Mon. Apr 28, 2014 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM 213 (2F)

Convener:*Yukio Isozaki(Department of Earth Science and Astronomy, Multi-disciplinary Sciences - General Systems Studies, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo), Yusuke Sawaki(Tokyo Institute of Technology), Tomohiko Sato(Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo), Chair:Tomohiko Sato(Department of Earth and Planetary Science, Tokyo Institute of Technology)

Biotic evolution was the consequence of repeated extinction and following diversification in the past, which was caused by large-scale environmental changes, in particular, by extremely rapid and drastic forcing that changed the environments of the biosphere. Irreversible and episodic changes in material cycling on the planet and in galactic cosmic radiation are nominated as major driving mechanism for the alleged rapid, large-scale environmental perturbations. The biodiversity change in the fossiliferous Phanerozoic record is characterized by 5 major mass extinctions within the long-term trend of diversity increase. Nonetheless, each extinction event has been explained rather in ad hoc manner, without any universal explanation. Lately, the supply of essential element/material has emerged as a significant factor that determined the past evolution course. This session discusses the Phanerozoic biodiversity change under a new light of the recent progress in geology.