{"id":17741,"date":"2023-12-06T11:18:56","date_gmt":"2023-12-06T19:18:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/?p=17741"},"modified":"2023-12-06T13:16:40","modified_gmt":"2023-12-06T21:16:40","slug":"mysteries-of-ancient-mass-extinction-event-revealed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/mysteries-of-ancient-mass-extinction-event-revealed\/","title":{"rendered":"Mysteries of Earth\u2019s ancient mass extinction event revealed"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n    \n                                \n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--article-hero \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--article-hero\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n<div class=\"inner-wrapper\">\n          \n<div class=\"f--field f--image\">\n\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n              \n      <img\n                            data-src=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/12\/Extinction_Study_Top-768x432.png\"\n          data-srcset=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/12\/Extinction_Study_Top-1920x1080.png 1920w,https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/12\/Extinction_Study_Top-1280x720.png 1280w,https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/12\/Extinction_Study_Top-768x432.png 768w\"          data-sizes=\"(min-width:1200px) 75vw, (min-width:768px) 83vw, 100vw\"          class=\"lazyload\"\n        \n                  role=\"none\"\n        \n        \n                                      \/>\n\n    \n    \n  \n  \n\n<\/div>\n  \n      <div class=\"image-caption\">\n          \n<div class=\"f--field f--description\">\n\n    \n  Reconstruction of a Late Triassic ecosystem from Ghost Ranch, New Mexico. Published specimens and species preserved at Ghost Ranch were incorporated into the research team\u2019s global ecological dataset. (Illustration: Victor O. Leshyk.)\n\n\n<\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  \n  <div class=\"text-wrapper\">\n          <nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumb\" class=\"breadcrumbs\">\n        <ul>\n                      <li><a href=\"\/news\/stories\/\">News<\/a><\/li>\n                      <li><a href=\"\/news\/stories\/\/?category=student\">Student<\/a><\/li>\n                  <\/ul>\n      <\/nav>\n    \n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--page-title\">\n\n    \n  <h1>Mysteries of Earth\u2019s ancient mass extinction event revealed<\/h1>\n\n\n<\/div>\n    \n          <div class=\"subtitle\">\n            \n<div class=\"f--field f--description\">\n\n    \n  Research led by a USC Dornsife team sheds new light on the catastrophic changes resulting from a burst of greenhouse gases and rising temperatures that wiped out most life on Earth and paved the way for the rise of Jurassic dinosaurs.\n\n\n<\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    \n           <strong class=\"author-field\"><span >By<\/span><a href=\"mailto:communication@dornsife.usc.edu\">USC Dornsife News Staff<\/a><\/strong>\n    \n          <span class=\"post-date-field\">December 6, 2023<\/span>\n      <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--social-share \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--social-share\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n  <div class=\"content-wrapper\">\n    <span class=\"a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 addtoany_list\" style=\"line-height: 32px;\">\n      <span class=\"title\">\n        Share\n      <\/span>\n                        <a class=\"a2a_button_copy_link\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/#copy_link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"Link\">\n            <span class=\"a2a_svg a2a_s__default a2a_s_copy_link\">\n              <svg height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 19 19\" width=\"19\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m7.43475275 9.52380952-2.17490843 2.26076008c-1.08745421 1.058837-1.68841575 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xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m8.14285714 9.42857143c-.17142857 0-.34285714 0-.51428571.08571428l7.28571427 6.34285719c.3428572.2571428.6857143.2571428.9428572 0l7.2857142-6.34285719c-.0857142-.08571428-.2571428-.08571428-.4285714-.08571428zm-1.28571428 1.11428567v.1714286 8.5714286c0 .6857143.6 1.2857143 1.28571428 1.2857143h14.57142856c.6857143 0 1.2857143-.6 1.2857143-1.2857143v-8.5714286c0-.0857143 0-.0857143 0-.1714286l-7.2 6.3428572c-.7714286.6857143-1.8857143.6857143-2.6571429 0z\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" transform=\"translate(-6 -9)\"\/><\/svg>\n            <\/span>\n            <span class=\"a2a_label visually-hidden\">Email<\/span>\n          <\/a>\n                  <\/span>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n \n\n\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <p><a href=\"https:\/\/sustainability.usc.edu\/assignment-earth\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-16067\" src=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/07\/AE_News-Rubric-150x150.png\" alt=\"On a gold background, &quot;Asgmt Earth&quot; appears inside a black circle and &quot;USC&quot; inside a small, white circle that slightly overlaps the black circle.\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/07\/AE_News-Rubric-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/07\/AE_News-Rubric-500x500.png 500w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/07\/AE_News-Rubric-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/07\/AE_News-Rubric-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/07\/AE_News-Rubric-320x320.png 320w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/07\/AE_News-Rubric.png 1250w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>Startling new insights into the catastrophic impact of one of the most devastating events in Earth\u2019s history have been revealed by a team led by researchers with the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. More than deepening our understanding of the end-Triassic mass extinction, their findings offer critical lessons for today\u2019s environmental challenges.