Coevolution of plants and soils: A comparative approach
A micro-CT scan showing the internal structure of soil with associated cryptogamic (moss, lichen) ground cover. Non-destructive imaging techniques like micro-CT allow us to categorise and document the internal structure and components of these micro-soils.
We are comparing 400-million-year-old fossil soils and modern analogues to learn more about the early evolution of life on land.
Interpreting early soils requires a better understanding of modern analogues, particularly soils associated with lichens, moss, liverwort and lycopod plant communities.
By characterising and analysing modern soils, we can:
- recognise primitive soils in the geological record
- determine their impact on major geochemical cycles
- understand how the first soils co-evolved with biological components such as fungi and plants
Results
Our study of recent soils informs the wider understanding of fossil soils and their environments.
These lycopods are growing on geothermal substrates near a hot spring in New Zealand. This is an example of primitive plants colonising extreme environments.
Our research supports the theory that early soils were:
- formed of communities of cyanobacteria, fungi, lichens and small rootless plants
- mostly thin (millimetre and centimetre scale)
- inhabited by diverse but minute arthropods
- already host to sophisticated symbioses among fungi, cyanobacteria, algae and plants
We are also studying specimens of 400-million-year-old Rhynie chert held in the Museum collections. These exceptionally well-preserved sediments from Scotland record associations between a diverse range of organisms.
Project summary
Focus: Characterising and analysing modern soils and comparing them with ancient soils.
Museum Staff
Dr Paul Kenrick
Dr Ria Mitchell
