Final answer:
The Permian Mass Extinction coincided with the formation of the supercontinent Pangaea, extreme climatic conditions, and a significant reduction in biodiversity. It was followed by a recovery period that gave rise to the diversification of life in the Mesozoic Era, including the evolution of the dinosaurs.
Step-by-step explanation:
Around the same time as the Permian Mass Extinction, which marked the end of the Permian Period, several significant geological and biological events took place. This period came to an end about 251 million years ago and is renowned for being the biggest mass extinction event known in Earth's history. A supercontinent called Pangaea had formed, leading to extreme temperatures and a dry climate, challenging life forms to adapt or perish. The extinction resulted in the loss of an estimated 96 percent of all marine species and 70 percent of all terrestrial species, including organisms such as the trilobites.
The leading suspect for this cataclysmic event is believed to be extended and widespread volcanic activity that contributed to a runaway global warming scenario, making oceans anoxic and suffocating marine life. The aftermath saw a significant decline in biodiversity and required millions of years for life to recover its diversity. Interestingly, the Permian extinction also paved the way for new life forms to emerge in the Mesozoic Era, including the rise of the dinosaurs.
Post-Permian, the Mesozoic Era witnessed rapid speciation and the filling in of ecological niches that were left empty by the extinction, leading to an explosive diversification of life including the dominance of dinosaurs, and the evolution of new plant communities.