Fortunately, recent research has provided important new perspectives on these ancient South American forests. These very same forests which once stretched across the ancient supercontinent Gondwana, as evidenced by Cretaceous amber discovered in Ecuador. This amber is more than 112 million years old. It originates from a new deposit recently discovered in the Hollín Formation occurring in the Oriente Basin of Ecuador. Xavier Delclòs and his collaborators researched the spectacular ornamental diversity evolved by insects, and it is remarkable. These incredible animals were once abundant across ancient timbered landscapes.
This exciting discovery comes from the identification of over 60 samples of aerial amber, showcasing a trove of biological inclusions. Researchers found 21 bio-inclusions in the amber, including the amber’s biggest member, a ladybug—a member of five insect orders. This new finding gives us a richer picture of what biodiversity looked like during the Cretaceous. It creates new possibilities for studying this mysterious and diverse ancient ecosystem.
Insights from the Hollín Formation
The Hollín Formation is a widespread, important, often-studied sedimentary rock layer. It provides a brilliant window into the deep past, preserving critical geologic and biologic archives. The amber in this formation serves as a time capsule. It holds the last fossils of life from when dinosaurs were the dominant species on Earth. More broadly, this amazing discovery showcases what makes Ecuador’s geological features so crucial to the history of studying ancient ecosystems.
The amber is about 112 million years old. It’s one of the stars of our very own Cretaceous period, the epoch known for lush, giant plants and flourishing, reptilian fauna. These discoveries reveal that in this period South America’s forests teemed with loud, colorful insects. This incredible variety helped develop a highly stratified and interwoven food web. This remarkable preservation, which can only be found in amber, gives scientists the unique opportunity to study their physical appearances and ecological functions.
Diverse Insect Orders Revealed
Scientists, including many at the Museum, have made some incredible discoveries within the Cretaceous amber. They identified representatives from five insect orders, including flies (Diptera), beetles (Coleoptera), and ants and wasps (Hymenoptera). These groundbreaking findings go a long way to show how important these insects were to the ecological balance of ancient forests.
Fossilized piece of spider web found in amber, equidistant on both sides from the end. This unexpected finding provides stark corroboration of convoluted multi-species interactions. This ecosystem diversity suggests that ecosystems were far more complex during this period than we had been led to believe. It fostered diverse ecological niches.
The discovery of these insect orders provides scientists with an exciting chance to study the evolutionary path of these remarkable animals. By learning about their adaptations and interactions, we can learn how they survived and thrived. Their landscape was not at all similar to the landscape we’ve come to know today.
Implications for Future Research
Ecuadorian paraffin/honey amber specimens Cretaceous findings from the Ecuadorian amber offer new opportunities to study an ancient ecosystem that is currently underexplored. Researchers study these bio-inclusions to reveal the evolutionary past of insects. This study elucidates their importance in prehistoric landscapes.
Yet, inspiring these research efforts is an appreciation for the importance of the Hollín Formation. Of particular interest to us, it highlights Ecuador’s position as a major hotspot for paleontological research. Every day new discoveries are still coming out from this region. They are well on their way to rewriting everything we know about the biodiversity and ecological interactions that characterized South America’s prehistoric ecosystems.