A molecular biomarker for end-Permian plant extinction in South China
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Abstract To help resolve current controversies surrounding the fundamental question of synchrony between end-Permian mass extinction on land and in the sea, we examined the marine Permian–Triassic reference section at Meishan (southeastern China) for land-derived molecular degradation products of pentacyclic triterpenoids with oleanane carbon skeletons, diagnostic for the Permian plant genus Gigantopteris. We identified a continuous quantitative record of mono-aromatic des-A-oleanane, which abruptly ends in the main marine extinction interval just below the Permian-Triassic boundary. This taxon-specific molecular biomarker, therefore, reveals in unmatched detail the timing and tempo of the demise of one of the most distinctive Permian plants and provides evidence of synchronous extinction among continental and marine organisms. Parallel reduction in the relative abundance of lignin phenols confirms that aridity-driven extinction was not restricted to Gigantopteris but likely affected the entire wetland flora of the equatorial South China microcontinent.Keywords:
Permian–Triassic extinction event
Extinction (optical mineralogy)
Early Triassic
Permian–Triassic extinction event
Conodont
Early Triassic
Extinction (optical mineralogy)
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Permian–Triassic extinction event
Conodont
Early Triassic
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The mass extinction at the end of the Permian was the most profound in the history of life. Fundamental to understanding its cause is determining the tempo and duration of the extinction. Uranium/lead zircon data from Late Permian and Early Triassic rocks from south China place the Permian-Triassic boundary at 251.4 +/- 0.3 million years ago. Biostratigraphic controls from strata intercalated with ash beds below the boundary indicate that the Changhsingian pulse of the end-Permian extinction, corresponding to the disappearance of about 85 percent of marine species, lasted less than 1 million years. At Meishan, a negative excursion in delta13C at the boundary had a duration of 165,000 years or less, suggesting a catastrophic addition of light carbon.
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Permian–Triassic extinction event
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Permian–Triassic extinction event
Early Triassic
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Permian–Triassic extinction event
Early Triassic
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Early Triassic
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Permian–Triassic extinction event
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Abstract Early Triassic carbon isotopes are measured based on 1422 carbonate bulk samples from 10 Lower Triassic sections in different palaeogeographic settings in South China. Early Triassic fluctuation of δ 13 C is used as a proxy for environmental change to discuss the devastation and restoration of marine ecosystems following the biggest Phanerozoic mass extinction at the end of the Permian. Early Triassic δ 13 C profiles derived from various depositional settings in South China yield comparable excursion patterns. A dramatic negative shift of δ 13 C across the Permian/Triassic boundary is followed by a moderate increase in δ 13 C values throughout the Induan. A positive δ 13 C anomaly occurs near the Induan/Olenekian boundary, followed by a Smithian interval of lower δ 13 C values. A distinct positive shift in δ 13 C coincides with the Smithian/Spathian boundary, and is followed by a high Spathian plateau of δ 13 C values. Thus the distinct δ 13 C anomalies coincide well with key stratigraphic boundaries. Early Triassic intervals of low δ 13 C values correspond to a decline in benthic generic diversity in South China and intervals of high δ 13 C values are coupled with an increase in biodiversity. The Early Triassic fluctuations of δ 13 C profiles are good proxies for perturbations of ecologic environments, indicating multiple phases of devastation–restoration of marine ecosystems punctuated by several unexpected extraneous events such as volcanic activity. The initial restoration of marine ecosystems may have occurred earlier in the Induan and the ecosystems were subsequently destroyed during the Smithian. Biotic and environmental recoveries occurred at the Spathian, while the ecosystems eventually returned to normal levels in the early Middle Triassic. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Early Triassic
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Extinction (optical mineralogy)
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Early Triassic
Permian–Triassic extinction event
Extinction (optical mineralogy)
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Early Triassic
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