Changes in the global carbon cycle occurred as two episodes during the Permian–Triassic crisis

Research Article| December 01, 2007 Changes in the global carbon cycle occurred as two episodes during the Permian–Triassic crisis Shucheng Xie; Shucheng Xie 1Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology of Ministry of Education, and State Key Laboratory of Geological Processes and Mineral Resources, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, People's Republic of China Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Richard D. Pancost; Richard D. Pancost 2Bristol Biogeochemistry Center, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock's Close BS8 1TS, Bristol, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Junhua Huang; Junhua Huang 3State Key Laboratory of Geological Processes and Mineral Resources, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, People's Republic of China Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Paul B. Wignall; Paul B. Wignall 4School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, LS2 9JT, Leeds, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Jianxin Yu; Jianxin Yu 5Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology of Ministry of Education, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, People's Republic of China Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Xinyan Tang; Xinyan Tang 5Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology of Ministry of Education, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, People's Republic of China Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Lin Chen; Lin Chen 5Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology of Ministry of Education, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, People's Republic of China Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Xianyu Huang; Xianyu Huang 5Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology of Ministry of Education, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, People's Republic of China Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Xulong Lai Xulong Lai 5Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology of Ministry of Education, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, People's Republic of China Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (2007) 35 (12): 1083–1086. https://doi.org/10.1130/G24224A.1 Article history received: 25 Apr 2007 rev-recd: 24 Jul 2007 accepted: 24 Jul 2007 first online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share MailTo Twitter LinkedIn Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Shucheng Xie, Richard D. Pancost, Junhua Huang, Paul B. Wignall, Jianxin Yu, Xinyan Tang, Lin Chen, Xianyu Huang, Xulong Lai; Changes in the global carbon cycle occurred as two episodes during the Permian–Triassic crisis. Geology 2007;; 35 (12): 1083–1086. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G24224A.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Coeval records of ocean, atmosphere, and terrestrial change are crucial to understanding the pattern and causes of global mass extinction across the Permian-Triassic boundary (PTB). However, relationships among changes in different settings remain largely unclear, primarily due to the challenges associated with the correlation among disparate records. Here we compare marine carbon isotopic records with marine and terrestrial environmental and biotic events recorded in sediments from the Meishan PTB section of south China. Time-scaled carbonate carbon isotopes exhibit two gradual major shifts across the PTB at Meishan, and these are duplicable elsewhere around the Tethys Ocean. The two shifts are associated with two episodes of enhanced terrestrial weathering indicated by an increased abundance of 13C-enriched moretanes relative to hopanes and an elevated abundance of black carbon fragments. Key marine events previously reported for the PTB, including photic zone euxinia, faunal mass extinction, and cyanobacterial expansion, also occur as two episodes, coinciding with both of the progressive shifts to negative δ13C values and enhanced weathering. The temporal sequence of the duplicable events suggests that the biotic crisis was a consequence of prolonged and episodic changes in the marine and continental systems, and argues against an extraterrestrial impact as the main cause. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.