Global warming paved evolutionary path for the rise of dinosaurs

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(PhysOrg.com) -- Global warming devastated tropical rainforests 300 million years ago. Now scientists report the unexpected discovery that this event triggered an evolutionary burst among reptiles -- and inadvertently paved the way for the rise of dinosaurs, 100 million years later.

This event happened during the Carboniferous Period. At that time, Europe and North America lay on the equator and were covered by steamy tropical rainforests. But when the Earth's climate became hotter and drier, rainforests collapsed, triggering reptile evolution.

Dr Howard Falcon-Lang of Royal Holloway, University of London, UK explained: "Climate change caused rainforests to fragment into small 'islands' of forest. This isolated populations of reptiles and each community evolved in separate directions, leading to an increase in diversity."

Professor Mike Benton of the University of Bristol, UK added: "This is a classic ecological response to habitat fragmentation. You see the same process happening today whenever a group of animals becomes isolated from its parent population. It's been studied on traffic islands between major road systems or, as Charles Darwin famously observed in the Galapagos, on oceanic islands."

Ms Sarda Sahney, also of the University of Bristol, UK said: "It is fascinating that even in the face of devastating ecosystem-collapse, animals may continue to diversify through the creation of endemic populations."

http://www.physorg.com/news/2010-11-rainforest-collapse-drove-reptile-evolution.html

[Obama 2012 1,714]

wait wait wait, so if we find a fountain of youth, then we might be able to see Dinosaurs for reals?!?!?!?!?! HOLY #######!!!

BRING ON GLOBAL WARMING!!!! w000t!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Ban Hammer 13,669]

if you're against global warming, you're racist towards dinosaurs!

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if you're against global warming, you're racist towards dinosaurs!

My thoughts on dinosaurs can be summed up in one word - NIMBY.

[웃 910]

(PhysOrg.com) -- Global warming devastated tropical rainforests 300 million years ago.

No people were around 300,000,000 years ago. Therefore Global Warming didn't do anything to the rainforests. Only 1 thing can be responsible: Man Made Global God.

Man Made Global God was in full control (without any human interference) of the planet. Man Made Global God destroyed/devasted the rainforests.

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This is getting tiring, LI.

[Ban Hammer 13,669]

My thoughts on dinosaurs can be summed up in one word - NIMBY.

why do you hate massive fertilizer?

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Because there was no US congress and scientists to tax the ...oh, never mind.