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Mercury anomalies and the timing of biotic recovery following the end-Triassic mass extinction

Author

Listed:
  • Alyson M. Thibodeau

    (University of Toronto
    Dickinson College)

  • Kathleen Ritterbush

    (University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84103, USA)

  • Joyce A. Yager

    (University of Southern California)

  • A. Joshua West

    (University of Southern California)

  • Yadira Ibarra

    (Stanford University)

  • David J. Bottjer

    (University of Southern California)

  • William M. Berelson

    (University of Southern California)

  • Bridget A. Bergquist

    (University of Toronto)

  • Frank A. Corsetti

    (University of Southern California)

Abstract

The end-Triassic mass extinction overlapped with the eruption of the Central Atlantic Magmatic Province (CAMP), and release of CO2 and other volcanic volatiles has been implicated in the extinction. However, the timing of marine biotic recovery versus CAMP eruptions remains uncertain. Here we use Hg concentrations and isotopes as indicators of CAMP volcanism in continental shelf sediments, the primary archive of faunal data. In Triassic–Jurassic strata, Muller Canyon, Nevada, Hg levels rise in the extinction interval, peak before the appearance of the first Jurassic ammonite, remain above background in association with a depauperate fauna, and fall to pre-extinction levels during significant pelagic and benthic faunal recovery. Hg isotopes display no significant mass independent fractionation within the extinction and depauperate intervals, consistent with a volcanic origin for the Hg. The Hg and palaeontological evidence from the same archive indicate that significant biotic recovery did not begin until CAMP eruptions ceased.

Suggested Citation

  • Alyson M. Thibodeau & Kathleen Ritterbush & Joyce A. Yager & A. Joshua West & Yadira Ibarra & David J. Bottjer & William M. Berelson & Bridget A. Bergquist & Frank A. Corsetti, 2016. "Mercury anomalies and the timing of biotic recovery following the end-Triassic mass extinction," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-8, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:7:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms11147
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11147
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    Cited by:

    1. Joseph T. Flannery-Sutherland & Daniele Silvestro & Michael J. Benton, 2022. "Global diversity dynamics in the fossil record are regionally heterogeneous," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-17, December.
    2. C. A. Walker-Trivett & S. Kender & K. A. Bogus & K. Littler & T. Edvardsen & M. J. Leng & J. Lacey & J. B. Riding & I. L. Millar & D. Wagner, 2024. "Oceanic Anoxic Event 2 triggered by Kerguelen volcanism," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    3. Remco Bos & Wang Zheng & Sofie Lindström & Hamed Sanei & Irene Waajen & Isabel M. Fendley & Tamsin A. Mather & Yang Wang & Jan Rohovec & Tomáš Navrátil & Appy Sluijs & Bas Schootbrugge, 2024. "Climate-forced Hg-remobilization associated with fern mutagenesis in the aftermath of the end-Triassic extinction," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    4. Jun Shen & Runsheng Yin & Thomas J. Algeo & Henrik H. Svensen & Shane D. Schoepfer, 2022. "Mercury evidence for combustion of organic-rich sediments during the end-Triassic crisis," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-8, December.

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