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http://www.oregonlive.com/enter/index.ssf?/science/oregonian/index.ssf%3f/base/science/1062590337326170.xml
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Researchers taking the pulse of Earth's worst mass extinction 250 million years ago say they have diagnosed the ailment that doomed most animals: altitude sickness
The new theory on mass extinction proposes that a sudden drop in oxygen levels in the Earth's oceans may have been the primary cause of the mass extinction event that occurred 252 million years ago.
The theory is based on the analysis of fossilized rocks from the Permian-Triassic boundary, which show a significant decrease in ocean oxygen levels. Additionally, the sudden extinction of marine animals that rely on oxygen, such as shellfish and fish, further supports this theory.
This theory differs from previous theories that proposed volcanic eruptions or asteroid impacts as the cause of the mass extinction. While those events may have played a role, this new theory suggests that the decrease in oxygen levels was the main driving force.
Oxygen is essential for many forms of marine life to survive. A sudden drop in oxygen levels would have caused widespread suffocation and death of marine animals, leading to a collapse of the ocean's food chain and ultimately resulting in mass extinction.
If this new theory is proven to be true, it could provide a better understanding of how environmental changes, such as changes in oxygen levels, can lead to mass extinction events. This could also have implications for current environmental issues, such as ocean deoxygenation, and the potential effects on marine life.