Friday, August 12, 2011

Fungal Pathogens Destroyed the Ancient Forest

Recent research scientists across the country show that destruction of ancient forests on earth about 250 million years ago accelerated by the fungus killer trees. Malignant fungus is growing rapidly due to global climate change is happening at that time.

Destruction of ancient forests are part of the mass extinction that struck the earth millions of years ago. When the earth has a single continent called Pangea.


Scientists believe that the Permian mass extinction was caused by the eruption of volcanoes in the area now known as Siberia. From the area, gas and ash is released into the atmosphere, causing global climate change.


Other organisms recorded 95 percent and 70 percent of terrestrial organisms to extinction. But there are other factors that accelerate the Permian extinction.


A study of the Permian layers show vegetation types of conifers are the dominant vegetation in the forest at that time. In the same vein, scientists also found fossils of micro-shaped ribbons in abundance. The fossils were supposedly shaped fungus Rhizoctonia ribbon on his rest period. In the active period, the mushroom-shaped umbrella and attacking plants.
"Modern Rhizoctonia classified as pests of plants, causing disease in the roots, stems, and leaves on a variety of plant species," says biologist from UC Berkeley, Cindy Looy. "Based on current patterns of forest extinction, by a fungal disease very likely be a key driver of mortality of trees during the Permian crisis."

Post-extinction, conifer in semi-arid regions in the equatorial continent of Pangea was replaced by moss species likopoda more than 1 meter tall and fern seeds. Conifers have to wait 4-5 million years later to recover the vegetation.
*** [PHYSORG | ANTON WILLIAM | TEMPO 3615]
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