Question

As opposed to background extinction, a mass extinction typically refers to the loss of many groups of organisms over a broad geographic range. Which mass extinction in Earth's geological history was the most devastating for the marine families?

Answer 1

The most devastating mass extinction event for marine families was the Late Permian mass extinction, eliminating about 96% of marine species due to volcanic activity and subsequent anoxia in the oceans.

Step-by-step explanation:

Throughout Earth's geological history, there have been five major mass extinctions that have had significant impacts on both terrestial and marine biodiversity. The most devastating event for marine families was the Late Permian mass extinction, occurring approximately 250 million years ago. This event wiped out an estimated 96% of all marine species and 70% of terrestrial species. The causes of this extinction are believed to be linked to extensive volcanic activity that led to global warming and oceanic anoxia, suffocating marine life. Recovery from this event was slow; it took around 30 million years for terrestrial tetrapod diversity to recover, signifying the enormity of this extinction event in altering Earth's biological makeup.