The Great Dying, The Big One -- The Permo-Triassic!

(In a time machine, not sure if that's where I'd aim …)

As extinctions go, this one's a blockbuster classic,

When most of Earth's species dropped out of the game.

Conodont fossils reveal massive changes

In sea surface temperatures (and CO2?).

Terrestrial critters reduced their lat ranges;

Low-oxygen regions in deep ocean grew.

Peat swamps disappeared (a great gap in coal),

And at the equator, most fish would fry.

At times like these, seems wise to head for the pole!

In a hot-steamy world … adapt, move, or die.

Perspective:  http://www.sciencemag.org/content/338/6105/336.full

Full article:  http://www.sciencemag.org/content/338/6105/366.full