Articles tagged with Plant Fossils
A 115-million-year-old fossilized wasp from Brazil features an ovipositor similar to those of present-day fig wasps, raising questions about the co-evolution of these organisms. The finding highlights the value of studying insect fossils for understanding evolutionary history and plant origins.
A 115- to 125-million-year-old flowering plant fossil, named Potomacapnos apeleutheron, has been discovered in a Virginia canal bank where freed slaves were forced to dig a canal. The find raises questions about the evolution of flowering plants and pollen.
A new study by Carole Gee integrates visualization techniques to examine ancient fossils, providing a nondestructive method for studying fossil conifer seed cones up to 150 million years old. The technique uses microCT and 3D image segmentation, allowing researchers to visualize internal structures without damaging the specimens.
Researchers have discovered pollen grains from direct ancestors of flowering plants, dating back 240 million years to the Early Triassic. The findings suggest that flowering plants may have evolved up to 100 million years earlier than previously thought.
Fossilized pollen from flowers dating back to the Early Triassic, around 252-247 million years ago, challenges previous estimates of flowering plant evolution. The discovery pushes the origin of flowering plants back by 100 million years.
Researchers analyzed Neogene plant fossils to understand how plants respond to climate change. The study found that stomatal density increased during the present epoch and decreased during the late Pliocene, indicating an inverse relationship with atmospheric CO2 concentrations.
Researchers have identified the ancient ancestor of the tulip tree line, which diverged from magnolias over 100 million years ago. The discovery sheds light on the evolution of this iconic Eastern North American species.
A newly discovered species, Rugosodon eurasiaticus, has provided critical insights into the evolution of multituberculates, which dominated Earth's landscapes for over 100 million years. The fossil's well-preserved anatomy reveals adaptations for gnawing plants and animals alike, as well as highly mobile ankle joints.
A new study from the University of Oregon has found evidence of life on land dating back 2.2 billion years, four times earlier than previously thought. The discovery of ancient fossils in South African soil provides insight into the 'Great Oxidation Event' that marked a significant rise in oxygen levels in the atmosphere.
Researchers date cyanobacterial invasion into one-celled plants to 900 million years ago, revealing new insights into the origins of photosynthesis. By analyzing fossil and genetic evidence, they estimated the age of this ancient event, providing a more precise timeline for the evolution of plant and animal cells.
Fossil finds in Africa have shed light on the evolutionary past of penguins, revealing that four species coexisted on the continent five million years ago. Rising and falling sea levels are believed to be responsible for the decline of African penguin diversity.
A new study confirms that 150 million-year-old Jurassic ecosystems were characterized by lush plant life and animal richness, similar to modern ecosystems. By analyzing fossil soils from various regions, researchers found high levels of CO2 from vegetation, indicating a wetter environment with abundant plant growth.
Geologist Gregory Retallack proposes that ancient Ediacaran fossils, dated to 542-635 million years ago, were remnants of land-dwelling lichen or microbial colonies. The fossils are preserved in iron-colored impressions similar to plant fossils and microbes in fossil soils.
The study provides a comprehensive review of the Yuzhou Flora, recognizing 111 genera and 307 species from 40 fossil plant layers. The authors propose hypotheses on evolutionary trends in leaf structure and venation patterns, as well as a new morphotype classification scheme for Gigantopteridales.
Two fossils discovered in southwest Europe represent a new genus likely to be the oldest known members of the giant panda family. The fossils, dated to 11.6 million years ago, share characteristics with bears adapted to eating tough plant material like bamboo.
A new study uses molecular clock methods to reconstruct the cypress family tree, revealing that their evolution reflects the break-up of Pangea. The research confirms that cypresses are a very old plant family with origins tracing back to 153 million years ago.
A team of researchers has discovered an entire fossil forest in upstate New York, revealing the oldest known tree stumps and new insights into the evolution of forests. The 385-million-year-old Gilboa fossil forest contains hundreds of large tree stumps with preserved roots, offering a glimpse into the Earth's ancient ecosystems.
Researchers are tapping into photosynthesis to efficiently produce highly valuable products, including biofuels and pharmaceuticals. This innovative approach could lead to a more sustainable future by utilizing sunlight as a renewable energy source.
Scientists have discovered a new plant fossil that sheds light on the phylogenetic age and ecology of the horsetail plant genus Equisetum. The fossil, dated to 150 million years ago, reveals that the genus has maintained its successful set of tools for extreme environments over millions of years.
The 125 million-year-old fossil find suggests an earlier origin for eudicots and flowering plants. The newly discovered species, Leefructus mirus, exhibits characteristics similar to those of modern buttercups and Ranunculaceae family members.
