Ancient lichens were the Earth's first land builders, paving the way for the emergence of forests. A recent study has identified the Devonian organism Spongiophyton as a true lichen, a symbiotic relationship between fungi and algae, dating back approximately 410 million years. This discovery challenges the notion that life on land began with trees, as lichens were already widespread during this period. The research, led by paleobiologist Bruno Becker-Kerber at Harvard University, involved mapping internal filaments and cells in three dimensions, revealing chemical signatures identical to those of modern lichens. The fossil, found in southern Brazil, exhibits a unique structure with branching hyphae, algal cells, and a nitrogen-rich organic matter consistent with fungal cell walls. This finding highlights the pivotal role of lichens in shaping the Earth's surface, as they contributed to the formation of the first thin layers of soil and played a crucial role in the transition of life from water to land. The study, published in the journal Science Advances, emphasizes the significance of lichens as key pioneers in the transformation of the Earth's environment, even before the arrival of complex forests.
