THE BIOLOGICAL CRISIS : Paleontological and geological evidences

Abstract

The investigateions of (Botha-Brink et al., 2016) on the role of life history traits in survival during mass extinctions, focusing on the Permo-Triassic transition. Their research indicates that changes in developmental strategies may have influenced the resilience of certain species, revealing that not all taxa are equally affected by environmental stressors. This highlights the need to consider biological traits alongside ecological factors when assessing extinction risks. (Vakulenko et al., 2017) examine the relationship between climatic fluctuations and extinction in a conceptual ecosystem model. Their findings assert that major environmental changes often accompany mass extinctions, reinforcing the idea that ecosystems can be pushed beyond their resilience limits. This work emphasizes the importance of understanding stability thresholds in the context of biodiversity loss. The modeling study by (Thomas and Oberle, 2019) delves into the biological impacts of ozone depletion during the end-Permian. Their analysis underscores the multi- faceted nature of extinction events, where atmospheric changes and climate simulations reveal critical insights into the mechanisms driving mass extinctions. This research adds depth to the understanding of how environmental changes can precipitate widespread biodiversity loss.