What is the Permian/Triassic extinction event?
Q: What is the Permian/Triassic extinction event?
A: The Permian/Triassic extinction event was the largest extinction event in the Phanerozoic eon. It ended the Palaeozoic era, and began the Mesozoic era, and occurred about 252 million years ago. During this time, 57% of all biological families, 83% of all genera, 96% of all marine species became extinct. This includes many fish and trilobites, 70% of all terrestrial vertebrates and many large amphibia, primitive reptiles and synapsids.
Q: How much biodiversity was lost during this event?
A: A significant amount of biodiversity was lost during this event - 57% of all biological families, 83% of all genera, 96% of all marine species became extinct. This includes many fish and trilobites, 70% of all terrestrial vertebrates and many large amphibia, primitive reptiles and synapsids.
Q: What caused this great extinction?
A: There are several proposed mechanisms for what caused this great extinction - including large or multiple meteorite impacts; increased volcanism; sudden release of methane hydrates from the sea floor; sea level change; oceanic anoxic events; increasing aridity; a shift in ocean circulation driven by climate change; one of the largest ever flood basalt eruptions which produced the Siberian Traps volcanic province in Siberia; global sea levels being at an historic low point at that time; as well as Pangaea being in existence with volcanic eruptions affecting lands near continents.
Q: How long did it take for life on Earth to recover after this event?
A: Because so much biodiversity was lost during this event it took much longer than after other extinction events for life on Earth to recover - making it known as "the mother of all mass extinctions".
Q: Is there a pattern to how species were affected by this event?
A: The pattern is still unclear - different studies suggest one to three separate pulses when looking at how species were affected by this event.
Q: When did Pangaea exist?
A: Pangaea existed during the Permian/Triassic extinction period around 252 million years ago.
Q: What would have made global climate worse during that time period? A: One factor that would have made global climate worse during that time period is thought to be one of the largest ever flood basalt eruptions which produced the Siberian Traps volcanic province in Siberia around 251-250 million years ago.
