslands, hay meadows, managed woodlands, and coastal heathlands—are described. Knowledge of their development through time and space is gained through palynology combined with archaeological, historical, and ecological data. Development of quantitative modeling and reconstruction methods will further aid the understanding of environmental management with livestock through time.
A new species, Podospora austrohemisphaerica, is described from the dung of wild and domesticated herbivores. Twenty-five records are cited, including 23 from Argentina, New Zealand and Australia and 2 from England. The species is characterized by a Phialophora anamorph, perithecia with rigid neck hairs and large ascospores with gelatinous sheaths and multiple caudae both at the spore extremities and at the proximal end of the lower cell (= pedicel). Teleomorph descriptions from lab-incubated field dung are augmented with teleomorph and anamorph descriptions from ascospore-initiated axenic cultures. Ascospore germination, sexual compatibility, intraspecific variation, distribution, and relationships to other species of Podospora are discussed.
Two species of Podospora (P. appendiculata and P. fimiseda) with thick-walled, coriaceous perithecia are frequently found in New Zealand. A third similar species, P. perplexans, has been recorded only once. A key and descriptions of the species are provided together with cultural details, dung preferences and geographic distributions. A Cladorrhinum anamorph for P. fimiseda is reported for the first time. The perithecium development of P. fimiseda is described and comparisons are made with the centrum development of P. vesticola and P. tetraspora. This current work supports the view that P. appendiculata and P. fimiseda are closely related to the genus Cercophora.
During year 2005-through 2006 a study on coprophilous fungal communities present in wild rabbit dung was carried out in the park of a regional hospital (V Region, Chile), 21 samples in seven months under two seasonable periods (cold and warm) being collected. Sixty species and 44 genera as a total were recorded in the sampling period, 46 species in warm periods and 39 in the cold ones. Major groups were arranged as follows: Zygomycota (11,6 %), Ascomycota (50 %), associated mitosporic genera (36,8 %) and Basidiomycota (1,6 %). Ascomycetes genera having the highest occurrence were: Chaetomium (5), Saccobolus and Sordaria (3) Podospora, Schizothecium and Sporormiella (2). Constant and dominant species were : Chaetomium cuniculorum, Ch. murorum, Coprinus spp., Iodophanus carneus, Pilaira anomala, Schizothecium tetrasporum, Sordaria humana, Sporormiella teretispora and Stilbella fimetaria. Under a taxonomic approach focused on the majority of meiosporic fungi (Ascomycota), the presence of new records of fungi for Chile is emphasized: Fusariella hughesii, Neurospora caulospora, Pleuroascus nicholsonii, Rhytidospora bispora, Saccobolus globuliferellus, among others.
The Gorgan Plain (NE Iran) is characterized by fertile soils formed on a loess plateau and is at present primarily exploited for intensive agriculture. However, the timing and intensity of the human impact on the landscape in the past are still unclear. A sediment core, taken from the centre of the eastern Gorgan Plain in the Kongor Lake covering the major part of the Holocene from 6.1 to 0.8 ka (all ages are calibrated before present), has been studied for pollen, non-pollen palynomorphs, botanical macroremains, insects, charcoal, geochemistry, biomarkers and magnetism in order to provide new insights into the evolution of the landscape and to estimate the intensity of human activities. The data obtained suggest a dry period between 5.9 and 3.9 ka and an increase in regional humidity afterwards with a maximum between 2.7 and 0.7 ka, during the period of the Persian empires (Achaemenid through Sasanian) and the Islamic era. The eastern part of the Gorgan Plain was characterized by open steppe landscapes during the last 6 ka, which most likely were used for pasture and at least since 2.7 ka for agriculture including arboriculture. The strongest anthropogenic impact on the environment around the Kongor site is documented during the Parthian and Sasanian Empires (200 BC–651 AD) and the Islamic era up to the eve of the Mongol invasion.
