Abstract Detail

Paleobotanical Section

Villanueva, Uxue [1], Sender, Luis Miguel [2], Diez, José Bienvenido [3], Pons, Denise [4], Cevallos-Ferriz, Sergio [5].

Wall structure based on FIB studies of isoetalean microspores from Early Cretaceous of northeastern Spain.

This research presents a detailed ultrastructural analysis of in situ masses of spores from isoetalean microsporophyll from the Boundary Marls Unit (latest Albian) of Estercuel (Teruel province) in the northeastern Spain. The masses are elliptical in shape, approximately 400-580 µm long and 290-320 µm wide, containing hundreds of microspores. The microspores inside the masses seems to be grouped in tetrads. This study has been carried out using Focused Ion Beam and Scanning Electron Microscope (FIB-SEM). The FIB-SEM technique permits a more comprehensive studies of the wall structure of palynomorphs, allowing three-dimensional imaging and the selection of the area of interest for nano-sectioning. The studied cavate monolete microspores are similar to spores of the dispersed genus Peromonolites and they share the typical 'spongy' para-exospore character of the isoetalean spores, inner nexine and outer nexine with compact layer. The advantages of the FIB-SEM approach are noticeable due to a higher resolution of microspore ultrastructure such as a nano-verrucate surface pattern inside the para-exospore cavities, a nano-verrucate inner surface of the central body of the microspore and a layered nature of the inner nexine.

Broader Impacts:

1 - Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Paleontology, Department of Paleontology. Geology Institute, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, México D.F., México, 04510, México
2 - Universidad de Zaragoza, Paleontology, C/ Pedro Cerbuna 12, , Zaragoza, Zaragoza, 50009, Spain
3 - Universidad de Vigo, Marine Geosciences and Land Use Planning, Universidad de Vigo, Campus Lagoas Marcosende, Vigo, Pontevedra, 36310, Spain
4 - Laboratoire De Paleobotanique, UPMC, 12 Rue Cuvier, Paris, F-75005, France
5 - Instituto De Geología, UNAM, Biología, Instituto De Geología, UNAM, Circuito De La Investigación, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacan, N/A, 04510, Mexico

Keywords:
Isoetaleans
Early Cretaceous
Iberian Range
microspores.

Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Sections
Session: P
Location: Battelle South/Convention Center
Date: Monday, July 9th, 2012
Time: 5:30 PM
Number: PPB004
Abstract ID:387