Mass Extinction
One of our projects, the Early Triassic is considered an age of active LIPs and arc volcanisms causing environmental disturbances. The Early Triassic is the period after the end-Permian mass extinction when biodiversity was suppressed.
Earth life has never diversified smoothly; there have been periods of violent increase and decrease, like a roller coaster ride.
The largest of these periods of decline are recorded in geological strata as mass extinction events.
By studying the past five major mass extinctions, we are trying to solve the mystery of why metazoa became extinct.
Related Publication:
Saito, R., Wörmer, L., Taubner, H., Kaiho, K., Takahashi, S., Tian, L., Ikeda, M., Summons, R.E., Hinrichs, K.-U., 2023. Centennial scale sequences of environmental deterioration preceded the end-Permian mass extinction. Nature Communications 14.
Saito, R., Kaiho, K., Tian, L., Takahashi, S., 2023. Frequent high-temperature volcanic combustion events delayed biotic recovery after the end-Permian mass extinction. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, in press.
Saito, R., Tian, L., Kaiho, K., Takahashi, S., 2022. Biomarker evidence for the prolongation of multiple phytoplankton blooms in the aftermath of the end-Permian mass extinction. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 600, 1-7.
Saito, R., Kaiho, K., Oba, M., Tong, J., Chen, Z.-Q., Takahashi, S., Chen, J., Tian, L., Biswas, R.K., 2016. Secular changes in environmental stresses and eukaryotes during the Early Triassic to the early Middle Triassic. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 451, 35-45.
Saito, R., Oba, M., Kaiho, K., Schaeffer, P., Adam, P., Takahashi, S., Watanabe Nara, F., Chen, Z.-Q., Tong, J., Tsuchiya, N., 2014. Extreme euxinia just prior to the Middle Triassic biotic recovery from the latest Permian mass extinction. Organic Geochemistry 73, 113-122.