A new species of Podospora, P. multipilosa is described and illustrated. It is characterized by large tufted hairs composed of swollen cells and ascospores with a slender pedicel. A key to the 22 Podospora species recorded thus far from Taiwan is also provided.
Twelve species of Podospora s. lato have been recorded in Taiwan. The present paper adds seven species new to the country, including P. formosana Yei Zeng Wang described as new. Description, comments, illustration of these species, cultural characteristics of some species and a key to total eighteen species collected from Taiwan are provided.
This paper reviews the background to studies of the coprophilous succession, presents some data from observations made on samples collected for a study of the occurrence and diversity of coprophilous fungi, and suggests where further studies might help to elucidate the functional aspects of the succession.
Ascomycete.org, 7 (2) : 45-53. Avril 2015 Mise en ligne le 2/04/2015 Summary: A survey of coprophilous fungi from Italy has allowed the author to recognise nineteen Podospora species, three (P. fimiseda, P. appendiculata and P. perplexens) belonging to section Podospora, whose main morphological features are mentioned and also examined in the light of recent molecular studies. P. appen-diculata and P. perplexens are described for the first time from Italy and compared with P. fimiseda, which has frequently been collected and described by the author. The three species are also compared with others in sect. Podospora, and a key to the section is provided. Species currently excluded from sect. Podospora are also discussed.
A sedimentological, geochemical, micropaleontological, and palynological study of a lacustrine sediment record from the small TT Lake (southern-central Tibetan Plateau) shows that the background sedimentation was frequently interrupted by event-related deposits. These event-related deposits are interpreted as the result of hydrologic events that are triggered by above-average precipitation events. In total, 11 events were recorded in the TT Lake sequence. Two types can be differentiated: fluvial runoff events caused by precipitation that carried sediment in suspension into the lake and a sediment mass transport caused by torrential precipitation. The hydrologic events appear to be decoupled from long-term climate and environmental variations, but there is evidence that anthropogenic impact, in terms of pastoralism, might have favored the runoff events. The multi-proxy approach proved to be valuable and allowed for a detailed study of sedimentary processes within the lake and its watershed in order to assess their triggering processes and dynamics. The findings show the complexity of these sedimentary processes and their controlling factors, and the study aims to improve their understanding. This study is the first effort to investigate event-related deposits and sedimentary processes on the Tibetan Plateau and its triggering processes and dynamics by utilizing lacustrine sediment records.
Two species of Podospora (P. appendiculata and P. fimiseda) with thick-walled, coriaceous perithecia are frequently found in New Zealand. A third similar species, P. perplexans, has been recorded only once. A key and descriptions of the species are provided together with cultural details, dung preferences and geographic distributions. A Cladorrhinum anamorph for P. fimiseda is reported for the first time. The perithecium development of P. fimiseda is described and comparisons are made with the centrum development of P. vesticola and P. tetraspora. This current work supports the view that P. appendiculata and P. fimiseda are closely related to the genus Cercophora.
A new species, Podospora austrohemisphaerica, is described from the dung of wild and domesticated herbivores. Twenty-five records are cited, including 23 from Argentina, New Zealand and Australia and 2 from England. The species is characterized by a Phialophora anamorph, perithecia with rigid neck hairs and large ascospores with gelatinous sheaths and multiple caudae both at the spore extremities and at the proximal end of the lower cell (= pedicel). Teleomorph descriptions from lab-incubated field dung are augmented with teleomorph and anamorph descriptions from ascospore-initiated axenic cultures. Ascospore germination, sexual compatibility, intraspecific variation, distribution, and relationships to other species of Podospora are discussed.
