An expedition to a tropical Arctic

The history of life is punctuated by mass extinction events that devastated the biosphere, drawing to a close great lineages populated Earth. most severe these extinctions are known as ‘Big Five’ and each has captivated researchers across disparate fields. Studying Big Five crucial in helping us understand on Earth can also help predict how biosphere may respond anthropogenic climate crisis today. However, majority literature concerning centred animal lineages, leaving open hugely important question rest overcame huge upheavals. Tropical Arctic story about plants — fundamental underpinnings terrestrial ecosystems weathered Triassic–Jurassic event, one Five. told from vantage point East Greenland roughly 200 million years ago: before, during after catastrophic boundary between Triassic Jurassic periods. What now tundra was once home lush tropical forest ecosystem at end Triassic, but this undergo change. To uncover ancient consequences we start travelling with team scientists consisting palaeobotanists sedimentologists collect fossil sediment samples record environment. We learn methods used reconstruct environment painstakingly quantify changes biodiversity event. Next, through collaboration scientific illustrator, brought back life. It not often book written topic specifically organised put emphasis artwork created data, makes both fascinating accessible wide readership. attention detail illustrations remarkable, choice which hue green colour illustration leaves long-extinct species would have hung branches fluttered wind. This science art allows reader visualise impact ecosystem. goal therefore fully immerse changing time extinction, authors certainly succeed task. excursion led three authors: Jennifer C. McElwain Ian J. Glasspool well illustrator Marlene Hill Donnelly. holds prestigious position Chair Botany Trinity College Dublin co-author Evolution Plants, an textbook plant evolution likely be familiar those interests living all career stages. research scientist based Colby Maine made significant contributions palaeobotany form over 50 papers. Donnelly for Field Museum Chicago, won awards her published children’s books. Together, write unique fusion storytelling, discovery illustration. begins accompany alongside their initial fieldwork 2002. follow footsteps famous palaeobotanist Thomas Harris, who explored rocks 1920s 1930s. introduction gives description highs lows fieldwork, excitement finding strata rich frightening experience hailing emergency helicopter. Their exploration hunt eventually pay off: they able locate key sequence site called Astartekløft. Laid out before them scree slope metres transition Earth’s extinctions. With fossiliferous rock identified, aim then fossils allow accurately palaeoecology extinction. involves just collecting best-preserved or eye-catching quantitatively sampling entire sequence. describe use accomplish this: excavating cubic metre bed prevent collection biases. must been hard work challenging conditions, future analyses were hinge findings, so it imperative task done properly. Every specimen recorded bagged, ready studied further lab. Before study could done, however, there first challenge moving enormous Chicago altogether, expensive bill transporting museum date. At Museum, metric ton detail, allowing together botanical components area geological time. A vast number 4,200 additional reproductive fragments became data points investigate interval. These stark environmental upheaval. During event collapsed, replaced disaster flora dominated ferns low abundance only later entirely new take its place. Roughly 85% present beds found Astartekløft, indicating regional floristic reader, involved too, incredibly difficult fathom what actually looked like. Donnelly, joins story. meet she endeavours bring beautiful scientifically accurate art. working closely palaeobotanists, goes lengths make possible using wonderfully diverse array mediums, ranging paints ink 3D models metal, paper even plants. read performs own experiments determine drooped branches. illustrations: every aspect carefully researched curated, palate predictions grew interacted. Finally, undertakes kayak inspiration flooded landscape All into recreations pays off; resulting illustrates difference way almost impossible capture words. reconstructions enable see remarkable change occurred features ferns, climbing vines extinct relatives modern conifers ginkgo. changed. completely different. gone. Instead, black charcoal, prevalence wildfires, no woody left; instead, horsetails ran riot. Then emerged Jurassic, more canopy highly dissected leaves. picture upheaval course hundreds thousands years. Although family indicated seed vine reconstruction went globally time, turnover staggering. While weather major global loss family, still drastic if artwork. timely, out, information gathered vital our current situation: should expect shifts continues. In many previous events, such large-scale dominance rather than numerous families. implies track extensive disruption. currently unclear will world. Today, might radical seen past boundaries because faster rate ever before. extent groups due yet known, described give some idea expect. glimpse provides future. shines light language readers either biological sciences background ideal undergraduates. Additionally, artistic component interest informative book, entertaining read. Rather paper, like journey recent authors, taken adventure Chiefly, illuminates importance relevance field approach findings example interested making wider audience.