Dinosaur Extinction Started Fruit Evolution

Did Dinosaurs and Fruits Coexist

Fruits were relatively recent in evolutionary terms and didn’t exist until the final era of the dinosaurs, known as the Cretaceous period. During earlier periods, plant life mainly consisted of simpler forms like ferns and cycads, which did not produce fruits. The lack of sunlight during much of the Mesozoic era limited the growth and diversity of many plant species, including those that would eventually develop into fruit-bearing plants. However, as the Cretaceous period progressed, key changes occurred. Flowering plants started evolving, creating flowers that would grow into fruits after fertilization. With the eventual extinction of the dinosaurs at the end of the Cretaceous period, which opened up vast areas of land and created a more favorable environment for new plant growth, fruit-bearing plants began to diversify and flourish. The opening of forest canopies allowed sunlight to reach the forest floor, resulting in a more hospitable environment for various plant species, including the ancestors of modern fruits. In this way, the extinction of dinosaurs set in motion the conditions that would eventually lead to the rich diversity of fruits we know today.

The Impact of Dinosaur Extinction on Fruit Evolution

When dinosaurs went extinct the environment became ideal for plants to grow. Forest canopies opened allowed sunlight to reach the forest floor, resulting in a better environment for various plant species. In this way, the extinction of dinosaurs set in motion the conditions that would eventually lead to the rich diversity of fruits we recognize today.  Dinosaurs going extinct realized their iron grasp on the planet that gave many different plants, including fruits, to flourish. The dinosaurs left a gap in their absence that allowed plants to become more common.

How Fruits Impacted Humans’ Survival

Fruit and food increase human brain size. Humans depend on fruit as sustenance. That fact shaped our diets today. Fruit diversity was crucial for foraging in the past. Humans’ early diets were fruit and meat-based, so if those fruits didn’t exist, humans may haven’t survived as long as they have.

Conclusion

In conclusion, dinosaurs going extinct left a power vacuum that allowed plants to evolve and let flowering plants become fruits. Those fruits were crucial to human survival and allowed humans to survive and thrive.Fde