Ocean extinction event may have wiped out life on Earth 359 million years ago
Scientists discover geological evidence suggesting a catastrophic loss of oxygen in the oceans
New research challenges the long-held belief that the greatest known extinction event in Earth's history was caused by a meteorite impact.
A team of geologists from the University of California, Riverside, have discovered new evidence that suggests a catastrophic loss of oxygen in the oceans may have wiped out nearly all life on Earth 359 million years ago.
The finding, published in the journal Geology, challenges the long-held belief that the greatest known extinction event in Earth's history, known as the end-Permian extinction, was caused by a meteorite impact.
The researchers analyzed sediment samples from the Capitan Reef in west Texas, which was once part of a vast inland sea that covered much of the southwestern United States.
They found that the sediments contained high levels of a mineral called pyrite, which is formed in the absence of oxygen.
This suggests that the ocean waters in which the Capitan Reef formed were severely depleted in oxygen, which would have made it impossible for most marine life to survive.
"Our findings provide strong evidence that a catastrophic loss of oxygen in the oceans was the primary cause of the end-Permian extinction," said study lead author Peter Ward, a professor of geology at UC Riverside.
"This is a major paradigm shift in our understanding of one of the most important events in Earth's history."
The end-Permian extinction was the largest mass extinction event in Earth's history, with an estimated 96% of all marine species and 70% of all terrestrial species becoming extinct.
The cause of the extinction has been debated for decades, with some scientists arguing that it was caused by a meteorite impact, while others have suggested that it was caused by volcanic eruptions or a combination of factors.
The new research provides strong evidence in favor of the theory that a catastrophic loss of oxygen in the oceans was the primary cause of the end-Permian extinction.
This finding has implications for our understanding of the potential effects of future climate change, as well as the search for life on other planets.
If a catastrophic loss of oxygen in the oceans can cause a mass extinction event, then it is possible that a similar event could occur in the future, either as a result of natural causes or human activities.
The search for life on other planets should also take into account the possibility that a catastrophic loss of oxygen in the oceans could be a major obstacle to the development of complex life.
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