60M yo grape seeds shoe how death o dinosaurs paved the way for grapes
Sixty-million-year-old grape seeds found in South and Central America suggest grapevine expansion post-dinosaur extinction. Discovery of nine new fossil grape species provides insights into biodiversity crises and forest evolution. Lead author Fabiany Herrera highlights the significance of these findings.
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Sixty-million-year-old grape seeds found in Colombia, Panama, and Perú shed light on how the extinction of dinosaurs may have facilitated the spread of grapes. These seeds represent the earliest known grape family plants in the Western Hemisphere, indicating a global expansion post-dinosaur extinction. The absence of large dinosaurs potentially led to changes in forest composition, allowing for the proliferation of grapevines climbing trees. The discovery of the oldest grape fossil in South America, named Lithouva susmanii, supports a South American origin for the grapevine group. Researchers identified a total of nine new fossil grape species ranging from 60 to 19 million years old in South and Central America. The study highlights the resilience and evolutionary journey of grapes amidst extinctions and dispersals, providing insights into biodiversity crises. Lead author Fabiany Herrera emphasizes the significance of these findings in understanding forest evolution and biodiversity patterns. The research, published in Nature Plants, was conducted by a team of scientists from various institutions.
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