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What other possible causes have scientists suggested for the end-Triassic extinction?
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Triassic Period
Distribution of landmasses, mountainous regions, shallow seas, and deep ocean basins during the early Triassic Period. Included in the paleogeographic reconstruction are the locations of the interval's subduction zones.
While intense volcanic activity associated with the rifting of the supercontinent Pangea is widely considered the most likely cause of the end-Triassic extinction, scientists have proposed several other contributing factors and alternative theories:12
- Methane Release: Some researchers suggest that initial global warming caused by carbon dioxide could have triggered the release of massive amounts of methane trapped in permafrost and undersea ice. As a potent greenhouse gas, this methane would have significantly accelerated atmospheric warming.1
- Extraterrestrial Impact: Other scientists maintain that the extinction was triggered by the impact of an extraterrestrial body, such as an asteroid or comet.1
- Sea Level and Climatic Changes: Some paleontologists argue that shifts in sea level and associated anoxia, combined with broader climatic change, were the primary drivers of the event.2
- Gradual Turnover: A minority of experts argue that the event was not a sudden mass extinction but rather a prolonged, gradual turnover of species over a significant period of time.1