Guilbaud, R;
Poulton, SW;
Thompson, J;
Husband, KF;
Zhu, M;
Zhou, Y;
Shields, GA;
(2020)
Phosphorus-limited conditions in the early Neoproterozoic ocean maintained low levels of atmospheric oxygen.
Nature Geoscience
, 13
, Article 301. 10.1038/s41561-020-0548-7.
Preview |
Text (Article)
Shields_Phosphorus ms Nat Geo - rev2.pdf - Accepted Version Download (1MB) | Preview |
Preview |
Text (Supplementary Information)
Shields_SI rev2.pdf - Accepted Version Download (900kB) | Preview |
Abstract
The redox chemistry of anoxic continental margin settings evolved from widespread sulfide-containing (euxinic) conditions to a global ferruginous (iron-containing) state in the early Neoproterozoic era (from ~1 to 0.8 billion years ago). Ocean redox chemistry exerts a strong control on the biogeochemical cycling of phosphorus, a limiting nutrient, and hence on primary production, but the response of the phosphorus cycle to this major ocean redox transition has not been investigated. Here, we use a geochemical speciation technique to investigate the phase partitioning of phosphorus in an open marine, early Neoproterozoic succession from the Huainan Basin, North China. We find that effective removal of bioavailable phosphorus in association with iron minerals in a globally ferruginous ocean resulted in oligotrophic (nutrient limited) conditions, and hence a probable global decrease in primary production, organic carbon burial and, subsequently, oxygen production. Nevertheless, phosphorus availability and organic carbon burial were sufficient to maintain an oxidizing atmosphere. These data imply substantial nutrient-driven variability in atmospheric oxygen levels through the Proterozoic, rather than the stable levels commonly invoked.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | Phosphorus-limited conditions in the early Neoproterozoic ocean maintained low levels of atmospheric oxygen |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.1038/s41561-020-0548-7 |
| Publisher version: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-020-0548-7 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions. |
| Keywords: | Element cycles, Marine chemistry, Palaeoceanography, Palaeoclimate, Palaeoecology |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Maths and Physical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Maths and Physical Sciences > Dept of Earth Sciences |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10094128 |
Archive Staff Only
 |
View Item |
