Theory and classification of mass extinction causation
Thomas J Algeo,
Jun Shen
Abstract:Theory regarding the causation of mass extinctions is in need of systematization, which is the focus of this contribution. Every mass extinction has both an ultimate cause, i.e., the trigger that leads to various climato-environmental changes, and one or more proximate cause(s), i.e., the specific climato-environmental changes that result in elevated biotic mortality. With regard to ultimate causes, strong cases can be made that bolide (i.e., meteor) impacts, large igneous province (LIP) eruptions, and bioevol… Show more
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