Scientists have recorded a drop in fossilized pollen and a rise in fern spores preserved in rock layers shortly after the Chicxulub impact. What can scientists infer about the effects of this catastrophic event on Earth’s systems based on this proxy data?

A drop in fossilized pollen suggests that many flowering and other pollen-producing plants declined after the impact, while the rise in fern spores points to ferns spreading into the disrupted landscape. Dust, ash, and soot in the atmosphere would have blocked sunlight, making it harder for broad-leafed plants to grow. This supports choice B; the data do not show that the whole planet froze or that ocean temperatures rose.

AI-written and checked against the verified answer.