Vegetation and Organims/animals 2

This a continuation of our previous post, with the exception that we will not focus on animals but instead on the Neogene Era's vegetation. Two major ecosystems first appeared during the Miocene: kelp forests and grasslands. The expansion of grasslands is correlated to a drying of continental interiors and a global cooling. Later in the Miocene a distinct cooling of the climate resulted in the further reduction of both tropical and conifer forests, and the flourishing of grasslands and savanna in their stead.The fauna of the Pliocene does not differ much from that of the Miocene, although the period is regarded by many zoologists as the climax of the Age of Mammals. This epoch is characterized by the appearance of all of the presently existing orders and families, and many of the existing genera of mammals. Pliocene Vegetation was very like today's. Grasslands replaced forests, so grazing mammals spread at the expense of browsers. As we can see, this period is mostly marked by the appearance of grasslands.