The Iberian Peninsula recorded climate change 9 million years ago

Researchers have confirmed that around 9 million years ago, the Iberian Peninsula experienced significant climate changes, leading to more pronounced seasonal contrasts. This conclusion is based on dental enamel analysis of horse fossils from two sites in central Iberia. The study, led by the Complutense University of Madrid, indicates that animals from one site experienced greater seasonal variability than those from another. Despite these climatic changes, both groups maintained a diet primarily based on C3 vegetation, suggesting that dietary habits remained stable. Future research aims to expand these analyses to other Iberian sites to further understand these climatic shifts and their ecological impacts.