66 million years ago, a cataclysm of epic proportions, known as the K-Pg extinction, swept the Earth, wiping out the majestic dinosaurs.
However, while these giants disappeared forever, flowering plants, or angiosperms, emerged as true survivors of this cosmic catastrophe.
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Recent research has revealed not only the extraordinary resilience of these plants, but also how they have thrived and dominated the planet's flora.
The great K-Pg extinction and the loss of terrestrial life
The K-Pg extinction, caused by the shocking fall of a meteor in Chicxulub, led to the extinction of at least 75% of terrestrial life at the time.
Fossils from this period reflect this devastation, as many life forms abruptly disappeared. However, plants, which have neither skeletons nor exoskeletons, have left few traces in records. fossils, making it difficult to understand his fate in that event.
Revealing the resilience of angiosperms
To understand how angiosperms survived and thrived, a scientific team used a statistical model called birth-death.
(Image: MARK P. WITTON/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY./reproduction)
They analyzed mutations in the sequences of DNA of approximately 73,000 species of flowering plants, employing molecular techniques to estimate how many species would have become extinct throughout the history of angiosperms.
The results revealed that the vast majority of angiosperm families already existed before the K-Pg extinction. Among these families were ancestors of plants such as mint, magnolia and orchids.
Furthermore, flowers have demonstrated an incredible ability to adapt. Some duplicated their entire genome, while others adjusted their photosynthesis processes to cope with the reduced lighting after the meteor impact.
The dominance of angiosperms today
Today, our planet is home to around 400,000 plant species, with the majority of them, approximately 300,000, being angiosperms.
These plants not only survived the K-Pg extinction, but they also thrived and became the foundation of many ecosystems. Their influence is undeniable, as practically all forms of life on Earth ecologically depend on angiosperms.
While the dinosaurs may be gone, angiosperms are an enduring reminder of the incredible resilience and adaptation of life on our planet, offering us a fascinating look at how nature can overcome the most extraordinary adversities.
