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End of Permian Extinction--The largest extinction of all time

• The Permo-Triassic Extinction, University of Bristol, Department of Earth Sciences. Excellent site with a paleontological overview, evidence for extinction, information concerning the species that went extinct, and good discussions of five theories (volcanism, impact, climate change, formation of the supercontinent, glaciation) for the cause of the mass extinction. Each of the theory sections explains how that theory could cause a mass extinction, what evidence supports the theory, and opposing views to that theory.
• Extinction Files, BBC. Short explanation of mass extinctions, their cause and effect, and a discussion of the Permian extinction.
• The Permian Mass Extinction, Hannover Park. Fast facts, a summary of the geologic setting, and brief discussion of the most common theories (glaciation, vulcanism, and continent collisions) for the causes of the largest extinction of all time.
• The Permian-Triassic Mass Extinction, Geocities. Excellent but slightly technical site summarizes the evidence for a mass extinction at the end of the Permian. Marine, land-plant, and land-animal extinctions are summarized. Evidence for biostratrigraphic and stable isotope (carbon, oxygen, strontium) changes are also discussed, as are rates of extinction. Ocean anoxia and vulcanism are inferred to be the primary causes of the extinction event at this site.
• When Life Nearly Came to an End, National Geographic. Short description of article about the end-of-Permian extinction, with a picture gallery and a map of the supercontinent Pangea.
• Wikipedia. Good summary of different theories for the Permian-Triassic extinction, including a bolide impact, plate tectonics-continental collision, supernova, and increased vulcanism.
• The Day the Earth Nearly Died, BBC Science. Summary of the theory that increased vulcanism in the Siberian Traps (the largest volcanic outpouring of all time) and subsequent climate change was the primary cause of the end-of-Permian extinction.
• Extinction by Lava, ABC News. News article summarizing the theory that increased vulcanism in the Siberian Traps (the largest volcanic outpouring of all time) was the primary cause of the end-of-Permian extinction.
• Mass Extinction from Methane Explosion, Discovery Channel News. Nontechnical synopsis of research article that interprets carbon isotope data as indicating the end-Permian extinction was caused by a giant methane outburst from gas hydrates in the ocean. Research into the idea that methane is a prime suspect for the greatest mass extinction of all time are increasingly common.
• Boost to CO2 mass extinction. BBC News. Summary of data suggesting that global warming may have accompanied the end-Permian mass extinction.
• Rocks Reveal Details of Mass Destruction, Lee Siegel. News article summarizing the theory that an impact may have caused the Permian extinction. At the same site is the summary of another space theory (less known) for the extinction, that dark matter may have been the cause.

 

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