A newly published study in the journal Nature Plants reveals that the extinction of dinosaurs facilitated the spread of grape species across the globe. Researchers from Chicago’s Field Museum, led by curator Fabiany Herrera, found fossilized grape seeds dating from 60 to 19 million years ago in Colombia, Panama, and Peru. This study indicates that post-dinosaur extinction, forest environments became more crowded, allowing for the growth of understory plants such as grapevines.
The study traces the oldest grape seed fossils back to around 66 million years ago in India, coinciding with the asteroid impact that led to the dinosaurs' demise. According to the researchers, the absence of large dinosaurs meant forests could grow denser, providing a favorable environment for vines like grapes to proliferate. Additionally, the diversification of birds and mammals after the extinction event likely aided in the spread of grape seeds.
Dr. Herrera highlights the significance of this discovery, emphasizing how the extinction event radically altered the composition of plant life on Earth. The team identified the grape fossils with the help of CT X-ray scans, which confirmed their internal structure. This finding underscores grapes' resilience and adaptability in post-dinosaur extinction ecosystems.