The Permian Mass Extinction Introduction:Throughout history our world has undergone and experienced all kinds of changes that have shaped the world into what we see it today . The most significant events included disasters such as the extinction of organisms. Of all the extinctions, the most influential was the Permian mass extinction. During the Paleozoic era approximately eighty-five percent of living species died and became extinct due to the Permian mass extinction. This illustrates how serious an event like the Permian mass extinction actually was. Of such prodigious scope, it is important to note the consequences and results it provoked. In this case the most devastating consequence was its influence and alternation on the history of life. Furthermore, it is crucial to identify the factors responsible for causing such immense extinctions, which ultimately led to what we call the Permian mass extinction. Effects/Results: The Permian mass extinction is arguably the most destructive mass extinction of all time. However, with great destruction comes great results. Towards the end of the Permian the extinction hit hardest. During this period, almost ninety percent of marine species and approximately seventy percent of terrestrial vertebrates became extinct. As a result, many organisms and creatures have suffered. The first mass extinction involved the destruction of the coral reef organic community. The second great extinction consisted in the elimination of approximately 75% of the genera of fusulinid foraminifers. Among fusulinid organisms, the only ones to be removed were species that had different wall characteristics and those that were longer than a quarter of an inch. Inside the foraminifera there were most likely symbiotic algae living......middle of paper......undoubtedly one of the most influential events to impact the history of life. Extinction has all kinds of outcomes and consequences. It describes how the organisms and lifestyles of species are affected and altered. In most cases these changes caused by the Permian extinction typically harm the species. However, there were some animals that benefited from the huge disaster. We see this through many examples such as: fusulinids, cephalopods, trilobites, corals and therapsids. In addition to noting the effects of the Permian mass extinction, it is also critical to look at its causes. Although the true source of the death still remains unknown, we have a feeling we understand the factors associated with the Permian crises. The major influences, as it seems, most likely come from the effects of global warming and the Siberian traps of volcanic eruptions.