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last mo.

Turpan-Hami Basin Identified as Crucial Refugium During Earth's Largest Mass Extinction

Fossil evidence reveals the survival of diverse plant ecosystems in Xinjiang, China, before, during, and after the End-Permian Mass Extinction 252 million years ago.

The study supports the idea that land ecosystems experienced a crisis
Image
Image of two large reptiles in a swampy environment with lots of trees. The animals and trees are nothing like today's suggesting a scene from the distant past.
Strata exposed in South Taodonggou, in western China, where the terrestrial refugium was found. The yellow dot is the location of volcanic ash with the radiometrically dated age. The star denotes location of the complete tetrapod skeleton shown in the lower panel. Image: NIGPAS

Overview

  • The Turpan-Hami Basin in Xinjiang, China, served as a terrestrial refugium during the End-Permian Mass Extinction, preserving diverse plant ecosystems.
  • Fossilized tree trunks, fern stems, and pollen grains confirm that plants thrived in this region for up to 210,000 years after the extinction event.
  • The extinction, triggered by massive volcanic eruptions and global warming, wiped out 80-96% of marine species but had a less severe impact on terrestrial life.
  • This refugium may have supported the emergence of Mesozoic flora and contributed to the recovery and stability of food chains post-extinction.
  • The findings challenge assumptions about uniform terrestrial devastation during mass extinction events and highlight the role of localized ecosystems in biodiversity resilience.