<\/p>\n<p>About 200 million years ago, Earth experienced its fourth major mass extinction event. Triggered by a dramatic rise in greenhouse gases due to volcanic activity, the event led to rapid global warming and a significant shift in the planet\u2019s biosphere, ending the Triassic period and launching the Jurassic. Many scientists now believe Earth is in the midst of another mass extinction, driven in large part by similar climate changes.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/earth\/\">Earth scientists at USC Dornsife<\/a> took a unique approach to analyzing the impact of this extinction event on both ocean and land ecosystems, using a novel \u201cecospace framework\u201d method that categorizes animals beyond just their species. It accounts for ecological roles and behaviors \u2014 from flying or swimming predators to grazing herbivores and from ocean seafloor invertebrates to soil-dwelling animals on land.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe wanted to understand not just who survived and who didn\u2019t, but how the roles that different species played in the ecosystem changed,\u201d said <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/profile\/david-bottjer\/\">David Bottjer<\/a>, <span class=\"person-title\">professor of Earth sciences, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/bisc\/\">biological sciences<\/a><span class=\"person-title\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/environmental-studies\/\">environmental studies<\/a><span class=\"person-title\"> at USC Dornsife and a study senior author.<\/span> \u201cThis approach helps us see the broader, interconnected ecological picture.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The study \u2014 a collaboration between students and faculty at USC Dornsife and the <a href=\"https:\/\/nhm.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County<\/a> \u2014 published today in <a href=\"https:\/\/royalsocietypublishing.org\/doi\/10.1098\/rspb.2023.2232\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Proceedings of Royal Society B<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_17743\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-17743\" style=\"width: 980px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-17743 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/12\/Extinction_Study_InStoryA.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"980\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/12\/Extinction_Study_InStoryA.png 980w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/12\/Extinction_Study_InStoryA-500x306.png 500w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/12\/Extinction_Study_InStoryA-768x470.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 980px) 100vw, 980px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-17743\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Skeleton of the early dinosaur Coelophysis bauri from the Late Triassic. The protracted restructuring of Early Jurassic terrestrial ecosystems coincided with the diversification of dinosaurs. (Image: Courtesy of Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Sea life suffered, but not as much as land animals<\/h2>\n<p>The research revealed a stark difference in the impact on marine and terrestrial ecosystems. While both realms suffered greatly, the findings suggest that land-based ecosystems were hit harder and experienced more prolonged instability.<\/p>\n<p>In the oceans, nearly 71% of categories of species, called genera, vanished. Surprisingly, despite this massive loss, the overall structure of marine ecosystems showed resilience. Predators like sharks, molluscs known as ammonites and filter feeders like sponges and brachiopods, though severely affected, eventually bounced back.<\/p>\n<p>On land, the scenario proved much bleaker. A staggering 96% of terrestrial genera went extinct, dramatically reshaping the landscape of life on Earth. Large herbivores like early dinosaurs and various small predators suffered greatly, with significant changes in their populations and roles within the ecosystem.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis contrast between land and sea tells us about the different ways ecosystems respond to catastrophic events,\u201d said co-lead author Alison Cribb, who earned her PhD in geological sciences at USC Dornsife this year and is now at University of Southampton in the U.K. \u201cIt also raises important questions about the interplay of biodiversity and ecological resilience.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>Climate change clues from ancient catastrophe<\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_17744\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-17744\" style=\"width: 441px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/12\/Mass-Extinction-Study-Graphical-Abstract.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-17744 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/12\/Mass-Extinction-Study-Graphical-Abstract-441x550.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"441\" height=\"550\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/12\/Mass-Extinction-Study-Graphical-Abstract-441x550.jpg 441w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/12\/Mass-Extinction-Study-Graphical-Abstract-821x1024.jpg 821w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/12\/Mass-Extinction-Study-Graphical-Abstract-768x958.jpg 768w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/12\/Mass-Extinction-Study-Graphical-Abstract.jpg 930w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 441px) 100vw, 441px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-17744\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Graphic representation of the study concept and findings. (Illustration: Hank Woolley.)