What bugged the dinosaurs? Insects, Disease and Death in the Cretaceous
2008
Review of 'What bugged the dinosaurs?'
publication
Author Information
Author(s): Jacobson Raymond L, Poinar G Jr, Poinar R
Primary Institution: The Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School
Hypothesis
Insects transmitted diseases that contributed to the extinction of the dinosaurs.
Conclusion
The study suggests that insects may have played a significant role in the extinction of dinosaurs by introducing diseases.
Supporting Evidence
- The authors provide evidence that insects may have introduced plant viruses and fungi into the food supply of dinosaurs.
- The book discusses how blood-sucking arthropods could have acquired blood meals from dinosaurs.
- Fossil evidence, especially amber, reveals much about the animal and plant kingdoms during the Cretaceous.
Takeaway
The book explores how bugs might have made dinosaurs sick and contributed to their extinction.
Methodology
The authors studied arthropods trapped in amber to understand their role in the Cretaceous ecosystem.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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