Old trees

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Lori, something from your part of the world:

(From here: http://www.forskning.no/artikler/2011/januar/275600 )

Do you know what it is?

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Lori S.'s picture

Lori S. (not verified)

Thu, 01/05/2012 - 5:12pm

Well, my first wild guess was that it might be the K-T boundary, that is, the iridium-enriched layer that marks the boundary between the Cretaceous (K) and the Tertiary (T)... then I glanced at the link (without translation) and I have no idea what it is!   ;)

Trond Hoy's picture

Trond Hoy

Fri, 01/06/2012 - 4:42am

It is from Ellesmere Island where they have found 2-8 million year old logs and leaves of  pine, spruce, larch and birch. Presumably you had a type of coniferous forest there millions of years ago. The picture shows some of the old wood. Probably the forest was covered by a landslide and the organic matter is conserved all these years.

I wondered if you knew more about it? Is it the same species you find south of that area today?

Lori S.'s picture

Lori S. (not verified)

Fri, 01/06/2012 - 9:30am

Yeah, my second guess was "old trees", from the tiny hint in the subject line...  ;)
I remember reading about it a few years ago when it was discovered (or maybe of a similar discovery on Axel Hieberg Island).  I have not read a great deal about it (though several articles have been published on it in scientific journals) but in browsing, I haven't come across any determination of the actual tree species found (beyond the genus, that is), so I couldn't say if the species are the same as currently existing further south.  Have you come across species names?

Trond Hoy's picture

Trond Hoy

Fri, 01/06/2012 - 10:38am

No, I have not found any mention of species except Metasequoia from another site and a comparison to the forests of north west North America.

However a lab in Calgary has analysed the pollen and the University of Minnesota the wood found on Ellesmere Island.

Could be interesting to know though what species it is!

When do you take a hike in Ellesmere Island National Park?

Lori S.'s picture

Lori S. (not verified)

Fri, 01/06/2012 - 11:59am
Hoy wrote:

When do you take a hike in Ellesmere Island National Park?

You know, I'm sure that would be a really fascinating thing to do, but summer is so short here that I hesitate to miss any of it!

Trond Hoy's picture

Trond Hoy

Sat, 01/07/2012 - 2:00am
Lori wrote:

Hoy wrote:

When do you take a hike in Ellesmere Island National Park?

You know, I'm sure that would be a really fascinating thing to do, but summer is so short here that I hesitate to miss any of it!

Understandable but it had been interesting to see some of the flora from that big island! (. . . or from some other islands in the archipelago  ;) )

cohan's picture

cohan (not verified)

Sat, 02/25/2012 - 10:53pm

Indeed, Trond, fascinating places up there-- and just as far away and  expensive as a trip as going to some other country half a world away...lol