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How might Pangea’s formation have contributed to the Permian mass extinction?
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paleogeography
Watch a time-lapse of Earth changing through geologic time, from the Cambrian Era to the projected period of Pangea Proxima.
The formation of the supercontinent Pangea is considered a significant factor in the Permian mass extinction, particularly regarding marine life. Its assembly contributed to this crisis through several paleogeographic and climatic shifts:12
- Loss of Habitat: As continental plates collided to form Pangea, extensive shallow-water marine basins—the primary habitat for most marine invertebrates—were destroyed, drastically reducing available living space.12
- Ocean Circulation: The configuration of the supercontinent acted as a barrier, inhibiting cold polar waters from circulating into the tropics. This lack of circulation is thought to have reduced dissolved oxygen levels in warm-water habitats, creating hostile conditions for marine species.1
- Climatic Alteration: The assembly of Pangea closed low-latitude seaways and deflected warm surface ocean currents toward higher latitudes. Additionally, the creation of massive mountain ranges during continental collisions disrupted atmospheric flow, contributing to widespread arid and hot climates that stressed both terrestrial and marine ecosystems.34
While these factors played a role, some scientists note that Pangea was largely assembled by the first half of the Permian, whereas the most severe extinctions occurred during the final 15 million years of the period.2