Fresh cattle dung is a nutrient-rich habitat that is quickly colonized by a speciose and abundant assemblage of organisms. The ease with which this habitat is manipulated by using artificially formed pats (size, shape, site, and time of deposition), the speed of community succession, and the complex interactions among its diverse inhabitants combine to make the dung pat a model ecosystem for scientific study. This chapter is intended to provide an overview of the arthropod species found in cattle dung on pastures of the Canadian prairies. It introduces the features of cattle dung that affect the activity of these arthropods and the key arthropod groups. It summarizes patterns of arthropod succession and discusses some of the more intriguing aspects of the cow pat community. Success will have been achieved if at least a few readers develop a desire to delve into dung. Résumé. Le fumier frais de bétail est un habitat riche en éléments nutritifs qui est rapidement colonisé par des organismes nombreux et diversifiés. La facilité avec laquelle elle se prête à diverses manipulations (taille, forme, site et moment du dépôt), la vitesse de succession des communautés d'organismes qu'elle abrite et les interactions complexes qui s'observent entre les divers types d'organismes qu'elle contient font de la bouse un écosystème modèle pour l'étude scientifique. Le présent chapitre vise à fournir un aperçu des espèces d'arthropodes que l'on trouve dans les bouses du bétail, dans les pâturages des prairies canadiennes. Il décrit les caractéristiques des bouses qui influent sur les activités des arthropodes, et présente les principaux groupes auxquels appartiennent ces arthropodes. Il résume les schémas de succession des espèces, et traite de certains des aspects particuliers des communautés d'arthropodes des bouses. L'objectif consiste à convaincre au moins quelques lecteurs de se pencher de près sur ce sujet.
Records of 54 species of coprophilous fungi obtained by incubating, in damp chambers, 21 samples of dung from mammalian herbivores from Puerto Rico, St John (USVI), Guadeloupe (France), Dominica and St Lucia are presented. Many are apparently new records for the region, and the distribution and occurrence of unusual or interesting species is discussed.
Kruys, Å. and Ericson, L. (2008). Species richness of coprophilous ascomycetes in relation to variable food intake by herbivores. Fungal Diversity 30: 73-81. The aim of this study was to study species richness and species composition of coprophilous ascomycetes in boreal forest. Dung was sampled at three localities and of three herbivores; moose (Alces alces), mountain hare (Lepus timidus), and roe deer (Capreolus capreolus). Species richness differed significantly among dung types and we also found a significant effect of the interaction between locality and dung type on the mean number of species. The highest species richness was found on roe deer dung, while moose did not differ from mountain hare. There was a strong positive relationship between the total number of ascomycete species and the number of plant species foraged by the three herbivores. We believe that food choice is one important factor influencing the species richness of coprophilous ascomycetes, and that some species are more associated with habitat and food choice of the herbivore, rather than a specific dung type/animal species. The composition of species on the different dung types is also discussed. Our results suggest that the coprophilous mycota in the boreal forest is poorly known; we found 47 species in total, four species were undescribed, 1 was new to Sweden, 24 species were new records for the province, and we made a total of 22 new substrate records.
An update of Podospora and Schizothecium is presented, based on recent literature. An overview of the genera, and their subfamily, family and order is given, and a collection of Podospora dasypogon new to Italy is described. The author provides additional records of species of Podospora s.l. described in his previous works, and colour photographs of most taxa recorded from Italy, and a dichotomous key to all Podospora s.str. and Schizothecium species.
"Fungi Fimicoli Italici", the first monograph on coprophilous fungi from Italy, is regarded as the starting point of a survey on Basidiomycetes and Ascomycetes obligatorily or facultatively growing on any kind of dung. All fimicolous species recorded from Italy and described in that work or in subsequent author's papers are listed and their dung sources are mentioned. The occurrence on dung of different genera and species is reported in separate Tables, and their frequency on different types of excrements is discussed and compared with other parts of the world. An update on the families Gymnoascaceae, Microascaceae and Sporormiaceae, and keys to genera of Gymnoascaceae and Microascaceae, and to Italian species of Gymnoascus s.l. and Sporormiella with 8-celled ascospores are provided. Chaetomidium fimeti, C. ancistrocladum, C. murorum, Gymnoascus dankaliensis, G. littoralis, G. ruber, Hypocopra equorum, Iodophanus difformis, Kernia cauquensis, Lophotrichus bartlettii, Orbicula parietina, Pithoascus intermedius, and Sporormiella affinis are first described from Italy.
