title: Atmospheric carbon injection linked to end-Triassic mass extinction.
abstract: The end-Triassic mass extinction (~201.4 million years ago), marked by terrestrial ecosystem turnover and up to ~50% loss in marine biodiversity, has been attributed to intensified volcanic activity during the break-up of Pangaea. Here, we present compound-specific carbon-isotope data of long-chain n-alkanes derived from waxes of land plants, showing a ~8.5 per mil negative excursion, coincident with the extinction interval. These data indicate strong carbon-13 depletion of the end-Triassic atmosphere, within only 10,000 to 20,000 years. The magnitude and rate of this carbon-cycle disruption can be explained by the injection of at least ~12 × 10(3) gigatons of isotopically depleted carbon as methane into the atmosphere. Concurrent vegetation changes reflect strong warming and an enhanced hydrological cycle. Hence, end-Triassic events are robustly linked to methane-derived massive carbon release and associated climate change.
authors.affiliation: Palaeoecology, Institute of Environmental Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Budapestlaan 4, NL-3584 CD, Utrecht, Netherlands. micharuhl@gmail.com
authors.forename: Micha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ruhl
authors.forename: Nina R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Bonis
authors.forename: Gert-Jan
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Reichart
authors.forename: Jaap S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Sinninghe Damsté
authors.forename: Wolfram M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Kürschner
mesh_terms: D000473:Alkanes / Q000737:chemistry; D001272:Atmosphere / Q000737:chemistry*; D044822:Biodiversity; D057486:Carbon Cycle; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis; D002247:Carbon Isotopes / Q000032:analysis*; D057231:Climate Change; D017753:Ecosystem; D053476:Extinction, Biological; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry; D008697:Methane / Q000032:analysis*; D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry; D013995:Time
chemical_list: D000473:Alkanes; D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D008697:Methane