Strange trees in world’s oldest forest ripped themselves apart to grow
Strange trees in world's oldest forest ripped themselves apart to grow New Atlas
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Scientists Uncover Oldest Fossilized Forest Dating Back 390 Million Years
Scientists have uncovered the oldest fossilized forest, dating back 390 million years to a time when life was just getting a foothold on land. The ancient forest was made up of the first trees to ever grow on Earth – bizarre “prototype” trees that had to rip their skeletons apart in order to grow.
Discovery of a Well-Preserved Fossilized Forest
Among the sandstone cliffs of South West England, researchers at the Universities of Cambridge and Cardiff discovered a startlingly well-preserved scene: an entire fossilized forest, complete with stumps, logs, fallen branches, and root systems.
It dates back to the Devonian Period, when plants made their first foray onto dry land and animals soon followed. As such, it would have looked like an alien world to our modern eyes.
The Uniqueness of the Ancient Forest
“This was a pretty weird forest – not like any forest you would see today,” said Professor Neil Davies, first author of the study. “There wasn’t any undergrowth to speak of and grass hadn’t yet appeared, but there were lots of twigs dropped by these densely-packed trees, which had a big effect on the landscape.”
Neil Davies
The Peculiar Characteristics of Calamophyton Trees
The trees themselves, known as Calamophyton, were a bizarre rough draft of the diverse group of plants we know and love now. They look vaguely Dr. Seussian, with their knobbly trunks and topped with pom-pom tufts that drop branches constantly. Their trunks were hollow, made up of a ring of strands like “mini trees” that slurped up water from the ground.
But the weirdest thing is the self-destructive way they grew. The strands expanded like modern trees, each adding rings to their outer surface, until they stretched themselves too far apart and the connective tissue between them tore. As such, they didn’t seem to grow taller than about 4 m (13 ft).
“There is no other tree that I know of in the history of the Earth that has ever done anything as complicated as this,” Dr. Chris Berry, co-author of the study, previously said. “The tree simultaneously ripped its skeleton apart and collapsed under its own weight while staying alive and growing upwards and outwards to become the dominant plant of its day.”
Significance of Calamophyton as the First Forest Tree
The Calamophyton was not just the first land-growing plant that we’d call a tree, it was also the first that could grow in forests, as the new discovery indicates. It pips the previous record-holder, a network of root systems discovered in New York, by about five million years. Together, these remnants hark back to a pivotal time in Earth’s history.
“The Devonian period fundamentally changed life on Earth,” said Davies. “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.”
Conclusion
The discovery of the oldest fossil
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 15: Life on Land | Target 15.2: Promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests | Indicator 15.2.1: Progress towards sustainable forest management |
| SDG 13: Climate Action | Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters | Indicator 13.1.1: Number of deaths, missing persons, and directly affected people attributed to disasters per 100,000 population |
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
SDG 15: Life on Land
The article discusses the discovery of the oldest fossilized forest, which is relevant to SDG 15 that focuses on protecting, restoring, and promoting sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems. The fossilized forest provides insights into the early development of forests and their impact on the environment.
SDG 13: Climate Action
Although not explicitly mentioned in the article, the preservation and study of ancient forests contribute to understanding climate change and its effects on the Earth’s history. This connection aligns with SDG 13, which aims to take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
Target 15.2: Promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests
The article highlights the discovery of an ancient forest, providing valuable information about the early development of forests. This aligns with the target of promoting sustainable management of forests.
Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters
Although not directly mentioned in the article, the study of ancient forests contributes to understanding climate change and its impacts. This aligns with the target of strengthening resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
Indicator 15.2.1: Progress towards sustainable forest management
The discovery and study of the ancient forest provide insights into the early development of forests and can contribute to measuring progress towards sustainable forest management.
Indicator 13.1.1: Number of deaths, missing persons, and directly affected people attributed to disasters per 100,000 population
Although not explicitly mentioned in the article, understanding the impact of ancient forests on climate change can contribute to measuring progress in strengthening resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards.
By studying ancient forests, scientists can gain insights into how forests have evolved over time and their role in shaping the Earth’s ecosystems. This knowledge can inform efforts to manage and protect forests sustainably, contributing to SDG 15. Additionally, understanding the impact of ancient forests on climate change can help in developing strategies to strengthen resilience and adapt to climate-related hazards, aligning with SDG 13.
Overall, the article highlights the importance of studying ancient forests for understanding Earth’s history and informing sustainable practices for forest management and climate action.
(Note: The table provided in the answer is an HTML table and may not be displayed properly in plain text format.)
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Source: newatlas.com
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