Scientists argue that Ardipithecus ramidus, a human ancestor, lived in tree or bush savannas with 5-25% tree cover, not dense woodlands. The claim challenges the savanna hypothesis, which suggests that the expansion of savannas prompted the evolution of bipedalism.
A Brown University-led team discovered that massive volcanic eruptions led to a spike in atmospheric carbon dioxide, wiping out half of plant species and decimating crurotarsans. This allowed early theropods, including dinosaurs, to become dominant in the animal world.
A new study confirms that early angiosperms were fast-growing and weedy, with leaf lifespans of less than 12 months. The research used fossil plant morphology to estimate life history strategies, suggesting that this growth pattern was common among plants 100 million years ago.
A new analysis of the plant family tree suggests that flowering plants may be considerably older than previously thought, with origins dating back to 215 million years ago. This finding fuels ongoing debates over different approaches to dating the tree of life and contradicts previous fossil record estimates.
A recent study resolves a long-standing mystery surrounding the giant fossil Prototaxites. Researchers propose that these ancient organisms were mixotrophic liverworts associated with fungi and cyanobacteria. The findings support previous hypotheses that microbial associations and mixotrophy are ancient plant traits.
A recent study published in the American Journal of Botany explores the origins of New Zealand's flora. The research reveals that two ancient plant fossils from the Late Oligocene/Early Miocene period (28-15 mya) indicate a younger history for most groups of plants in the region.
The team's analysis reveals a unique hominid skeleton with well-preserved pelvic and foot bones, providing insights into Ardi's locomotion and brain size. The discovery sheds new light on human ancestry, challenging previous assumptions about early human relatives.
A team of researchers discovered evidence suggesting the Paleoasian Ocean closed at the end of the Permian period, about 251 million years ago. The study found mixed flora in Late Permian fossils, indicating plants from China and Siberia coexisted before the ocean disappeared.
Five ancient crocs, including BoarCroc and DuckCroc, have been discovered in the Sahara with unique features such as armored snouts and broad forebrains. The discovery provides insight into a previously unknown world of crocodilians that inhabited Gondwana 100 million years ago.
A fossil plant discovery by Peter Wilf and colleagues has reassigned the species Libocedrus prechilensis to Papuacedrus, indicating that Patagonia was once a warm, wet tropical place. This find also establishes a connection between tropical West Pacific regions and Australia via a forested Antarctic land bridge during the Eocene.
A team of researchers is exploring the fossil record of ancient plants in Patagonia, Argentina, which could provide insights into plant evolution, distribution, and ecology. The study aims to determine if a major plant extinction occurred when dinosaurs went extinct and how long it took for recovery.
Researchers at Southern Methodist University discovered that Ethiopia's climate 27 million years ago had warmer soil temperatures and higher rainfall. The study used oxygen and hydrogen isotopes in fossil soils found in the highlands of northwest Ethiopia, providing a previously unknown picture of the paleolandscape.
Researchers have discovered a rich cache of plant fossils in Colombia, providing the first reliable evidence of how Neotropical rainforests looked 58 million years ago. The fossil record shows that many dominant plant families still exist today, indicating a relatively stable ecosystem.
Researchers uncover jawbone of transitional fossil Megapiranha paranensis, showing intermediate pattern of teeth. The discovery confirms the evolutionary link between piranhas and their herbivorous relatives, with implications for understanding the piranha's distinctive bite.
A new species of parrot-beaked dinosaur, Psittacosaurus gobiensis, has been discovered in the Gobi Desert with characteristic skull traits and associated gizzard stones suggesting a diet rich in nuts and seeds. The unique chewing style of the dinosaur provides insight into its feeding habits.
A CU-Boulder study reveals that prehistoric mammals in the high Arctic lived year-round in a warm and humid climate with lush forests. The findings contradict traditional migration theories, suggesting that these animals adapted to the harsh winter conditions by altering their diet.
A research team led by Boston University's David Marchant has discovered exceptionally well-preserved freshwater fossils in Antarctica, which reveal the ecological legacy of a unique global climate transition. The findings indicate that tundra and insects went extinct suddenly around 13.9 million years ago due to dramatic cooling.
The Plant Journal special issue explores how plants can convert their fixed carbon into fuels and other useful products. This provides a renewable and affordable source of carbon to sustain future economic development without negatively impacting the environment.
Research finds link between temperature and insect feeding on leaves, boosting foraging of plant-eating insects. The study links past climate spike to increased insect damage.
A team of scientists discovered a fossilized remains of an extinct tank-like mammal, Parapropalaehoplophorus septentrionalis, which is a primitive relative of modern armadillos. The animal lived in the Andes around 18 million years ago and weighed approximately 200 pounds.
