Shelf hypoxia in response to global warming after the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary impact

Vellekoop, Johan; Woelders, Lineke; Helmond, Niels A. G. M. van; Galeotti, Simone; Smit, Jan; Slomp, Caroline P.; Brinkhuis, Henk; Claeys, Philippe; Speijer, Robert P.

doi:10.1130/g45000.1

Cited by 35 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 96 publications

(143 reference statements)

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“…Finally, the strong 15 N depletion (~7–8‰) in the lower Danian at Kulstirenden, Denmark (Figure ) has been explained as minimal N‐isotopic fractionation due to diminished availability and biological assimilation of nitrate under oxygen‐depleted conditions (Sepúlveda, Wendler, Summons, et al, ). The low oxygen conditions have been confirmed by redox‐sensitive elements and microfossil assemblages (Vellekoop et al, ). Lastly, limited biomarker data indicate that cyanobacteria biomass, and possibly nitrogen fixation, was not altered across the K/Pg boundary in Danish sections (Sepúlveda, Wendler, Summons, et al, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 85%

“…The TOC content, in contrast, experienced little variability across the K/Pg boundary at multiple localities, except for slight increases in El Kef (Figure b) and Spain (Figures b,b′) and a marked increase in Kulstirenden (Figure b) right above the impact layer, which may be related to changes in organic matter preservation due to the potential occurrence of low oxygen conditions at the water sediment interphase during the earliest Danian (Kaiho et al, ; Keller & Lindinger, ; Sepúlveda, Wendler, Summons, et al, ). At Caravaca and Agost, lithology, variations in sulfur isotope ratios, bulk geochemical parameters, foraminiferal indices, and redox‐sensitive elements all imply a decrease in dissolved oxygen in the early Danian (Martínez‐Ruiz et al, ; Kaiho et al, ; Alegret et al, ; Vellekoop et al, ). Similarly, at Kulstirenden, nitrogen isotopes (Sepúlveda, Wendler, Summons, et al, ), redox‐sensitive elements, and micropaleontological records (Vellekoop et al, ) are consistent with reduced oxygenation in the early Danian.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…At Caravaca and Agost, lithology, variations in sulfur isotope ratios, bulk geochemical parameters, foraminiferal indices, and redox‐sensitive elements all imply a decrease in dissolved oxygen in the early Danian (Martínez‐Ruiz et al, ; Kaiho et al, ; Alegret et al, ; Vellekoop et al, ). Similarly, at Kulstirenden, nitrogen isotopes (Sepúlveda, Wendler, Summons, et al, ), redox‐sensitive elements, and micropaleontological records (Vellekoop et al, ) are consistent with reduced oxygenation in the early Danian. At El Kef (Figure b), evidence for low oxygen conditions is not consistent: published data on benthic foraminifera show low diversity assemblages but the dominant taxon ( Cibicidoides pseudoacutus , Alegret, , ) is not indicative of low oxygen conditions, although ostracod faunas have been interpreted as potentially indicative of low oxygen (Peypouquet et al, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Stable Isotope Constraints on Marine Productivity Across the Cretaceous‐Paleogene Mass Extinction

Sepúlveda

Alegret

Thomas

et al. 2019

Paleoceanog and Paleoclimatol

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The effects of the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K/Pg) mass extinction (~66 Ma) on marine primary and export productivity remain debated. We studied changes in carbon and nitrogen cycling in eight neritic and upper bathyal sections with expanded K/Pg boundary clay layers in the western Tethys and northeastern Atlantic Ocean, by measuring stable carbon isotopes of bulk carbonate (δ 13 C carb ) and organic matter (δ 13 C org ), nitrogen isotopes in bulk organic matter (δ 15 N), and selected compound-specific carbon isotopic records (δ 13 C lipid ). Negative carbon isotope excursions (CIEs) in δ 13 C carb , δ 13 C org, and δ 13 C lipid are temporally and spatially heterogeneous as well as decoupled from each other, suggesting that factors affecting the δ 13 C of dissolved inorganic carbon, as well as isotopic fractionation during carbon fixation across the K/Pg, are more complex than commonly assumed. The negative CIEs in δ 13 C org and δ 13 C lipid at each site are smaller in amplitude and shorter in duration than those in δ 13 C carb , but in most sections both carbon pools recovered to preboundary conditions within the time of deposition of the boundary clay layer (<10 3 -10 4 Kyr) or shortly thereafter. This rapid recovery is supported by limited δ 15 N data, which mostly suggests moderate or minor changes in redox conditions (except in Denmark), marine productivity, and phytoplanktonic nitrate utilization in the earliest Danian. Our results indicate that carbon cycling and primary productivity in neritic and upper bathyal regions recovered to preboundary levels faster (<10 4 Kyr) than in oceanic regions (10 5 -10 6 years), likely sustained by resilient noncalcifying phytoplankton with resting stages, consistent with modeling and proxy studies.Plain Language Summary Sixty-six million years ago, at the boundary between the Cretaceous and Paleogene Periods (K/Pg boundary), a meteorite impacted the Earth during a time of active volcanism causing the mass extinction of marine and terrestrial species. Despite decades of research, the consequences of the mass extinction to marine photosynthesis and the cycling of carbon in the ocean remain contentious. We investigated the light and heavy stable isotopes of carbon preserved in rocks of ancient seafloor along continental margins of the western Tethys and northeastern Atlantic Oceans to establish for how long the cycling of carbon may have been disrupted. Our results indicate that the response of marine productivity and carbon cycling following the impact was heterogenous for thousands and tens of thousands of years but that it recovered to pre-K/Pg boundary levels hundreds of thousands of years earlier than open ocean regions. We suggest that resilient phytoplankton without carbonate skeletons living along continental margins may have recolonized surface waters relatively quickly after this mass extinction event.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 85%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Stable Isotope Constraints on Marine Productivity Across the Cretaceous‐Paleogene Mass Extinction

