How Did Dinosaurs Become Extinct? Quiz

The most widely accepted theory for the extinction of dinosaurs is the asteroid impact theory. This theory proposes that a massive asteroid struck the Earth approximately 66 million years ago, leading to a series of catastrophic environmental changes. The impact likely created a massive dust cloud that blocked sunlight, dramatically altering the climate and disrupting photosynthesis, which in turn caused a drastic decline in plant and subsequently herbivore populations, followed by the carnivores that depended on them. The theory is supported by a worldwide layer of sediment rich in iridium, a rare element on Earth's surface but common in asteroids, found at the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary. The other options, such as volcanic activity and ice age, do have some support as contributing factors but are not considered the primary cause. The option suggesting overhunting by humans is incorrect, as humans did not exist during the time of the dinosaurs.

Dinosaurs became extinct approximately 65 million years ago, at the end of the Cretaceous period. This timeline marks a significant geological boundary known as the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) boundary, previously referred to as the Cretaceous-Tertiary (K-T) boundary. The extinction event that occurred around this time is believed to have wiped out nearly 75% of all species on Earth, including all non-avian dinosaurs. The widespread extinction is attributed mainly to the catastrophic impact of a large asteroid, along with other environmental stresses that may have contributed to the mass die-off. The other time frames listed—200 million years ago, 1 million years ago, and 500,000 years ago—are incorrect and do not align with the established scientific understanding of when dinosaurs went extinct.

Scientists believe that volcanic activity contributed to the mass extinction event at the end of the Cretaceous period by blocking sunlight and cooling the planet. Massive volcanic eruptions, such as those associated with the Deccan Traps in what is now India, released enormous quantities of ash and sulfuric aerosols into the atmosphere. These particles and gases can have a cooling effect on the climate by reflecting sunlight back into space and reducing the amount of solar radiation that reaches the Earth's surface. This global cooling could disrupt ecosystems, particularly affecting photosynthesis in plants, leading to a collapse in food chains that depended on plant life, thereby exacerbating the extinction event. The other options, such as cooling of the Earth independently of sunlight blocking, flooding, and producing extra oxygen, do not directly relate to the impact volcanic activity is thought to have had during this period.

Dinosaurs went extinct at the end of the Cretaceous period, which is the last period of the Mesozoic Era. This period ended about 66 million years ago with a mass extinction event, known as the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) extinction event. This event is famous for causing the extinction of nearly three-quarters of Earth's plant and animal species, including all non-avian dinosaurs. The other periods listed—Jurassic, Triassic, and Permian—do not correspond with the timing of the dinosaurs' extinction. The Triassic and Jurassic were earlier periods in the Mesozoic Era, and the Permian occurred before the Mesozoic, marking the end of the Paleozoic Era.

During the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) extinction event, which led to the extinction of the non-avian dinosaurs, numerous other species also went extinct. This included many early birds and various marine reptiles. The impact of the asteroid, combined with the resulting environmental changes—such as temperature fluctuations and disruptions in food chains—affected a wide range of terrestrial and marine life. While many early bird species perished, some avian dinosaurs (the ancestors of modern birds) survived. Similarly, while many marine reptiles became extinct, other marine life forms and some early mammals managed to survive and eventually thrive in the post-dinosaur era. Thus, the option "Both early birds and marine reptiles" accurately captures the broad impact of the extinction event across different groups of animals. User

The Chicxulub Crater, located on the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico, is the crater most closely linked to the asteroid impact theory for the mass extinction event that occurred at the end of the Cretaceous period, about 66 million years ago. This impact is believed to have led to the mass extinction of the dinosaurs and many other life forms. The crater itself is more than 150 kilometers (93 miles) in diameter, making it one of the largest confirmed impact structures on Earth. Its discovery provided crucial evidence supporting the hypothesis that a catastrophic impact event was a primary cause of the mass extinction. The other craters listed—Barringer, Manicouagan, and Siberian—are significant geological features but are not associated with the event that led to the demise of the dinosaurs.

Galactic changes are not typically discussed by scientists as a potential cause of dinosaur extinction. The main theories considered by the scientific community include pandemic diseases, which could have spread rapidly among dinosaur populations; climate change, which could have altered habitats and food sources dramatically; and volcanic eruptions, like those of the Deccan Traps, which could have influenced global climate and environmental conditions. While these factors are grounded in geological and biological evidence, galactic changes, such as shifts in the Milky Way or cosmic radiation variations, are not commonly cited as direct causes of the mass extinction that ended the reign of the dinosaurs.

Volcanic eruptions are thought to have contributed to the dinosaur extinction, in addition to the asteroid impact. The Deccan Traps, a large igneous province in present-day India, experienced massive volcanic eruptions around the same time as the asteroid impact. These volcanic activities released vast amounts of dust, debris, and gases into the atmosphere, causing rapid climate change, acid rain, and other environmental disturbances. The combined effects of the asteroid impact and widespread volcanic activity likely contributed to the extinction of dinosaurs and many other species at the end of the Cretaceous period. While tsunamis and earthquakes may have been associated with the asteroid impact event, volcanic eruptions played a more significant role in the extinction scenario, along with the asteroid impact.