Phanerozoic overview of mass extinction.

Abstract

Mass extinctions are episodes of accelerated extinction of variable magnitude that affect widespread taxa and cause at least temporary declines in their diversity. Although such episodes are often difficult to identify and characterize precisely in the fossil record, it is clear that they have been frequent throughout the history of complex life. In this paper, I briefly summarize 29 definite and potential events of mass extinction that can be recognized in a new compilation of data on fossil marine genera. -Author