The Times Australia
The Times World News

.
Beatbot

.

why it's worth protecting a spectacular fossil site NZ almost lost to commercial mining interests

  • Written by John G Conran, Senior Lecturer in Evolutionary Biology, University of Adelaide
why it's worth protecting a spectacular fossil site NZ almost lost to commercial mining interests

One of New Zealand’s most exceptional fossil sites may soon be open to scientists again following a land purchase that saved it from commercial mining[1].

Foulden Maar is a small, deep lake that formed 23 million years ago in Otago, at the start of the Miocene epoch when New Zealand’s climate was much warmer and wetter. A rainforest thrived around the lake’s fringes, and algae known as diatoms bloomed each summer.

As the algal blooms died off and sank to the lake bed, they formed sedimentary layers of diatomite and preserved the most exquisite and delicate fossils of flowers, insects and fish as well as a climate record covering 100,000 years.

But the diatomite was also of interest to mining company Plaman Resources - until, following long negotiations[2], the Dunedin City Council bought most of the land earlier this year.

Fossil sites are relatively common, but examples representing entire ecosystems are extremely rare. Foulden Maar is one of only two such sites in New Zealand that preserve ecological interactions and features such as eyes, skin, stomach contents and original colour patterns.

Among many fossils from Foulden Maar is a complete specimen of a galaxiid fish.
The diatomite at Foulden Maar preserved fossils, such as this galaxiid fish, in delicate detail. Authors provided, CC BY-ND[3]

Such sites yield remarkable information about the history of life, which is impossible to obtain from other sources.

The other site is the nearby Hindon Maar complex, which is 15 million years old. Both sites preserve ecosystems of small crater lakes and the animals and plants of surrounding rainforests. Recent discoveries[4] at these sites are transforming our understanding of New Zealand’s past biodiversity and climate.

Read more: New Zealand’s fossil record suggests more species lived in warmer waters. But the current rate of warming may break this pattern[5]

Lake ecosystems: freshwater galaxiids and eels

All fossils of the iconic southern-hemisphere family Galaxiidae derive from Otago Miocene lake deposits[6], with the entire life cycle from larvae (whitebait) to juveniles and fully grown adults present at Foulden Maar.

Remarkable preservation of numerous articulated skeletons includes eyes, gaping mouths and skin, the last including the star-like patterning that gave galaxiids their name.

Eyes and skin patterns of galaxiid fossils.
Some galaxiid fossils still show the colour and patterning of skin. Authors provided, CC BY-ND[7]

Gut contents and an abundance of fossilised poo (coprolites) provide evidence of a changing diet. Larvae dined on diatoms while adults were lake-margin ambush predators feeding on terrestrial and aquatic insects. Fish debris in other less common coprolites show the galaxiids were themselves prey.

Slender, elongated articulated fish skeletons with rows of curved conical teeth provide the only southern-hemisphere records of the freshwater eel, Anguilla. This was likely the top predator in these lakes.

Fossilised skeleton of the freshwater eel Anguilla.
A fossil from Hindon Maar shows skeletal details of the freshwater eel Anguilla. Authors provided, CC BY-ND[8]

Trapped in these small, closed lakes, the eels would have been unable to return to the sea to breed and were effectively “living dead”, unlike the galaxiids which could reproduce in the maars.

Detailed fossil of a weevil.
Otago’s maar lakes are a treasure trove of insect fossils, such as this weevil. Authors provided, CC BY-SA[9]

Forest ecosystems: insects, spiders, leaves, flowers

These ancient maar lakes also contain a treasure trove of spiders and insects. When our research programme began in 2003, only six fossil insects more than two million years old were known from New Zealand. We now have more than 600, almost all different.

Foulden Maar has yielded 270 insects from 17 genera in 15 families and nine orders.

Spider fossil.
It is rare to find fossilised spiders because they lack hard parts. Authors provided, CC BY-ND[10]

Spiders are commonly the top terrestrial invertebrate predators in modern New Zealand forests, but rarely fossilise because they lack hard parts. But in Foulden Maar, we found several specimens, including a juvenile trapdoor spider.

Early studies at Hindon Maar have already added 240 more insects in five orders and 20 families.

Insects are often completely preserved with details of antennae, fragile wings and compound eyes visible.

Fossils from the Foulden and Hindon maars include ancient lineages of termites, armoured scale insects in life position along leaf veins, bark bugs and a lace bug that probably lived on Astelia[11] (kakaha, bush lily) as its close living relative does today.

Others include leaf beetles with structural colour, weevils, rove beetles, numerous ants and wasps, caddis flies with larvae still in their cases, crane flies with well preserved compound eyes and a hairy cicada whose closest relative today is found in Tasmania.

The fossilised wing of a hairy cicada.
Delicate detail of a fossilised cicada wing. Authors provided, CC BY-ND[12]

These taxa are only the tip of the taxonomic iceberg. Hundreds more terrestrial arthropods are also being revealed in our research on inclusions in New Zealand amber – 90 specimens in one block of layered amber alone.

Read more: New Zealand should celebrate its remarkable prehistoric past with national fossil emblems – have your say![13]

Rainforest leaves and flowers

Myriad leaves with excellent preservation show that both maars were surrounded by subtropical to warm, temperate rainforests, dominated by members of the laurel and cinnamon plant families at Foulden Maar and a southern beech forest at Hindon.

