Geologists contend that Pangea’s formation seems to have been partially responsible for the mass extinction event at the end of the Permian Period, particularly in the marine realm. As Pangea formed, the extent of shallow water habitats declined, and land barriers inhibited cold polar waters from circulating into the tropics. This is thought to have reduced dissolved oxygen levels in the warm water habitats that remained and contributed to the 95 percent reduction of diversity in marine species. Pangea’s breakup had the opposite effect: more shallow water habitat emerged as overall shoreline length increased, and new habitats were created as channels between the smaller landmasses opened and allowed warm and cold ocean waters to mix. On land, the breakup separated plant and animal populations, but life-forms on the newly isolated continents developed unique adaptations to their new environments over time, and biodiversity increased.
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