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From the Cover
PLANT BIOLOGY
Life history biology of early land plants: Deciphering the gametophyte phase

Thomas N. Taylor ^*, , Hans Kerp , and Hagen Hass 

^*Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Research Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045-7534; and Forschungsstelle für Paläobotanik, Westfälische Wilhelms Universität, Münster, Germany

Contributed by Thomas N. Taylor, March 10, 2005

The ca. 400-million-year-old Rhynie chert biota represents a benchmark for studies of early terrestrial ecosystems. The exquisite preservation of the organisms documents an ancient biodiversity that also includes various levels of biological interaction. Absent from the picture until recently has been detailed information about the development of the gametophyte phase and the alternation of generations of the macroplants in this ecosystem. Here, we trace the development of the gametophyte phase of Aglaophyton, an early land plant with an unusual complement of structural and morphological characters. Mature gametophytes consist of a fleshy protocorm attached to the substrate by basal rhizoids; arising from the upper surface are one to several upright gametangiophores bearing multiple gametangia. Stomata are present on the upper surface of the protocorm and gametangiophore, and endomycorrhizal fungi extend throughout the gametophyte. Gametophytes are unisexual, producing either antheridiophores or archegoniophores. There is no evidence that gametophytes later become hermaphroditic. The sexual dimorphism of the Rhynie chert gametophytes is inconsistent with theoretical ideas about the haploid phase of early land plants. The gametophyte phase of early land plants can now be considered within an ecological and evolutionary framework that, in turn, can be used to develop hypotheses about some aspects of the population dynamics and growth of these early land plants.

Early Devonian | fossil gametophytes | Rhynie chert | spore development | alteration of generations

To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: tntaylor{at}ku.edu.

© 2005 by The National Academy of Sciences of the USA

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