Carboniferous

When was the Carboniferous

~359–299 Ma

What key events happened in the Carboniferous

-Dense swamp forests form vast coal deposits

-Early amniotes evolve, leading to reptiles and mammals

-Giant insects thrive in oxygen-rich atmosphere

-Extensive wetlands create carbon-rich environments

What was the structure of Carboniferous reefs

Patch reefs with framework of encrusting calcified cyanobacteria, with corals, encrusting bryozoa and brachiopods and many crypts. Very diverse: rich fauna of >500 species

What oxygenation event occurred in the Carboniferous

Late Palaeozoic Oxygenation Event:

-Oxygen peaks during Carboniferous-Permian (~35% O₂)

-Expansion of large forests enhanced organic burial

-Linked to arthropod gigantism and widespread coal swamps

When were the first known mountain forests

305Ma

What are Horsetails

Spore-producing plants

In Carboniferous reached tree-like (‘arborescent ‘) size: up to 20 m tall, as opposed to modern horsetails <4 m high

Segmented stems, whorls of leaves attached at the joins. Usually only find the internal cast

What are the swamps in the Carboniferous

Carboniferous swamps are complex structured environments. Different plants with distinct places in the ecosystem. Carboniferous ‘trees’ are often found preserved where they grew, e.g. Fossil Grove, Glasgow. Trunk/root systems often rotted in life position & filled with sand

What is a Lepidodendron

A scale tree (tree sized lycopod) with thick bark covered in ‘leaf’ scars and stigmaria roots. Its ‘leaf’ scale is Lepidophyllum and its reproductive cone is Lepidostrobus

What are seed ferns (Pteridosperm)

An ancient, extinct group of plants that looked like true ferns but reproduced using seeds rather than spores. Held up by interwoven roots and leaf bases. Fern like foliage that has attached seeds. Get to 10 m in height. Clearly the seeds would be good to eat. Fleshy outside as a present to feeding animals in exchange for eat/excrete/disperse. Example: Glossopteris

What are synapsids

Synapsida is a diverse group of tetrapod vertebrates that includes all mammals and their extinct relatives. It is one of the two major clades of the group Amniota, the other being the more diverse group Sauropsida.