Mass Extinction
Mass Extinction
A mass extinction is defined as a loss of about 3/4 of all species in existence across the Earth over a 'short' period of time.
'Short' is defined as anything less than 2.8 million years of event.
There were 5 mass extinctions that have swept our planet, known as;
THE BIG FIVE
Mass Extinction : What we need to know?
Event: When it happened?
Trigger: What caused the extinction?
Aftermath: Who is the winners & the losers?
The Big Five Events
Ordovician: 445 MYA
Devonian: 340 MYA
Permian: 250 MYA
Triassic: 200 MYA
Cretaceous: 65 MYA
1. ORDOVICIAN : 445 Million Years Ago
"The Double Punch"
1. ORDOVICIAN : 445 Million Years Ago
Aftermath:
Trigger:
Global Glaciation & Rapid Warming Period
Results:
- Coastal areas destroyed.
- Chemical reactions affected by cold climate.
Death rate:
The Losers:
- Most trilobite species, many corals and several brachiopods.
The Winners:
- Sea sponges
2. DEVONIAN : 340 Million Years Ago
"The Long Road to Oblivion"
2. DEVONIAN : 340 Million Years Ago
Aftermath:
Trigger:
20 millions years of Global Glaciation, Volcanic & Asteroid
Results:
- Local destruction from volcanic and asteroid debris.
- Ocean life affected by temperature.
Death rate:
The Losers:
- More trilobite species, many corals and armored fish known as placoderm.
The Winners:
- Tetrapod; four-limbed animals (the world first land species evolved from the sea into earliest reptiles and amphibians)
3. PERMIAN : 250 Million Years Ago
"The Gigantic One"
3. PERMIAN : 250 Million Years Ago
Aftermath:
Trigger:
Widespread Volcanic Activity across Siberia
Results:
- Oxygen depleted from oceans.
- Desertification of land: Forest destroyed, wildfires.
- Shredding of the ozone layer, deadly ultraviolet radiation.
Death rate:
The Losers:
- Many amphibians and most predators of their day.
The Winners:
- Several fungus, that fed off decaying animals.
- Bottom-of-the-food-chain animals (earliest dinosaurs) and mammals.
4. TRIASSIC : 200 Million Years Ago
"History Nearly Repeats"
4. TRIASSIC : 200 Million Years Ago
Aftermath:
Trigger:
Massive Volcanic Activity in the Atlantic Ocean
Results:
- Act like an echo from the previous gigantic Permian disaster.
- Oxygen depleted from oceans.
- Desertification of land and frequent heat waves.
Death rate:
The Losers:
- Many reptiles and amphibians.
The Winners:
- The dinosaurs.
The beginning of the Jurassic World's long reign on Earth.
5. CRETACIOUS : 65 Million Years Ago
"The Famous One. Really Made an Impact"
Aftermath:
Trigger:
Asteroid Impact near Mexico & Massive Volcanic Activity in India
Results:
- Post-asteroid disaster ("Nuclear winter"); cold climate, heat wave, poisonous air.
- Plants disrupted by global ash cloud.
- The Earth was in darkness for several years.
Death rate:
The Losers:
- The dinosaurs.
The Winners:
- The mammals and some surviving branch of dinosaur, better known as birds and crocodiles.
- And eventually the humans, took advantage.
5. CRETACIOUS : 65 Million Years Ago
The Sixth
Mass Extinction
The Big Five Six Events
Ordovician: 445 MYA
Devonian: 340 MYA
Permian: 250 MYA
Triassic: 200 MYA
Cretaceous: 65 MYA
Holocene: Current
6. HOLOCENE : Current & Ongoing
"It is a Mass Extinction in the Making"
Aftermath:
Trigger:
Human @ The Current Global Super Predator, Climate & Disease
Results:
- Massive killing of many species including own species.
- Introduction of dangerous pathogen, viruses and man made wars.
- Destruction and fragmentation of habitat.
Death rate:
The Losers:
6. HOLOCENE : Current & Ongoing
Massive wildfire and deforestation that left nothing on Earth to burn, coal was formed for humans to mine.
The huge and gigantic dinosaurs died out on land and at sea, oil & gas was formed to be explored.
The Earth was prepared for humans to live and prosper
The meteorites brought more iron to the planet's surface.
Al-Hadid: 57:25 “…And we sent down iron, in it (there is) great strength and benefit to humanity…”
