Climate-forced Hg-remobilization associated with fern mutagenesis in the aftermath of the end-Triassic extinction
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Climate-forced Hg-remobilization associated with fern mutagenesis in the aftermath of the end-Triassic extinction. / Bos, Remco; Zheng, Wang; Lindström, Sofie; Sanei, Hamed; Waajen, Irene; Fendley, Isabel M.; Mather, Tamsin A.; Wang, Yang; Rohovec, Jan; Navrátil, Tomáš ; Sluijs, Appy; van de Schootbrugge, Bas.
In: Nature Communications, Vol. 15, 3596, 2024.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Climate-forced Hg-remobilization associated with fern mutagenesis in the aftermath of the end-Triassic extinction
AU - Bos, Remco
AU - Zheng, Wang
AU - Lindström, Sofie
AU - Sanei, Hamed
AU - Waajen, Irene
AU - Fendley, Isabel M.
AU - Mather, Tamsin A.
AU - Wang, Yang
AU - Rohovec, Jan
AU - Navrátil, Tomáš
AU - Sluijs, Appy
AU - van de Schootbrugge, Bas
PY - 2024
Y1 - 2024
N2 - The long-term effects of the Central Atlantic Magmatic Province, a large igneous province connected to the end-Triassic mass-extinction (201.5 Ma), remain largely elusive. Here, we document the persistence of volcanic-induced mercury (Hg) pollution and its effects on the biosphere for ~1.3 million years after the extinction event. In sediments recovered in Germany (Schandelah-1 core), we record not only high abundances of malformed fern spores at the Triassic-Jurassic boundary, but also during the lower Jurassic Hettangian, indicating repeated vegetation disturbance and stress that was eccentricity-forced. Crucially, these abundances correspond to increases in sedimentary Hg-concentrations. Hg-isotope ratios (δ202Hg, Δ199Hg) suggest a volcanic source of Hg-enrichment at the Triassic-Jurassic boundary but a terrestrial source for the early Jurassic peaks. We conclude that volcanically injected Hg across the extinction was repeatedly remobilized from coastal wetlands and hinterland areas during eccentricity-forced phases of severe hydrological upheaval and erosion, focusing Hg-pollution in the Central European Basin.
AB - The long-term effects of the Central Atlantic Magmatic Province, a large igneous province connected to the end-Triassic mass-extinction (201.5 Ma), remain largely elusive. Here, we document the persistence of volcanic-induced mercury (Hg) pollution and its effects on the biosphere for ~1.3 million years after the extinction event. In sediments recovered in Germany (Schandelah-1 core), we record not only high abundances of malformed fern spores at the Triassic-Jurassic boundary, but also during the lower Jurassic Hettangian, indicating repeated vegetation disturbance and stress that was eccentricity-forced. Crucially, these abundances correspond to increases in sedimentary Hg-concentrations. Hg-isotope ratios (δ202Hg, Δ199Hg) suggest a volcanic source of Hg-enrichment at the Triassic-Jurassic boundary but a terrestrial source for the early Jurassic peaks. We conclude that volcanically injected Hg across the extinction was repeatedly remobilized from coastal wetlands and hinterland areas during eccentricity-forced phases of severe hydrological upheaval and erosion, focusing Hg-pollution in the Central European Basin.
KW - Faculty of Science
KW - Mutagenesis
KW - Hg-pollution
KW - end-Triassic mass extinction
KW - volcanism
KW - eccentricity
KW - Hg-isotopes
KW - fern spores
KW - Jurassic
KW - Hettangian
U2 - 10.1038/s41467-024-47922-0
DO - 10.1038/s41467-024-47922-0
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 38678037
VL - 15
JO - Nature Communications
JF - Nature Communications
SN - 2041-1723
M1 - 3596
ER -
ID: 390150822