A systematic study of Non-Pollen Palynomorphs (NPPs) from Quaternary sediments was begun in 1968 in the Hugo de Vries-Laboratory (Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics — IBED) at the University of Amsterdam (The Netherlands). Since the publication of the famous paper by Bas van Geel (1972), more than 1300 NPPs have been described and many of them have been identified as the remains of diaspores, cyanobacteria, algae, rhizopods, fungi, invertebrates, and chormophytes. In order to assess the current state of the art in the description of NPP types, in this paper I reviewed the “classical NPP literature” and the most recent literature as of November 2011, and I present a list of the described NPP types, as long as published in the English language. Full list of the NPP types and the related literature are available online as supplementary materials (.xls file) in this article's online version. The NPP type list is a new tool for NPP analysts and aims to widen the NPP research community, increase the number of identified NPP, and reduce the inconsistencies in naming the same microfossils.
An annotated checklist and two keys for the identification of 25 mostly coprophilous species of Arnium and Podospora registered from Argentina are provided. Of these, one species of Arnium and two species of Podospora are reported for the first time from Argentina. Descriptions and illustrations of the new records are presented.
Emphasises the ascomycetous components, on rabbit and cattle feces collected from short-grass (Nunn, CO), mixed-grass (Cottonwood, SD) and tall-grass (Shidler, OK) prairie ecosystems in the western United States. Fungal communities recorded for one dung type were always more similar to one another than to fungal communities from the other dung type, regardless of the grassland site from which samples were collected. Comparison of fungal communities on six age classes (0-54 months field exposure) of cattle dung from a semiarid grassland showed that communities were most similar on fecal collections nearest in age. A hypothesis is presented that the greater species abundance of coprophilous fungal communities in semiarid grasslands is related to the slower rate of decomposition of individual fecal substrates and, thus, the availability of long-lived resource islands capable of supporting successive populations of fungal colonists. Communities on dung from the drier prairie sites (short grass and mixed grass) were more similar to one another than to communities from the more mesic tall-grass prairie. -from Authors
A new species of Podospora, P. clavispora, is described on cow dung from East Pakistan. The whole davate young spore becomes colored at maturity in this species. Its phylogenetic position is discussed.
The coprophilous-ascomycete mycobiota from 163 collections of horse, cow, sheep, rabbit, and deer dung was studied. The frequency of occurrence on all substrates was examined for the 41 Ascomycetes identified ten or more times. The following associations of fungi with dung from certain animal groups were noted: four species with horse dung (Perissodactyla), three species with rabbit dung (Leporidae), and one species with cow, sheep, and deer dung (Ruminantia). Four fungi were associated with wild-animal dung, and nine species were largely restricted to domestic-animal dung. Comparisons are made between fungus-substrate relationships observed in Illinois and those reported from Britain and Sweden.
A separately caged rabbit and a sheep were fed baled alfalfa hay from a field in northwestern Pennsylvania in order to estimate the importance of different herbivore digestive systems (i.e., lagomorph versus ruminant) in determining species composition and species-frequency distributions of the resultant coprophilous fungal communities. Samples of freshly collected dung from each animal were incubated (40 da) in laboratory moist chambers and dung surfaces were periodically examined for the presence of fungal sporocarps. Number of species and frequency of occurrence of loculoascomycetes and pyrenomycetes were significantly greater on rabbit feces, while discomycetes were recorded at higher frequencies on sheep feces. It was not determined whether fungal distribution patterns result from the selective effects of digestive systems on spore populations during gut passage or from differences in competitive abilities of fungi in lagomorph and ruminant feces.
