Marine Ecosystems
The end-Permian extinction, which occurred 252 million years ago, eliminated over 80 percent of marine species, yet many ocean ecosystems maintained complex structures with top predators surviving. A new study of seven global marine sites reveals that despite severe losses, five ecosystems retained at least four trophic levels. This suggests ecosystems' resilience depends on their unique species compositions, offering insights for modern climate threats.
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A trove of over 30,000 fossils unearthed on Spitsbergen reveals that ocean ecosystems rebounded swiftly following Earth's worst mass extinction. Just three million years after the event, complex food chains with large predatory reptiles thrived in ancient seas. The discovery challenges long-held views of a gradual recovery process.