How the Extinction of Dinosaurs Changed the Evolution of Plants, Study Explains All

KOMPAS.com – When the asteroid hit Earth 66 million years, dinosaur which is a large herbivore (megaherbivore) on Earth was destroyed. But the impact is not only that.

Plants and herbivores that previously influenced each other were also affected.

The question is, how did the disappearance of these herbivores then affect the evolution of the plant world?

Read also: The Period of Time Dinosaurs Lived, Associated with the Forming of the Continent

To find out, a research team led by iDiv and the University of Leipzig analyzed fossils and living palms today.

This genetic analysis will allow researchers to track evolutionary developments plant during and after the absence of the megaherbivores.

But first, the researchers confirmed the common scientific assumption that many species of palms at the time of the dinosaurs bore large fruits and were covered with spines on their stems and leaves.

Quoted from Phys, Friday (6/5/2022) the research team then found that the evolutionary speed of new palm species with small fruits appeared during megaherbivores decreased.

While the speed of evolution of palms that have large fruit remains or constant but the size of the fruit itself increases.

This finding also shows that there were palm trees with large fruit even after the extinction of the dinosaurs. Apparently much smaller animals can also eat large fruits and disperse seeds through their droppings.

The researchers also assumed that the lack of influence of large herbivores resulted in denser vegetation.

“Thus we can refute the previous scientific assumption, that the existence of palms depends exclusively on megaherbivores,” said Dr. Renske Onstein, author of the study.

However, the defensive nature of plants, namely the spines on the leaves and stems, shows a different picture. The number of defensive palm species decreased after the extinction of the megaherbivores.

“Predatory defense no longer seems to offer an evolutionary advantage,” said Onstein.

The evolution and adaptation of plants after the extinction of the megaherbivores is one of the most mysterious and unique periods in plant history.

Read also: How Do Researchers Determine Dinosaur Colors?

So understanding how the extinction of the megaherbivore affected plant evolution in the past was important. It can also help predict future ecological developments.

For example, researchers noted the loss of traits during the extinction of the megaherbivore. The loss of these traits can affect important ecosystem functions and processes such as seed dispersal.

Whereas in the present context, the ongoing extinction of large animals due to human hunting and climate change may also affect the variation of traits in plant communities and ecosystems now and in the future.

This research was published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences.

Read also: How Big Was the Asteroid That Annihilated the Dinosaurs?

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