A epic conquest of terra firma by plantsfrom the distant past to the lush landscapes we know today… All this in a world where life emerged in a desolate environment, defying the odds to colonize every corner of the planet.
From its modest beginnings in an inhospitable world to the formation of lush forests, below we explore how plants shaped Earth’s landscape and left a permanent mark on the history of life on the planet.
The first settlers
500 million years agoour world was an inhospitable and desolate place, with oxygen levels below 6% and an atmosphere without the protection of ozone… life on land seemed impossible.
What are cyanobacteria?
They are prokaryotic microbial organisms that belong to the kingdom Bacterium and carry out photosynthesis. They are known for their unique ability to perform oxygenic photosynthesis, which means they can convert solar energy into chemical energy using light, carbon dioxide and water, releasing oxygen as a byproduct.
However, In the shallow waters, life began to emerge. To the cyanobacteria were the pioneers, closely followed by mosses, fungi and lichens, which little by little transformed the gray landscape into a green blanket of hope.
The challenge of dry land
The transition from aquatic to terrestrial life was not easy. To the plants had to face monumental challengessince water shortage until the need for develop new reproductive mechanisms.
Although, over time, they developed ingenious adaptationssuch as waxy cuticle to combat dehydration and vascular tissue to transport nutrients.
The golden age: the Carboniferous
The heyday of plants occurred during the Carboniferous, time of exuberance and abundance. Forests stretched across vast tracts of land, dominated by giant trees and ferns.
This period saw the evolution of complex structureslike wood and true leaves, which allowed plants to reach new heights and compete for sunlight.
However, the success did not last forever. About 300 million years ago, forests collapsed in a changing world. The climate became colder and drier and many plant species have disappearedbut among the ruins of ancient forests some plants managed to survive, adapting to a new environment and ushering in a new era of plant domination.
And now, how much plant mass does the earth have?
Logically, determining the exact amount of plant mass on Earth is a difficult task due to the variability of ecosystems, the diversity of plant species and the constant dynamics of growth, decomposition and regeneration.
Prehistoric plants? Find out which ones live with us!
However, It is estimated that plant biomass is between 450 and 550 billion metric tons. This biomass includes trees, shrubs, grasses, herbaceous plants, mosses, algae and other types of vegetation in a wide variety of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
