<i>Hagenia</i> from the early Miocene of Ethiopia: Evidence for possible niche evolution?

ABSTRACT: Fossil pollen believed to be related to extant Hagenia abyssinica were discovered in the early Miocene (21.73 Ma) Mush Valley paleoflora, Ethiopia, Africa. Both the fossil and extant pollen grains of H. abyssinica were examined with combined light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy to compare the pollen and establish their relationships. Based on this, the fossil pollen grains were attributed to Hagenia. The presence of Hagenia in the fossil assemblage raises the questions if its habitat has changed over time, and if the plants are/were wind pollinated. To shed light on these questions, the morphology of extant anthers was also studied, revealing specialized hairs inside the anthers, believed to aid in insect pollinati

SUBMITTER: Grimsson F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8131786 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature