During the Miocene period the earth's climate had changed from cold to hot with steamy jungles and scorching deserts. By the end of the Miocene the ancestors of humans had separated from their chimpanzee ancestors to follow their own evolutionary paths. Kelp forests first appeared in Miocene seas and soon became part of the most productive ecosystems on Earth. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay The Miocene Epoch began 23.8 million years ago and ended 5.3 million years ago. Many plants and animals flourished during the Miocene period as the weather and climate were perfect for life. Some animals that flourished during this period were Teuthidas, Cervidae, Elephantidae, Felidae, Canidae, Accipitridae, Corvidae, Crocodyidae, Boidae, and Salmonidae. Some plants that flowered include Orchidaceae, Poaceae, Pinophyta, Fagaceae, Pinales, Liliaceae and Rosaceae. During the Miocene period, life was supported primarily by two newly formed biomes, kelp forests and grasslands. The grasslands allowed for more grazers such as horses, deer, rhinos, and hippos. Ninety-five percent of modern plants existed by the end of this period. The Miocene period was a period characterized by warmer global climates than those of the preceding Oligocene. Miocene warming began 21 million years ago and continued until 14 million years ago. 8 million years ago temperatures dropped sharply again and the Atlantic ice sheet was already approaching its current size and thickness. Greenland may have started having large glaciers as early as 7 to 8 million years ago, although the climate for the most part remained warm enough to support forests. The pattern of biological change for the Miocene is one of expanding open vegetation systems such as tundra, deserts, and grasslands, at the expense of diminishing nearby vegetation such as forests. This has led to the re-diversification of temperate ecosystems and many morphological changes in animals. Mammals and birds in particular developed new forms, both as fast herbivores, large mammals and predatory birds, and as small birds and fast rodents. Because the Miocene is closer to the present day than most other geologic periods, it is easier to see the effects of events and interpret patterns. Many of the fossil species from this era have close relatives alive today, which can be good and bad. During the Miocene period the continents continued to move towards their present positions, of the modern geological features only the land bridge between South America and North America was absent. However, South America was approaching the western subduction zone in the Pacific Ocean, causing both the rise of the Andes mountains and a southward extension of the Mesoamerican peninsula. Mountain building took place in Western Europe, Eastern Asia, and North America. India continued to collide with Asia, creating new mountain ranges. Subsequent mountain uplift in the western Mediterranean region and a global drop in sea levels combined to cause a temporary drying of the Mediterranean Sea known as the “Messinian salinity crisis.” The global trend was toward increasing aridity caused primarily by global cooling, which reduces the atmosphere's ability to absorb moisture. The uplift of East Africa in the late Miocene was partly responsible for the contraction of tropical rainforests in that region, while Australia became drier as it entered a zone of.