Scientists in Poland have uncovered clues about how dinosaurs dominated Earth for 30 million years by analyzing fossilized feces and vomit samples. The study, published in the journal Nature, suggests that the rise of dinosaurs was not a sudden event, but rather a gradual process.
According to co-author Martin Qvarnström from Uppsala University, the first dinosaurs were opportunistic eaters, consuming whatever they could find – including insects, fish, and plants. As climate conditions changed, dinosaurs adapted quickly by expanding their dietary ranges. Plant-eating dinosaurs, for example, developed a greater variety of greens to exploit new plant species that emerged during wetter periods.
The study’s findings are limited to Polish fossils, but Qvarnström hopes to validate his theories using fossil records from around the world. Paleobiologist Emma Dunne notes that studying ancient feces can provide valuable insights into past creatures, despite the challenges of analyzing fossilized waste. In this case, researchers found fish scales, insect bits, and bone shards within the droppings, providing a unique window into the diets of ancient dinosaurs.
The discovery highlights the importance of interdisciplinary research and the potential for fossilized feces to shed new light on the history of life on Earth.
Source: https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/610514/fossilized-feces-vomit-help-scientists-reconstruct-dinosaurs-rise