A recently graduated PhD student excavating ancient woodland near Strahan in western Tasmania has uncovered more new plant species than expected.
The fossils were discovered during a 2020 excavation led by Dr Miriam Slodnik, a recent graduate from the University of Adelaide. In an email to Fox News Digital, Dr Slodnik said the goal of the dig was to “understand Tasmania's ancient ecosystem.”
Slodnik's research was published in the American Journal of Botany on August 27, 2024.
“I've always been fascinated by the idea that these regions, which we associate with extreme cold and ice, were once covered in dense forests,” Slodnik said. “To study this, I wanted to find a place where I could find rocks that formed at the right time and place.”
Dr. Miriam Slodnik discovered numerous plant fossils in Tasmania during excavations in 2020. She published her research in August 2024. (Professor Gregory Jordan)
Mother and son work in their garden while unearthing ancient artifacts often found near cemeteries
“Tasmania proved to be the perfect location, not only because it's easily accessible (as opposed to Antarctica, which is much harder to reach), but also because previous research had already indicated the presence of fossils,” Slodnik continued. The fossils had previously been found, he said, during excavations conducted by the University of Tasmania in 2003, led by Professor Gregory Jordan.
While Slodnik has used past discoveries to his advantage, the success of the latest excavations has exceeded his expectations.
The goal of understanding the ancient ecosystem was far more accomplished, with new plant species also being discovered in the process.
“We never expected to discover a new species,” Slodnik told Fox News Digital.
The fossils were discovered near the town of Strahan on Tasmania's west coast. (Auscape/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Among the key fossils found are relatives of modern plants such as Araucaria, as well as a relative of the Wollemi pine, an ancient and extremely rare plant, of which fewer than 100 are known to exist as adult trees today, Slodnik noted.
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Fossils often tell us big stories about what the world around them was like when they lived.
The forest in which these plant fossils were found dates back to 53 million years ago, according to a news release about the discovery from the University of Adelaide.
“The fossils tell an incredible story: about 50 million years ago, lush, 'tropical-like' forests flourished near the Arctic Circle. This was a time when global temperatures were at their hottest, and even areas near the poles that we now think of as icy and barren were covered with dense vegetation,” Slodnik explained.
“At the time, Tasmania was located in the Arctic and connected to Antarctica, which acted as a land bridge to South America. Because of this connection, many fossil plants found in Tasmania are very similar to contemporaneous plants found in South America,” Slodnik continued.
Among the fossils discovered were new plant species that Slodnik had not anticipated during his excavations. (Dr. Miriam Slodnik)
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“Overall, these fossils provide us with a fascinating glimpse into how Earth's climate and continents have changed dramatically over millions of years,” Slodnik concluded.
