Trees as old as time: Using tree resin to reconstruct million-year old ecosystems
Monday, June 12, 2023 - 08:43
in Paleontology & Archaeology
Fossil tree resins open a window into the deep past as their organic compounds, termed biomarkers, can be used to identify the botanical provenance of these ancient trees, as well as the paleoenvironmental conditions in which they grew. Amber, one such resin, is a prized gemstone, but can also preserve plants and insects living on the tree at the time of resin exudation in immaculate detail.