Visualization of Extracellular Deposits in Recent and Subfossil Umbilicaria Hyperborea

Abstract

Field emission scanning electron microscopy was used to characterize mycobiont wall surfaces in Umbilicaria hyperborean from Greenland. To determine the precise intrathalline distribution of phenolics, comparisons were made of hyphal surface features and dimensions before and after acetone extraction. Stratification was evident within the medulla, as extracellular phenolics were observed only on hyphae near or within the algal zone. The outside diameter of hyphae in this region was thus significantly greater than in the remainder of the medulla. Surface deposits were also examined in 1350-year-old subfossil thalli and hyphal diameters were compared statistically to those in extant thalli. The mean hyphal diameter in the upper medulla was not significantly less in subfossil specimens than in recent thalli, suggesting that phenolic cover was maintained in spite of glaciation. However, after ice burial phenolic masses tended to be flatter than in recent specimens and finely tubcrculate. The appearance of mycobiont hyphae in the cortex of subfossil thalli seemed to be the same as in extant thalli, except that there tended to be more compressible, smaller and less conglutinated filaments near the algal layer.