Oxygenation of the Mesoproterozoic ocean and the evolution of complex eukaryotes

Kan Zhang, Xiangkun Zhu, Rachel A. Wood, Yao Shi, Zhaofu Gao, Simon W. Poulton

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

177 Scopus citations

Abstract

The Mesoproterozoic era (1,600-1,000 million years ago (Ma)) has long been considered a period of relative environmental stasis, with persistently low levels of atmospheric oxygen. There remains much uncertainty, however, over the evolution of ocean chemistry during this period, which may have been of profound significance for the early evolution of eukaryotic life. Here we present rare earth element, iron-speciation and inorganic carbon isotope data to investigate the redox evolution of the 1,600-1,550 Ma Yanliao Basin, North China Craton. These data confirm that the ocean at the start of the Mesoproterozoic was dominantly anoxic and ferruginous. Significantly, however, we find evidence for a progressive oxygenation event starting at ∼1,570 Ma, immediately prior to the occurrence of complex multicellular eukaryotes in shelf areas of the Yanliao Basin. Our study thus demonstrates that oxygenation of the Mesoproterozoic environment was far more dynamic and intense than previously envisaged, and establishes an important link between rising oxygen and the emerging record of diverse, multicellular eukaryotic life in the early Mesoproterozoic.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)345-350
Number of pages6
JournalNature Geoscience
Volume11
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 May 2018
Externally publishedYes

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