The Amazon rainforest survived the African Humid Period though, so what’s up with that?
Comment on The world if Africa didn't exist
Kelly@lemmy.world 5 weeks ago
Fun fact: The ecosystems of the Amazon Basin rely on around 27.7 million tons of Saharan Dust each year to replace the phosphorus that is washed away by the rains. Without this constant input of nutrients the local soils would have been stripped of needed nutrients and would be unable to support the plants that currently thrive there.
grue@lemmy.world 5 weeks ago
Kelly@lemmy.world 5 weeks ago
It looks like the Amazon region was experiencing less rainfall at the time with a corresponding shift towards drought tolerant species and even savannahs in parts of the region!
earthscience.stackexchange.com/a/2567
With a different rainfall profile the nutrient loss would have been vastly reduced.
grue@lemmy.world 5 weeks ago
Neat, thanks!
maniii@lemmy.world 5 weeks ago
Also true for the Indian Monsoon.