Earliest Fossil Evidence of Ancient Forests Uncovered in British Record
In a groundbreaking discovery, researchers have uncovered the earliest fossil evidence of ancient forests in the British record. This finding provides new insights into the early evolution of Earth’s land-based biosphere and sheds light on a previously unrecognized 390-million-year-old forest landscape. Published in the Journal of the Geological Society, the study focuses on the Middle Devonian (Eifelian) Hangman Sandstone Formation in Somerset and Devon, in Southwest England.
The study, led by Dr. Christopher Berry from Cardiff University’s School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, identified well-preserved fossil material attributable to the cladoxylopsid tree Calamophyton. These trees, which grew up to 2-4 meters tall, had narrow trunks with an expanded rounded base and small roots. They formed densely spaced forests, shedding abundant plant debris that would have been perfect for the invertebrates populating the forest floor.
One of the most remarkable findings was at Culver Cliff in Somerset, where at least 17 cladoxylopsid tree trunks were found preserved on a single bedding surface. These trunks, measuring 5-10 cm in diameter and up to 1.4 meters in length, provide a glimpse into the spacing and density of these ancient forests. These were tight spaces, jam-packed with early life.
But these ancient forests were not only significant for their ecological impact; they also played a crucial role in shaping the earliest ‘modern’ riverbanks. The study’s authors suggest that the cladoxylopsid trees colonized a sizable distributive fluvial system, essentially reshaping the landscape between land and a nearby waterway. The accumulation of sediment caused by this flora, along with their roots holding the soils together, created early riverbanks.
“The Devonian period fundamentally changed life on Earth. It also changed how water and land interacted with each other, since trees and other plants helped stabilize sediment through their root systems, but little is known about the very earliest forests,” said study author Professor Neil Davies of Cambridge University’s Department of Earth Sciences.
The researchers found evidence of plant-sediment interactions in the form of vegetation-induced sedimentary structures, rooting features, and accumulations of shed plant material. They argue that these trees served as biogeomorphic agents, profoundly changing Earth’s landscapes and biosphere during the Devonian period. This discovery provides compelling evidence that the Eifelian Stage marks the onset of significant tree-driven changes to physical environments.
“The evidence contained in these fossils preserves a key stage in Earth’s development,” expressed Professor Davies. “When rivers started to operate in a fundamentally different way than they had before, becoming the great erosive force they are today.”
This finding not only gives us a glimpse into how the earliest land-based ecosystems formed but also provides another puzzle piece in understanding how trees and forests eventually came to dominate our planet. The discovery of these ancient forests in the British record is a testament to the rich geological history of the region and the ongoing efforts of researchers to uncover Earth’s ancient past.
In conclusion, this groundbreaking study reveals the earliest fossil evidence of ancient forests in the British record, providing new insights into the early evolution of Earth’s land-based biosphere. The discovery of well-preserved fossil material attributable to the cladoxylopsid tree Calamophyton sheds light on a previously unrecognized 390-million-year-old forest landscape. These ancient forests played a crucial role in shaping the earliest ‘modern’ riverbanks, and their presence marks a significant shift in how water and land interacted during the Devonian period. This discovery offers valuable information about the formation of early land-based ecosystems and adds to our understanding of how trees and forests came to dominate our planet.