Zhang, K, Zhu, X, Wood, RA et al. (3 more authors) (2018) Oxygenation of the Mesoproterozoic ocean and the evolution of complex eukaryotes. Nature Geoscience, 11 (5). pp. 345-350. ISSN 1752-0894
Abstract
The Mesoproterozoic era (1,600–1,000 million years ago (Ma)) has long been considered a period of relative environmental stasis, with persistently low levels of atmospheric oxygen. There remains much uncertainty, however, over the evolution of ocean chemistry during this period, which may have been of profound significance for the early evolution of eukaryotic life. Here we present rare earth element, iron-speciation and inorganic carbon isotope data to investigate the redox evolution of the 1,600–1,550 Ma Yanliao Basin, North China Craton. These data confirm that the ocean at the start of the Mesoproterozoic was dominantly anoxic and ferruginous. Significantly, however, we find evidence for a progressive oxygenation event starting at ~1,570 Ma, immediately prior to the occurrence of complex multicellular eukaryotes in shelf areas of the Yanliao Basin. Our study thus demonstrates that oxygenation of the Mesoproterozoic environment was far more dynamic and intense than previously envisaged, and establishes an important link between rising oxygen and the emerging record of diverse, multicellular eukaryotic life in the early Mesoproterozoic.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2018 Macmillan Publishers Limited, part of Springer Nature. This is a post-peer-review, pre-copyedit version of an article published in Nature Geoscience. The final authenticated version is available online at: https:// doi.org/10.1038/s41561-018-0111-y. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | Geochemistry; Palaeontology; Precambrian geology; Sedimentology |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Environment (Leeds) > School of Earth and Environment (Leeds) > Earth Surface Science Institute (ESSI) (Leeds) |
Funding Information: | Funder Grant number Royal Society WM150108 |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 27 Mar 2018 09:29 |
Last Modified: | 23 Oct 2018 00:39 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Springer Nature |
Identification Number: | 10.1038/s41561-018-0111-y |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:129010 |