Fungi from approximately 1700 individual arthropods that had been captured in traps set in aspen-dominated woodland in western Canada and baited with coyote dung, moose dung, white-rotted wood, brown-rotted wood and fiberglass were isolated in pure culture and identified. These data were analysed with principal components analysis (PCA) to determine whether different types of substrate attracted specific arthropods and whether these animals carried unique assemblages of fungi with known proclivities for the new habitat. Mycobiotic agar was used to restrict the numbers of fungi isolated and resulted in the recovery of 1687 isolates representing 65 species across 12 orders. Isolates of cosmopolitan fungal taxa such as species of Cladosporium, Penicillium, and Beauveria were the most numerous. Taxa with predilections for specific substrates, such as Myxotrichum and Cryptendoxyla that are known inhabitants of cellulose-rich materials (i.e. rotted wood), and various representatives of the keratinophilic Onygenales were recovered from arthropods attracted respectively to baits rich in cellulose and keratin. When traps were analysed according to the identity and numbers of arthropods captured, there was considerable overlap among clusters representing specific bait types, with traps baited with coyote dung being the most divergent partly because they captured significantly more arthropods than those baited with moose dung or rotted wood. When bait type was examined according to the identity and numbers of fungi on trapped arthropods the degree of overlap was also high although a few trends could be discerned. In particular traps baited with brown-rotted wood and coyote dung diverged slightly indicating that arthropods visiting these bait types were carrying somewhat different suites of fungi.
The fungal fruit body succession on different dung substrates of African game animals was investigated and the successional phases determined by means of the computer analysis programmes TWINSPAN and DECORANA. The successional patterns exhibited could in all probability be attributed to a number of environmentally limiting factors and biotic pressures as well as to the existence of inherited physiological characteristics. The species association classes delimited can, in general, be explained by the overlapping of, or the joint absences of, species during the peak ecological periods. Alternatively it may be the result of interrelated species combinations with regard to the presence/absence patterns exhibited by these species combinations within the specific association classes during the peak ecological periods.
The results of an analysis of pollen, spores and other micro-fossils (or parts of such fossils) with a characteristic form, from a 195 cm high peat section are reported. It appeared that certain Fungi types are connected with more strongly humified layers, which were presumably formed under drier conditions. Other fungal types show a clear connection with the peat-forming vegetation. An attempt was made to identify the micro-fossils other than pollen grains, which in some cases proved to be possible. A more extensive study is required before more accurate identifications can be arrived at and the emanating interpretations can be substantiated.Attention was paid to cyclic phenomena in the Alnus curve in the diagram. According to calculations with the help of 14C datings, cycles of about 32 years occurred. Further analysis may lead to an answer to the question whether this is a matter of periodic or cyclic phenomena and may reveal the possible cause of the fluctuations.By means of the pollen diagram information was obtained concerning the influence of prehistoric man on the vegetation from about 1700 B.C. to about 300 A.D. It appears that the influence is relatively important in the period between about 700 B.C. and 100 A.D. In this period agriculture on field complexes of the ‘Celtic Field’ type was probably carried out in the neighbourhood of the Wietmarscher Moor. By the beginning of the Christian era Secale pollen appears in the section for the first time. A decrease in population density is marked during the second century of the era. The reliable part of the diagram ends at the 10 cm level which corresponds to a date of about 300 A.D.Through a further analysis of microscopic and macroscopic remains in peat bogs one may expect to gather novel data regarding various aspects of peat analysis discussed in this article.
The body of a murdered woman was found on the planted periphery of a busy roundabout in Dundee, United Kingdom. A suspect was apprehended and his footwear yielded a similar palynological (botanical and mycological) profile to that obtained from the ground and vegetation of the crime scene, and to that of the victim's clothing. The sources of palynomorphs at the roundabout were the in situ vegetation, and macerated woody mulch which had been laid on the ground surface. The degree of rarity of individual forensic markers, the complexity of the overall profile, and the application of both botanical and mycological expertise, led to a high level of resolution in the results, enabling the exhibits to be linked to the crime scene. The suspect was convicted of murder. The interpretation of the results allowed conclusions which added to the list of essential protocols for crime scene sampling as well the requirement for advanced expertise in identification.
