Algae and bacteria hogged oxygen after ancient mass extinction, researchers say
Friday, March 25, 2011 - 07:01
in Paleontology & Archaeology
(PhysOrg.com) -- After the biggest mass extinction in Earth's history -- 250 million years ago -- ocean algae and bacteria rebounded so fast that they consumed virtually all the oxygen in the sea, slowing the recovery of the rest of animals for several million years.