A recent research, titled "No evidence for angiosperm mass extinction at the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) boundary" published in Biology Letters by the University of Bath (UK) and Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (Mexico) researchers, reveals that flowering plants largely survived the dinosaur extinction event 66 million years ago, ultimately becoming the dominant plant type we see today.
75% of Plants That Survived the Mass Extinction Are Flowering Species
Throughout Earth's history, multiple mass extinctions have occurred, with the most renowned caused by a massive asteroid impact 66 million years ago, drastically altering the course of life on Earth. This catastrophic event, known as the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) extinction, led to the demise of at least 75% of Earth's species, including the dinosaurs.
However, the extent of its impact on flowering plants remained uncertain due to the scarcity of plant fossils, as plants lack skeletons or exoskeletons, making it challenging to trace their evolutionary timeline solely through fossil evidence.
To shed light on this mystery, Dr. Jamie Thompson from the Milner Centre for Evolution and Dr. Santiago Ramírez-Barahona from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México embarked on a research endeavor.
They examined the evolutionary relationships among flowering plants, scientifically known as angiosperms, using DNA sequences from a staggering 73,000 living species. Employing intricate statistical techniques, they applied "birth-death" models to estimate extinction rates across geological periods.
While the fossil record indicates the disappearance of numerous plant species, the higher-level lineages, such as families and orders, managed to survive and thrive.
Out of the roughly 400,000 plant species existing today, an impressive 300,000 are flowering plants. Molecular clock evidence further suggests that the majority of angiosperm families predated the K-Pg event, coexisting with dinosaurs. In the wake of the mass extinction, angiosperms seized the opportunity to flourish and have since become ecologically crucial, supporting much of life on Earth.
The resilience of flowering plants lies in their remarkable adaptability. They employ various mechanisms for seed dispersal and pollination, some have undergone genome duplications, and others have evolved innovative photosynthetic processes.
This adaptability, often referred to as "flower power," underscores their status as nature's true survivors, allowing them to endure and thrive despite their immobility and reliance on sunlight for energy.
Top Five Mass Extinctions on Earth
Mass extinctions, characterized by the disappearance of a significant portion of species, are infrequent but significant events in Earth's history. The most substantial mass extinction occurred about 250 million years ago, resulting in the extinction of approximately 95% of all species. Below are the top five mass extinctions in Earth's history:
- Ordovician-Silurian Extinction (440 million years ago): Affected small marine organisms.
- Devonian Extinction (365 million years ago): Led to the extinction of many tropical marine species.
- Permian-Triassic Extinction (250 million years ago): The largest mass extinction event, impacting various species, including vertebrates.
- Triassic-Jurassic Extinction (210 million years ago): Resulted in the extinction of other vertebrate species on land, allowing dinosaurs to thrive.
- Cretaceous-Tertiary Extinction (66 million years ago): Marked the end of the Cretaceous period and the beginning of the Tertiary period, wiping out about 75% of plants and animals.
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