These underwater kelp forests flourished over 32 million years ago

Beneath the waves along the Pacific Coast, the kelp are underwater ecosystems primarily found along coastlines with cold, nutrient rich waters. Scientists earlier believed this unique ecosystem developed alongside the kelp over the last 14 million years. But a recent study unveiled a surprising secret: these kelp forests thrived more than 32 million years ago, much older than anyone thought.

This means the kelp was flourishing long before the arrival of today's marine animals, like sea lions, birds, and sea urchins, who now live in these underwater forests. Pacific Kelp forests thrived 32 million years ago Scientists also think that these were home to a big feast for a mysterious, now extinct animal called a desmostylian.

This creature was giant, like a hippopotamus, and wandered around in the underwater world. Desmostylia are thought to be more closely related to elephants. "People initially said, "We don't think the kelps were there before 14 million years ago because the organisms associated with the modern kelp forest were not there yet," said Cindy Looy, a paleobotanist and a professor of integrative biology at the University of California, Berkeley, in a .

"Now, we show the kelps were there, it's just that all the organisms that you expect to be associated with them were not. Which is not that strange because you first need the foundation for the whole system before everything else can show up," added Looy. The researchers were able to prove the age of these forests with the help of recently discovered fossils the crucial root like part that firmly anchors the kelp to rocks or other seafloor structures.

The stipe, or stem, extends from the holdfast, supporting the blades that typically float in the water, aided by air bladders. The researchers meticulously dated these fossilized holdfasts. Astonishingly, these ancient holdfasts, still clasping onto clams and hosting barnacles and snails, trace their origins back to 32.1 million years ago, a revelation that places them in the middle of the Cenozoic Era spanning from 66 million years ago to the present.

This discovery challenges previous beliefs, as the oldest known kelp fossil, featuring an air bladder and a blade resembling today's bull kelp, was dated 14 million years ago and is housed in the University of California Museum of Paleontology's collection. "Our holdfasts provide good evidence for kelp being the food source for an enigmatic group of marine mammals, the desmostylia," said Steffen Kiel, lead author of the paper and a senior curator at the Swedish Museum of Natural History in Stockholm.

"Kelp had long been suggested as a food source for these hippo sized marine mammals, but actual evidence was lacking. Our holdfasts indicate that kelp is a likely candidate," added Kiel. The was published in the journal on January 15..