Scientists finally solved the mystery of Earth's greatest mass extinction

Recent research into the Permian-Triassic mass extinction provides a clearer understanding of why current marine ecosystems are dominated by mollusks like clams and snails rather than the brachiopods that thrived in earlier eras. The study indicates that the catastrophic event was triggered by rapidly warming oceans and a significant reduction in oxygen levels, which disproportionately affected organisms with less efficient metabolisms and specific physical traits. As environmental conditions shifted, only those species with higher metabolic capacities and adaptations suitable for low-oxygen environments were able to survive. This selective pressure fundamentally restructured marine biodiversity, leading to the dominance of modern Bivalves and Gastropods. By analyzing the fossil record through the lens of physiological adaptation, researchers have established a connection between ancient extinction events and modern ecological shifts, suggesting that today's rapidly changing climate could impose similar selective pressures on marine life, potentially favoring fast-moving, high-metabolism species over those less resilient to thermal and hypoxic stress.