A fungus-like microfossil found dating back 635 MILLION years in China that may have helped the Earth recover from a horrific ice age by boosting marine biomass
- The oldest terrestrial fossil has been found in China dating back 635 million years
- These fungal-like microorganisms are believed to help the Earth recover from an ice age.
- Experts say he worked with other terrestrial microbes to overcome it
- Together they accelerated chemical weather and delivered iadvphosphorus to oceans that encouraged marine biofuels.
Fungi were previously believed to have evolved about 240 million years ago, but a new discovery has rewritten the timeline for when the spore organisms entered the Earth.
An international team of scientists has discovered a 635 million-year-old microfossil-like fungus – making it the oldest recorded earth fossil – in caves within the rocks of South China.
Researchers say it evolved during the Ediacaran era, when the planet was emerging from a terrible ice age and the microorganism may have played a key role in get over it.
Along with other terrestrial microbes, the fungus-like organism had the ability to accelerate chemical weather and deliver phosphorus to oceans that stimulated marine biofuels.
An international team of scientists has discovered a 635 million-million-like microfossil fungus – making it the oldest recorded earth fossil – in caves within South China’s rocks.
The fossil was found inside well-studied sedimentary dolostone rocks in the lower Doushantuo Formation in South China by scientists from Virginia Tech, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guizhou University of Education, and the University of Cincinnati.
Tian Gan, Ph.D. A student at Xiao’s lab said: ‘This was an accidental discovery.’
‘At the time, we realized that this could be a fossil that scientists have been looking at for a long time.
‘If our explanation is correct, it will be helpful in understanding paleoclimate change and early life evolution.’
The fossil was found inside the well-studied sedimentary dolostone rocks of the lower Doushantuo shape in South China
The preserved fossil contains many orders of branches, curved filaments (pictured) and ladder-like branching systems
The preserved fossil contains many orders of branches, curved filaments and ladder-like branching systems.
When the ice age hit the planet, it froze the ocean surface to a depth of more than a mile and the environment was so harsh that no organism could survive.
The Earth recovered and formed a biosphere that was larger and more complex than before, something that has remained a mystery to scientists – but perhaps the new fossil solves the final puzzles.
Researchers believe that microorganisms like fungi and others like that help to rejuvenate the environment and did so using their strong digestive system.
Fungi have digestive systems that are able to cycle vital nutrients and can chemically break down rocks and other difficult substances by using an enzyme that is hidden into the environment – and they can all recycle and export to the ocean.
‘Fungi have a relationship with plant roots, which help them move minerals, such as phosphorus,’ says Gan.
Fungi have digestive systems that are able to cycle vital nutrients and can chemically break down rocks and other difficult substances by using an enzyme that is hidden into the environment – and they can be recycled and recycled. into the ocean (pictured is a computer image of the fossil)
‘Because of their association with terrestrial plants and important nutrient cycles, terrestrial fungi have a driving effect on biochemical climate, the global biochemical cycle, and ecological interactions.’
Previous work has suggested that terrestrial plants and fungi formed a symbolic relationship about 400 million years ago, but the new fossil rewrites the timeline to 635 million years ago.
Shuhai Xiao, a professor of epistemology with Virginia Tech College of Science, said: ‘The question used to be:‘ Were there fungi in the soil area before terrestrial plants arose. ‘
‘And I think our study suggests yes. Our fossil-like fungus is 240 million years older than the previous record. This is, to date, the oldest record of terrestrial fungi. ‘