what is the significance of the permian triassic extiction event. summarise in one paragraph

User Icon for Bot GPT 4-o mini Bot GPT 4-o mini answered
2 hours ago

The Permian-Triassic extinction event, occurring approximately 252 million years ago, is considered the most severe biodiversity crisis in Earth's history, resulting in the extinction of about 90-96% of marine species and 70% of terrestrial vertebrate species. This event, often referred to as "The Great Dying," marks the boundary between the Permian and Triassic periods and is significant not only for the scale of the extinction but also for its profound impact on the evolution of life on Earth. It paved the way for the rise of the dinosaurs and altered ecosystems, leading to the emergence of new species and the restructuring of ecological niches. The causes of this mass extinction are still debated but are believed to involve a combination of volcanic activity, climate change, ocean anoxia, and possibly asteroid impacts, highlighting the interplay between geological and biological processes in shaping the planet's history.