A team of researchers from University College Cork, the University of Connecticut, and the Natural History Museum of Vienna has uncovered how plants responded to a catastrophic climate event that wiped out over 80% of marine species 250 million years ago. The study, published in GSA Bulletin, details the recovery of ecosystems following the End-Permian Event.
The researchers analyzed fossilized plants and rock formations from eastern Australia and found that conifers were among the first to colonize land after the disaster. However, their recovery was not smooth. Higher temperatures during a period called the ‘Late Smithian Thermal Maximum’ caused the collapse of these conifer survivors, leading to the replacement by tough, shrubby plants.
The study shows that large plants called ‘seed ferns’ eventually flourished and established stable forests after a significant cooling event. These plants dominated Earth’s landscapes for millions of years, paving the way for lush forests during the Mesozoic era.
This research provides valuable lessons for modern ecosystems struggling with climate change. Plants play a crucial role in regulating Earth’s climate, serving as natural carbon sinks and backbone of land food webs. Protecting today’s ecosystems is essential to mitigate the impacts of extreme climate swings.
The study highlights that even plants can’t always recover from catastrophic events. “Extinction is forever,” says Dr Chris Mays, leader of the Mass Extinction Group at University College Cork. The researchers hope their findings will help us understand how to protect modern ecosystems and adapt to today’s climate crisis.
Source: https://scitechdaily.com/ancient-fossils-reveal-survival-secrets-of-earths-worst-mass-extinction