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There's some evidence that around 2B years ago microbes decreased the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere so much by overpopulation that 99% of the biosphere die
by joycian 5y ago
There's some evidence that around 2B years ago microbes decreased the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere so much by overpopulation that 99% of the biosphere died.
- memorysafety 5y agoI guess you mean The Great Oxygen Extinction Event (2.4-2.0 Ga). In that case, it's presumed it was indeed a massive extinction (but no data to quantify any % over, due to no microbial fossils preserved). ... But for a different reason. It wasn't due to decrease in oxygen levels; contrary to that. At that time, oxygen was being first ever introduced into the atmosphere. This has left a unique geological trace we observe everywhere across the planet: the white sedimentary + red rust striped 2 Ga rocks. The "microbes" were the first photosynthesisers. The oxygen was a toxic byproduct. Resistance to it had to be learned by evolution, and that learning took ~1e8 years. Many of life didn't manage to and went extinct.
- joycian 5y agoYes, I think you're right, I should've written increased. Thanks for the correction :).