Scientists Uncover the Ancient Origins of Baobab Trees in Genetic Study
A genetic study reveals baobab trees originated in Madagascar 21 million years ago, evolving due to ecological factors. Current threats include climate change, habitat loss, and declining pollinator populations, necessitating urgent conservation.
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A recent genetic study has revealed that baobab trees, known for their impressive size and ecological significance, originated in Madagascar approximately 21 million years ago. Contrary to previous beliefs that they began on the African mainland, the research published in the journal Nature traced the lineage of the eight existing baobab species back to Madagascar. Over millions of years, various species evolved in Madagascar due to ecological competition and environmental factors. Two species eventually dispersed to continental Africa and northwestern Australia, likely transported by ocean currents and vegetation rafts. The study highlights the relationship between baobabs and their pollinators, such as bats and lemurs, which may have influenced their flower structures.
The research also indicates that historical fluctuations in sea levels affected baobab populations, with lower sea levels facilitating expansion and higher levels leading to fragmentation. Current threats to baobabs include global sea-level rise, habitat loss, and declining populations of both the trees and their pollinators. Some baobab species in Madagascar are already classified as endangered, with low genetic diversity hindering their adaptability to climate change. The authors of the study advocate for a reassessment of conservation statuses to better protect these trees, emphasizing the need for urgent conservation measures to ensure their survival in the face of ongoing environmental changes.
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3 commentsWhat I found surprising was that baobab fruit exhibited adaptations that could allow them to travel long distances on the ocean and still be viable. I thought such feats were only possible by highly specialized plants like coconut and mangroves
Somebody (I don't remember who) suggested that Australian Boabab trees were potential evidence of the direct population of Australia from Africa by a pre-Aboriginal people, based on the idea that the fruit of the Boabab tree would be an excellent food source for a long cross-ocean crossing, as well as supposed "African" characteristics in the Kimberley petrographs found in the same area as the trees. The theory is fringe-science at best (and I believe slightly offensive to Aboriginals) but I've been curious about the origin of the trees since coming across the theory. I skimmed through the paper but didn't see any estimate for a date for the genetic diversion of the Australian Boababs.
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