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The Earth's largest mass extinction coincides with _____ in Siberia.

a) The Permian-Triassic boundary
b) The Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary
c) The Triassic-Jurassic boundary
d) The Silurian-Devonian boundary

User PLA
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Final answer:

The Earth's largest mass extinction corresponds to the Permian-Triassic boundary, which was likely caused by significant volcanic activity in Siberia, leading to drastic changes in the environment and the extinction of a vast majority of species.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Earth's largest mass extinction coincides with volcanic activity in Siberia, which is correctly associated with the Permian-Triassic boundary. This event marked the largest extinction in Earth's history, with estimates suggesting that 96 percent of all marine species and 70 percent of terrestrial species perished. The extinction significantly impacted biodiversity and influenced the course of evolution, taking about 30 million years for terrestrial tetrapod diversity to recover. Extended and widespread volcanic activity is the leading suspect for this event, causing a runaway global-warming scenario and anoxic oceans that were lethal to marine life.

While other mass extinctions occurred at different geological boundaries, such as the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary, known for the end of dinosaurs and the rise of mammals, and the Triassic-Jurassic boundary, characterized by the extinction of 25-30% of marine species, the end-Permian extinction at the Permian-Triassic boundary stands out for its sheer magnitude and its severe impact on life on Earth.

User Diaa Saada
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