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Dinosaur gases 'warmed the Earth' | Dinosaur gases 'warmed the Earth' |
(1 day later) | |
By Ella Davies Reporter, BBC Nature | |
Giant dinosaurs could have warmed the planet with their flatulence, say researchers. | Giant dinosaurs could have warmed the planet with their flatulence, say researchers. |
British scientists have calculated the methane output of sauropods, including the species known as Brontosaurus. | British scientists have calculated the methane output of sauropods, including the species known as Brontosaurus. |
By scaling up the digestive wind of cows, they estimate that the population of dinosaurs - as a whole - produced 520 million tonnes of gas annually. | By scaling up the digestive wind of cows, they estimate that the population of dinosaurs - as a whole - produced 520 million tonnes of gas annually. |
They suggest the gas could have been a key factor in the warm climate 150 million years ago. | They suggest the gas could have been a key factor in the warm climate 150 million years ago. |
David Wilkinson from Liverpool John Moore's University, and colleagues from the University of London and the University of Glasgow published their results in the journal Current Biology. | David Wilkinson from Liverpool John Moore's University, and colleagues from the University of London and the University of Glasgow published their results in the journal Current Biology. |
Sauropods, such as Apatosaurus louise (formerly known as Brontosaurus), were super-sized land animals that grazed on vegetation during the Mesozoic Era. | Sauropods, such as Apatosaurus louise (formerly known as Brontosaurus), were super-sized land animals that grazed on vegetation during the Mesozoic Era. |
For Dr Wilkinson, it was not the giants that were of interest but the microscopic organisms living inside them. | For Dr Wilkinson, it was not the giants that were of interest but the microscopic organisms living inside them. |
"The ecology of microbes and their role in the working of our planet are one of my key interests in science," he told BBC Nature. | "The ecology of microbes and their role in the working of our planet are one of my key interests in science," he told BBC Nature. |
"Although it's the dinosaur element that captures the popular imagination with this work, actually it is the microbes living in the dinosaurs guts that are making the methane." | "Although it's the dinosaur element that captures the popular imagination with this work, actually it is the microbes living in the dinosaurs guts that are making the methane." |
Methane is known as a "greenhouse gas" that absorbs infrared radiation from the sun, trapping it in the Earth's atmosphere and leading to increased temperatures. | Methane is known as a "greenhouse gas" that absorbs infrared radiation from the sun, trapping it in the Earth's atmosphere and leading to increased temperatures. |
Previous studies have suggested that the Earth was up to 10C (18F) warmer in the Mesozoic Era. | Previous studies have suggested that the Earth was up to 10C (18F) warmer in the Mesozoic Era. |
With the knowledge that livestock emissions currently contribute a significant part to global methane levels, the researchers used existing data to estimate how sauropods could have affected the climate. | With the knowledge that livestock emissions currently contribute a significant part to global methane levels, the researchers used existing data to estimate how sauropods could have affected the climate. |
Their calculations considered the dinosaurs' estimated total population and used a scale that links biomass to methane output for cattle. | Their calculations considered the dinosaurs' estimated total population and used a scale that links biomass to methane output for cattle. |
"Cows today produce something like 50-100 [million tonnes] per year. Our best estimate for Sauropods is around 520 [million tonnes]," said Dr Wilkinson. | "Cows today produce something like 50-100 [million tonnes] per year. Our best estimate for Sauropods is around 520 [million tonnes]," said Dr Wilkinson. |
Current methane emissions amount to around 500 million tonnes a year from a combination of natural sources, such as wild animals, and human activities including dairy and meat production. | Current methane emissions amount to around 500 million tonnes a year from a combination of natural sources, such as wild animals, and human activities including dairy and meat production. |
Expressing his surprise at the comparative figures, Dr Wilkinson added that dinosaurs were not the sole producers of methane at the time. | Expressing his surprise at the comparative figures, Dr Wilkinson added that dinosaurs were not the sole producers of methane at the time. |
"There were other sources of methane in the Mesozoic so total methane level would probably have been much higher than now," he said. | "There were other sources of methane in the Mesozoic so total methane level would probably have been much higher than now," he said. |