EVOLUTION CONNECTION The history of life has been punctuated by several mass extinctions. For example, the impact of a meteorite may have wiped out most of the dinosaurs and many forms of marine life at the end of the Cretaceous period (see Concept 25.4). Fossils indicate that plants were less severely affected by this mass extinction. What adaptations may have enabled plants to withstand this disaster better than animals?

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the key differences between plants and animals that could influence their survival rates during mass extinctions. Consider factors such as mobility, reproductive strategies, and physiological needs.
2. Consider the role of seeds and spores in plant survival. Seeds and spores can remain dormant for extended periods, allowing plants to survive adverse conditions until the environment becomes favorable again.
3. Analyze the ability of plants to photosynthesize, which allows them to produce their own food. This could be a crucial advantage during periods when food sources for animals are scarce due to environmental disruptions.
4. Evaluate the resilience of plant roots and their ability to access water and nutrients from deeper soil layers, which might be less affected by surface-level disasters such as meteorite impacts.
5. Discuss the genetic diversity typically found in plant populations due to their often widespread and varied reproductive strategies, which can include both sexual and asexual reproduction. This diversity might increase the chances of some plant species or individuals having traits that allow them to survive extreme conditions.