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A stunning ecological shift: How did the Cretaceous transform Earth's plant kingdom?
The Cretaceous is an important geological period in the history of the Earth, lasting from about 143.1 million years ago to 66 million years ago. This period is not only the last period of the Mesozoic Era, but also the longest period in the entire Phanerozoic Eon. The longest period. At this time, the climate was relatively warm and the sea level rose dramatically, forming many shallow inland seas that provided homes for a variety of marine life. Especially in the late Cretaceous, the Cretaceous saw the rise of flowering plants, which further changed the landscape of the plant kingdom. .
Flowering plants began to appear in the early Cretaceous and diversified rapidly, eventually becoming the dominant plant group on Earth by the end of the Cretaceous, coinciding with the decline and extinction of previously widespread gymnosperm groups.
The Cretaceous saw a major shift in the plant and animal kingdoms, not just a replacement of species but a reorganization of entire ecosystems. The emergence of flowering plants during this period marked the beginning of a new ecological era, as they became the main food source for many herbivores and rose to prominence in different ecological niches. Like a fascinating natural symphony, the colors of flowers actually triggered an evolutionary interaction with insects.
As the vegetation changed, the structure of the ecosystem at that time also changed. Many existing plant groups can be traced back to their origins in the Cretaceous. During this period, modern mammals and birds also began to appear, laying the foundation for future biodiversity. The Cretaceous can therefore be seen as a critical turning point in the history of life on Earth.
The Cretan-Paleogene extinction event at the end of the Cretaceous period, which led to the extinction of many species including the non-flying dinosaurs, is believed to be related to the impact of a large asteroid on Earth. It is to select an earth that is facing rebirth.
The Cretan-Paleogene extinction event marked the beginning of the Cenozoic Era, and although this disaster caused significant losses of organisms, these huge changes also provided space for the development of subsequent biodiversity. Animals that depended on plants for survival, including many dinosaurs, eventually died out as the food chain collapsed. Relatively speaking, some small organisms, such as certain mammals and insects, were able to survive this wave of extinction because they had adapted to different ecological niches.
This event not only affected biodiversity, but also reshaped the world's natural environment. As the climate changes and sea levels rise and fall, plant communities evolve and adapt to new geographical and climatic conditions. Amid the changes in ecosystems, flowering plants have maintained a steady growth momentum, and the key to their success lies in the mutually beneficial symbiotic relationships they form.
Since the end of the Cretaceous period, organisms on Earth have undergone several generations of reorganization and adaptation, which is the result of long-term evolution. With this catastrophe, the Cenozoic plant kingdom began its new chapter, with more and more species appearing that were inextricably linked to the flowering plants of the Cretaceous.
It is this Cretaceous history that allows us to better understand the complexity of the Earth's ecosystem today, and what kind of environment will create new biodiversity in the future?
Whether exploring the past or thinking about the future, the ecological changes in the Cretaceous provide us with important insights, prompting us to re-examine the relationship between ecological friendship and interdependence on the earth. As plants evolve, we can't help but wonder: what would today's biological landscape look like if the environment hadn't changed so much?
