A new study sheds light on the cause of the first mass extinction documented on Earth, long before the dinosaurs disappeared. According to the researchers, the decrease in oxygen levels caused a brutal decline in animal diversity during the Ediacaran Period 550 million years ago, when 80% of species disappeared.
The study, published November 7 by Virginia Tech University in the United States, began by collecting data on fossils from the Ediacaran Period, a period of prosperity for life in the planet’s oceans. As a result of this event, animal populations such as Petalonamae and Kimberella disappear without a trace.
According to geobiologist Scott Evans, lead of the study, the data showed that the extinction had hit particularly hard on species whose organisms were highly dependent on oxygen.
The scientist also points out that the new findings reinforce the fact that mass extinction events on Earth are caused by massive climate changes on the planet.
“Environmental changes such as global warming and deoxygenation events can lead to mass extinctions of animals and profound ecosystem degradation and remodeling.”
However, what caused the drop in oxygen is still up for debate. “The short answer to how this happened is that we don’t really know. Volcanic eruptions, tectonic plate movement, an asteroid impact, etc. could be any number and combination, but what we’re seeing is endangered animals appearing to respond to the reduction in global oxygen availability,” he explained. .
source: Noticias
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.