The Big Five mass extinction events following the Cambrian Period are significant events in Earth's history that greatly impacted biodiversity. Here they are:
End-Ordovician Extinction (around 445 million years ago):
- This event occurred during the Ordovician period and is one of the first of the "Big Five" extinctions.
- It is thought to have been caused by a series of glaciations and possibly by a drop in sea levels.
- Around 85% of marine species went extinct, particularly those living in shallow waters.
Late Devonian Extinction (around 375-360 million years ago):
- This extinction event happened during the Late Devonian period.
- Causes are not entirely clear, but factors such as climate change, volcanic activity, and anoxia (oxygen depletion) in the oceans have been proposed.
- It significantly affected marine life, with around 70% of species going extinct, including many coral species and jawless fish.
End-Permian Extinction (around 252 million years ago):
- Also known as the "Great Dying," this is the most severe mass extinction in Earth's history.
- It marked the boundary between the Permian and Triassic periods.
- Causes include massive volcanic eruptions, possibly leading to climate change and ocean acidification.
- Approximately 96% of marine species and 70% of terrestrial vertebrate species went extinct.
End-Triassic Extinction (around 201 million years ago):
- This extinction event occurred at the end of the Triassic period.
- Likely caused by a combination of flood basalt eruptions, climate change, and possibly an asteroid impact.
- Around 70% of terrestrial species and a significant portion of marine life disappeared.
End-Cretaceous Extinction (around 66 million years ago):
- One of the most famous extinctions, marking the end of the Mesozoic Era and the dinosaurs.
- Likely caused by a massive asteroid impact (Chicxulub impact), which resulted in widespread wildfires, tsunamis, and climate change.
- About 75% of all species on Earth, including non-avian dinosaurs, went extinct.
These Big Five mass extinctions shaped the course of evolution by clearing ecological niches and allowing new species to evolve and diversify in the aftermath.
你要理解，最後一次，第五次大滅絕，發生在六千六百萬年前，這五次大滅絕，都是自然所為，無涉善惡，我們自作孽，親自佈署，親自指揮，親手造成的，這第六次大滅絕，則與自然無涉，純屬人為邪惡，
