Examines the mass-extinction which occurred roughly 225 million years ago, encompassing not only the pattern and causes of marine and terrestrial extinction but also the geologic, palaeoclimatic and geochemical events of the Late Permian and Early Triassic.
The world of the Permian; the great divide; the farewell symphony; pelycosaurs, pteridosperms and palaeoptera; pangea; icehouses, greenhouses and saltboxes; geochemical changes in the Permian; cycles of change; the mother of mass extinctions; aftermath and implications.
An ambitious attempt to review the broad range of physical and biological events of the late Permian and early Triassic. Erwin examines, evaluates, and synthesizes a tremendous volume of research, much of it new... [A]n invaluable reference for anyone interested in the phenomenon of mass extinction and will undoubtedly fuel many graduate seminars in the coming year. Science