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End-Guadalupian mass extinction and negative carbon isotope excursion at Xiaojiaba, Guangyuan, Sichuan.
- Source :
- SCIENCE CHINA Earth Sciences; Sep2012, Vol. 55 Issue 9, p1480-1488, 9p
- Publication Year :
- 2012
-
Abstract
- The end-Paleozoic biotic crisis is characterized by two-phase mass extinctions; the first strike, resulting in a large decline of sessile benthos in shallow marine environments, occurred at the end-Guadalupian time. In order to explore the mechanism of organisms' demise, detailed analyses of depositional facies, fossil record, and carbonate carbon isotopic variations were carried out on a Maokou-Wujiaping boundary succession in northwestern Sichuan, SW China. Our data reveal a negative carbon isotopic excursion across the boundary; the gradual excursion with relatively low amplitude (2.15‰) favors a long-term influx of isotopically light C sourced by the Emeishan basalt trap, rather than by rapid releasing of gas hydrate. The temporal coincidence of the beginning of accelerated negative carbon isotopic excursion with onsets of sea-level fall and massive biotic demise suggests a cause-effect link between them. Intensive volcanic activity of the Emeishan trap and sea-level fall could have resulted in detrimental environmental stresses and habitat loss for organisms, particularly for those benthic dwellers, leading to their subsequent massive extinction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 16747313
- Volume :
- 55
- Issue :
- 9
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- SCIENCE CHINA Earth Sciences
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 79308642
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-012-4406-3