“This phase of suppressed sunlight, notoriously difficult to reconstruct, is supported by the proliferation of saprotrophs thriving on decomposing organic matter,” the study authors wrote. The dinosaurs were entirely wiped out — except for their descendants, birds, which went on to recover and diversify. Scientists have long wondered whether some birds succeeded while others succumbed, and what gave those particular survivors an edge. The birds that survived after an asteroid wiped out the dinosaurs had several traits in common. Any birds that had to live exclusively in those trees, the authors say, would have gone extinct as well.

Source: Los Angeles Times May 24, 2018 21:33 UTC