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Was an Asteroid the reason…?

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Science & Technology, Canada (Commonwealth Union) – The era of non-avian dinosaurs, which spanned millions of years back, represents one of the most fascinating chapters in Earth’s history. These magnificent creatures ruled the planet with unparalleled dominance and diversity. Despite their extinction, the legacy of non-avian dinosaurs continues to captivate our imaginations and fuel scientific exploration.

Non-avian dinosaurs were possibly in lessening long before an asteroid came crashing into the Yucatan Peninsula 66 million years back sealing their fate, as indicated by a University of Alberta paleontologist who states that the ancient tale is documented at 3 stops on a surprising 3-hour drive along the Red Deer River.

This tour of the state’s prehistoric history takes the lead from a 2021 study by a global research team that consisted of input from Phil Currie. The research indicates that the inability of dinosaurs to pull back from the catastrophic asteroid effects which was magnified by their inability to adjust to a changing atmosphere.

Currie elaborated that the concept behind a gradual extinction 1st emerged 4 decades back, shortly after it ended up as generally acceptable that the effects of a big asteroid at Chicxulub, Mexico, was the reason for a speedy and disastrous annihilation of dinosaurs as the Cretaceous Period ended.

Currie indicated that since then, certain experts disputed the catastrophe, that it could be a red herring and dinosaurs were dying slowly for other reasons, even though they could have been terminated by the asteroid strike. Others imply that it may have taken place rapidly.

He further indicated that whichever way it occurred Alberta is a crucial location for the setting of this.

Currie together with researchers led by Fabien Condamine of the Institute of Evolutionary Science of Montpellier, France, evaluated 1,600 dinosaur fossils to analyze speciation as a group within a species produces its own specific features, as well as extinction rates for 6 major dinosaur families discovered in Alberta: Ankylosauridae, Ceratopsidae, Hadrosauridae, Dromaeosauridae, Troodontidae together with Tyrannosauridae.

This reduction can be tracked along the Red Deer River, commencing at the heartland of the Badlands Dinosaur Provincial Park, southeast of Calgary of Alberta. There, paleontologists have excavated over fifty species of dinosaurs that go back 76 million years.

Continuing on the Veterans Memorial Highway (H36), individuals keen on the Cretaceous move upstream to the Drumheller area, that is stratigraphically around 4 million years younger than Dinosaur Provincial Park. There, paleontologists have found just 30 species of dinosaurs, even though the location once hosted a bigger cross-section of environments.

A rushed hour-long drive north along Highway 56 dividing the variations between the Red Deer River together with the Rumsey Natural Area, which is Canada’s widest remaining undisturbed tract of aspen parkland as well as the waterfowl habitats with the highest productivity of the continent. The dinosaur hunters usually finish the tour at the Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park. The fossil record representants a time at the end of the Cretaceous that remained from 145 million to 66 million years back, just prior to the asteroid hitting around 10 million years younger than Dinosaur Provincial Park. As the Cretaceous came to a close 66 million years back, just a dozen dinosaur species had lasted in Alberta.

The study of non-avian dinosaurs has fascinated scientists and the general public alike for centuries. Paleontologists have unearthed a wealth of fossils and gained valuable insights into dinosaur anatomy, behavior, and evolution. From the pioneering work of scientists to modern-day discoveries in paleontology. With this study our understanding of non-avian dinosaurs is set to further evolve.

The cultural impact of non-avian dinosaurs is undeniable. These magnificent creatures have inspired a variety of books, films, and artworks.

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