Around 400 million years ago, during the Devonian period, Earth underwent significant environmental transformations that facilitated the transition of life from water to land. The continents were configured differently, with most landmass located in the southern hemisphere and many areas now in the north, like North America and Europe, situated closer to the equator. This period saw a tropical climate even in regions like Scotland, characterized by warm, humid conditions and frequent rainfall. Key fossil sites, such as those near Aberdeen, reveal evidence of some of the earliest land ecosystems, showcasing ancient plants that were unlike any modern flora—skinny and alien-like, serving as precursors to forests. Alongside these plants, early arthropods emerged, including ancestors of present-day spiders and insects. Although terrestrial life lacked bony creatures at this point, the establishment of this land ecosystem provided essential resources like food and shelter, preparing the stage for the eventual colonization by vertebrates.