A new study has shed light on how ancient plant ecosystems recovered from the End-Permian mass extinction, Earth’s most catastrophic extinction event. Researchers analyzed fossilized plants from Australia’s Sydney Basin and found that the recovery process was slow and turbulent, shaped by extreme climate shifts.
The End-Permian extinction, which occurred 252 million years ago, wiped out over 80% of marine species and vast numbers of terrestrial organisms. However, the response of land-based ecosystems has been less understood until now.
The study, published in GSA Bulletin, reveals that conifers were among the first plants to recolonize the devastated landscape after the extinction event. However, their dominance was short-lived due to a period of intense global warming known as the Late Smithian Thermal Maximum.
This heatwave caused temperatures to spike, leading to another collapse of vegetation. Tough, shrubby plants resembling modern club mosses took over, adapting to the scorching conditions. The heatwave lasted around 700,000 years, making it nearly impossible for large trees to thrive.
A new wave of plant life emerged during a cooling phase known as the Smithian-Spathian Event, which saw the rise of seed ferns. These unusual plants helped stabilize ecosystems, paving the way for the lush forests of the Mesozoic era that later supported the age of the dinosaurs.
The study challenges the idea that nature simply “bounces back” after disasters. Instead, it suggests that extinction is forever and can have long-term ecological shifts. The research highlights the importance of conservation efforts, particularly in preserving plant diversity and stability.
The findings also have relevance to today’s climate crisis. Earth is currently undergoing rapid climate change, driven by human activity, with temperature increases resembling those seen during the End-Permian period. The study suggests that once these systems are severely disrupted, recovery takes millions of years.
Source: https://dailygalaxy.com/2025/03/ancient-fossils-reveal-about-apocalypse