Scientists find evidence of environmental changes in Colombia.
A 22-million-year-old petrified mangrove forest has been discovered by a team of environmental and natural scientists from Universidad EAFIT, the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, and Boise State University. The ancient forest was found on an island in the Panama Canal and the findings were reported in the journal Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. The research involved the collection of fossils and sediment samples from the island, Barro Colorado Island, which was formed approximately 23 million years ago when the South American and Caribbean plates collided.
The scientists studied 121 pieces of preserved wood and sediment samples from the island. Through dating techniques, they determined that the fossils were around 22 million years old. The sediment was found to be a type of mud-and-rock river known as a lahar, similar to concrete, which formed after a volcanic eruption. The team suggests that approximately one million years after the islands formation, a volcano erupted followed by a lahar that covered the island with mud and rocks. The eruption also buried the mangrove forest that had grown along the islands edges, resulting in the creation of a petrified forest.
The researchers have named the discovered tree species Sonneratioxylon barrocoloradoensis. Due to the higher levels of carbon dioxide in the air during its existence, they suspect that this ancient mangrove likely grew taller than modern mango trees. The petrified forest remains largely buried, with only its perimeter visible. The researchers believe that the lahars silica-rich water and the rapid burial process contributed to the petrification.
This discovery provides valuable insights into the ancient mangroves that once thrived in the region. The presence of such a well-preserved petrified forest opens up opportunities for further study and understanding of the ecosystem dynamics that existed millions of years ago. As further research is conducted, scientists hope to uncover more secrets of the ancient mangrove forest and its significance in Earths history.
Source: phys.org
