How old animals spread soft fruit

ISouth American forests lush millions of years ago, trees and massive animals could have tried to prosper. The trees have evolved oversized fruits, which attracted imposing creatures such as mastodons during the Pleistocene era. Their menu could have included the bright yellow chilian palm, smoked chañar and creamy keule. In turn, these animals can have shepherd seeds of long distances via their manure, widening the distribution of trees and encouraging genetic diversity.

This idea was proposed for the first time over 40 years ago. Now scientists have discovered fossil evidence to support it: the fossil teeth of the South American mastodon species, Notiomastodon plansissuggests that the elephant parent was indeed enjoyed Ecology and evolution of nature.

The fossils, which have been unearthed of sites extending over more than 900 miles across Chile, contained starch residues and tissues associated with fleshy fruits. Groups of N. Plansis May have migrated to the northern region of the country towards abundant food research land.

Mastods disappeared from South America about 10,000 years ago, and livestock, humans and small fruit -eaten animals can have entered this role of fruit fairs. But the extinct giants have distributed seeds over distances up to 10 times longer than modern animals and swallowed about 10 times more seeds. And although many of these species of trees persist today, without these ancient aids, their survival is threatened.

The team has shaped the threat of extinction among these highly fruit South American trees. Today, some of these trees have found new seed messengers, but not all. In central Chile, 40% of these plant species are currently threatened. This figure is four times higher than in tropical areas where animals, including taps or monkeys, can fill some of the roles of the Pleistocene mammals. These plants “now survive in small fragmented populations with low genetic diversity”, according to a press release. “These are living remains of an extinct interaction.” Human activity can also contribute to the continuous decline of these ancient trees, of course. For example, harvesting the chilian palm fruit reduces its chances of seed dispersion.

And hunting for clues on ancient ecological dynamics will continue. “Paleontology is not only to tell old stories,” said study author Florent Rivals, paleoecologist at the Catalan Institute of Human Paleoecology and Social Evolution in Spain, in the Declaration. “This helps us to recognize what we have lost – and what we still have a chance to save.”

Main illustration of Mauricio Álvarez

• Molly Glick

  Published on June 18, 2025

  Molly Glick is the editor of the newsletter of Nautilus.