How the dinosaur extinction changed plant evolution

The German Centre for Integrated Biodiversity Research is located in Halle-Jena-Leipzig.

Large herbivores were missing for 25 million years after the extinction of large, non-flying dinosaurs 66 million years ago. The evolution of the plant world is influenced by plants and herbivorous animals.

The research team analyzed fossil and living palms to answer the question. The researchers were able to trace the evolution of plants during and after the absence of megaherbivores. They first confirmed that many palm species at the time of the dinosaurs were covered with thorns and had large fruits.

The research team found that the evolutionary speed of new palm species with small fruits decreased, while the evolutionary speed of new palm species with large fruits remained the same. The size of the fruit itself increased. Even after the extinction of the dinosaurs, there were palms with large fruits. The study says that smaller animals can eat large fruits and spread them with their excretions.

The number of palm species with defense traits decreased during the megaherbivore gap.

During one of the most enigmatic and unique periods in the history of plant evolution, the researchers shed new light on evolution and adaptation. Predicting future ecological developments can be done by understanding how megaherbivore extinctions affected plant evolution in the past. The authors noted the loss of traits during the megaherbivore gap. This loss can affect important processes. The ongoing extinction of large animals due to human hunting and climate change may affect trait variation in plant communities and the future.

The research was published in a journal.

More information: Renske E. Onstein et al, The megaherbivore gap after the non-avian dinosaur extinctions modified trait evolution and diversification of tropical palms, Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences (2022). DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.2633 Journal information: Proceedings of the Royal Society B Provided by German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig Citation: How the dinosaur extinction changed plant evolution (2022, May 2) retrieved 2 May 2022 from https://phys.org/news/2022-05-dinosaur-extinction-evolution.html This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.