Australian scientists continue to reconstruct detailed pictures of polar forest ecosystems from the Early Cretaceous period. These forests thrived in what is now Victoria, Australia, when the region was located within the Antarctic Circle. Despite months of darkness, conifers, ferns, and early flowering plants flourished.
Recent research, published in May 2025 in Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology, unveils a groundbreaking study on these ancient polar ecosystems of southern Australia. The research team, led by Vera Korasidis and palynologist Barbara Wagstaff, examined plant fossils alongside dinosaur bones to recreate the environment where dinosaurs lived approximately 120 million years ago.
The study provides insights into the evolution and adaptation of flora in extreme climatic conditions. Researchers are piecing together Australia's paleoclimate record to understand the interaction between climate, CO2, and the evolution of faunas and floras. This research helps to understand how ancient ecosystems responded to climate change, offering valuable lessons for modern conservation efforts.