Insects preserved in amber, such as those found in El Soplao in Cantabria, Spain, offer a fascinating glimpse into the past. If future travelers could analyze the rocks forming on our planet today, they would likely be perplexed by the abundance of plastic fragments. Geologists and paleontologists have long pondered a similar mystery regarding the abundance of amber in Cretaceous rocks, which allows us to reconstruct ancient dinosaur-inhabited forests. While we understand the reasons for plastic abundance in modern ecosystems, the natural causes behind the extensive resin production in the Cretaceous remain only speculative.
In an article published in Earth-Science Reviews, Xavier Delclòs, a professor at the University of Barcelona, explores this paleontological conundrum. Delclòs explains that both plastic and fossil resin have captured the curiosity of scientists by representing novel phenomena in Earth’s history documented in rocks. Amber’s significance lies in its ability to preserve organisms from past forests, granting us unparalleled insight into the Cretaceous landscapes. Enrique Peñalver, a co-author of the study and member of the Geological and Mining Institute of Spain, emphasizes that the abundance of amber itself would hold little interest were it not for the rich fossil record it contains.
The formation of large amber deposits during the Cretaceous, which occurred between 145.5 and 66 million years ago, demands specific conditions. These conditions, however, no longer prevail in our present era. Delclòs and Peñalver highlight the enigma surrounding the mass production of resin during the Cretaceous, a phenomenon unseen before in Earth’s history. The resin production reached quantities capable of generating fossil resin deposits, known as amber, never witnessed again. The period spanned from the Barremian to the Campanian and saw certain groups of conifers originating substantial quantities of fossil resin, leading to a term named the Cretaceous Resinous Interval (CREI).
Large-scale amber deposition necessitated the existence of resin-producing trees, predominantly gymnosperms like conifers, and the preservation of resin in sedimentary environments devoid of oxygen for millions of years. However, the factors conditioning such resin production during the Cretaceous remain unknown. The study shows that coniferous forests had global distribution during this period. The amber deposits formed during the CREI featured high resin production exclusive to conifers, the presence of fusain (a material derived from burnt plant material), similar fauna and flora preserved in different amber deposits, and resin accumulation in transitional sedimentary environments characterized by subtropical and temperate paleoclimates aligned with rising sea levels.
Moreover, the study unveils that resin production during the CREI was not continuous or uniform. Different times and locations experienced varying levels of production. The research, conducted by a multidisciplinary team of experts, notably involved Ricardo Pérez de la Fuente from the Oxford University Museum, contributing to a comprehensive understanding of the Cretaceous.
Amber fragments found worldwide offer valuable insights into this vanished Cretaceous world. During this period, terrestrial ecosystems witnessed the rise of angiosperms (flowering plants) and the diversification of present-day organisms. Continental distribution and ocean currents shifted, resulting in a warmer and more humid climate than today, accompanied by a sea-level rise exceeding 200 meters. Delclòs and Peñalver explain that the atmosphere contained elevated levels of carbon dioxide due to intense volcanism. Oxygen levels were also higher due to forests extending to ice-covered latitudes, thereby fostering large-scale fires.
This global landscape and environment greatly influenced life and evolution, particularly terrestrial organisms, from small creatures to mighty dinosaurs, as well as the interplay between different species. The CREI symbolizes a worldwide phenomenon, with amber outcrops widespread throughout the Cretaceous, primarily concentrated in Laurasia and the northern margin of Gondwana. Environmental factors likely exerted a global effect, while biological factors, such as plant and arthropod interactions, might have contributed on a regional scale.
The CREI provides a fascinating window into a lost world, characterized by emerging ecosystems dominated by flowering plants. It was a time when dinosaurs roamed and the first birds and mammals evolved. Studying this period yields valuable scientific data on phylogenetic relationships, extinct organisms, the origin of modern behaviors exhibited by various groups, and the intra- and interspecific interactions of terrestrial forest-dwelling creatures that are rarely fossilized.
In conclusion, amber found in Cretaceous rocks represents an exceptional resource for understanding the past, offering a glimpse into ancient ecosystems and evolutionary dynamics. The mysteries surrounding the mass production of resin during this period still elude scientists, leaving room for further exploration and discovery.
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