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The work was carried out within the framework of the study of fossil soils of the Paleozoic and the evolution of the Earth's biosphere. The purpose of this study was to reconstruct paleoecological conditions based on detailed characteristics of fossil soil,
the size and spatial arrangement of plant stump remains, root system morphology and characteristics of carbonized plant remains above ground.
The surface of exposed late Visean (Early Carboniferous) marine limestones in the Cathcraig area (Scotland) is densely covered with round holes about 1 m in diameter, surrounded by numerous fossilized root remains – rhizoliths. These holes are what remains of the forest that grew in this area during the Carboniferous period (about 350 million years ago). The aim of this study was to reconstruct the paleoecological environment based on detailed characteristics of the fossil soil, the size and spatial arrangement of plant stump remains, root system morphology and characteristics of carbonized plant remains above ground.
The data obtained showed that the forest grew on peaty bog soil (Histosols), consisted of trees of the same size and, apparently, of the same age. The stumps belonged to giant extinct gymnosperms – Cordaitalean. The area occupied by the cavities was digitized. Geometrical parameters – diameter, mutual arrangement, occupied area for 1323 holes were calculated and statistically processed. Based on the presence of such minerals as pyrite, siderite and gypsum in the paleosoil, a conclusion was made about the prevalence of restorative conditions caused by periodic flooding of the territory by salt water. The sea coast corresponds to such conditions. The adaptation of plants to such conditions is evidenced, in particular, by the morphology of the root system, when each trunk rested on more than 1000 individual roots.
