Another new discovery has been made on Borneo, the world’s third largest island. By examining the fossil leaves they found, the researchers uncovered a forest that still nurtures biodiversity. It is said that this forest has existed for 4 million years and is home to a large ecosystem.
As a result of the research, scientists say that the current landscape dominated by dipterocarp trees is between 2 and 5 million.
Fossil leaves led to the discovery of 4 million forests
Borneo is home to 270 dipterocarp species, more than half of other global species. The highly important island also plays a major role in supporting the currently severely threatened Tropical Asian biodiversity.
“This is the first evidence that the dominant lifestyle characteristic of dipterocarp trees of Borneo and all of the Asian wet tropics is not only present but actually dominant,” said paleobotanist Peter Wilf of Pennsylvania State University. He also added, “We found far more dipterocarp fossils than any other plant group.” He ended with his statements.
According to the researchers, the dipterocarps in question are among the tallest tropical trees in the world, and some individuals are said to grow up to 100 meters. However, team lead Wilf stated that it is difficult to come across rock fossils of its leaves due to the cover provided by the forests and soils.
While both leaf and fossil pollen were brought together in this study; It also describes an ancient world of mangroves and swamps surrounded by tropical lowland rainforest with a variety of ferns and an abundance of climbing plants.
“We’re really starting to see what the environment was like millions of years ago,” said Wilf. “Although these habitats were cut off in much of tropical Asia, they were very similar to what you can find there now.”
Stating that maintaining and expanding the protection is the top priority, the researchers stated that thanks to pollination and large nutritious seed store, dipterocarp trees; He underlined that it serves as the basis of life for many species of flora and fauna, including proboscis monkeys, clouded leopards, sun bears and rhinoceros horns.
Stating that they will do more research on the history of the region, scientists hope that they will reach more mysterious information thanks to the fossils in the tropics.
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