Early Pennsylvanian Lagerstätte reveals a diverse ecosystem

The Early Pennsylvanian (320-318 million-years-ago) was a critical interval for the diversification of insects, arachnids, tetrapods, and seed plants. Yet, relatively little is known about the terrestrial ecosystems during this time in the Carboniferous Period.

Now, in a new study published in Nature Communications, a team of researchers led by Richard J. Knecht, Ph.D. candidate in OEB, reveal new insights into terrestrial life during this period preserved in a remarkable fossil site located in the Wamsutta Formation of Massachusetts. The team, including senior authors Professors Naomi Pierce and Andrew Knoll, describe the Lantern North Lagerstätte's (a sedimentary deposit that exhibits extraordinary fossils with exceptional preservations, including soft tissues in some cases) site in detail.

The site dates to approximately 320-318 myo, predating many well-known fossil sites from the Coal Age. Compared to the coal swamps, the ecosystem of Lantern North is a drier, upland environment, which provides new perspectives on early terrestrial biodiversity.

The researchers uncovered body and trace fossils of over 130 diverse plant and animal species including early reptiles, arachnids, insects, amphibians, and plant fossils. The site also revealed evidence of early plant-insect interactions, including oviposition (egg-laying) and plant galling. This pushes back the fossil record for these activities by millions of years.

"This site gives us an unprecedented look at a terrestrial ecosystem from a crucial time in the evolution of life on land,” said Knecht. “We’re seeing evidence of complex plant-insect interactions and some of the earliest appearances of major animal groups that went on to dominate terrestrial habitats.”