JWhy did many plants die at the end of the Mesozoic era?

The climate became dry and plants lacked moisture.

Most plants were wiped out by spreading disease.

Dust from a meteorite collision blocked sunlight.

Huge dinosaurs had overgrazed the open plains.

1 answer

Many plants died at the end of the Mesozoic era primarily due to the dust from a meteorite collision that blocked sunlight. This event, commonly associated with the impact that created the Chicxulub crater in present-day Mexico, is believed to have led to a dramatic drop in temperatures and disrupted the climate. The blockage of sunlight would have hindered photosynthesis, leading to a collapse of plant life and, in turn, affecting the entire food chain.