It happened 550 million years ago.. A study reveals the causes of the first known extinction on Earth
A recent study announced that the first known case of mass extinction on Earth occurred in the Ediacaran period, which scientists are likely to have been between 540-635 million years ago. It has existed on Earth for 550 million years.
An acute lack of oxygen is the main cause of the first mass extinction event
All known extinctions are the result of major climate changes
The high risk of the impact of global warming and climate change on the proportion of oxygen, water and life on Earth
The study was conducted by geobiologists at Virginia Tech, and led by Scott Evans, a researcher in the Department of Earth Sciences, who confirmed that the first mass extinction event on Earth claimed the lives of 80% of the animals that existed at the time.
He added that this extinction included a wide range of animals, but those that needed more oxygen than others were the most affected.
The study was conducted by geobiologists at Virginia Tech, and led by Scott Evans, a researcher in the Department of Earth Sciences, who confirmed that the first mass extinction event on Earth claimed the lives of 80% of the animals that existed at the time.
He added that this extinction included a wide range of animals, but those that needed more oxygen than others were the most affected.
Where a group of different reasons can lead to this severe shortage, from volcanic eruptions to violent movement of tectonic plates or the impact of external asteroids, and others.
Regardless of the main cause of the first mass extinction, this study raises the alarm strongly, as recent data announced that the acute lack of oxygen as a result of global warming affects living organisms and the proportion of fresh water and its ability to retain the oxygen necessary for the survival of life in the water.
Therefore, the study confirms that the first case of mass extinction is similar to other cases that occurred on the surface of the earth, as it came due to a very large climate change, which raises the degree of risk of the current climate crisis to the lives of animals and humans as well.
There are 5 known major mass extinctions in the history of animals, the first of which occurred in the Ediacaran period, the second in the late Devonian period 370 million years ago, then the Permian-Triassic extinction 250 million years ago, the Triassic-Jurassic extinction 200 million years ago and finally the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction 200 million years ago. 65 million years.
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