Permian Extinction ( Great Drying )
Tremon Frink & Sayvor Cromartie
When?
The Permian- Triassic Mass Extinction, known as the Great Drying, occured 252.28 million years ago.
What Occurred?
It is the Earth's most severe known extinction event, with up to 96% of all marine species and 70% of terrestrial vertebrate species becoming extinct. It is the only known mass extinction of insects. Some 57% of all families and 83% of all genera became extinct. The possible causes of this event could be climate change, impact events, eruptions, and catastrophic methane release.
Who Was Involved?
Ninety to ninety-five percent of marine species were eliminated as a result of this Permian event. The primary marine and terrestrial victims included the fusulinid foraminifera, trilobites, rugose and tabulate corals, blastoids, acanthodians, placoderms, and pelycosaurs, which did not survive beyond the Permian boundary
Evidence
A research team headed by Kunio Kaiho of the Tohoku University in Sendai, Japan, recently announced their measurements of sulfur isotopes in rocks from the Permian-Triassic boundary. The P-T boundary layer is enriched with "light sulfur" -- much like material from our planet's mantle. The finding suggests that some event 250,000,000 years ago (like an asteroid impact) spread material from the mantle over the surface of the land. Their data suggest that an comet hit the ocean and caused a rapid release of sulfur.
How Has The World Changed?
After this extinction, most animals were cleared away. Also there is plenty of opportunities for new forms to evolve.
The Permian Mass Extinction
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