Multiple S-isotopic evidence for episodic shoaling of anoxic water during Late Permian mass extinction

Global fossil data show that profound biodiversity loss preceded the final catastrophe that killed nearly 90% marine species on a global scale at the end of the Permian. Many hypotheses have been proposed to explain this extinction and yet still remain greatly debated. Here, we report analyses of al...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nature Communications
Main Authors: Shen, Yanan, Farquhar, James, Zhang, Hua, Masterson, Andrew, Zhang, Tonggang, Wing, Boswell A.
Format: Report
Language:English
Published: NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP 2011
Subjects:
EAST GREENLAND BASIN
TRIASSIC BOUNDARY
SULFATE REDUCTION
BOLIDE IMPACT
EXTRATERRESTRIAL IMPACT
GIGANTIC RELEASE
SULFUR
END
EVENT
FRACTIONATIONS
Science & Technology - Other Topics
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Greenland
Greenland Basin
East Greenland
Online Access:http://ir.nigpas.ac.cn/handle/332004/19910
https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms1217
Description
Summary:Global fossil data show that profound biodiversity loss preceded the final catastrophe that killed nearly 90% marine species on a global scale at the end of the Permian. Many hypotheses have been proposed to explain this extinction and yet still remain greatly debated. Here, we report analyses of all four sulphur isotopes ((32)S, (33)S, (34)S and (36)S) for pyrites in sedimentary rocks from the Meishan section in South China. We observe a sulphur isotope signal (negative delta(34)S with negative Delta(33)S) that may have resulted from limitation of sulphate supply, which may be linked to a near shutdown of bioturbation during shoaling of anoxic water. These results indicate that episodic shoaling of anoxic water may have contributed to the profound biodiversity crisis before the final catastrophe. Our data suggest a prolonged deterioration of oceanic environments during the Late Permian mass extinction.

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