Svalbard archipelago, situated in the Arctic Ocean, preserves a remarkable record of these ancient plants in the form of fossils.
Dominant Plant Group:
The most common type of fossil plant found from the Devonian period belongs to the group lycopods. These were vascular plants, meaning they had a transport system for water and nutrients, but they weren’t true trees like the ones we see today. Lycopods resembled giant ferns or tree-like structures, reaching heights of up to 4 meters.
Other Fossil Plant Types:
While lycopods were the most abundant, other fossil plant groups have also been identified in Devonian rocks, including:
- Zosterophyllum: These were small, primitive vascular plants with branching stems and no leaves.
- Primitive ferns: These early ferns lacked the complex leaves of modern ferns but laid the groundwork for their later diversification.
- Horsetails (Equisetum): These plants, still present today, have changed little over millions of years and their fossilized ancestors can be found in Spitsbergen.
Significance of the Fossils:
The discovery of these fossil plants is significant for several reasons:
- Provides insights into past environments: The presence of these plants suggests that Svalbard, unlike its current Arctic location, was situated in a warm, tropical climate during the Devonian period.
- Helps understand plant evolution: Studying these fossils allows scientists to trace the evolution of plant life from its early stages to the diverse flora we see today.
- Offers a glimpse into a lost world: These fossils provide a window into the ancient ecosystems that existed on Earth millions of years ago.