Bioindicators of severe ocean acidification are absent from the end-Permian mass extinction
Abstract The role of ocean acidification in the end-Permian mass extinction is highly controversial with conflicting hypotheses relating to its timing and extent. Observations and experiments on living molluscs demonstrate that those inhabiting acidic settings exhibit characteristic morphological de...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2022-01-01
|
| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-04991-9 |
| _version_ | 1818300278058778624 |
|---|---|
| author | William J. Foster J. A. Hirtz C. Farrell M. Reistroffer R. J. Twitchett R. C. Martindale |
| author_facet | William J. Foster J. A. Hirtz C. Farrell M. Reistroffer R. J. Twitchett R. C. Martindale |
| author_sort | William J. Foster |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The role of ocean acidification in the end-Permian mass extinction is highly controversial with conflicting hypotheses relating to its timing and extent. Observations and experiments on living molluscs demonstrate that those inhabiting acidic settings exhibit characteristic morphological deformities and disordered shell ultrastructures. These deformities should be recognisable in the fossil record, and provide a robust palaeo-proxy for severe ocean acidification. Here, we use fossils of originally aragonitic invertebrates to test whether ocean acidification occurred during the Permian–Triassic transition. Our results show that we can reject a hypothesised worldwide basal Triassic ocean acidification event owing to the absence of deformities and repair marks on bivalves and gastropods from the Triassic Hindeodus parvus Conodont Zone. We could not, however, utilise this proxy to test the role of a hypothesised acidification event just prior to and/or during the mass extinction event. If ocean acidification did develop during the mass extinction event, then it most likely only occurred in the latest Permian, and was not severe enough to impact calcification. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T05:04:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-06b615ec4f6144a7ab57a3d8be7d10c2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T05:04:34Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-06b615ec4f6144a7ab57a3d8be7d10c22022-12-21T23:58:42ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222022-01-011211910.1038/s41598-022-04991-9Bioindicators of severe ocean acidification are absent from the end-Permian mass extinctionWilliam J. Foster0J. A. Hirtz1C. Farrell2M. Reistroffer3R. J. Twitchett4R. C. Martindale5Institut für Geologie, Centrum für Erdsystemforschung und Nachhaltigkeit, Universität HamburgUniversity of Texas at Austin, Jackson School of GeosciencesSchool of Earth Sciences, University College DublinUniversity of Texas at Austin, Jackson School of GeosciencesDepartment of Earth Sciences, Natural History MuseumUniversity of Texas at Austin, Jackson School of GeosciencesAbstract The role of ocean acidification in the end-Permian mass extinction is highly controversial with conflicting hypotheses relating to its timing and extent. Observations and experiments on living molluscs demonstrate that those inhabiting acidic settings exhibit characteristic morphological deformities and disordered shell ultrastructures. These deformities should be recognisable in the fossil record, and provide a robust palaeo-proxy for severe ocean acidification. Here, we use fossils of originally aragonitic invertebrates to test whether ocean acidification occurred during the Permian–Triassic transition. Our results show that we can reject a hypothesised worldwide basal Triassic ocean acidification event owing to the absence of deformities and repair marks on bivalves and gastropods from the Triassic Hindeodus parvus Conodont Zone. We could not, however, utilise this proxy to test the role of a hypothesised acidification event just prior to and/or during the mass extinction event. If ocean acidification did develop during the mass extinction event, then it most likely only occurred in the latest Permian, and was not severe enough to impact calcification.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-04991-9 |
| spellingShingle | William J. Foster J. A. Hirtz C. Farrell M. Reistroffer R. J. Twitchett R. C. Martindale Bioindicators of severe ocean acidification are absent from the end-Permian mass extinction Scientific Reports |
| title | Bioindicators of severe ocean acidification are absent from the end-Permian mass extinction |
| title_full | Bioindicators of severe ocean acidification are absent from the end-Permian mass extinction |
| title_fullStr | Bioindicators of severe ocean acidification are absent from the end-Permian mass extinction |
| title_full_unstemmed | Bioindicators of severe ocean acidification are absent from the end-Permian mass extinction |
| title_short | Bioindicators of severe ocean acidification are absent from the end-Permian mass extinction |
| title_sort | bioindicators of severe ocean acidification are absent from the end permian mass extinction |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-04991-9 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT williamjfoster bioindicatorsofsevereoceanacidificationareabsentfromtheendpermianmassextinction AT jahirtz bioindicatorsofsevereoceanacidificationareabsentfromtheendpermianmassextinction AT cfarrell bioindicatorsofsevereoceanacidificationareabsentfromtheendpermianmassextinction AT mreistroffer bioindicatorsofsevereoceanacidificationareabsentfromtheendpermianmassextinction AT rjtwitchett bioindicatorsofsevereoceanacidificationareabsentfromtheendpermianmassextinction AT rcmartindale bioindicatorsofsevereoceanacidificationareabsentfromtheendpermianmassextinction |