2. The Terminal Permian Extinction Greatest mass extinction ever Greatest mass extinction ever 90-95% of marine taxa 90-95% of marine taxa Approximately 70% of terrestrial taxa Approximately 70% of terrestrial taxa Multiple hypotheses regarding cause Multiple hypotheses regarding cause If it happened once, it could happen again! If it happened once, it could happen again! Modern day mass extinction Modern day mass extinction

3. The “Great Dying” 90 - 95% of all marine organisms 90 - 95% of all marine organisms Trilobites Trilobites Rugose and Tabulate Corals Rugose and Tabulate Corals Fusilinid Foraminifera Fusilinid Foraminifera Acanthodian and Placoderm Fish Acanthodian and Placoderm Fish Blastoids Blastoids Many crinoids and other echinoderms Many crinoids and other echinoderms Most brachiopods Most brachiopods Most eurypterids Most eurypterids Many bryozoans Many bryozoans Many ammonoid cephalopods Many ammonoid cephalopods

4. Permian Paradise

5. The “Morning After” Fauna

6. Before and After

7. The “Great Dying” Approx. 70% of all terrestrial organisms Approx. 70% of all terrestrial organisms Many groups of amphibians Many groups of amphibians Therapsid “mammal-like” reptiles Therapsid “mammal-like” reptiles Includes Pelycosaurs Forests! Forests!

8. The “Great Dying”

9. Why did this happen? Effects of Pangea Effects of Pangea Loss of shallow shelves Loss of shallow shelves Climate change: warming and drying Climate change: warming and drying Melting ice cap changes ocean circulation Melting ice cap changes ocean circulation Oceanic stratification Oceanic stratification Deep ocean anoxia and incursion on shelves Deep ocean anoxia and incursion on shelves Volcanism – Siberian traps Volcanism – Siberian traps

10. Is anybody happy about this? Survivors and Lazarus taxa Survivors and Lazarus taxa Ecological opportunity: jobs to fill! Ecological opportunity: jobs to fill! Adaptive radiation Adaptive radiation Beginnings of modern-appearing marine communities Beginnings of modern-appearing marine communities Niches vacated by amphibians are filled by reptiles Niches vacated by amphibians are filled by reptiles Reptiles are better adapted to dry climates Reptiles are better adapted to dry climates Enter the dinosaurs Enter the dinosaurs