Palaeontology

Did a lack of diversity kill the dinosaurs ?

By T.K. Randall
November 4, 2012 ·  2 comments

Image Credit: CC 2.0 Jordi Payà Scientists at the University of Chicago believe that the extinction of the dinosaurs was not down to the asteroid impact alone but also to a lack of diversity during the period of time in which the impact occurred. In contrast the ecosystem was far less fragile around 13 million years before the extinction event, suggesting that if the asteroid had hit at that time instead the dinosaurs might not have been wiped out at all and could have survived until modern times.

The study not only teaches us more about the events of the past but may also be a warning to future generations. "Besides shedding light on this ancient extinction, our findings imply that seemingly innocuous changes to ecosystems caused by humans might reduce the ecosystems' abilities to withstand unexpected disturbances," said Professor Peter Roopnarine.[!gad]Scientists at the University of Chicago believe that the extinction of the dinosaurs was not down to the asteroid impact alone but also to a lack of diversity during the period of time in which the impact occurred. In contrast the ecosystem was far less fragile around 13 million years before the extinction event, suggesting that if the asteroid had hit at that time instead the dinosaurs might not have been wiped out at all and could have survived until modern times.

The study not only teaches us more about the events of the past but may also be a warning to future generations. "Besides shedding light on this ancient extinction, our findings imply that seemingly innocuous changes to ecosystems caused by humans might reduce the ecosystems' abilities to withstand unexpected disturbances," said Professor Peter Roopnarine.

Source: Daily Tech | Comments (2)

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