re:Atmospheric O2 Levels and Dinosaur Growth

["Cunningham, Betty" <bcunning@nssi.com>]

     >During the conversation, they mentioned that oxygen levels in the 
     >Mesozoic atmosphere fluctuated significantly, sometimes getting up as 
     >high as 35 percent.  This information, Kevin said, was gathered by 
     >analyzing air pockets in amber from different time periods.  
     >Although, he was quick to state, the information was far from 
     >complete.
     >The discussion caused me to wonder if the higher levels of oxygen in 
     >the atmosphere could be a contributing factor to an increase in the 
     >size of certain dinosaurs.  Although Adriana lent me her notebook of 
     >reference materials, I found few references that indicated the 
     >Mesozoic time periods when oxygen levels were higher and no 
     >references to comparisons of increased oxygen levels and dinosaur 
     >growth.
     
     Wouldn't a severe fluctuation of oxygen affect plant life?  Wouldn't 
     we see more dead plants since, conversely, there would be less carbon 
     for the plants to use?
     
     -Betty Cunningham
     (bettyc@flyinggoat.com in the studio)
     (bcunning@nssi.com at work)