Chris Doughty

So if you're small, you develop into a tiny little seedling. And if you're a big seed, you develop into a big seedling. And then we can go even further and look at modern megafauna like forest elephants. and see, you know, how do they open up the understory?

So if you're small, you develop into a tiny little seedling. And if you're a big seed, you develop into a big seedling. And then we can go even further and look at modern megafauna like forest elephants. and see, you know, how do they open up the understory?

And so then what we do is we take, you know, all this information going from fossil records to how plants grow, to how seeds grow, to how forest elephants affect forests, and we put it into a model. You can think of it like a computer simulation.

And so then what we do is we take, you know, all this information going from fossil records to how plants grow, to how seeds grow, to how forest elephants affect forests, and we put it into a model. You can think of it like a computer simulation.

And so then what we do is we take, you know, all this information going from fossil records to how plants grow, to how seeds grow, to how forest elephants affect forests, and we put it into a model. You can think of it like a computer simulation.

I don't know that one, but yes, like, you know, like, you know, SimCity or something.

I don't know that one, but yes, like, you know, like, you know, SimCity or something.

I don't know that one, but yes, like, you know, like, you know, SimCity or something.

Exactly. Yeah. And then you just allow, you know, millions of years of ecology to happen. And so basically you just kind of input this into our model and then you see what happens.

Exactly. Yeah. And then you just allow, you know, millions of years of ecology to happen. And so basically you just kind of input this into our model and then you see what happens.

Exactly. Yeah. And then you just allow, you know, millions of years of ecology to happen. And so basically you just kind of input this into our model and then you see what happens.

The verdict is, yeah, it worked. So, you know, basically what we saw was the darker understory basically created an evolutionary advantage for bigger seeds. And so those bigger seeds then created fruit that would entice bigger animals to eat them. And these bigger animals would distribute the fruits farther.

The verdict is, yeah, it worked. So, you know, basically what we saw was the darker understory basically created an evolutionary advantage for bigger seeds. And so those bigger seeds then created fruit that would entice bigger animals to eat them. And these bigger animals would distribute the fruits farther.

The verdict is, yeah, it worked. So, you know, basically what we saw was the darker understory basically created an evolutionary advantage for bigger seeds. And so those bigger seeds then created fruit that would entice bigger animals to eat them. And these bigger animals would distribute the fruits farther.

And the trees that are moved farther away from their mother tree are very happy because you don't have to put up with the same diseases that your mother has. You don't have to be under her shade. And so that's an evolutionary incentive as well. So basically, they're bribing these animals with fruit to move them around.

And the trees that are moved farther away from their mother tree are very happy because you don't have to put up with the same diseases that your mother has. You don't have to be under her shade. And so that's an evolutionary incentive as well. So basically, they're bribing these animals with fruit to move them around.

And the trees that are moved farther away from their mother tree are very happy because you don't have to put up with the same diseases that your mother has. You don't have to be under her shade. And so that's an evolutionary incentive as well. So basically, they're bribing these animals with fruit to move them around.

Yes. Our primate ancestors developed because they were good at climbing trees and eating fruit. And so had there not been fruit, you wouldn't have this incentive to climb up in the tree and eat fruit.

Yes. Our primate ancestors developed because they were good at climbing trees and eating fruit. And so had there not been fruit, you wouldn't have this incentive to climb up in the tree and eat fruit.

Yes. Our primate ancestors developed because they were good at climbing trees and eating fruit. And so had there not been fruit, you wouldn't have this incentive to climb up in the tree and eat fruit.