Prehistoric forests in Europe were not what was thought.

Europe, before humans upset the balance of nature, is thought of as a continent covered with dense, dark forests, where light-loving species such as oak and low-growing species such as hazel and yew were rare.

However, a new study by scientists from Aarhus University (Denmark) shows that this was not the case at all, reports EurekAlert.

Scientists have used pollen to reconstruct the prevalence of oak, hazel and yew in two key periods:

• the last interglacial period (129-116 thousand years ago);
• early and middle Holocene (8.7-5.7 thousand years ago).

These species were chosen because their features can reveal how woodlands were structured in the past:

• hazel shows higher pollen and flower production in sunlit areas;
• oak vigorously restores growth after plucking;
• yew, although shade-tolerant, requires semi-open conditions to avoid competition from taller trees;
• Yew is also extremely sensitive to fire, but can coexist with large species of megafauna such as horses, bulls, or probably even larger animals due to its high toxicity, which prevents active plucking.

Almost all three species tend to be least abundant in large, shady forests. However, the results showed that European wild forests were precisely rich in them.

These species tell us that ancient forests were not uniformly dominated by tall trees that provided shade, but rather that the forests likely consisted of a dynamic mix of open, semi-open and closed areas that provided a high diversity of habitats, the scientists note.

According to the researchers, the findings suggest that it is not wildfires or climate patterns that drive the openness of forest landscapes—large herbivores play a leading role here.

The sensitivity of pressure to fire highlights this, as it would not have thrived in fire-prone systems but survived in ancient forests, where herbivores likely kept forests dynamic and open, the researchers note.

Semi-open forests therefore likely played a crucial role in Europe’s biodiversity, providing habitat for species adapted to different conditions. In modern conditions, such forests can contribute to climate change resilience and biodiversity conservation.

As we face global challenges such as rising temperatures, climate extremes, and increased tree pests, creating a dynamic, diverse forest mosaic is likely to provide more robust ecosystem functions and biodiversity benefits than conventional dense forest stands,” the scientists note. . .

Source: EurekAlert

Source: Racurs

David

I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.