A Symbiotic Partnership - Through the Ages

The Green Revolution: Plants Conquer Land

Did you know? Not only animals migrated to land from the sea? Plants did the same a few million of years beforehand. 

Close to 450 million years back in time, there were plants. But they lived in oceans; then came a remarkable transition of plants from oceans to the land which forever altered the course of history on our planet. This incredible invasion by photosynthetic organisms ultimately led to terrestrial ecosystems as we know them today. 

When the first plants made their way onto solid ground, they did so with great difficulty. Not only was the climate vastly different but obtaining nutrients proved a major challenge as well. Aggressing an entirely new environment required that these pioneering photosynthesizers develop specialized adaptations while some members even formed tight symbiotic relationships with fungi for optimal nutrient uptake.

Mycelium: The Unsung Heroes of Plant Colonization

In this evolutionary odyssey, plants found valuable allies in mycorrhizal fungi. Symbiotic relationships between these eukaryotic organisms enabled the provision of support and nutrients for plants by microscopic means. Mycelium provided a network of fungal filaments that extended into the soil so that plants could get resources far from their base like water and mineral salts, in return for carbohydrates synthesized by the plant through photosynthesis.

The Emergence of Lignin: A Structural Revolution

Plants underwent another major change around 350 million years ago with the development of lignin, a sturdy woody material that allowed plants to develop rigid structural frameworks, grow taller and compete for sunlight. Lignin also protected plants from decay and herbivores. But with this new adaptive radiation came its own challenge: breaking down lignin-rich plant material.

The Fungi - reinvented: Breaking Down Lignin

Lignin stayed almost unbreakable for millions of years. When massive amounts of plant material collected and finally formed coal reserves, the Earth's carbon cycle underwent tremendous alteration. But a breakthrough happened about 290 million years ago when some fungi acquired the capacity to degrade lignin. This enzymatic breakthrough made it possible for lignin-rich plant material to break down and release carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere.

The Evolution of Vertebrates and the Function of Decomposers

It's intriguing to realize that in Earth's history, fungi's capacity to break down lignin became apparent very recently. Yes. Approximately 375 million years ago, reptiles and amphibians, among other vertebrates, started to settle on land. Plants developed lignin only 25 million years later. The development of lignin-degrading fungi appeared 60 million years after that. How amazing it to realize that one of the most favorite foods we consume is such a new innovation in earth's geological time scale!

The evolution way (Evolutionsweg)

If you are interested to learn more about the evolution of life, go and visit https://evolutionsweg.de/

They also have physical evolution ways, where you can walk and get the sense of the time between each of the major events, by the physical distance on the path.