Was there wine in the time of the dinosaurs?
Mankind enjoyed wine after the disappearance of the dinosaurs. Find out why.
Was there wine in the time of the dinosaurs? How did the impact of an asteroid influence the evolution of grapes? The disappearance of the dinosaurs, caused by the impact of a gigantic asteroid, triggered a mass extinction that profoundly changed the course of life on Earth. This catastrophe determined a “reset” of forest ecosystems, favoring the spread of grapes. According to a study published in Nature Plants magazine, this major change had significant implications for the evolution of grapes.
Dr. Monica Carvalho, assistant curator at the University of Michigan Museum of Paleontology and co-author of the new study, found the oldest grape fossil. (SWNS)
The spread of grapes after the disappearance of the dinosaurs
The disappearance of the dinosaurs allowed the emergence of new forests, denser and more varied, which provided opportunities for various plants, including grapes. The diversification of mammals and birds contributed to the dispersion of grape seeds, favoring their spread throughout the globe. Research shows that the first remains of grape seeds were discovered in India and date back to approximately 66 million years ago, exactly at the time of the asteroid impact.
Fabiany Herrera, paleobotanist at the Field Museum in Chicago and lead author of the study, points out that grapes have demonstrated a remarkable ability to survive and adapt to different extinction events. “Grapes are a very resistant order. It is a group that has suffered numerous extinctions in the region of Central and South America, but has managed to adapt and survive in other parts of the world,” explains Herrera.
The parallel between the disappearance of the dinosaurs and the current biodiversity crises is obvious. Studies on grape fossils provide us with valuable information about the evolution of forests and the response of ecosystems to extinction events. Understanding these processes is essential to face the challenges related to biodiversity now and in the future.
The disappearance of the dinosaurs had a profound impact on the evolution of grapes. Recent fossil discoveries show how this mass extinction provided new opportunities for plants, including grapes, which managed to adapt and spread around the world. These studies emphasize the importance of understanding past biodiversity crises in order to navigate contemporary ecological challenges.
Thus, today’s wine can be considered a living testament to the adaptability and resistance of grapes in the face of catastrophic changes, a fascinating link between the distant past and the present.