Table of Contents
- 1 What was the climate of Antarctica before Glossopteris?
- 2 In what continent do Glossopteris fossils were found?
- 3 What climate did Glossopteris grow?
- 4 Do the Glossopteris fossils tell us all?
- 5 What does the Glossopteris plant tell us about the climate of Antarctica?
- 6 How does the Glossopteris fossils support continental drift?
- 7 When was the Glossopteris found?
What was the climate of Antarctica before Glossopteris?
The most startling and unlikely environment for Glossopteris was cold, windy, formidable Antarctica. During the Permian however, Antarctica was positioned quite a distance from the South Polar region, and its climate 260-240 million years ago was temperate to sub-tropical.
In what continent do Glossopteris fossils were found?
The Glossopteris fossil is found in Australia, Antarctica, India, South Africa, and South America—all the southern continents. Now, the Glossopteris seed is known to be large and bulky and therefore could not have drifted or flown across the oceans to a separate continent.
How do Glossopteris fossils tell us about the early positions of the southern continents?
The glossopteris fossils reflects the evidence of separation of continents like southern Africa, Australia, India and Antarctica which was largely separated by huge and wide ocean which was larlier connected with each other.
What climate did Glossopteris grow?
Glossopteris flora The fossil flora that succeeds the Permian glacial deposits of South Africa, Australia, South America, and Antarctica. It grew in a cold, wet climate, while the flora of North America and Europe existed under warm conditions.
Do the Glossopteris fossils tell us all?
Yes, the glossopteris fossils tell us all landmasses were once joined together.
What climate did Glossopteris live in?
What does the Glossopteris plant tell us about the climate of Antarctica?
Glossopteris, genus of fossilized woody plants known from rocks that have been dated to the Permian and Triassic periods (roughly 300 to 200 million years ago), deposited on the southern supercontinent of Gondwana. Its most common fossil is that of a tongue-shaped leaf with prominent midrib and reticulate venation.
How does the Glossopteris fossils support continental drift?
WEGNER’S EVIDENCE FOR CONTINENTAL DRIFT Evidence from fossilized organisms and mountain chains can be used to reconstruct the positions of today’s continents and landmasses to form the supercontinent Pangea. Glossopteris ferns had very heavy seeds that could not move by wind or drift on ocean currents.
Why is Glossopteris in Antarctica?
After deglaciation, the Glossopteris flora thrived in polar forests in Antarctica throughout the Permian but disappeared at the end-Permian extinction. Antarctica played a crucial role in the dispersal of Glossopteris flora because of its central position in Gondwana.
When was the Glossopteris found?
Identifying the Glossopteris flora The samples were taken back to Britain, and in 1914 at Cambridge University, botanist Albert Seward identified among them, the ancient Glossopteris flora. It was the first time evidence of this extinct plant species had been found in Antarctica.