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Significance Mass extinctions are well recognized as significant steps in the evolutionary trajectory of life on this planet. Here, we document the oldest known extinction of animals and test for… Click to show full abstract
Significance Mass extinctions are well recognized as significant steps in the evolutionary trajectory of life on this planet. Here, we document the oldest known extinction of animals and test for potential causes. Our results indicate that, like younger diversity crises, this event was caused by major shifts in environmental conditions. Particularly, we find support for decreased global oxygen availability as the mechanism responsible for this extinction. This suggests that abiotic controls have had significant impacts on diversity patterns throughout the more than 570-My history of animals on this planet.
Journal Title: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Year Published: 2022
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