Dinosaur Extinction Paved the Way for Primate Evolution Through Fruit Growth

New research reveals how the disappearance of giant dinosaurs reshaped ecosystems, fostering the rise of fruit-bearing plants and early primates.

The extinction of dinosaurs 66 million years ago led to denser forests, creating conditions favorable for the growth of large-seeded fruits.
Fruit-bearing plants became a key food source for early primates, including the first known species, Purgatorius, shortly after the extinction event.
The study used ecological modeling to demonstrate how the absence of large herbivores like sauropods allowed forests to thrive and fruit to proliferate.
Researchers identified a reversal in seed size trends 35 million years ago, as land animals grew large enough to impact forest ecosystems similarly to dinosaurs.
The findings highlight how large herbivores, including humans, act as ecosystem engineers, shaping vegetation patterns over millions of years.