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The environment of Earth throughout the Mesozoic period, in between 252 and 66 million years earlier, consisted of even more co2 than it does today and overall photosynthesis from plants worldwide was two times as high as it is today, according to an analysis of oxygen isotope structure of dinosaur teeth.
The fossilized teeth of Camarasaurus from the Morrison Formation in the United States. Image credit: Sauriermuseum Aathal.
In the research study, Dr. Dingsu Feng from the University of Göttingen and coworkers evaluated the oral enamel of dinosaurs that resided in North America, Africa and Europe throughout the Late Jurassic and Late Cretaceous durations.
“Enamel is among the most steady biological products,” they stated.
“It tape-records various isotopes of oxygen that the dinosaurs breathed in with every breath that they took.”
“The ratio of isotopes in oxygen is impacted by modifications in climatic co2 and photosynthesis by plants.”
“This connection enables us to reason about the environment and plant life throughout the age of the dinosaurs.”
“In the Late Jurassic duration, around 150 million years back, the air included around 4 times as much co2 as it did before industrialization– that is, before human beings began producing big amounts of greenhouse gases into the environment.”
“And in the Late Cretaceous duration, around 73 to 66 million years back, the level was 3 times as high as today.”
Specific teeth from 2 dinosaur types– Tyrannosaurus rex and Kaatedocus siberi — included a noticeably uncommon structure of oxygen isotopes.
This indicates co2 spikes that might be connected to significant occasions such as volcanic eruptions– for instance, the enormous eruptions of the Deccan Traps in what is now India, which occurred at the end of the Cretaceous duration.
The truth that plants on land and in water around the globe were performing more photosynthesis at that time was most likely connected with co2 levels and greater typical yearly temperature levels.
This research study marks a turning point for paleoclimatology: previously, carbonates in the soil and marine proxies were the primary tools utilized to rebuild the environment of the past.
Marine proxies are signs, such as fossils or chemical signatures in sediments, that aid researchers comprehend ecological conditions in the sea in the past. These techniques are subject to unpredictability.
“Our technique offers us a totally brand-new view of the Earth’s past,” Dr. Feng stated.
“It opens the possibility of utilizing fossilized tooth enamel to examine the structure of the early Earth’s environment and the efficiency of plants at that time.”
“This is vital for comprehending long-lasting environment characteristics.”
“Dinosaurs might be the brand-new environment researchers. Far back their teeth taped the environment for a duration of over 150 million years– lastly we are getting the message.”
The research study was released August 4, 2025 in the Procedures of the National Academy of Sciences
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Dingsu Feng et al2025. Mesozoic climatic CO2 concentrations rebuilded from dinosaur tooth enamel. PNAS 122 (33 ): e2504324122; doi: 10.1073/ pnas.2504324122
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