Fossil records help us understand the present and predict future ecosystems
By Miqu茅la Thornton
Due to a multitude of human-driven impacts, the Earth is experiencing a聽biodiversity crisis. It has been referred to as the聽, and scientists are examining similar events in the planet鈥檚 geological past looking for clues in ancient ecosystems to help us solve present-day issues.
Current events have produced dramatic changes in the distribution of species, altering a region鈥檚 time-specific ecosystem known as a biota, says聽Simon Darroch, assistant professor of Earth and environmental sciences. Darroch hopes there will be evidence of previous biota changes in the fossil record, such as undisturbed rock sequences that can place notable events and species to appropriate time periods. Yet, the extent to which biogeographic patterns or the distribution of animals can be preserved in the fossil record is not well understood.