Question

causes of mass extinction
for each of the following mass extinction events, match the reasoning for that event.
period mass extinction cause
empty box 70% of marine invertebrates empty box devonian ordovician
empty box hardest hit species were marine invertebrates and coral empty box permian triassic
empty box 90% of all species empty box cretaceous excess levels of carbon dioxide because of continental drift
empty box nearly half of all species, especially ferns and corals empty box bolide event bolide event or colder temperatures due to continental drift
empty box nearly 50% of all species including dinosaurs and reptiles empty box colder temps due to continental drift

Explanation:

To solve this mass extinction matching problem, we use knowledge of geological periods and their associated extinction causes:

1. Ordovician Extinction

• Mass Extinction: 70% of marine invertebrates
• Cause: Colder temps due to continental drift (glaciation events related to continental movement caused cooling, impacting marine life).
• Period: Ordovician

2. Devonian Extinction

• Mass Extinction: Hardest hit species were marine invertebrates and coral
• Cause: Excess levels of carbon dioxide because of continental drift (changes in ocean circulation/atmosphere from continental movement increased CO₂, harming marine ecosystems).
• Period: Devonian

3. Permian Extinction

• Mass Extinction: 90% of all species (most severe extinction)
• Cause: Bolide event or colder temperatures due to continental drift (multiple factors, including possible bolide impacts and climate change from continental movement, caused extreme biodiversity loss).
• Period: Permian

4. Triassic Extinction

• Mass Extinction: Nearly half of all species, especially ferns and corals
• Cause: Colder temps due to continental drift (continental movement altered climate, affecting these species).
• Period: Triassic

5. Cretaceous Extinction

• Mass Extinction: Nearly 50% of all species including dinosaurs and reptiles
• Cause: Bolide event (asteroid impact is the primary theory for dinosaur extinction).
• Period: Cretaceous

Final Matches (in order of mass extinctions listed):

1. Period: Ordovician; Mass Extinction: 70% of marine invertebrates; Cause: Colder temps due to continental drift
2. Period: Devonian; Mass Extinction: Hardest hit species were marine invertebrates and coral; Cause: Excess levels of carbon dioxide because of continental drift
3. Period: Permian; Mass Extinction: 90% of all species; Cause: Bolide event or colder temperatures due to continental drift
4. Period: Triassic; Mass Extinction: Nearly half of all species, especially ferns and corals; Cause: Colder temps due to continental drift
5. Period: Cretaceous; Mass Extinction: Nearly 50% of all species including dinosaurs and reptiles; Cause: Bolide event

Answer:

To solve this mass extinction matching problem, we use knowledge of geological periods and their associated extinction causes:

1. Ordovician Extinction

• Mass Extinction: 70% of marine invertebrates
• Cause: Colder temps due to continental drift (glaciation events related to continental movement caused cooling, impacting marine life).
• Period: Ordovician

2. Devonian Extinction

• Mass Extinction: Hardest hit species were marine invertebrates and coral
• Cause: Excess levels of carbon dioxide because of continental drift (changes in ocean circulation/atmosphere from continental movement increased CO₂, harming marine ecosystems).
• Period: Devonian

3. Permian Extinction

• Mass Extinction: 90% of all species (most severe extinction)
• Cause: Bolide event or colder temperatures due to continental drift (multiple factors, including possible bolide impacts and climate change from continental movement, caused extreme biodiversity loss).
• Period: Permian

4. Triassic Extinction

• Mass Extinction: Nearly half of all species, especially ferns and corals
• Cause: Colder temps due to continental drift (continental movement altered climate, affecting these species).
• Period: Triassic

5. Cretaceous Extinction

• Mass Extinction: Nearly 50% of all species including dinosaurs and reptiles
• Cause: Bolide event (asteroid impact is the primary theory for dinosaur extinction).
• Period: Cretaceous

Final Matches (in order of mass extinctions listed):

1. Period: Ordovician; Mass Extinction: 70% of marine invertebrates; Cause: Colder temps due to continental drift
2. Period: Devonian; Mass Extinction: Hardest hit species were marine invertebrates and coral; Cause: Excess levels of carbon dioxide because of continental drift
3. Period: Permian; Mass Extinction: 90% of all species; Cause: Bolide event or colder temperatures due to continental drift
4. Period: Triassic; Mass Extinction: Nearly half of all species, especially ferns and corals; Cause: Colder temps due to continental drift
5. Period: Cretaceous; Mass Extinction: Nearly 50% of all species including dinosaurs and reptiles; Cause: Bolide event