There was a spike in plant sterols in the bats’ diet around a thousand years ago, the researchers found – corresponding with the Medieval Warm Period (900-1,300 CE), when it’s thought the Americas were particularly dry.
Another plant sterol spike was found from around 1,350 BCE, at a time known as the Minoan Warm Period. Drier conditions typically make life more difficult for insects, and during these times the bats were snacking more often on fruits.
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These two periods of drying climate change correspond with the collapse of the Mayans and the Bronze Age Collapse.
“These two periods of drying climate change correspond with the collapse of the Mayans and the Bronze Age Collapse.”
Fascinating. I wonder how many more periods of drying there have been.