Tracing the Origins of Oaks: How Climate and Tectonic Changes Shaped Modern Trees

Oaks, iconic trees in today’s forests, evolved over millions of years, influenced by significant climatic events like the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum. Fossils found in Austria reveal the earliest oak evidence, while tectonic movements led to the diversification of oak species across continents. Oaks adapted to changing climates, making their way from subtropica…