A recent study by the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP) reveals that the Deccan Volcanism, a series of volcanic eruptions ~66 million years ago, which played a role in mass extinctions, did not adversely affect tropical flora. Instead, the study suggests that the volcanic activity indirectly promoted the development of hyper-diverse tropical flora, particularly angiosperms (flowering plants).
Key Findings:
- Impact on Fauna and Flora:
- The Deccan Volcanism contributed to the extinction of large faunal communities, including dinosaurs and gymnosperms, creating ecological vacuums.
- These extinctions provided barren but fertile habitats under a warm and humid climate, conducive for the growth and evolution of angiosperms.
- Deccan Volcanism and the K-Pg Mass Extinction:
- The eruptions, which spanned several hundred thousand years, coincided with the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) boundary, a pivotal period in Earth’s history marked by mass extinction events.
- It served as a triggering agent for the extinction of ammonoids (invertebrate cephalopods) and dinosaurs on a global scale.
- The Indian Plate as a Case Study:
- As the epicenter of Deccan Volcanism, the Indian Plate provides a unique record for studying floral turnover during this period.
- The research highlights how angiosperms leveraged the post-volcanic environment to thrive and diversify.
(Source: PIB)
