Evolution of tree roots may have driven mass extinctions (2022)
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Re: Evolution of tree roots may have driven mass extinctions (2022)
#2Between this and cyanobacteria causing a catastrophic (for them) oxygenation event some billion of years ago, many species seem to have causes mass extinctions, with us being the last (and quickest) in this chain.
Is this another potential "great filter"? Evolving lifeforms can randomly find ways to kill an ecosystem.
Re: Evolution of tree roots may have driven mass extinctions (2022)
#3The article says that tree roots released massive nutrients into the oceans during the period of decay causing algae bloom depleting the Oxygen and triggering the extinction. Why just the roots and not the entire trees? Wouldn't the entire tree be decayed and end up in the ocean?
Re: Evolution of tree roots may have driven mass extinctions (2022)
#4Between this and cyanobacteria causing a catastrophic (for them) oxygenation event some billion of years ago, many species seem to have causes mass extinctions, with us being the last (and quickest) in this chain. Is this another potential "great filter"? Evolving lifeforms can randomly find ways to kill an ecosystem.
"Can't wait" to see what evolves to "balance us out" and "keep us in check".
Re: Evolution of tree roots may have driven mass extinctions (2022)
#5The article says that tree roots released massive nutrients into the oceans during the period of decay causing algae bloom depleting the Oxygen and triggering the extinction. Why just the roots and not the entire trees? Wouldn't the entire tree be decayed and end up in the ocean?
My understanding is that a root system is much more efficient at extracting nutrients from the ground that whatever plants used before.
Re: Evolution of tree roots may have driven mass extinctions (2022)
#6Between this and cyanobacteria causing a catastrophic (for them) oxygenation event some billion of years ago, many species seem to have causes mass extinctions, with us being the last (and quickest) in this chain. Is this another potential "great filter"? Evolving lifeforms can randomly find ways to kill an ecosystem.
"Can't wait" to see what evolves to "balance us out" and "keep us in check".
AI could see us like we see trees.
Re: Evolution of tree roots may have driven mass extinctions (2022)
#7Re: Evolution of tree roots may have driven mass extinctions (2022)
#8The article says that tree roots released massive nutrients into the oceans during the period of decay causing algae bloom depleting the Oxygen and triggering the extinction. Why just the roots and not the entire trees? Wouldn't the entire tree be decayed and end up in the ocean?
The roots speed up weathering of rocks.
Re: Evolution of tree roots may have driven mass extinctions (2022)
#9Re: Evolution of tree roots may have driven mass extinctions (2022)
#10Earlier quoted context omitted.
AI could see us like we see trees.
As in material-stock to be consumed for development, or aesthetically-pleasing entities we enjoy having around?
Both! You can rip them apart and reassemble them into aesthetically pleasing structures in still-living ones.