A delicate fossil leave found at Foulden Maar.
Fossilised leaves show that both maars were surrounded by rainforests. Authors provided, CC BY-SA[14]

To date we have recorded at least 100 species from 35 plant families[15] between the sites, including many taxa now extinct locally[16], but with relatives still living in New Caledonia, Australia and South America.

Of particular importance are diverse fossil flowers with reproductive structures such as petals, stamens and anthers with pollen still present[17], as well as abundant fossilised fruits and seeds.

These reproductive structures are treasures of a different kind – fragile, seasonal and fleeting. But they provide critical information about the ecology of the parent plants and their possible pollination and dispersal mechanisms.

Fossil flower
Fossil flowers provide information about ancient plants’ pollination and dispersal. Authors provided, CC BY-ND[18]

Close comparisons to the biology of living plants also suggest the fossil species reproduced in a similar manner to their living relatives. This implies that reproductive mechanisms were conserved for 23 million years in the New Zealand flora.

Currently, the Dunedin City Council is exploring management options for the site, which will once again allow public and scientific access to this remarkable fossil-rich, ancient lake deposit well into the future.

References

  1. ^ saved it from commercial mining (www.rnz.co.nz)
  2. ^ long negotiations (theconversation.com)
  3. ^ CC BY-ND (creativecommons.org)
  4. ^ discoveries (www.scientificamerican.com)
  5. ^ New Zealand’s fossil record suggests more species lived in warmer waters. But the current rate of warming may break this pattern (theconversation.com)
  6. ^ Otago Miocene lake deposits (www.mdpi.com)
  7. ^ CC BY-ND (creativecommons.org)
  8. ^ CC BY-ND (creativecommons.org)
  9. ^ CC BY-SA (creativecommons.org)
  10. ^ CC BY-ND (creativecommons.org)
  11. ^ Astelia (www.goughsnurseries.co.nz)
  12. ^ CC BY-ND (creativecommons.org)
  13. ^ New Zealand should celebrate its remarkable prehistoric past with national fossil emblems – have your say! (theconversation.com)
  14. ^ CC BY-SA (creativecommons.org)
  15. ^ 100 species from 35 plant families (www.tandfonline.com)
  16. ^ many taxa now extinct locally (www.sciencedirect.com)
  17. ^ pollen still present (www.sciencedirect.com)
  18. ^ CC BY-ND (creativecommons.org)

Read more https://theconversation.com/life-in-maars-why-its-worth-protecting-a-spectacular-fossil-site-nz-almost-lost-to-commercial-mining-interests-209123

The Times Features

Effective Back Pain Treatment and Management: Practical Tips for Relief

Back pain is one of the most common physical complaints, affecting millions of people globally. Back pain can significantly impact daily life, work productivity, and overall well...

Vaccination rates among Australian teens are dropping. Here’s how we can get back on track

Australia has a successful adolescent immunisation program, routinely achieving high vaccine coverage for teenagers. However, recent data[1] shows the number of Australian tee...

Discover Heartwarming WWF Gifts for Every Animal Lover

With holiday season upon us, what better way to spread festive joy than with gifts that make a real difference. The WWF, a renowned wildlife and nature charity offers a range...

Fluoride in drinking water is in the spotlight again. Let’s not forget how it transformed our oral health

Fluoride is back in the news, after incoming US “health czar[1]” Robert F. Kennedy Jr called for its removal[2] from drinking water. At the same time, the Australian Medical A...

The Foods You Should Avoid When Drinking Rose Wine

Rose wine has been synonymous with romance, and it’s easy to know why. This light and fruity drink invites you to relax, let loose, and just enjoy life’s simple pleasures.  But ...

How digital loyalty programs drive engagement in a value-conscious economy

Ongoing economic pressures are driving Australian retail businesses to rethink how they engage with increasingly value-conscious consumers. Rising living costs have shifted spe...

Times Magazine

Samsung brings Neo QLED 8K Display to Australia

Samsung Australia has announced the expansion of its QLED display business range with the introduction of the Neo QLED 8K Display.     As businesses increasingly need larger displays to create unique brand moments, promote collaborations or req...

Online Shopping Experience at Ryft Australia

Welcome to Ryft Australia's online shop! Ryft is a leading Australian retailer offering unbeatable value on the highest quality products. We specialize in providing customers with an extensive range of products for their home and lifestyle needs. O...

Why Your Business Needs Web Experts: Benefits of Localized Web Development

In today's digital age, having a strong online presence is crucial for businesses of all sizes. A well-designed website is no longer a luxury but a necessity. However, creating and maintaining an effective website requires specialized skills and kn...

A Guide to the Best Experience at the Monaco Grand Prix

The Monaco Grand Prix is among the jewels that Formula One or F1 owns. The high-speed chase is held in the narrow streets of Monte Carlo. And because little has changed on the race track’s exciting design since the first race was held here, the M...

The Perfect Presents for a Baby Shower

Ah, the joy of celebrating new life! A baby shower is a wonderful occasion to share in the excitement of an impending arrival. And what better way to do so than with thoughtful and practical gifts for the parents-to-be? Choosing the ideal present ...

THE AMAZING PERKS OF PIPE RELINING IN PLUMBING

While most people know the significance of prompt pipe repairs, they also recognize how laborious and time-consuming the entire procedure can be. Digging is required during traditional repair procedures for the plumbers to access the pipelines, r...

LayBy Shopping