Fossil Discovery in China Reveals 'Life Oasis' During Earth's Worst Mass Extinction
A study finds that a region in the Turpan-Hami Basin preserved plant and animal life, challenging assumptions about the end-Permian extinction's impact on land ecosystems.
- The Turpan-Hami Basin in Xinjiang, China, served as a refugium for plants and animals during the end-Permian mass extinction 252 million years ago.
- Fossil evidence shows that coniferous forests and fern fields thrived in this region for 160,000 years before and after the extinction event, with only a 21% extinction rate for spore and pollen species.
- The region's stable, semi-humid climate and consistent rainfall created conditions for rapid ecological recovery, supporting a diverse food web including herbivorous Lystrosaurus and carnivorous chroniosuchians within 75,000 years post-extinction.
- The findings challenge the prevailing belief that terrestrial ecosystems suffered catastrophic losses similar to marine environments during the extinction, suggesting pockets of resilience existed.
- Researchers highlight the importance of identifying and protecting natural refuges today as the planet faces a potential sixth mass extinction driven by human activity.
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