Trapped in the enamel of fossilized dinosaurs teeth is a fascinating overview of the atmospheric past of the earth which extends over 150 million years. A recent study shows that carbon dioxide levels at the time were much higher than today, thanks to the air dinosaurs that inspired while they lived.
The research team – Universities of Göttingen, Mayenz and Bochum – analyzed the enamel of the dinosaurs’ teeth found in North America, Africa and Europe. Their study shows that around 150 million years ago, at the end of the Jurassic period, carbon dioxide levels were about four times higher than before the industrial period. About 73 to 66 million years ago, at the end of the Cretaceous, the level was three times higher than today.
Analyze dinosaur teeth
These results are made possible because each time an inhaled dinosaur, the enamel stored oxygen isotopes, explains Dingsu Feng, with the geochemistry department of the University of Göttingen and the main author of the study. This allowed scientists to use these fossils as an environmental time capsule. Based on the oxygen anomaly in isotopes, scientists could determine the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere.
“The most important conclusion is that we know that the CO2 levels and the production of biomass of all plants at the time were very different rebuilt of dinosaur teeth,” explains Feng. “What is exciting is that all of these anomalies in the air and isotopic information is well preserved in the teeth.”
Previously, the researchers relied on carbonates in the soil or marine proxies to understand the atmosphere and the environment during the dinosaurs. But as Feng says, they can offer uncertain results. This new method of analyzing fossilized dinosaur teeth can now offer a more precise image of atmospheric conditions on earth, she says.
“Other proxies cannot reconstruct biomass production from plants; They can only rebuild CO2 levels, ”she says.
This part of their study revealed that the photosynthesis of plants was probably twice as much as today. This increased productivity of biomass is due to the high concentrations of CO2 and the resulting global temperatures, helping to explain the rich biodiversity and the vegetation that prospered during dinosaurs.
Learn more: This bizarre long neck dinosaur had 500 replaceable teeth
Higher CO2 levels and more volcanic activity
The team also discovered unusual isotopic levels in individual teeth samples from Tyrannosaurus rex and Kaatedocus siberi, a dinosaur linked to Diplodocus.
“From Kaatedocus Siberi, we have seen a very negative level of oxygen preserved in the teeth,” explains Feng.
This indicated high levels of CO2. During the reconstruction of atmospheric conditions, they found that CO2 levels were six times higher than today and much higher than those of other dinosaur teeth from around different places, says Feng.
“Our hypothesis is that this is explained by extreme volcanic activity at the time,” she adds, suggesting that a particular dinosaur had to live in a high activity area.
“Because [volcanic] Activities cause a short -term peak in CO2 levels, this has been recorded in the teeth of dinosaurs. »»
A dental time capsule
The new role of Dinosaur Denth as a climate capsule is only an exciting perspective opened by this study, explains Fend. The method they have developed also opens the door to new research which could shed light on the elements of the physiology of dinosaurs.
Feng says that his team is currently investigating the physiology information of dinosaurs by analyzing the teeth of the same periods and sites.
“This information for dinosaurs is still lacking,” she says. “We could possibly determine the amount of oxygen that dinosaurs have inspired or obtained water, food, etc.
Learn more: Tyrannosaur Dentles Fuel Fossil Rare Fossil in England
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