Sun, YD, Zulla, MJ, Joachimski, MM et al. (4 more authors) (2019) Ammonium ocean following the end-Permian mass extinction. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 518. pp. 211-222. ISSN 0012-821X
Abstract
The aftermath of end-Permian mass extinction was marked by a ∼5 million year interval of poorly-understood, extreme environments that likely hindered biotic recovery. Contemporary nitrogen isotope variations are considered, using a new conceptual model, to support a scenario that shows intensive nitrate-removal processes gradually depleted the global oceanic nitrate inventory during long-lasting oceanic anoxia. Enhanced nitrogen fixation shifted the oceanic nitrogenous nutrient (nutrient-N) inventory to an ammonium-dominated state. Ammonium is toxic to animals and higher plants but fertilizes algae and bacteria. This change in ocean chemistry could account for the intense and unexplained losses of nektonic taxa and the proliferation of microbial blooms in the Early Triassic. The transition from a nitrate ocean to an ammonium ocean was accompanied by a decrease in respiration efficiency of organisms and a shrinking oceanic nutrient-N inventory, ultimately leading to generally low productivity in the Early Triassic oceans. These unappreciated nutrient changes during episodes of prolonged ocean anoxia may be the key life-limiting factor at such times.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2019 Elsevier B.V. This is an author produced version of a paper published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | ocean anoxic event; nitrogen cycle; Early Triassic; ammonium ocean |
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) > Institute for Applied Geosciences (IAG) (Leeds) |
Funding Information: | Funder Grant number NERC NE/P013724/1 |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 26 Jun 2019 12:53 |
Last Modified: | 17 May 2020 00:39 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Elsevier |
Identification Number: | 10.1016/j.epsl.2019.04.036 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:147828 |