2018/12/07 by Justin L. Penn, Curtis Deutsch, Jonathan L. Payne +1 · 2 citations
Earth and Planetary Sciences · #Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils #Ocean Acidification Effects and Responses #Marine Biology and Ecology Research
paper · doi:10.1126/science.aat1327
openalex publication_date 2018/12/07 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/04
Drivers of the “Great Dying” Though our current extinction crisis is substantial, it pales in comparison to the largest extinction in Earth's history, which occurred at the end of the Permian Period. Referred to as the “Great Dying,” this event saw the loss of up to 96% of all marine species and 70% of terrestrial species. Penn et al. explored the extinction dynamics of the time using Earth system models in conjunction with physiological data across animal taxa (see the Perspective by Kump). They conclude that increased marine temperatures and reduced oxygen availability were responsible for a majority of the recorded extinctions. Because similar environmental alterations are predicted outcomes of current climate change, we would be wise to take note. Science , this issue p. eaat1327 ; see also p. 1113