Sepúlveda

Alegret

Thomas

et al. 2019

Paleoceanog and Paleoclimatol

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“…4a, b, c) these mudstone conglomerates contain calcareous nodules that are reworked from the Corsicana Formation, but the disturbed strata below the Cottonmouth Creek waterfall does not contain such nodules. It is possible, as postulated by Yancey and Liu (2013), that these mudstone conglomerates were either formed by the tsunami or its backwash (Vellekoop et al, 2018). The overlying sandstones of the 'Event Bed' contain abundant, and often quite large, Thalassinoides-like burrow systems (Fig.…”

Section: Accepted Manuscriptmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…that confirm that all of these sandstones and mudstone interbeds could not have just been deposited by a short-lived tsunami event. The presence of intense bioturbation in the sandstones and abundant gastropods, bivalves, scaphopods, large delicate benthic foraminifera and ostracods does not indicate reduced levels of O 2 (Vellekoop et al, 2018). Calcareous nannofossil analysis of the basal Paleocene mudstones…”

Section: Accepted Manuscriptmentioning

confidence: 97%

Global bioevents and the Cretaceous/Paleogene boundary in Texas and Alabama: Stratigraphy, correlation and ocean acidification

Hart

Leighton

Hampton³

et al. 2019

Global and Planetary Change

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With increasing levels of atmospheric pCO 2 the oceans are becoming progressively more acidic, with the impact of a lowered pH beginning to affect the calcification of numerous invertebrate groups, including foraminifers, pteropods, heteropods and calcareous nannoplankton. Research on the ecology of foraminifera in the Mediterranean Sea, Gulf of California, Caribbean Sea and elsewhere has shown how modern assemblages are responding to acidification. Experimental work in mesocosms and laboratory cultures are also adding to our knowledge of the response to pH changes. Near Ischia (Italy), natural CO 2 vents amongst sea grass meadows are creating low pH environments in which it is possible to observe the response of benthic foraminifera. At a pH of 7.8 the foraminiferal assemblages are already becoming less diverse and below pH 7.6 there are often no calcite-secreting benthic foraminifera. In the Gulf of California, in a deeper-water setting, natural CO 2 (and methane) vents are also lowering sea floor pH. The foraminifera show the impact of this change, although the relatively high carbonate saturation ensures that calcite-secreting foraminifers are able to live and reproduce in these relatively low pH environments, only becoming impacted by dissolution effects once dead. Using data from the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary in Texas, Alabama and northwest Europe it is clear that the plankton was severely impacted by surface water acidification

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The oxygen cycle and a habitable Earth

Huang

Liu

Shen

et al. 2021

Sci. China Earth Sci.

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As an important contributor to the habitability of our planet, the oxygen cycle is interconnected with the emergence and evolution of complex life and is also the basis to establish Earth system science. Investigating the global oxygen cycle provides valuable information on the evolution of the Earth system, the habitability of our planet in the geologic past, and the future of human life. Numerous investigations have expanded our knowledge of the oxygen cycle in the fields of geology, geochemistry, geobiology, and atmospheric science. However, these studies were conducted separately, which has led to onesided understandings of this critical scientific issue and an incomplete synthesis of the interactions between the different spheres of the Earth system. This review presents a five-sphere coupled model of the Earth system and clarifies the core position of the oxygen cycle in Earth system science. Based on previous research, this review comprehensively summarizes the evolution of the oxygen cycle in geological time, with a special focus on the Great Oxidation Event (GOE) and the mass extinctions, as well as the possible connections between the oxygen content and biological evolution. The possible links between the oxygen cycle and biodiversity in geologic history have profound implications for exploring the habitability of Earth in history and guiding the future of humanity. Since the Anthropocene, anthropogenic activities have gradually steered the Earth system away from its established trajectory and had a powerful impact on the oxygen cycle. The human-induced disturbance of the global oxygen cycle, if not controlled, could greatly reduce the habitability of our planet.

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Shelf hypoxia in response to global warming after the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary impact

Cited by 35 publications

References 96 publications

Stable Isotope Constraints on Marine Productivity Across the Cretaceous‐Paleogene Mass Extinction

Stable Isotope Constraints on Marine Productivity Across the Cretaceous‐Paleogene Mass Extinction

Global bioevents and the Cretaceous/Paleogene boundary in Texas and Alabama: Stratigraphy, correlation and ocean acidification

The oxygen cycle and a habitable Earth

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