Final answer:
Cope and Marsh started the Bone Wars due to their intense rivalry and desire for fame in paleontology. Their competition resulted in controversies and errors but also contributed to the understanding of dinosaurs.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cope and Marsh, two prominent paleontologists in the late 19th century, started the Bone Wars or the Great Dinosaur Rush due to their intense rivalry and desire for fame and recognition in the field of paleontology. Both scientists actively competed to discover and collect dinosaur fossils in the western United States. The Bone Wars between paleontologists Edward Drinker Cope and Othniel Charles Marsh started due to personal animosity, professional rivalry, and ambition to be the foremost experts in their field during the 19th century's fossil discovery boom.
The Bone Wars between Cope and Marsh resulted in a rapid and often reckless excavation and collection of fossils, leading to numerous controversies and errors in their work. They engaged in a series of underhanded tactics, such as bribery, sabotage, and espionage, to outdo each other. This rivalry eventually damaged their scientific reputations and the field of paleontology as a whole.
Despite the negative consequences, the Bone Wars significantly contributed to the understanding and study of dinosaurs. The discoveries made during this period expanded knowledge of dinosaur diversity, anatomy, and evolution.