How ferns adapted to one of Earth's newest and most extreme environments

Date:

October 23, 2014

Source:

University of Bristol

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/10/141023142312.htm

Ferns have been around for a long time. They have existed on the Earth for over 200 million years. Despite their age, one specific type of fern has made a very recent adaptation. These fern species exist in the Andes mountains. The Andes are a very harsh climate and hard to grow and thrive in. This ecosystem in the Andes, known as the páramo, was created recently within the last three to five million years after a dramatic change in the south American landscape. The páramo undergoes very extreme temperature ranges, experiencing very cold nights and hot days. The type of fern that has evolved to live there are very special. Despite being sexually mature, the fronds of the fern remain furled, just as a young, immature fern would. What's interesting about these ferns is how quickly they were able to evolve. three to five million year is a pretty short time at an evolutionary standpoint. The fact that this fern species was able to evolve to survive in the changed Andean ecosystem is incredible.

                       

        regular fern fronds                                   unfurled frond of the Andean Fern