Following the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event, the extinction of the dinosaurs and the wetter climate may have allowed the tropical rainforest to spread out across the continent. From 66-34 Mya, the rainforest extended as far south as 45deg. Climate fluctuations during the last 34 million years have allowed savanna regions to expand into the tropics. During the Oligocene, for example, the rainforest spanned a relatively narrow band. It expanded again during the Middle Miocene, then retracted to a mostly inland formation at the last glacial maximum. However, the rainforest still managed to thrive during these glacial periods, allowing for the survival and evolution of a broad diversity of species.
During which period in history was the Amazon rainforest a narrow band of forest? What extinction event might have created some conditions allowing the expansion of the amazon rainforest? Beginning how many years ago did the amazon rainforest extend 45 degrees south? After the Oligocene period, under what period did the amazon rainforest begin to expand? The amazon rainforest became a mostly inland forest around which global event?
Oligocene dinosaurs 66-34 Mya Middle Miocene last glacial maximum
During the Oligocene, for example, the rainforest spanned a relatively narrow band. Following the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event, the extinction of the dinosaurs and the wetter climate may have allowed the tropical rainforest to spread out across the continent. From 66-34 Mya, the rainforest extended as far south as 45deg. It expanded again during the Middle Miocene, then retracted to a mostly inland formation at the last glacial maximum. It expanded again during the Middle Miocene, then retracted to a mostly inland formation at the last glacial maximum.
Amazon rainforest