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Effects of Past Global Change on Life (1995) / Chapter Skim
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Pages 94-95

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From page 94...
... The stratigraphic record demonstrates that the biosphere, or parts of 94 it, have experienced major disruptions in the geologic past, some involving mass extinctions. Mass extinctions involve a sudden, and short-lived, increase in extinction rates well above normal background levels, and can affect a great variety of biotic groups (Flessa, 19901.
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From page 95...
... argued that most mass extinctions have resulted from climatic change, particularly cooling. Debate continues, however, about the relative merits of extrinsic and .
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Key Terms

  • mass extinction
  • marine record
  • deep waters
  • mass extinctions
  • drilling program

  • environmental changes
  • background levels
  • extinction event
  • ocean drilling
  • fossil record

  • stable isotope


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