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Of the 12 species, at least nine were conifers, according to the study. “The most spectacular fossils are relatives of the Kauri [Agathis], Bunja [Araucaria bidwillii] and Wollemi [Wollemia nobilis] pines that give clues about the evolution of these iconic Australian trees,” Slodownik said.
Plant fossils discovered near Macquarie Harbor in western Tasmania. (Image credit: © 2024 The Author(s). American Journal of Botany published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Botanical Society of America.)
The researchers, in collaboration with the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre, also identified ferns, a cycad and two newfound, extinct tree species, which they named Podocarpus paralungatikensis and Araucaria timkarikensis. “Paralungatik” is the original name of Macquarie Harbor and “Timkarik” that of the surrounding area in the Aboriginal language of Tasmania, according to the statement.
The analyses revealed that the fossilized plants adapted to the polar environment, which would have experienced the same extreme seasonal light regime 53 million years ago as it does today. The plants evolved large leaves to maximize light absorption in the summer and deciduousness to preserve resources in low-light conditions during the winter, according to the study.
“The analyses showed how these plants adapted and thrived across the Southern Hemisphere in warm, ice-free conditions, even with the extreme seasonal changes near the polar circle,” Slodownik said.
But the new fossils reveal details of even wider changes. “These plants tell the story of big changes in climate and the shifting tectonic plates over millions of years,” Soldownik said.
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Publish date : 2024-09-20 01:56:00
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