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The study\u2019s findings spark more than just historical interest \u2014 they carry significant implications for our current environmental challenges. \u201cUnderstanding past mass extinctions helps us to predict and possibly soften the impacts of current and future environmental crises,\u201d said co-lead author <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/twitch-streaming-dinosaurs-football-video-games\/\">Kiersten Formoso<\/a>, who is finishing her doctoral studies in vertebrate paleobiology at USC Dornsife and will soon move to a position at Rutgers University.<\/p>\n<p>The parallels between the rapid global warming of the end-Triassic and today\u2019s climate change are particularly striking. \u201cWe\u2019re seeing similar patterns now \u2014 rapid climate change, loss of biodiversity. Learning how ecosystems responded in the past can inform our conservation efforts today,\u201d Bottjer said.<\/p>\n<p>The research also provides a rare window into the world as it existed over 200 million years ago, he added. \u201cIt\u2019s like a time machine, giving us a glimpse of life during a period of profound change.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The study\u2019s ecospace framework, with its focus on functional roles, offers a fresh perspective on ancient life, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/profile\/frank-corsetti\/\">Frank Corsetti<\/a>, professor of Earth sciences and chair of USC Dornsife\u2019s Department of Earth Sciences. \u201cIt\u2019s not just about identifying fossils,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s about piecing together the puzzle of ancient ecosystems and how they functioned.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>Future ventures will delve into the past\u2019s lessons<\/h2>\n<p>As they plan further research, the scientists aim to explore how different species and ecosystems recovered after the extinction, and how these ancient events can parallel current biodiversity loss due to climate change.<\/p>\n<p>Future studies are also planned to examine changes in ecospace dynamics across other periods of profound environmental change in deep time.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019ve just scratched the surface,\u201d said Cribb. \u201cThere\u2019s so much more to learn about how life on Earth responds to extreme changes, and this new ecospace framework offers great potential for helping us do that.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>Pandemic sparks unique, collaborative project<\/h2>\n<p>The study was conceived, and much of the work done, during the COVID-19 pandemic, when restrictions on many other types of research were in place, said Bottjer. \u201cThis produced unique conditions that fostered and led to development and completion of this research involving individuals with expertise across a broad variety of paleobiological fields, from microbes to invertebrates to vertebrates, in marine and terrestrial environments, with everyone working together towards one goal,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Bottjer said Cribb and Formoso initially devised the collaboration with his and Corsetti\u2019s supervision and essential contributions from the study\u2019s other co-authors.<\/p>\n<p><strong>About the study<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Researchers on the study include Cribb, Formoso, Bottjer, Corsetti, James Beech, Shannon Brophy, Victoria Cassady, Amanda Godbold, Philip-peter Maxeiner, and Ekaterina Larina (now at the University of Texas at Austin) of USC Dornsife\u2019s Department of Earth Sciences as well as C. Henrik \u201cHank\u201d Woolley, Paul Byrne, Yun-Hsin Wu of Earth sciences at USC Dornsife and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n  \n        \n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--article-related-stories \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--article-related-stories\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n  <div class=\"inner-wrapper\">\n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--section-title\">\n\n    \n  <h2>\n          Related Stories\n      <\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n    \n                  <article>\n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--cta-title\">\n\n    \n  <h3>\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/scientists-map-ocean-microbes-involved-in-carbon-cycle\/\" \n                        class=\"\" \n      >Scientists map the ocean\u2019s invisible workforce<\/a>\n      <\/h3>\n\n\n<\/div>\n        <\/article>\n              <article>\n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--cta-title\">\n\n    \n  <h3>\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/exceptional-faculty-staff-recognized-2026\/\" \n                        class=\"\" \n      >15 exceptional USC Dornsife faculty and staff recognized for excellence<\/a>\n      <\/h3>\n\n\n<\/div>\n        <\/article>\n              <article>\n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--cta-title\">\n\n    \n  <h3>\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/2025-communicator-of-the-year-award-honors-public-scholars\/\" \n                        class=\"\" \n      >USC Dornsife honors 2025 Communicators of the Year<\/a>\n      <\/h3>\n\n\n<\/div>\n        <\/article>\n            <\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Study sheds new light on the catastrophic changes resulting from a burst of greenhouse gases and rising temperatures that wiped out most life and led to the rise of Jurassic dinosaurs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":17742,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[66,159,1911,121,166,60],"class_list":["post-17741","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-student","tag-climate-change","tag-earth-sciences","tag-erth","tag-graduate","tag-paleontology","tag-research"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.1.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Mysteries of Earth\u2019s ancient mass extinction event revealed<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"New insight into catastrophic changes from rising greenhouse gases and temperatures that wiped out most life on Earth and gave rise to Jurassic dinosaurs\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, 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