Palaeobotany Research Group
Fossil plants, paleoecosystems and climate change
Research
Plants form the basis of all life and account for around 80 per cent of global biomass. Through photosynthesis, they influence the climate – both today and in the geological past. As defining features of landscapes, they provide important insights into the evolution of terrestrial ecosystems.
The research group studies fossil plants from the Palaeozoic to the Cenozoic. The aim is to reconstruct the anatomy and morphology of fossil plants and, from this, draw conclusions about their architecture, physiology and interactions with the environment. The results enable conclusions to be drawn about the biodiversity, climate and environmental conditions of past ecosystems, as well as their changes over time.
Key areas
Fossil ecosystems of the Late Palaeozoic
The Late Palaeozoic was characterised by significant global environmental changes. Fossil ecosystems provide detailed insights into this phase of Earth’s history.
Among other things, the research group is investigating the Petrified Forest of Chemnitz and the Bromacker fossil deposit in Thuringia. Both sites are around 290 million years old, but differ significantly in their structure and site conditions. Using a multidisciplinary approach combining sedimentology, geochemistry and palaeobotany, we analyse the interactions between the geosphere, atmosphere and biosphere.
Plant physiology in the Early Permian
A key focus is on developing new methods for the quantitative determination of the water transport capacity of fossil plants. These are based on anatomical features of the vascular tissue.
The analyses provide information on water balance, gas exchange and drought resistance. This allows us to reconstruct adaptations to different habitats and draw conclusions about palaeoclimatic conditions.
Amber forests and their evolution
Amber preserves plant structures in exceptional detail. The research group investigates inclusions such as flowers, fruits, leaves and twigs from deposits in Europe and Asia, dating from the Cretaceous to the Palaeogene.
Using light microscopy, electron microscopy and computed tomography techniques, we analyse the morphology of these finds. The data are used to reconstruct vegetation, habitats and climatic conditions, as well as to investigate the evolution of forests over geological time scales.
Preservation and conservation of amber
Amber is a delicate organic material of great scientific and cultural value. Its inclusions provide important information for palaeontology, botany and zoology.
The research group develops protocols for the preparation, documentation and long-term preservation of amber and its inclusions. The aim is to detect deterioration processes at an early stage and to safeguard collections for the long term.
People
Dr Ludwig Luthardt
PI
Email: Ludwig.Luthardt@mfn.berlin
Dr Eva-Maria Sadowski
PI
Email: Eva-Maria.Sadowski@mfn.berlin
Josephine Franke
PhD Student
Email: Josephine.Franke@mfn.berlin
Publications (Selection)
Heřmanová, Z., Kvaček, J., Čepičková, J., Von Balthazar, M., Luthardt, L., Schönenberger, J. (2023). Slavicekia gen. nov., a New Member of the Normapolles Complex from Late Cretaceous Sediments of the Czech Republic. International Journal of Plant Sciences, 184(3), 201-213. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1086/724155
æ Luthardt, L., Rößler, R., Stevenson, D. (2023). Cycadodendron galtieri gen. nov. et sp. nov.: An Early Permian Gymnosperm Stem with Cycadalean Affinity. International Journal of Plant Sciences, 184(9), 715-732. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1086/727458
æ Laaß, M., Luthardt, L., Trümper, S., Leipner, A., Hauschke, N., Rößler, R. (2025). Host-specific leaf-mining behaviour of holometabolous insect larvae in the early Permian. Scientific Reports, 15. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-15413-x
Beurel, S., Bachelier, J.B., Hammel, J.U., Shi, G.L., Wu, X.T., Rühr, P.T., Sadowski, E.M. (2023). Flower inclusions of Canarium (Burseraceae) from Miocene Zhangpu amber (China). Palaeoworld, 32(4), 592-606. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palwor.2023.02.006
Beurel, S., Bachelier, J.B., Schmidt, A.R., Sadowski, E.M. (2024). Novel three-dimensional reconstructions of presumed Phylica (Rhamnaceae) from Cretaceous amber suggest Lauralean affinities. Nature Plants, 10, 223-227. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-023-01592-w
æ Beurel, S., Bachelier, J., Coiffard, C., Schmidt, A., Sadowski, E. (2025). Placing Nothophylica piloburmensis from Cretaceous amber into the angiosperm phylogeny. Taxon. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/tax.13350
æ Beurel, S., Bachelier, J.B., Munzinger, J., Shao, F., Hammel, J.U., Shi, G., Sadowski, E.M. (2024). First flower inclusion and fossil evidence of Cryptocarya (Laurales, Lauraceae) from Miocene amber of Zhangpu (China). Fossil Record, 27(1), 1-11. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/fr.27.109621
æ Sadowski, E.M., Hofmann, C.C. (2023). The largest amber-preserved flower revisited. Scientific Reports, 13(1), 17. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-24549-z
Wu, X., Shu, J., Yin, S., Sadowski, E., Shi, G. (2023). Parrotia flower blooming in Miocene rainforest. Journal of Systematics and Evolution, 62(3), 449-456. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jse.13001
