The following passage is from a text about the discovery of a rare tree species. Read the passage and determine which punctuation mark best completes the sentence.
In 1994, field officer David Noble discovered a small grove of unusual trees in a remote canyon within Australia's Wollemi National Park. These trees—later named Wollemi pines (Wollemia nobilis){{blank_1}} represent one of the greatest botanical discoveries of the twentieth century. Previously known only through fossil records dating back millions of years, the species offers scientists a rare window into prehistoric ecosystems. Because fewer than a hundred mature trees exist in the wild, the exact location of the grove remains a closely guarded secret to protect them from disease and damage.
Which punctuation mark must be inserted into the blank to correctly set off the nonessential element?