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Imagine standing in a prehistoric landscape, surrounded by trees that resemble none you’ve ever seen. Instead of towering pines or red-leafed maples, you find yourself among trees with tongue-shaped leaves, known as glossopteris. This is your first clue that you are in Gondwana, during the Permian period, just before one of the most catastrophic events in Earth’s history: the Great Dying.
The Calm Before the Storm
As you take in the damp, lush environment of what will someday be the Kuu Basin of South Africa, you can sense that tranquility won’t last long. The landscape is dotted with horsetails and ferns, while meandering rivers and ephemeral streams weave through the floodplain. However, lurking in the distance are strange creatures—a large, stocky animal that resembles a small hippo. As they approach, you notice their tusk-like canine teeth and turtle-like beaks, identifying them as lystrosaurus, a distant relative of mammals.
Impending Catastrophe
Meanwhile, far to the north in what is now Siberia, a massive volcanic event is about to unfold. This cataclysm will last for hundreds of thousands of years, spewing enough lava to cover an area nearly the size of Europe. As the eruptions burn through coal deposits, enormous amounts of carbon and other greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere. The result? A dramatic rise in global temperatures, where ocean temperatures could reach a scorching 40°C, leading to anoxic conditions that will wipe out approximately 90% of marine species and up to 70% of terrestrial vertebrates.
The Great Dying
This event, known as the Great Dying, represents the most significant mass extinction in Earth’s history. While some creatures like lystrosaurus will survive, many will not. The ancestors of dinosaurs and even the early mammals will need to navigate this treacherous landscape filled with challenges and dangers.
Survival Strategies
As we delve deeper into this ancient world, we must consider what it would take for a human to survive in such an environment. Would we thrive or perish? The late Permian atmosphere contained about 15% oxygen compared to today’s 21%, making it breathable but challenging. It would feel akin to high-altitude conditions, potentially leading to altitude sickness.
Climate and Environmental Hazards
The climate during this period is generally warm with strong monsoonal regimes, but it also presents significant challenges. The unequal distribution of moisture and temperature extremes could lead to droughts and water shortages. If we were to arrive during the monsoon season, we might find ample water sources. However, if we arrived in the winter, we could face dire shortages.
The Extinction Event
As we explore the various hypotheses surrounding the Great Dying, volcanism is often cited as the primary driver. Massive volcanic eruptions release significant amounts of CO2, leading to temperature increases and ocean acidification, which further devastate marine life. The loss of biodiversity is staggering, with estimates suggesting that up to 96% of marine invertebrate species go extinct.
Life on the Edge
On land, the situation is similarly grim. Terrestrial ecosystems begin to collapse, starting from higher latitudes and moving toward the tropics. Insects, which were once abundant, face their most significant mass extinction. While some plant species may survive, the overall biodiversity is drastically reduced.
What Can We Eat?
In this hostile environment, food sources become a critical concern. While there are some plants and animals, many of them are toxic or difficult to consume. The ferns and horsetails present can lead to vitamin deficiencies if eaten in excess. Our best bet may be to rely on the herbivorous therapsids like lystrosaurus, but even they may pose a threat if we attempt to hunt them.
Predators and Dangers
However, the biggest threats come from predators. Gorgonopsids, large predatory therapsids with formidable canines, patrol the landscape, making human survival even more precarious. In the aquatic realms, early amphibians like timnospondyls lurk, ready to ambush unsuspecting prey.
Conclusion: The Odds of Survival
As we wrap up this hypothetical journey into the late Permian, it’s clear that survival would be a monumental challenge. The odds are not in our favor, with environmental hazards, limited food sources, and dangerous predators lurking at every turn. However, if we were lucky enough to be a lystrosaurus or one of the early mammal ancestors, we might just make it through to see the dawn of a new era.
Thanks for joining us on this journey into deep time. Tune in next time as we encounter the first dinosaurs in the late Triassic period.
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