**Dinosaurs’ Rise to Dominance Unearthed Through Ancient Droppings**

Scientists have delved into the prehistoric world using fossilized feces and vomit found in Poland to uncover how dinosaurs became the dominant force on Earth millions of years ago. Through meticulous analysis, researchers aimed to understand whether the dinosaurs’ ascension was due to sheer luck, inherent skill, climatic changes, or an interplay of these factors.

The study, recently published in the journal Nature, examined hundreds of dinosaur droppings to piece together the ancient food web from 200 million years ago. Co-author Martin Qvarnström of Uppsala University affirmed that the rise of dinosaurs was a gradual process. Early dinosaurs were highly opportunistic, feeding on a diverse diet that included insects, fish, and plants. Their adaptability was key, allowing them to thrive through changing climatic conditions.

For instance, plant-eating dinosaurs exhibited dietary flexibility, consuming a wide variety of greens compared to other contemporary herbivores. This adaptability enabled them to exploit new plant species that emerged under wetter conditions. Qvarnström emphasized the need to compare these findings with fossil records from other parts of the world to see if the patterns hold up globally.

Emma Dunne, a paleobiologist from the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, noted that studying ancient fecal matter is a common practice to glean insights into past ecosystems. However, identifying the origins of fossilized feces can be challenging, as they often resemble ordinary rocks and are not always located near the remains of the animals that produced them. Despite these challenges, the discovered droppings contained identifiable remnants such as fish scales, insect parts, and bone fragments, providing valuable clues to the diet and ecosystem of early dinosaurs.