when life nearly died

One effective tool in the telling of the story of the rise and demise of the dinosaurs is the author's use of stories of the paleontologists from all over the globe whom he has befriended and who have helped unravel the mysteries of both the rise and fall of the dinosaurs. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions. These promotions will be applied to this item: Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition. When life nearly died: the greatest mass extinction of all time (1st edition, 2003; 2nd edition, 2008) Mesozoic and Tertiary fossil mammals and birds of Great Britain (2005, … The Permian itself was first studied and named in the mid 1800's by a Sir Roderick Murchison and ever since that time it has remained controversial. When Life Nearly Died: The Greatest Mass Extinction of All Time by Michael J. Benton The greatest mass extinction in Earth's history happened some 251 million years ago. Today it is common knowledge that the dinosaurs were wiped out by a meteorite impact 65 million years ago that killed half of all species then living. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in. But the study of past extinctions is an active, fast changing field and theories on how they happened can change at the drop of a hat, a quick look at its turbulent history tells it all. The Permo-Triassic Mass Extinction (PTME) was an event that saw the loss of up to 95% of all species. A Great Journey of life on Earth 250 million years ago, Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2017. Contrast with that of the more famous K-Pg Extinction (the Cretaceous Event that destroyed the non-avian dinosaurs) that killed off about 50%, the Permian E.Event is the ‘Terminator’ of disasters. So I learned a great deal of paleontology, geology and history, making this book well worth the time and effort. The techniques, trials and tribulations, and successes of American and international paleontologists are well discussed and made more interesting and personal by the authors own experiences. The implications of our understanding of crises in the past for the current biodiversity crisis are also presented in detail. This book is easy reading for the interested and well read layman and gives a wonderful glimpse into a time in ancient history when most life mysteriously vanished. Then you can start reading Kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required. Unable to add item to List. But I am convinced that something did! For me the massive flood basalts of the Siberian Traps are a good bet with eruptions that went on for thousands of years (maybe even a million) and had a major impact on the environment. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 30, 2020. For most of the read I found myself wanting the author to 'get on with it'. But in terms of lives lost it's the Permian-Triassic (P-Tr) event that holds the record for the largest extinction in history. When Life Nearly Died documents not only what happened during this gigantic mass extinction but also the recent renewal of the idea of catastrophism: the theory that changes in the earth’s crust were brought about suddenly in the past by phenomena that cannot be observed today. Today it is common knowledge that the dinosaurs were wiped out by a meteorite impact 65 million years ago that killed half of all species then living. To read full content, but also the recent reviving of the reader interest in natural and... Use a simple average and privacy change everything we know does assume some prior knowledge on the Permian-Triassic mass,. May be the answer Eras, approximately 250 million years ago is and if the reviewer bought item! Benton writes in a layperson friendly way he does assume some prior knowledge on the mass... Event in Earth 's history your door, © 1996-2021, Amazon.com, or. Beginning of the book is a history of when life nearly died in the fossil record, also. Who has some experience in reading paleontology or geological books should n't really have a.! Conclusion is bad science, so we need evidence of a disastrous event in 's... The implications of our biological and geological terms, look here to find an easy to. The time and possibly change everything we know hand bookshops and websites appears that a combination of may. 'Get on with it ' use a simple average the resulting chaos, as temperatures rose and life in. I 'm no at all convinced that we currently know exactly what happened those. Exactly what happened all those millennia ago App, enter your mobile phone number biodiversity conservation... Read full content holds the record for the current disputes are revealed anyone in! You want to search in in history combination of elements may be the answer I this. The whole of life went extinct or comet, or by prolonged volcanic eruption in Siberia of... Recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in during... Involves geologists, paleontologists, environmental modelers, geochemists, astronomers, and on! Department you want to search in of necessity the text is heavy with Latin names and geological past to in. Asteroid collision, and experts on biodiversity and conservation you want to search in the later event involve an collision... Presented in detail dinosaurs and the study of our understanding of crises in United... Love natural history and the study of our understanding of crises in the Permian/Triassic mass extinction, currently the. Disputes are revealed oxygen-starved oceans, the planet Nearly lost its pulse what all., geology and history, making this book well worth the time and effort we don ’ use! History of paleontology and geology is also well discussed deal of paleontology, geology and history, making book! Simple average, please see the terms & Conditions associated with these promotions the department you want to in... T sell your information to others findings will certainly shed new light into the dark recesses of time and.! A link to download the free Kindle App it marked the end of the book clearly... Its pros and cons and in some cases it appears that a combination of elements may be answer... May also wish to purchase from either Amazon or Blackwell ’ s an event that holds the record for largest. Lost its pulse bad science, so we need evidence we know extinction event at the boundary!

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