Posted on 04/18/2016 2:00:44 PM PDT by JimSEA
Dinosaurs were already in an evolutionary decline tens of millions of years before the meteorite impact that finally finished them off, new research has found.
The findings provide a revolution in the understanding of dinosaur evolution. Palaeontologists previously thought that dinosaurs were flourishing right up until they were wiped out by a massive meteorite impact 66 million years ago. By using a sophisticated statistical analysis in conjunction with information from the fossil record, researchers at the Universities of Reading, UK and Bristol, UK showed that dinosaur species were going extinct at a faster pace than new ones were emerging from 50 million years before the meteorite hit.
The analyses demonstrate that while the decline in species numbers over time was effectively ubiquitous among all dinosaur groups, their patterns of species loss were different. For instance, the long-necked giant sauropod dinosaurs were in the fastest decline, whereas theropods, the group of dinosaurs that include the iconic Tyrannosaurus rex, were in a more gradual decline.
Dr Manabu Sakamoto, University of Reading, the palaeontologist who led the research, said: "We were not expecting this result. While the asteroid impact is still the prime candidate for the dinosaurs' final disappearance, it is clear that they were already past their prime in an evolutionary sense."
(Excerpt) Read more at sciencedaily.com ...
Bushasaurus’s fault.
I seem to remember Robert Bakker saying pretty much the same thing about 15-20 years ago.
Probably man-made global warming.
prehistoric global warming no doubt. Those stupid stupid dinosaurs would stop making those tar pits.
My theory is that leftism destroyed them. They left their defense solely up to the T-Rex and the only thing they can do is small arms.
That he did. If I recall correctly, his analysis of his diggings seemed to show that the hers and major other plant eaters were in decline. This, of course had effects on the carnivores who had grown to such monstrous sizes they had started eating each other to a greater degree than earlier species. I can’t find it but my memory is that a recent article on evidence of cannibalizing for T-Rex was again found.
Surprised it took 5 posts.
The meteor impact cause of extinction is conjecture. I wish the word “scientist” wouldn’t be used in concert with the words “could be”, “consensus” or “experts think”.
And I thought life on earth was all happiness, butterfly wings, and having perfect stable climate before evil conservative deniers began driving their mega polluting suvs and started fracking-say it ain’t so that climate/environmental change has been a given constant-oh the humanity
Most Dino bones are found in the layer UNDER the crap from the comet. I have thought they were killed off from a virus for a long time.
A hypothesis is a “could be” statement whatever you think of it. “Maybe” comes before the fact gathering, analysis and proof. Curiosity is the backbone of science.
Viruses are nasty critters. It’s certainly conceivable.
Taxes and crystal meth did em in.
I’ve been tilling my garden for the last two days. Going to till again in the morning. There is currently no evidence of “life”. You see, I wiped it out.. Boom!
Take a lense and look closely at your soil. There’s more life there than at a Clinton rally.
Bakker is full of controversial ideas, most of which eventually prove true.
I also remember hearing him skeptical of the asteroid impact hypothesis for dinosaur extensions.
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