The discovery of well-preserved fossils in a blue hole off the coast of the Bahamas provides insights into early life on isolated islands. Fossilized bones of land-lubbing crocodiles and tortoises, as well as plant fossils, have been found, shedding light on the impact of human arrival on island ecosystems.
Scientists discovered a unique method of reproduction in primitive plants named cycads, which heat up and emit toxic odors to repel and attract pollen-covered insects. This 'push-pull' pollination method may represent an intermediate step in the evolution of plant pollination.
Researchers at UC Irvine have developed a novel method to measure carbon dioxide levels from fossil fuels by analyzing corn samples collected from nearly 70 locations nationwide. The study found that California and the Ohio Valley had the most fossil-fuel-emitted carbon dioxide, while the Colorado region had the least.
A study published in Science reveals that the transition from an ice age to a greenhouse climate occurred in a series of sharp swings between cold and hot conditions over millions of years. The research, led by Isabel Montanez, shows that atmospheric carbon dioxide levels swung wildly, with a pattern of increasing CO2 and temperatures ...
New fossil evidence reveals plant and insect diversity were out of balance during Paleocene Epoch. Insect predation was low in most areas, but unexpectedly high in two early Paleocene sites, Castle Rock and Mexican Hat.
Researchers discover unique egg-forming structure in Amborella, potentially linking flowering plants to extinct gymnosperm ancestors. The novel embryo sac configuration could be a relic of intense evolutionary activity, shedding light on the origin and evolution of flowering plants.
Scientists have discovered that global warming led to drastic changes in ancient forests 55 million years ago, including the appearance of tropical plants from Europe. This finding has implications for understanding the evolution of modern primates and their adaptations.
Scientists discovered new boundary sequences of fossils in the southeastern Bighorn Basin, Wyoming, containing both leaf and pollen fossils. The findings suggest that rapid warming during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) led to changes in vegetation, with plants migrating north from their original southern habitats.
Researchers identified ancient charophyte algae fossils with complex evolution, including vertical and spiral structures. The study sheds light on the Paleozoic era's climate and provides a non-destructive method for investigating small fossils.
A team of researchers found that plant-insect interactions were diverse and abundant in Patagonia 52 million years ago. The study reveals a legacy of ancient biodiversity that will help understand modern South American diversity.
Proconsul, a 18 million-year-old creature, holds the key to human and ape origins. The book provides an insider's view on fossil discovery and interpretation, exploring Proconsul's anatomy, diet, and habits.
Researchers have unearthed four-million-year-old ancestral fossils at the Gona site in Ethiopia, shedding light on early human evolution. The discovery offers a unique glimpse into the anatomy and behavioral capabilities of our ancient relatives, revealing that they lived in low-lying areas with swamps, springs, and volcanic centers.
Scientists at Ohio State University have found evidence of silk-spinning structures on the fossilized body of an ancient arachnid, called Aphantomartus pustulatus. The finding suggests that silk-spinning has been around for a long time and could provide insights into the early evolution of arachnids and life on land.
A study by ecologist Jeff Dukes calculates that 98 tons of plants per gallon are needed to produce modern fossil fuels. The research found that the amount of carbon in ancient plant matter required to form coal, oil, and gas is equivalent to all the plant growth on Earth over 13,300 years.
A Cornell University study found city-grown air pollution, particularly ozone, hinders rural tree growth. Contrary to expectations, city trees outperformed their country counterparts in terms of biomass.
Researchers found over 100 distinct fossil leaf species, including dicots, monocots, and conifers, at the Laguna del Hunco site. The discovery reveals that high neotropical diversity existed as far back as 52-53 million years ago.
Researchers used advanced analytical technique to study extinct plant species Asteroxylon, finding evidence of two structural biopolymers in its cell wall. This discovery suggests that the plant had the capacity to biosynthesize lignin, a key factor in plant colonization and evolution.
Researchers have analyzed fossil records of plants and insects to understand how the Earth's climate has changed over time. The study reveals that the K-T boundary, which marked the extinction of dinosaurs, was caused by an extraterrestrial impact, while the P-E interval saw a more gradual change due to global warming.
Researchers at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute have discovered evidence of early domestication of wild squash varieties in coastal Ecuador dating back to around 12,000 years ago. The phytoliths found in these ancient fruits suggest a significant shift towards more productive agricultural practices among hunter-gatherers.
Researchers have resolved terrestrial paleoclimate records near the K-T boundary, correlating with marine data. Climate changes occurred globally, with warming events occurring 66 million years ago, and cooling trends preceding the K-T collision.