Decoupled taxonomic and ecological recoveries from the Permo-Triassic extinction
In: Science Advances. AAAS: New York. ISSN 2375-2548; e-ISSN 2375-2548, more
|   |
| Authors | | Top |
- Song, H.
- Wignall, P.B.
- Dunhill, A.M.
|
|
|
| Abstract |
The Permian-Triassic mass extinction was the worst crisis faced by life; it killed >90% of marine species in less than 0.1 million years (Ma). However, knowledge of its macroecological impact over prolonged time scales is limited. We show that marine ecosystems dominated by non-motile animals shifted to ones dominated by nektonic groups after the extinction. In Triassic oceans, animals at high trophic levels recovered faster than those at lower levels. The top-down rebuilding of marine ecosystems was still underway in the latest Triassic, ~50 Ma after the extinction, and contrasts with the ~5-Ma recovery required for taxonomic diversity. The decoupling between taxonomic and ecological recoveries suggests that a process of vacant niche filling before reaching the maximum environmental carrying capacity is independent of ecosystem structure building. |
|
