By: Dr. Abbas Haddadin ,The discovery of lichens preserved in Jordanian amber represents an important scientific addition to the study of ancient ecosystems and the biodiversity that existed approximately 140 million years ago, during the early Cretaceous period.
اضافة اعلان
Lichens are complex life forms resulting from a symbiotic relationship between fungi and algae (or cyanobacteria). Their presence in amber indicates the existence of humid environmental conditions and stable ecological systems that allowed such delicate organisms to grow and thrive.
The specimen found in Jordanian amber clearly shows fine structural details of lichen thalli, which are rarely preserved in the fossil record due to their fragile nature. This exceptional preservation provides valuable insight into the morphology and diversity of early lichens and their ecological roles at that time.
The presence of lichens also suggests that the surrounding environment included tree trunks and forested areas, as lichens commonly grow on bark, rocks, or soil surfaces. Their preservation in resin, which later fossilized into amber, indicates that resin-producing trees played a major role in capturing and preserving minute biological elements of that era.
This discovery contributes to our understanding of early terrestrial ecosystems and highlights Jordan as an important region in paleontological research, particularly in the study of amber inclusions and fossilized microorganisms.
Jordanian amber continues to reveal rare and scientifically significant discoveries, reinforcing its value as a natural archive documenting life on Earth millions of years ago.
The picture is Lichens preserved in Jordanian amber.
