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Rise to modern levels of ocean oxygenation coincided with the Cambrian radiation of animals

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  • Xi Chen

    (State Key Laboratory for Mineral Deposits Research, School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Nanjing University)

  • Hong-Fei Ling

    (State Key Laboratory for Mineral Deposits Research, School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Nanjing University)

  • Derek Vance

    (Institute of Geochemistry and Petrology, ETH)

  • Graham A. Shields-Zhou

    (University College London
    State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Maoyan Zhu

    (State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Simon W. Poulton

    (School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds)

  • Lawrence M. Och

    (University College London)

  • Shao-Yong Jiang

    (State Key Laboratory for Mineral Deposits Research, School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Nanjing University
    State Key Laboratory of Geological Processes and Mineral Resources, Faculty of Earth Resources, China University of Geosciences)

  • Da Li

    (State Key Laboratory for Mineral Deposits Research, School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Nanjing University)

  • Lorenzo Cremonese

    (University College London)

  • Corey Archer

    (Institute of Geochemistry and Petrology, ETH)

Abstract

The early diversification of animals (∼630 Ma), and their development into both motile and macroscopic forms (∼575–565 Ma), has been linked to stepwise increases in the oxygenation of Earth’s surface environment. However, establishing such a linkage between oxygen and evolution for the later Cambrian ‘explosion' (540–520 Ma) of new, energy-sapping body plans and behaviours has proved more elusive. Here we present new molybdenum isotope data, which demonstrate that the areal extent of oxygenated bottom waters increased in step with the early Cambrian bioradiation of animals and eukaryotic phytoplankton. Modern-like oxygen levels characterized the ocean at ∼521 Ma for the first time in Earth history. This marks the first establishment of a key environmental factor in modern-like ecosystems, where animals benefit from, and also contribute to, the ‘homeostasis’ of marine redox conditions.

Suggested Citation

  • Xi Chen & Hong-Fei Ling & Derek Vance & Graham A. Shields-Zhou & Maoyan Zhu & Simon W. Poulton & Lawrence M. Och & Shao-Yong Jiang & Da Li & Lorenzo Cremonese & Corey Archer, 2015. "Rise to modern levels of ocean oxygenation coincided with the Cambrian radiation of animals," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-7, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:6:y:2015:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms8142
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms8142
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    Cited by:

    1. Michal Ben-Israel & Robert M. Holder & Lyle L. Nelson & Emily F. Smith & Andrew R. C. Kylander-Clark & Uri Ryb, 2024. "Late Paleozoic oxygenation of marine environments supported by dolomite U-Pb dating," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-8, December.

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