Biotic Recoveries from Mass Extinction Events

Abstract

The recoveries following mass extinctions are prolonged (∼10 4 –10 6 years) intervals characterised by recovering biodiversity and rapid turnover in community composition, along with a more gradual re‐establishment of Earth systems functioning – a process termed ‘Earth systems succession’. Recent data reveal that recovery intervals differ substantially between the ‘Big Five’ mass extinction events and are typically biogeographically complex, with substantial differences in rates of taxonomic and ecological recovery among different biological groups, environments and latitudes. Although there is some suggestion that the duration of recovery intervals is controlled by environmental factors (e.g. local persistence of the extinction triggers themselves), other work instead hints at ecological interactions and community dynamics as dominant influences. The recovery intervals following a small number of mass extinction events lead to permanent macroecological and ‐evolutionary changes, thus profoundly influencing the history of life and leaving a unique signature in the present‐day structure of the biosphere. Key Concepts The ‘Big 5’ mass extinctions had unique sets of extinction triggers and drivers, which produced unique patterns of extinction selectivity and thus unique patterns of recovery in the aftermath. Recovery from mass extinction can be measured either in terms of raw diversity or in terms of ecosystem structure/function. These two facets of recovery can be decoupled. Recovery intervals are characterised by rapid turnover in community composition; the structure and composition of these communities can, in turn, affect and control recovering Earth systems functioning. Rates and patterns of recovery are typically highly heterogeneous, with substantial differences between taxonomic groups, environments and geographic location. Recovery intervals following a few specific mass extinction events coincided with fundamental and permanent changes in macroecological and ‐evolutionary patterns.