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Exposure of laboratory-collected rabbit feces in different habitats associated with a dune succession in Presque Isle State Park, Erie, Pennsylvania, USA, affected the structure and composition of the coprophilous fungal communities developing on these feces. Nylon mesh litter bags containing 4-g samples of rabbit feces, the latter incorporating a similar fungal inoculum, were exposed in the field for either 2- or 4-wk intervals throughout the summer of 1975. This was followed by a 40-d incubation in laboratory moist chambers, during which time the development (sporulation) of fungal populations was studied and the frequency of occurrence of fungal taxa recorded. Community analysis was accomplished by position vectors ordination, and analysis of species diversity values. Experimental evidence is offered for the first time that microclimatic amelioration and stabilization in later stages of ecosystem development can be important in determining microfungal diversity. Community diversity increased when dune habitat and/or exposure interval were associated with a less stressful environment (i.e., presence of vegetational cover or greater available moisture).
A separately caged rabbit and a sheep were fed baled alfalfa hay from a field in northwestern Pennsylvania in order to estimate the importance of different herbivore digestive systems (i.e., lagomorph versus ruminant) in determining species composition and species-frequency distributions of the resultant coprophilous fungal communities. Samples of freshly collected dung from each animal were incubated (40 da) in laboratory moist chambers and dung surfaces were periodically examined for the presence of fungal sporocarps. Number of species and frequency of occurrence of loculoascomycetes and pyrenomycetes were significantly greater on rabbit feces, while discomycetes were recorded at higher frequencies on sheep feces. It was not determined whether fungal distribution patterns result from the selective effects of digestive systems on spore populations during gut passage or from differences in competitive abilities of fungi in lagomorph and ruminant feces.
The coprophilous-ascomycete mycobiota from 163 collections of horse, cow, sheep, rabbit, and deer dung was studied. The frequency of occurrence on all substrates was examined for the 41 Ascomycetes identified ten or more times. The following associations of fungi with dung from certain animal groups were noted: four species with horse dung (Perissodactyla), three species with rabbit dung (Leporidae), and one species with cow, sheep, and deer dung (Ruminantia). Four fungi were associated with wild-animal dung, and nine species were largely restricted to domestic-animal dung. Comparisons are made between fungus-substrate relationships observed in Illinois and those reported from Britain and Sweden.
A new species of Podospora, P. clavispora, is described on cow dung from East Pakistan. The whole clavate young spore becomes colored at maturity in this species. Its phylogenetic position is discussed.
An annotated checklist and two keys for the identification of 25 mostly coprophilous species of Arnium and Podospora registered from Argentina are provided. Of these, one species of Arnium and two species of Podospora are reported for the first time from Argentina. Descriptions and illustrations of the new records are presented.
This study links the spores of the recent ascomycete genus Potamomyces with the fossil form-taxa Mediaverrunites. Spores of the only known representative of Potamomyces, P. armatisporus, were found in recent material from Nepal together with a previously unknown spore type described here for the first time as Potamomyces nepalensis-type. Potamomyces is thus not a monotypic genus. The rarely isolated type species P. armatisporus is known as a lignicolous freshwater ascomycete from tropical rivers. Our findings indicate that the genus also lives in damp conditions in terrestrial habitats, and is recently distributed also in subtropical regions. Based on the fossil findings of Mediaverrunites, the genus Potamomyces evolved at least 25 million yr ago at the onset of younger Tertiary. Potamomyces is an excellent example of the potential of interdisciplinary fungal research, combining insights from fungal evolution, taxonomy, ancient and recent distribution and ecology.