Final answer:
The mass extinctions at the end of the Devonian, Triassic, and Cretaceous periods each had significant impacts on faunas. The Devonian extinction primarily affected marine life, the Triassic event allowed dinosaurs to become dominant, and the Cretaceous extinction led to their demise. The Permian extinction had the highest species loss overall.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question is regarding the impact of different mass extinction events on animal faunas throughout Earth's history. Specifically, it touches on the Devonian, Triassic, and Cretaceous periods. To address these points:
- A. The end of the Devonian period did not result in an increase in the number of Cambrian faunas; instead, it mostly affected marine species.
- B. The event at the end of the Cretaceous period resulted in a decrease in diversity, including the extinction of the dinosaurs, not an increase in Paleozoic faunas.
- C. The Triassic period's end resulted in a significant extinction, though it was not the period with the fewest extinctions.
- D. The extinction at the end of the Cretaceous period was indeed one of the most significant, marking the end of the dinosaurs, but the Permian extinction had a higher percentage of species loss.
Overall, while all the mass extinctions had a significant impact on Earth’s biodiversity, the Permian extinction was the most severe in terms of percentage loss of species.